Wednesday, March 4, 2026

Potato Soup with Kale

 Ingredients:

  1/4 cup butter for sautéing   

   2 onions, finely diced

   2 tsp salt

   6 potatoes, diced

   1 carrot, shredded with a cheese grater

   1/2 bunch of kale, chopped

   1/8 tsp black pepper

   extra salt, optional

   3/4 cup butter for flavor

   Two 12-oz cans evaporated milk, or 3 cups heavy whipping cream 

   green onions, diced

   cheddar cheese, shredded



Directions:

In a large heavy-bottom pot, add 1 quart water and salt. Add diced potatoes, onions, and shredded carrots. Add extra water to cover the veggies, but not too much more than needed to cover the veggies.

Bring to boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer, stirring occasionally until potatoes are close to tender.  Add the kale and pepper.  Simmer 5 minutes. 

Add butter and evaporated milk, this adds the creamy flavor to the soup. 

Taste test. Add salt or extra butter.

Serve hot. 

Garnish with diced green onions and shredded cheddar cheese 

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

Kid Wheat Bread

 By Lindsey Scarber

Total time: 2.5 hours                      Prep: 70 min.

Rise 10-20 min.                              Oven: 350 F

Bake: abt 25 min.                           Makes: 6 loaves, or 6 dozen dinner rolls

 

6 c. hot tap water

1/2  c. sugar

1/2  c. oil

6 c.  fine-ground hard white wheat flour

2 T.  instant dry yeast

2 T. white vinegar (vinegar doesn’t change the flavor, it just helps soften the wheat and dissolve phytic acid).

 

Mix and knead. Let rest for 10-60 min. Then add…

 

1 ¼  Tbsp. salt, or 1 heaping Tbsp. salt

2 c.  potato flakes

2 + c. bread flour (high gluten flour) as needed

 

 


Step 1 Yeast Activation

In a large bowl, or in a Bosch stand mixer with dough hook, Combine first 5 ingredients: hot water, sugar, oil, and 8 c. whole wheat flour.  Mix in yeast. Cover.  Let rest for 30 min to activate yeast.  Knead.  Let rest for another 30 min to allow whole wheat to soften and gluten to form.

 

Step 2 Prepping

Meanwhile, grease bottom/sides of 6 bread pans for bread, or 3 half bun sheet pans for 72 rolls.

 

Step 3 Kneading

Mix in salt and 4 cups of white flour.  Gradually add 1/2 c. - 2 c. more flour as needed.  Add flour until there is no dough stuck to the sides of the bowl and clean dry fingers stick to the dough only a little bit.  

With slightly oiled hands, Knead dough.  Separate into 4 equal balls, or for rolls small 2 in. balls.  On the countertop or a greased sheet pan, Pound out the air bubbles, until the top of the dough is smooth.  Place ball of dough in pans, coating top and bottom of dough with oil.

 

Step 4 Rising and Baking

Let dough rise 10-20 min in a warm quiet place, away from little hands that might want to poke it. I like putting it in the cold/slightly warm oven. With bread still rising in the oven, push 'Preheat' on the oven. Preheat to 350 F.

Bake bread for approx 30 min. or until top and bottom of loaves are golden brown.

Bake rolls for 14-17 min. or until tops are golden brown.

 

Step 5 Storing

Remove from pans immediately and place on a paper towel or metal cookie rack. Hot bread can be sliced thick.  Wait 30 min before trying to slice thin.  Store in an air-tight container or bag at room temperature for 2-3 days.  Store long-term in the freezer. Do not store bread in fridge, it will cause it to dry out.


 

Sunday, March 1, 2026

Butter Pecan Pie

 Ingredients:

Pecans

corn syrup

butter 

salt

2 frozen pastry pie crusts from the grocery store


Directions:


Wednesday, January 28, 2026

Ginger Lentils for Authentic Eritrean Injera

In an Instant Pot, saute:
    1/4 cup olive oil    
    2 large onions ( 4 cups diced)
    4 cloves garlic (4 tsp  minced)
    1 1/2 inch ginger root, peeled (4 tsp minced), or ginger powder
    1 Tbsp Bebere (add a 2nd Tbsp for extra spice)

Once onions are tender, add:
    1 can 8oz. tomato sauce
    5 1/2 cups water
    2 cups red lentils, rinsed and drained

Place lid on Instant Pot, pressure cook on high for 6 minutes. 
Afterward, wait until the pressure valve has released pressure. Then add:

    2 tsp Salt
    1/4 cup butter
    1/2 cup Evaporated milk, or heavy whipping cream (optional)

Serve with rice or Ethiopian Injera, a delicious sourdough flatbread

Monday, December 1, 2025

Instant Pot Refried Pinto Beans

 

Instant Pot Pinto Beans 

{no soaking needed!}

Instant Pot Pinto Beans are so easy to make and there's no need to pre-soak! Learn how to cook dried pinto beans in under 40 minutes and have ready to use beans in your favorite recipe.
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Course: Entree
Cuisine: American
 
Prep Time: 5minutes 
Cook Time: 40minutes 
Total Time: 60minute40
 
 
Servings:  cups cooked beans
 
Calories: 225kcal
 

Ingredients

  • 1 Instant Pot (8-quart-size)

    6 cups dried pinto beans, rinsed 

  • 12 cups hot water

    1 small or med onion, finely       
     diced

     4 cloves garlic, peeled and
     minced (or 1 tsp garlic powder 
     equivalent)

    2-3 Tbsp jalepeno juice from a can of pickled jale[penos

  



Instructions

  • Fill a pot with warmish water. the temperature of the water is similar to a river in the tropics at the equator; it should not be hot or cold. It should be on the warmer side of cool, but not cold. Add the 6 cups of dried beans to pot. stir with your hand.
  •  Rinsing helps remove any dirt and dirt clods. Pour the beans into a strainer/colander.  
  • Add the rinsed beans and 12 cups of hot water to the Instant Pot. Add more water, if needed, to ensure the beans are covered by at least 1 inch of water.
  • 1st Cook: Cover and lock the lid, then turn the Seal/Vent valve to Seal.  Select the beans/chili button. If no preprogrammed button, then select 15-18 minutes at HIGH pressure ).
  • When the beans are finished cooking, there are 2 options. (1) wait for the Instant Pot to cool down for 10 minutes, or (2) release pressure manually by placing a hand towel over the valve and carefully venting the steam valve on the lid.  It is safe to open the lid once all steam has been released.
    **Please note: Instant Pots vary in cooking, 
  • 2nd Cook: After lid is removed, add the onion, garlic, and jalapeno juice. Put the lid back on and select HIGH pressure for another 15-18 minutes.
  • When the beans are finished cooking for the second time, wait for the Instant Pot to cool down for 10 minutesOr release pressure manually by placing a hand towel over the valve and carefully venting the steam valve on the lid.  It is safe to open the lid once all steam has been released.
  • Add salt. stir. Add more salt to taste. 
  • Mash beans by hand with a fork or a potato masher, or blend with a hand immersion blender.  Enjoy!

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

One Pot Jordanian Chicken Curry

4 Tbsp Light Olive oil

3 medium onions, coarsely chopped

4 cloves garlic, smashed and minced

4 carrots, sliced

1-2 lbs boneless chicken thighs, cubed

2 cups water or chicken broth

2 large potatoes, cubed

1 Tbsp salt


1/2 of an 8oz can tomato sauce) 4 Tbsp, no more!

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp ginger powder

1-2 Tbsp curry powder (1 Tbsp is not too spicy for the kids)

Some frozen peas, or canned peas, drained

1/2 - 1 head Cauliflower, coarsely chopped

One (15oz) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 cup Butter (optional)

 

Instructions:

In a large dutch oven, saute onions and garlic in olive oil.  Cook until onions are tender. 

Add carrots and chicken. Saute 5 minutes.  

Add water or broth. 

Add potatoes and salt. 

Stir and cover. Simmer until potatoes are almost tender.

Add tomato sauce, garlic powder, and curry powder. 

Add Peas and Cauliflower. 

Add extra water to just cover the vegetables.

Simmer until veggies are tender. The potatoes want to be firm but not overcooked.

Add butter and garbanzo beans.

Taste and adjust seasonings, adding extra salt, garlic, and curry if needed


Serve hot as-is, topped with sour cream

or serve with

Brown Rice

White rice or

Riced Cauliflower 

Thursday, August 7, 2025

Instant Pot Chili Beans

 

6 cups dry pinto beans, rinsed in warm water and drained

1 med onion, diced

1 tsp garlic powder

       Place in an 8-quart Instant Pot on HIGH for 30 MIN

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

       Meanwhile, Sautee in a separate large 8-quart or extra large 12-quart pot

1/4 cup olive oil

1 lb ground beef, or 2-6 Tbsp hamburger grease, both are optional

1 additional med-large onion, diced

1 medium green bell pepper diced 

4-8 cloves garlic minced (or 1 tsp garlic powder)


       After the ground beef is cooked and the veggies are tender, add:

Two 15oz cans big diced tomatoes 

One 15oz can of tomato sauce

One 4oz can mild diced green chilis, optional

Two 15oz cans Dark Red Kidney Beans, drained and rinsed

4 Tbsp Chili Powder

2 Tbsp Cumin powder

1.5 Tbsp salt, more to taste

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

2 Tbsp honey, optional

Add last, the cooked beans from Instant Pot undrained

           Stir. Simmer. Stir, taste test, and enjoy :)