Minestrone Soup

1 onion finely chopped

1-2 cloves garlic

1 1/2 cups chopped celery

1 1/2 tbsp olive oil

4 cups chopped tomatoes with juice (or 6 oz. can tomato paste and 3 cups vegetable stock)

2 bay leaves

1 tsp oregano

2 tsp basil

pinch fennel seed (optional)

2 cups or more chopped of any of the vegetables in combination: carrot, zucchini, potato, broccoli, green beans, green pepper, cabbage pease, corn, sauteed mushrooms

1 cup cooked beans: lima, kidney, pinto, black or garbanxo

Handful of raw pasta added near the end

Salt to taste

Plenty of pepper to taste

Tender greens cut up

1/2 cup chopped parsley

Saute onion, garlic and celery in oil until soft. Crush garlic, Add tomatoes and herbs.  Simmer soup gently while you prepare rest of ingredients. Steam vegetables lightly before you add to tomato base to retain colour.  Add tender greens a few minutes before serving.  After combining all ingredients bring to a boil, simmer briefly and adjust seasonings.  Garnish with sprinkled Parmesan cheese if desired.

Makes 10 cups- serves 6 generously.

Irish Soda Bread   350F for 40 min

1 cup white flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup quick oats

1 egg

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2/3 cup sultana raisins

2 tablespoon butter

1 cup buttermilk or 2/3 cup milk and 1/3 cup yogurt

1 tsp grated lemon or orange peel

Combine flours, oats, salt, baking powder, soda.  Cut in butter, Combine wet ingredients then stir in to dry ingredients.  Add raisins and peel.  Knead in the bowl, adding flour if the mixture is too wet.  Shape into a flat disc about 2 1/2 inches high on a baking sheet.  Cut a cross in the top with a sharp knife.  Bake for 40 minutes.  Cool on a rack and wait for two hours to eat (if you can). 

Variations: Instead of raisins and peel

Cheese and onion: add 1 cup shredded cheddar, 1/4 cup chopped green onion and pinch of cayenne.

Honey Apricot: omit sugar, add 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots and 1/3 cup liquid honey. Drizzle cool loaf with 1/2 cup icing sugar and 2 tbsp orange juice.

Apple Crisp       350F for 40 minutes

Tip: buying overripe fruit from greengrocer will save you money and taste the same.

Approx: 8 apples chopped…enough to cover bottom of whatever pan you’re using.

3/4 cup oats

1/2 cup brown sugar  

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup flour

1/3 cup butter

Mix dry ingredients, then cut in butter.

Fill a 9” pie plate or square pan with cut up fruit, arrange topping over the fruit.  Bake for 40 minutes.  May be served with ice cream or yogurt. 

Variation: add 1/2 cup of cranberries, blueberries, strawberries, rhubarb or peaches for a fruit crisp.