Well, we miss Scotland. We got home just over a year ago and we think of our travels often and with joy. So much has happened since we came back home, though! We are expecting our first child any moment (she's due in four days!), Mike graduated from MIT, Andrea got married, and more to come! I, strangely but joyously, had my last day of teaching for a while. Now what to do with myself while I wait for baby Maggie? Cook, of course! Here are two great recipes I made today:
Spicy Minestrone with Chicken and Bacon
(serves 2-3)
Brown 4 slices of bacon in soup pot until crispy.
Remove, remove most of the bacon fat.
Add a chopped carrot to the pan and soften for a minute.
Add cubed raw chicken and begin to brown for 2-3 minutes.
Add a carton of stock, bring to a boil.
Add salt, pepper, 1 T Italian seasoning, 1 tsp crushed red pepper or as much as you'd like.
Add 1 can of red kidney beans. (Any beans would probably work)
Add 1/2 chopped fresh tomato and 1 cup thawed frozen spinach.
Simmer half-covered for an hour until chicken is very soft and beans start to burst.
Adjust seasoning to taste. This would be good with fresh parsley but I didn't have any.
Serve with crumbled bacon.
Thick Minestrone with Beef
Brown 1 lb. ground beef or turkey.
Drain and remove from pan.
Saute chopped carrots, an onion, and 3 stalks of celery.
Add 1 T tomato paste and 3 cloves crushed garlic, fry for 1 minute.
Add the beef back in to the pan.
Add a can of beans- cannellini, white, kidney, your choice.
Add 1 large can of crushed tomatoes and one carton of beef stock (as much as you want for your desired consistency).
Add salt, pepper, crushed red pepper to taste, and Italian seasoning.
Simmer half-covered for 30 min. to and hour.
Enjoy!
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