Sunday, October 4, 2009

Beef Vegetable Soup

It's a rainy weekend here in Austin. We need the rain badly so no one is complaining. My little bitty was sick last week so I thought that some Beef Soup would be great for us all. This is one of those recipes that does not have a recipe. My grandmother just "makes it.". Each time you make this soup it can be just a little bit different. I think that's what is part of it's appeal. I've made it with leftovers, cleaned out the fridge or punted when I didn't have some ingredients that normally go into it. Once I used rice instead of noodles. It's a great go-to dish for a rainy weekend when you really don't want to go to the store.

Beef Vegetable Soup

2-3 pieces of Beef soup bone
Worcestershire sauce
chili powder or Emeril's Essence
celery
onion
garlic
carrots
potatoes
mixed veggie (canned or frozen)
noodles

Salt and pepper the beef. Place in the hot soup pan and sear. Remove meat, add celery, onion, and garlic to sweat. Return meat to the pot and add 4 quarts of water with the Worcestershire sauce and chili powder. Chop carrots and potatoes and add to the pot. Bring to a rapid boil. Add the mixed vegetables. Reduce heat and let cook for about 30 minutes. Add a bag of very thin egg noodles. Cook until noodles are tender.

Serve soup with bread sticks or hot rolls and a salad.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Cowboy Cookies


It's a rainy weekend around here. These are easy cookies to whip up with the kids. My grandmother always makes these cookies. When I was in college I would get care packages around the time of finals with a coffee tin full of Cowboy Cookies.

Cowboy Cookies

2 c. sifted flour

1 tsp. soda

½ tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

1 c. shortening (Mimmie uses oleo)

1 c. granulated sugar

1 c. brown sugar

2 eggs

2 c. rolled oats

1 tsp. vanilla

1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips

½ c. chopped pecans

Sift together and set aside flower, soda, baking powder and salt. Blend together shortening and sugar. Add eggs and beat until light and fluffy. Add flour mixture and mix well. Then add oats, vanilla, chocolate chips and nuts. Mix all together and make in moderate oven, heated to 350°, 12 to 15 minutes. This makes around 4 dozen cookies.