Christina's Roasted Sweet Potato Soup with Curried Apples

source unknown

2 1/2 pounds sweet potatoes (3 0r 4)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, sliced
course salt and ground pepper
1 red bell pepper, ribs and seeds removed, thinly sliced
2 jalapeno peppers, ribs and seeds removed, thinly sliced 
3 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
4 cups vegetable broth, homemade or canned (2 cans)
2 teaspoons white-wine vinegar (or whatever kind you have)
1 teaspoon honey
1/4 teaspoon curry powder
1 small tart apple, diced
1/4 cup plain yogurt (or sour cream)
2 tablespoons chopped mint, for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 4oo degrees. Place sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and roast for 1 hour, turning once, or until potatoes are very soft. When cool enough to handle, scoop cooked potatoes out of the skins. Discard the skins. Or you can cheat and put them in the microwave wrapped in plastic and cook them 20 minutes on 70% power.
2. Meanwhile, in a large soup pot, heat oil over medium. Add onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and caramelized, about 20 min. Add bell pepper, jalapenos, and garlic; cook for 5 min. Add sweet potato and broth, stir. Bring to a boil, reduce to simmer, and cook for 20 minutes, until flavors have blended.
3. Working in batches, puree soup in a blender. Combine batches in a clean bowl. The soup should be thick. (If you prefer a thinner soup, add water or more broth). Taste and adjust seasoning.
4. In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring vinegar, honey, and curry powder to a boil. Add apple; stir for 1 minute and remove from heat. To serve, ladle the soup into bowls, ad spoonful of apples, spoonful of yogurt and a sprinkle of mint.

Christina's Peanut Butter Stew/Jambalaya

from Coupon Geek

Canola oil or 2 tsp peanut oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
3/4 cup white rice
3/4 cup plus 1 TB broth (chicken or vegetable) or water (need more for stew; this makes jambalaya consistency)
1/2 to 3/4 lb chicken breasts or thighs
1/2 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and sliced
2/3 cup milk or water
2-4 garlic cloves, minced or crushed
1/2 tsp cayenne
Sea salt, to taste
3 TB peanut butter, chunky or creamy
3 to 4 tomatoes, diced or one 14 oz can diced, drained
1/2 sweet potato, cut into 3/4 inch cubes
1 handful of fresh spinach or 5 oz frozen

1) Preheat oven to 450 degrees
2) Spray the inside and lid of a cast-iron Dutch oven with canola oil or wipe with peanut oil
3) Scatter the diced onion in the pot.
4) Rinse the rice in a strainer under cold water until the water runs clear. Add the rice and the broth/water and stir to make an even layer.
5) Place the chicken on the rice. Add the bell pepper.
5) Whisk the milk, garlic, cayenne, sea salt, and peanut butter in a measuring cup until the peanut butter dissolves. Pour over the chicken.
6) Layer in the tomatoes, sweet potato, and spinach.
7) Cover and bake for 90 minutes or “until 3 minutes after the aroma of a fully cooked meal escapes the oven.” Serve immediately.

Christina's One Bowl Brownies

from Smitten Kitchen

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate (or 3/4 C cocoa powder and 1/4 C oil)
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter
1 3/4cups sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup flour

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 13×9-inch (or 9x9) baking pan.


Microwave chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl on high for 2 minutes, or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in sugar. Blend in eggs and vanilla. Add flour and salt; mix well. Spread into prepared pan.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes (50ish minutes for a 9x9 pan) or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with fudgy crumbs.

Christina's Fresh Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

from Our Best Bites

1 1/2 C. milk (2% or whole milk)

1 1/2 C. whipping cream

pinch of salt

1 C. well-washed, packed fresh mint (you can leave the stems on)

1/2 heaping C. sugar

4 egg yolks

3-4 ounces dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips

Combine milk, 1 C. whipping cream, salt, and fresh mint in a medium saucepan.

Scald milk mixture (heat until bubbles appear around the edges) and then remove from heat. Allow to stand 20 minutes.

Combine egg yolks and remaining 1/2 C. cream in a small mixing bowl. Mix with sugar. Set aside.

When milk/mint mixture has stood for 20 minutes, slowly whisk about 1/2 of the mixture into the egg mixture. Combine completely. Return pan and remaining milk mixture to the stove on low heat and slowly whisk egg mixture into the pan. Stirring constantly over low heat, heat until the mixture reaches 160 degrees. Remove from heat. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and chill completely.

When custard is very cold, freeze according to manufacturer's instructions. When the ice cream is almost done, add chocolate chips and allow them to mix into the ice cream completely. Transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for an additional 2-3 hours.

Christina's Chicken Salad

original recipe

1 lb chicken thighs, cooked and chopped
1/2 small apple, diced
1 stalk bekana, diced (I'm sure celery would work great.)
1 bunch scallions, diced
1/4 tsp curry powder
1 dash red wine vinegar
mayonnaise
kosher salt

Combine all ingredients. Add mayo and salt to taste. Chill before serving.