Grilled cheese (mozzarella & Basil Pesto) and Broccoli Soup

This was a great meal. The girls had the "fancy" grilled cheese and Jen and I had 1/2 sandwich and the soup. This meal was fun to make and much more fun to eat. I do not have a food processor so I used my blender to make the pesto and soup. I got the soup recipe from watching a Chef Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmare over the summer. I saw how he made it with no effort and he said how good it was. I didn't believe how good or easy the broccoli soup would be, but Chef Ramsey didn't disappoint. It was great! The girls all tried one spoonful of the soup and they all liked it (for the most part). The grilled cheese was a hit with everyone.

Grade: A+

Grilled Cheese (Smoked Mozzarella & Basil Pesto)

Ingredients:

Basil Pesto

2 c fresh basil leaves

1 c fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley leaves

1/2 c grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

1/2 c pine nuts, toasted

3 garlic cloves, peeled and roughly chopped

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 c extra-virgin olive oil

Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Bread

slices of smoked mozzarella

butter

I added cheddar cheese

*for pesto, in a food processor combine basil, parsley, Parmigiano-Reggiano, pine nuts, garlic, salt, and oil and pulse until well combined but still rough in texture.

After you make the pesto, assemble the sandwich like a regular grilled cheese putting pesto, on one half and mozzarella on the other. Put them together and place in a frying pan.

Super Easy Broccoli Soup:

All you need is:

water

salt

2 large heads of broccoli. Cut the florets off of the broccoli and make the stems cut down to the same size.

1. Water in a large stock up to a boil. Place the broccoli in the water for 3 1/2 to 4 minutes.

2. Using a slotted spoon pick the broccoli out of the water and into a blender.

3. Add water from the broccoli pot into the blender. Do not start with too much water as you can always add more if the soup is too thick.

4. Puree the mixture. If too thick add more water. Make sure the water is from the pot that you boiled the broccoli in.

Emily: sampling the soup

Sarah: thinks it is so good, she needs to kiss before she eats it!

Lucy: Copying Sarah

Emily: Finally feeling good enough to eat it all up!

Anna:Not pictured (sorry)

Crockpot chicken and wild rice

This was a typical crockpot meal. Easy and quick to prepare, all day to cook, and made the house smell great. After preparing this meal, I have decided that we might have to buy a new crockpot because one side of the crockpot is obviously running warmer than the other side based on the scorched evidence. I have only made one or two things in it before and have never noticed it. Jen has burnt her fair share of meals in the crock pot, but I just marked it up to Jen not setting it correctly. :-) This meal was simply to buy for and make. I didn't take any pictures because the girls were having an "off" day and it was a little too crazy. Enjoy

Grade: B

Ingredients:
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast
8 oz package of wild rice mix
2 cans of Cream of Chicken soup
1 1/2 cups of water
4 large carrots thickly cut up.

1. Add/mix the soup, water, wild rice mix, carrots, and water into the crockpot.
2. Place the chicken into the crockpot and mix in with the mixture, make sure it is coated.
3. Cook for 7-8 hours on low or 4-5 on high.

Pretty simple.

Taco Puffs

This meal only takes a little more time than it takes to make tacos, but adds the taste of buttery buscuits. If you like flaky busciuts and tacos I highly recommend trying this one. All of the girls, (and one boy) loved this meal. It is neat and easy. Also, we steamed some green pepper and onion for the non-children.

Grade: A-

Ingredients

1lb ground beef (I used ground turkey)

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 envelope taco seasoning

2 tubes (16.3 oz each) large refrigerated flaky biscuits (I used the ones with butter)

8 oz cheddar cheese slices or 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1) In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add the taco seasoning and prepare according to package directions. Cool slightly.

2) Flatten half of the biscuits into 4-in. circles; lace in greased 15-in x 10 in x 1 in. baking pans. Spoon 1/4 cup meat mixture onto each; top with two cheese slices or 1/4 cup shredded cheese. Flatten the remaining bisuits; place on top and pinch edges to seal tightly. Bake at 400 degree for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Anna, giving herself a round of applause for the camera

Emily is ready for bed before eating her dinner, but that's OK.

Sarah picking her food apart before she eats it.

Lucy, being Lucy, stuffing her face.