Make a Weeknight Dinner Special Challenge--European Backpacking theme

I think most parents know the challenges of making a good and healthy dinner on a weeknight.  When asked to take this Make a weeknight dinner special challenge, sponsored by Bertolli Meal Soups, I was up for it.  We were only given one hour preparation time, which is about the most we have to prepare our families a meal, but this time making it a little more special than frozen nuggets and mac and cheese.


I have used Bertolli sauces and olive oil before but have never tried their frozen meals.
I was thrilled to find these soups come in 4 different flavors, Chicken Minestrone, Roasted Chicken and Rotini Pasta, Tomato Florentine and Tortellini with Chicken, and Tuscan-Style Beef and Vegetable.  If you have not noticed the theme these are all robust and hearty for a busy day.

The package suggests it only serves 2 people, so I am a little worried about how I will feed my family on this little amount.  Since my husband usually gets home late, I fed the kids something and made a special place setting just for us.  My theme, european backpacking.  If you went abroad you know what I am talking about, all you bought for meals was usually a bottle of wine, some cheese and bread.  If you were lucky you bought something else of substance.

Bring back memories

The next challenge was making this meal special, more than opening a frozen meal option and throwing into the microwave.  


Fortunately for me my family loves soups so I had a feeling this would help keeping everyone happy.  I had no idea January was National Soup Month.  I guess that makes sense with the cold weather.  I know I have cooked several soups this month.  Obviously this was by far the easiest!!


So how did I make this night special:


 I toasted some bakery style bread for croutons.  First rubbed with olive oil and a cut garlic clove. In the oven at 350 until golden brown.   Then sprinkled with parmesan cheese and toast another minute.  If you don't want to use the oven, just toast a few slices in the toaster.  Once out spread it with butter and rub them with a cut piece of garlic.  Surprising what a great and quick garlic bread taste you get.  

Cake 

With only an hour to prepare, I had my daughter and her friend find a recipe using boxed cake mix.  They discovered Chocolate Chip Cookie cake. (I will post about this later)  To make these even faster you could make cupcakes, they cook in half the time.  Once the hour buzzer ended for food preparation, the cake was cooling and we were eating our soups.


Decorations:

Since I was making it for my husband and I,  my daughter and I used some French themed placemats and napkins, added a tray of the bread and cut up fruits and cheese.
Added some candlesticks and a bottle of wine.  This says special on the weeknight, even the weekend in our house!

Just plate the soup and add the crouton on top with a little extra cheese if you wish.

REVIEW OF SOUP: My husband and I were both impressed with the soup. This was not like a canned soup with overcooked veggies and pasta, but was just as easy.  All you do is add 1 cup of water to the frozen mixture and bring to a boil.  Worried about the sodium I added about 1 1/2/2 cups of water and it was still delicious.   


 It is pretty true to its serving size, my husband and I both had a large bowl and my husband went back for a little extra and my son snuck a smaller bowl.  

Right out of bad

You could probably extend it to feed a family of four by adding some more chicken stock and a can of beans but don't mess with it too much.


 
Thanks Bortelli for giving me an excuse to dress up my table and enjoy some quiet time with my husband.  Sometimes we feel we have to made an extravagant meal to impress, but a hearty soup and some bread, fruit and cheeses will do the trick!

These soups can be found in the Frozen section at your grocers to find a retailer near you, check out Bertolli's Website.  You can also find more about Bertolli and these Meal soups and other products on Facebook and Twitter.


I was fully compensated by Bertolli to participate in the Weeknight Meal Special Challenge.

A SOUPER Valentine's Day Gift

I am always trying to come up with something thoughtful teachers gifts since they work so hard.  I also like to make things that don't necessarily need to be eaten within a few days.  They get enough of those types of gifts.  A few years ago we did these Cookies in a Jar which I think went over well.

This year I was looking through my Gifts in a Jar book I purchased even before I was married for ideas.  Came up with bean soup with the theme of "SOUPER TEACHER".   Valentine's Day is held in a colder month and who does not enjoy a nice cup of warm soup on a cold day.

I have also heard of people having a Souper Bowl Party and exchanging jars of soup, these would make a great party favors or you can swap mixes instead of prepared soups.  These would also make great hostess gifts if you add a french loaf or a ladle.

When picking your recipe consider any dietary restrictions of your teacher, one of my child's is a vegetarian so I purchased vegetable bullion instead of chicken.

Package the beans in a cellophane bag, I doubled them for protection, or in a cleaned out pickle or jelly jar.  (If reusing a food jar, especially pickle, just be sure you put it in the dishwasher a few times!)

Make an attractive tag either on your computer, I use Avery.com and used a folding half card as a template.

I tried this one on Picnik.com  but it did not turn out the way I thought.  You can not see the recipe.

Print, cut  out and staple them shut to the bag.  If using a jar, you can just make a flat card shape and just tie it to the jar lid.

Back of label

Recipes to make soup mix:

Split Pea Soup
1 pound of green split peas
1/4 cup red lentils
1/4 cup yellow split peas (could not find so used 1/2 cup red)
2 tsps salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp dried thyme
1 bay leaf

Combine all ingredients and place in a sealed container.

Lentil Soup
2 cups dried lentils  ( I used both green and red)
3 chicken Bouillon cubes, crumbled
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Mix all ingredients well in a bowl and place in well sealed container


Recipes to print on gift tag:

Split Pea Soup Recipe

2 tablesppons vegeable oil

1 medium onion, chopped

3 carrots, peeled and chopped

3 ribs of celery, chopped

1 lb polish sausage sliced in rounds

or ham hock (optional)

1 pkg split pea soup mix

2 1/2 quarts of water

Heat the oil in a large stockpot. Add the onions, carrots, celery and meat if using. Saute intil the veggies are tender. Add the Split Pea Soup Mix and the water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook over low for 2 to 3 hrs.

Lentil Soup Recipe

2 carrots, peeled and chopped

2 ribs of celery, chopped

1 pkg Lentil soup mix

2 quarts of water

In a large stockpop add the Split Pea Soup Mix and the water and bring to a boil. Add the veggies. Reduce the heat to simmer and cook partially covered, over low for 2 hrs until lentils are soft.

Red Velvet Cupcakes

I never got around to posting these at christmas but I figured what is more Valentine's Day than Red Velvet and even easier, Cupcakes.

Disguised for Valentines Day!

I am not sure why I bother making desserts for big groups of women.  They never eat, I made 24 of these for a party and no one touched a single one.  They don't look that bad do they?

Anyway, I found this recipe in December's issue of Southern Living and just tweeked the frosting.  I chose to make a traditional cream cheese frosting!

They were a little dry but once I put them in tupperware overnight they got better. I probably just over cooked them slightly.  Needless to say, I am sure your loved ones or kids classmates will enjoy eating one of these at their Valentine's Day Party.

Look at the amazing color after you add the full body of food coloring!1

 Even better look what Santa gave mom this year, a scraper blade for my
kitchenaide blades
 Love it and makes baking that much easier, no stopping the mixer and scraping the sides.  Just be sure you buy the one that fits your machine.

This is a very dense dough.

Love my cupcake holder, shows off the cute pink foil cupcake liners.

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