Italian Wedding Soup

I recently had Italian Wedding Soup at an engagement party. It was so delicious, I was inspired to make some. 

Thanks, Dudley, for the inspiration!

Dudley said she used Ina Garten's Italian Wedding Soup recipe. I used what I had on hand--a mixture of kale and baby spinach, ground chicken & ground pork, a random small pasta and canned chicken broth. It didn't seem as good as Dudley's but it was still really good!

Did you know that, according to Wikipedia, the name Italian Wedding Soup comes from the expression in Italian that the meat and greens "marry", or go well together?

I guess that means that they don't serve it at all weddings in Italy.

I think the meat and greens go well together, indeed. I like it with a little shaved parmesan cheese on top.

Italian Wedding Soup

adapted from Ina Garten

Ingredients:

Meatballs:

1/2 lb. ground chicken
1/2 lb. chicken or pork sausage, casings removed
1 cup bread crumbs or dried stuffing mix, moistened with 1/2 cup broth or milk
1/2 cup old fashioned oats
2 cloves minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons each, chopped thyme and oregano
1/4 cup grated Romano & 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
1 large egg, lightly beaten
sea salt and ground pepper to taste

Soup:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup minced onion
1 cup diced celery with leaves
2 cans chicken broth and enough water to make 10 cups
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 cup small pasta, cooked and drained
1/4 cup minced fresh dill
12 ounces baby spinach or kale, washed, ribs removed from kale

 I snipped this parsley, thyme & oregano from my front yard.

 For the meatballs, mix ingredients in a large bowl.

Form into small meatballs and set aside.

Ina bakes the meatballs for 30 minutes at 350ºF, I dropped mine to cook right into the soup. But that comes later.

 Mince the garlic and finely chop the celery and onion. I used Chinese celery, which is mostly leaves and thin stems. I picked some up at my local Chinese market, it looked so fresh.

Saute the garlic, celery, onion, parsley, thyme and oregano in 2 tablespoons olive oil until wilted, then add the chicken broth, wine and water. I didn't have dill, but it's good with dill.

Boil another pan of water for the noodles, cook & drain.

 When the soup boils, drop in the meatballs and stir gently. When the soup returns to boil, lower heat to medium and simmer gently for 10 minutes. Skim any foam that surfaces to the top and discard.

 Wash spinach and kale. Remove the tough ribs from the kale and tear into bite-sized pieces.

My sister-in-law Nancy always used to tease me for eating kale. She said it was a garnish. Now she says kale is her boyfriend.

 When the noodles are done and drained, and you're ready to serve the soup, add the spinach and kale. Stir gently. It takes less than a minute for the greens to wilt, that's when you want to serve the soup.

Add a sprinkling of pasta and some shaved Parmesan cheese if you like.

Itadakimasu!


***


Since I've been away from blogging for awhile, I've got a lot to catch-up on!

Dudley is on the left, she inspired me to make the soup.

Remember Jessica's yummy Thai Chicken Salad guest post? That's Jessica's mom Elyse on the right. She and Dudley are the proprietors of Bouquets and Bow Ties Events. You'll be seeing more of them here because...


Rick and Jessica are engaged!

We're having a wedding!

A couple of months ago, Jessica's parents hosted a wonderful engagement party. We were pleased to meet their family and friends.

In the early fall, Rick proposed in what will be their new home that is under construction.

 Here, he is putting the ring on her finger.

 Congratulations to the happy couple!

I think they just exude happiness.

Jessica and Rick met on an airplane. They were sitting next to each other and struck up a conversation over a book Rick had just finished reading. He gave her the book to read with his business card inside.

The rest is history!

This is the book.

 Rick wrote why he knows that she's The One on the inside cover of the book. I think that's so romantic.

Then they made a stepping-stone for their garden with their handprints.

Together, in the shape of a heart.

Ahhhh---Love.


***

Italian Wedding Soup

adapted from Ina Garten at FoodNetwork.com, makes 8 servings

Ingredients:

Meatballs:

1/2 lb. ground chicken

1/2 lb. chicken or pork sausage, casings removed

1 cup bread crumbs or dried stuffing mix, moistened with 1/2 cup broth or milk

1/2 cup old fashioned oats

2 cloves minced garlic

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

2 teaspoons each, chopped thyme and oregano

1/4 cup grated Romano & 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

1 large egg, lightly beaten

sea salt and ground pepper to taste

Soup:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup minced onion

1 cup diced celery with leaves

2 cans chicken broth and enough water to make 10 cups

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 cup small pasta

1/4 cup minced fresh dill

12 ounces baby spinach or kale, washed, ribs removed from kale and torn into bite-sized pieces

Directions:

For the meatballs, place the ground chicken and sausage, bread crumbs moistened with broth or milk, oats, garlic, cheeses (if desired), egg, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper into a bowl and mix gently with a fork. Form into meatballs and set aside.

For the soup, heat olive oil over medium-low heat in a large pot. Add onion, celery, thyme, parsley, oregano and garlic and saute until wilted and soft, about 5 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the chicken broth, wine and water and bring to boil. Boil pasta and drain. Drop the meatballs into the boiling soup. When the pot returns to boil, turn the heat down and simmer gently 10 minutes. When you're ready to serve the soup, return to boil and add the washed spinach & kale with ribs removed and torn into bite-sized pieces. Cook for about a minute or until greens are wilted. Serve with a scoop of pasta and garnish with shaved Parmesan.

Chicken & Dumplings

Chicken soup is comfort food for us. I used to always make my own variation of noodles--or dumplings--and my husband would ask, "Are noodles expensive? Is that why you have to make your own?" I had to laugh. You make your own noodles because they taste better!

Nowadays for us, dumplings means something else entirely--but that's another recipe. These dumplings are in the Southern style and are like noodles. When you make them at home, they have a nice bite to them that the dried noodles just don't have.

Chicken & Dumplings

adapted from Trisha Yearwood's Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen

Ingredients:

1 5-pound hen (makes about 4 pounds cooked, after bones and skin are removed)

1 tablespoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1 cup each sliced carrots, chopped celery and chopped onion

1 teaspoon fresh thyme

Dumplings:

2 cups unsifted all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup water

salt and pepper to taste

Scroll down to the end of this post for the directions to this recipe. I'll return to my regular format with step-by-step photos soon.

***

I not only like to cook, I'm also a crafter. I have been busy sewing and traveling for craft boutiques. I participate in a circuit of one-day Japanese-American/Asian craft fairs, and have been doing it for over 20 years. If you live in Southern California and are in the LA area, come by the:

4th Annual Kiku Crafts and Food Fair 

Sunday, November 4th, 2012, 10 AM to 3 PM 

East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center 

1203 West Puente Avenue 

West Covina, CA 91790 

You'll find Japanese-American and Asian-themed crafts as well as delicious food. Be sure to stop by my booth and say hello.

These long-sleeved t-shirts (pictured above) will be on sale. If you say the secret word Rachel, you will receive an extra $8 off as a bonus for being a FOODjimoto reader. This is for the Kiku Crafts and Food Fair only, and there are a limited number of shirts available, so come early!

I have also been working on these shirts for the boutique sales. The embellishment is applique and sashiko embroidery. Sashiko is needlework, in the Japanese tradition, originally used in Japan to reinforce worn clothing--used here as a decorative art.

I made a few of these little quilts, too, perfect for a special baby, mom and dad, or bachan and jichan. I fell in love with this printed panel, a scene of old-time Japan, depicting the festival of Shichi-Go-San (a festival for seven & three year old girls and five & three year old boys) and Hatsumairi (a baby's first visit to church). I have a few of these quilts in different border colors, some hand-quilted and some hand-tied.

This is my booth at last year's Krafty Delites boutique. I will be there this year at the December 2, 2012 show only. Krafty Delites is located at the Carson Community Center, 801 E. Carson Street, Carson 90745, hours are 10 AM to 4 PM.

Don't forget to stop by and say hello!

***

Chicken & Dumplings

adapted from Trisha Yearwood's Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen

Ingredients:

1 5-pound hen (makes about 4 pounds cooked, after bones and skin are removed)

1 tablespoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1 cup each sliced carrots, chopped celery and chopped onion

1 teaspoon fresh thyme

Dumplings:

2 cups unsifted all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup water

salt and pepper to taste

Put the hen, breast side down, in a very large (8-quart) stockpot and add water to cover the chicken completely. Add salt and pepper. Bring the water to a boil and reduce the heat to simmer. Cover and simmer gently for 2 hours. Allow the chicken and broth to cool slightly, then remove the chicken to a colander.

Strain the broth into a very large bowl. Cover the broth and place it in the refrigerator. When the fat solidifies (I usually refrigerate it overnight) at the top of the broth, remove and discard it. Separate the chicken from the bones and cut or shred the meat by hand into bite-sized pieces. 

Heat the defatted broth in a clean pot. Add the carrots, celery, onion and fresh thyme and bring to boil. Lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

To make the dumplings, put the flour in a medium bowl. Dissolve the salt in the water and stir the mixture into the flour to make a stiff dough. Turn the dough out onto a heavily floured surface and knead until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Divide it into 4 parts. Heavily flour a rolling pin and roll one portion of the dough very thin. With a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the dough into 2 x 4-inch strips. Repeat with remaining dough.

Return broth to a boil and add the strips of dough, stirring gently after each addition. When all strips are added, reduce heat to simmer and add the shredded chicken. Taste and adjust seasoning. Simmer gently for 15 minutes or until noodles are done.

Stir-Fried Pork & Eggplant

One of my favorite things is a home-cooked meal made by someone else. I really like eating other people's cooking--the aji, the flavor, is so different from cook to cook--I'm excited to eat someone else's cooking. It's also such a good feeling to be on the receiving end of all that goes into a meal--the consideration and choice of what to serve, the marketing and all the preparation. I was catered-to by my daughter Karen when I stayed a week with her to babysit the first week she went back to work.

The first meal she made me was this Stir-Fried Pork & Eggplant. The recipe came from Cook's Illustrated The Best One Dish Suppers. It was delicious. Cook's Illustrated doesn't have the recipe online unless you pay for a subscription, but I found it posted by Elizabeth at Tastebook.com. Scroll down to the bottom of this post for the recipe. I haven't made this at home yet, so I don't have step-by-step photos this time, but I'll add them later.

***



My granddaughter is growing so fast!

Rachel came to visit for Rick's 30th birthday.

We were trying to figure out where she gets her crazy hair. Turns out she gets it from me!

That's me on the left. We have the same funny hairline, bald front, spiky, long top--and round face!

 While I stayed with them for a week to help with Rachel during Karen's first week back at work, Mitchell took us to lunch at Ike's Place. The sandwich board there is creative, there are so many I'd like to try. Turns out it's also a nice spot for a quick family photo!

Gary's a bit of a baby hog. He likes to carry Rachel all around, just like he did with Rick and Karen when they were little. The grandparents on his side of the family are Obaachan and Ojiichan. Maybe he'll have to be Jichan since my dad is Grandpa (and our Ojiichan recently passed). Or maybe he'll be GG for Grandpa Gary. I think we'll let Rachel decide.

Mitchell's making us breakfast before heading off to see his old college teammate play against the 49ers. I love watching Mitchell watch football. He becomes a super-excited fan, jumping up, pacing, and yelling out. He's usually on the quiet-side and reserved, and I like seeing that side of him.

While Mitchell was at the game, we went a few yards out the front door and had some fun with the camera.

The next time I'll have to be sure to get some with Rachel and her daddy.

This one is one of my favorites.

Take lots of photos.

You'll be glad you did.

***

Stir-Fried Pork & Eggplant

Serves 4

Ingredients:

12 ounces pork tenderloin, julienne cut while partially frozen

1 teaspoon plus 2 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce

1 teaspoon plus 2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons canned low-sodium chicken broth

2 teaspoons juice from 1 lime

2 1/2 tablespoons light brown sugar

1 teaspoon cornstarch

12 garlic cloves, minced (about 3 1/2 tablespoons)

2 teaspoons ground black pepper

3 1/2 tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil

1 pound eggplant, but into 3/4-inch wedges

1/2 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves, chopped very coarse

1. Combine pork, 1 teaspoon fish sauce, and 1 teaspoon soy sauce in small bowl. Whisk remaining 2 1/2 tablespoons each fish sauce and soy sauce, chicken broth, lime juice, sugar and cornstarch in measuring cup. Combine garlic, pepper and 1 tablespoon oil in a small bowl.

2. Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat until smoking; add half of the pork to skillet and cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up clumps, until well-browned, about 2  minutes. Transfer pork to medium bowl. Repeat with additional 1 1/2 teaspoons oil and remaining pork.

3. Add 1 tablespoon oil to now-empty skillet; add eggplant and cook, stirring every 30 seconds, until browned and no longer spongy, about 5 minutes; transfer to bowl with pork.

4. Add remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil to skillet; add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown and soften, about 2 minutes. Clear center of skillet, add garlic/pepper mixture to clearing; cook, mashing mixture with spoon, until fragrant and beginning to brown, about 1 1/2 minutes, then stir mixture into onions. Add pork and eggplant; toss to combine. Whisk sauce to recombine, then add to skillet; cook, stirring constantly, until sauce is thickened and evenly distributed, about 30 seconds. Transfer to serving platter; sprinkle with cilantro and serve.

*Thank you, Amy, for noticing I needed a correction in this recipe!

Chinese-Style Oven Baked Ribs

The other day when I was talking to my mother, she mentioned that she wanted to eat ribs. Just a little suggestion like that can make it my mission to make something!

I decided to make Chinese-Style Oven Baked Ribs. You can use this technique using a regular western-style rub and barbecue sauce too, or any other rub & sauce combination you like.

They're so simple to make--simpler than my Oven Baked Pork Ribs. They're not quite as soft as the Oven Baked Pork Ribs, but still tender. I used a package of pork loin back ribs that I purchased from Costco, about 7 lbs. There were 3 slabs of ribs in that package, enough to share with several people!

Chinese-Style Oven Baked Ribs

adapted from Better Homes and Gardens recipe

3 racks pork loin ribs, about 7 lbs.

1/2 cup Dijon-style mustard mixed with 1 tablespoon liquid smoke

Mix together to form rub:

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 tablespoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon Chinese five-spice powder

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon salt

Barbecue sauce:

3/4 cup hoisin sauce 2 tablespoons molasses

2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

Mix ingredients for the rub. Taste and adjust seasonings.

The day before you're going to cook the ribs, sprinkle under-side of ribs with the rub. Brush the meaty sides of the rib slabs with the Dijon-style mustard and liquid smoke mixture and sprinkle generously with the rub. Place into shallow roasting pan, bone sides down, cover with foil, and marinate overnight.

To cook, bring ribs to room temperature. Preheat oven to 350ºF.

Bake, covered for 1 hour. Carefully drain off fat.

In a small bowl, stir together hoisin sauce, molasses, soy sauce and rice vinegar. Brush mixture evenly over ribs starting with the bone sides. Bake, uncovered, for 1 hour or until ribs are tender.

The ribs have a nice glaze.

I put the third rack of ribs in a separate pan, but you could put them on top of the other ones. Just watch them so the top one doesn't burn.

Use a sharp knife to cut the ribs apart so it doesn't look like you used a saw.

That's better!

This is the dish I took for my parents, it had some Spinach Cups in it too.

Itadakimasu!



***



I was sad to have missed my high school reunion and all-class picnic this year, but some of the girls that were still in town on Monday met for lunch at one of our favorite places from our youth, In-'N'-Out!

From the left: Coleene, Roselynn, me, Becky and Sally.

Here we were in high school.

And me, Becky and Sally in kindergarten!

Hope to see everyone next summer at the All-Class Picnic!


***

Chinese-Style Oven Baked Ribs

adapted from Better Homes and Gardens recipe

3 racks pork loin ribs, about 7 lbs.

1/2 cup Dijon-style mustard mixed with 1 tablespoon liquid smoke

Mix together to form rub:

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

2 teaspoons garlic powder

1 tablespoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon Chinese five-spice powder

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon salt

Barbecue sauce:

3/4 cup hoisin sauce 2 tablespoons molasses

2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

Mix ingredients for the rub. Taste and adjust seasonings.

The day before you're going to cook the ribs, sprinkle under-side of ribs with the rub. Brush the meaty sides of the rib slabs with the Dijon-style mustard and liquid smoke mixture and sprinkle generously with the rub. Place into shallow roasting pan, bone sides down, cover with foil, and marinate overnight.

To cook, bring ribs to room temperature. Preheat oven to 350ºF.

Bake, covered for 1 hour. Carefully drain off fat.

In a small bowl, stir together hoisin sauce, molasses, soy sauce and rice vinegar. Brush mixture evenly over ribs starting with the bone sides. Bake, uncovered, for 1 hour or until ribs are tender.

Sour Cream Apple Muffins

When I asked my friend Sue what I could make for the baby shower she was having to welcome her coming grandson, she said coffee cake muffins.

I'm not much of a baker, but thought I'd trust Ina Garten. I love watching her show The Barefoot Contessa on the Food Network.

Ina doesn't disappoint with her recipes--the muffins were delicious.

I think the glaze is optional. My husband doesn't think the glaze is needed--they're good without it--he prefers less sugar. I glazed these for the baby shower so they would look pretty.

Sour Cream Apple Coffee Cake Muffins

adapted from Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa

Ingredients:

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

3 extra-large eggs at room temperature

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups sour cream

2 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising)

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

2 apples, peeled, cored and diced

For the streusel:

1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

3/4 cup shopped pecans, optional

For the glaze:

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons real maple syrup or strong coffee

Cream the butter and sugar with a mixer until light, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs 1 at a time, then add the vanilla and sour cream. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture to the batter until just combined. Fold in the diced apple until just combined.

Mix the ingredients for the streusel, then fill the cupcakes 1/3 full with batter.

 Sprinkle with a generous teaspoonful of streusel, then another small scoop of the batter until the cups are filled 3/4 full.

Then sprinkle again with streusel.

Bake at 350ºF for 30 minutes or until lightly browned.

Drizzle with icing if desired.

Itadakimasu!

***

This is my friend Sue and her family.

Payton's growing up. She's going to have a baby brother soon!

Margie and Natalie are getting ready for shower guests.

Sue out-did herself with all the little details!

This is the color scheme Jen chose for the baby's room, and also for the shower.

This family loves daschunds--they've got four among them.

Look at these cute charms made for the parfait glasses--so cute!

The cookie pops had little 'thank you' charms on them too!

Have you tried a Johan Pie?

They are delicious!

Natalie is in coral and Sadie is in black.

Sadie is part daschund--so that bumps the family count to five!

Thank you, Sue, for the fun baby shower. We are all excited for the arrival of your second grandchild this fall!

***

Sour Cream Apple Coffee Cake Muffins

adapted from Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa

Ingredients:

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

3 extra-large eggs at room temperature

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups sour cream

2 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising)

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

2 apples, peeled, cored and diced

For the streusel:

1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

3/4 cup shopped pecans, optional

For the glaze:

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons real maple syrup or strong coffee

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Set cup cake wrappers into tin for 24 cupcakes.

Cream the butter and sugar with a mixer until light, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs 1 at a time, then add the vanilla and sour cream. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture to the batter until just combined. Fold in the diced apple until just combined.

Mix the ingredients for the streusel, then fill the cupcakes 1/3 full with batter.

Sprinkle with a generous teaspoonful of streusel, then another small scoop of the batter until the cups are filled 3/4 full. Then sprinkle again with streusel.

Bake at 350ºF for 30 minutes or until lightly browned.