Johnny Cakes

The kids wanted a pioneer breakfast, so I kind of made up this recipe for cornmeal pancakes, and we all loved them!

1 cup cornmeal or corn flour (you may have to add a little extra milk if using corn flour)
1 cup flour (I like to use half oat flour, half AP)
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
2 eggs
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla

Mix together dry ingredients, then whisk in the wet ingredients until smooth. Cook on a hot, buttered skillet or griddle. Makes about 14-16 pancakes using 1/4 cup batter each.

Shakshuka

I can't believe this recipe isn't already on this blog! We love this breakfast that we discovered in Israel a few years ago.

1 tbsp olive oil

1/2 medium brown or white onion, peeled and diced

1 clove garlic, minced

1 medium green or red bell pepper, chopped

4 cups ripe diced tomatoes, or 2 cans (14 oz. each) diced tomatoes

2 tbsp tomato paste

1 tsp chili powder (mild)

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp paprika

Pinch of cayenne pepper (or more to taste-- spicy!)

Pinch of sugar (optional, to taste)

Salt and pepper to taste

5-6 eggs

1/2 tbsp fresh chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)

See the full post: http://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/2010/07/summer-2010-travel-blog-shakshuka/

Meatball Soup

I can't believe we don't have this on the blog yet! This is definitely one of my favorite soups, and my kids are warming up to it now. 5th time's a charm. :) I'm always amazed at how much flavor it has.  It's a very hearty, healthy, delicious meal! I got the recipe from my friend Shay, and she calls it Meatball Minestrone, but in our family it's become simply Meatball Soup.

This is a very forgiving soup, you can put pretty much anything in or leave it out if you don't have or don't like it, after the first 5 ingredients.

Cook together:

15-30 Italian style meatballs

6 cups chicken broth

1 can Italian diced or stewed tomatoes (I use regular diced tomatoes)

1 onion, diced

1 T. Italian seasoning

Add some or all of the following ingredients and bring to a boil:

1 sm. bag baby carrots, or 2-3 carrots diced

1 can green beans

1 can garbanzo beans (chick peas)

1 can kidney beans (or black, pinto, navy, whatever), drained and rinsed

1 can corn, drained

1 sm. can mushrooms

Toward the end of cook time, add:

1 cup small pasta* (like Radiatore, but I usually just use macaroni)

1 cup peas, opt.

1 cup sliced zucchini, opt (I use in the summer)

*Pasta: Either add toward the end of the cooking time (following package directions for cook time), or do as I do and cook it separately, then add to soup or just to individual bowls (I like to store leftover pasta separate from the soup so it doesn't soak up the liquid).