Finally, We Are Home

We finally made it back to Elko on Sunday evening, January 3. Because it was late and we didn't want to cook we had doctored pizza. It's the only way to go.

On Monday, we had soup with greens, but I added some of the leftover turkey from earlier in the week. It was really great.

Tuesday, I had still not been to the grocery store. I had to come up with something, so we had couscous and salmon. I had some premade salmon patties in the freezer. Salmon burgers really. I cooked them in the frying pan with a little olive oil, salt and pepper, until they were cooked through. I made couscous, which is easy. Take the couscous, follow the package directions and voila in 5 minutes you have a great side dish. I then sauteed a bunch of dried mushrooms that I had rehydrated along with one sliced onion and some sliced garlic. I put the couscous on the plate, layered it with the salmon burger and then topped it with the mushroom/onion mixture. I steamed some white asparagus and we had a meal.

Wednesday, our friend Doug came to dinner. He is quite the pasta lover, so I thought it would be good to make a big ole pasta dinner. We had baked Tortelloni with garlic bread and salad.

Baked Tortelloni

For the sauce.

1.25 pounds of ground turkey, browned.
1 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes with italian seasoning
1 can of tomato sauce
1 onion sauteed
4 cloves of garlic chopped and sauteed.
1/4 c sugar.
1/2 c. red wine.
2 tbs. of tomato paste
Let the above simmer for as long as you can before you make your meal.

1 pound of dried tortelloni, cooked in 3 quarts of boiling, salted, and oiled water.

1 pound of parmesan cheese grated

In a casserole dish, spread the bottom with sauce, add a layer of dried tortelloni, and a layer of cheese. Continue this until you reach the top of the casserole. Finish with a layer of parmesan cheese.

Cook at 400 for 45 minutes until the cheese is golden and the filling is bubbly.

Serve this with garlic bread and a salad. Amazing.

Friday, we went out to Machi's with David Buchler's parents, Beth and Howard. It was a gas. We talked for ever. Made challah and gave Beth a loaf.

Saturday, we went to dinner at Biltoki's with Mira and Gary. A great time. We are lucky to have such good friends.

Sunday, Spicy ramen noodles with chicken. This is a take on a recipe from Cook's Illustrated.

Saute one chicken breast that has been cut into thin strips in one tbs. of olive oil. Remove the chicken from the pan and add, the white part of 6 green onions that have been chopped along with one tbs of olive oil. Add 2 cloves of garlic, and 1 tbs. of minced garlic. Saute for about one minute and then add 2 tbs of soy sauce, 1 tsp of asian garlic chili sauce, and 2 cups of chicken broth. Add 10 ounces of sliced mushrooms and let simmer for 10 minutes, or until the mixture is reduced by half.

Meanwhile, boil some water and cook the noodle portion of three 3 ounce ramen noodle packets. Discard the seasoning packet. Once the noodles are soft, add them to the liquid mixture and mix in the chicken. Sprinkle with the green part of the green onion and enjoy.



Oh yes, I am caught up. Yeah!!!!