Bacon, Avocado,Tomato Pasta

What's for lunch?

Sometimes I just look in the refrigerator to see 

what I can pull together for lunch.

 Today I found 1/2 of a tomato, 1/2 of an avocado, 

a few pieces of bacon, and a little leftover grated cheese. 

 All I needed to do was cook a little pasta, and

 Chop those few ingredients.

The rest of the ingredients I usually have on hand

 are: fresh basil from my garden, garlic, lemon juice, 

olive oil and s&p. Toss it all together.

Lunch is being served on the patio!

You don't need to follow the recipe exactly. 

It's just a guide. Use what you have. 

Just add your ingredients and toss.

B-A-T Pasta

2 C uncooked pasta, bow ties

4 slices bacon, cooked crisp

1/2 avocado, cubed

1/2 tomato, cubed

1/2 C shredded Italian cheese,

(Parmesan, Romano, Asiago or a combo)

1-2 cloves of garlic, minced

1/4-1/2 C fresh basil leaves, chopped

2 T lemon juice

Generous amount of salt and pepper to taste

Cook and drain the pasta. Rinse under cold water.

Put into a medium bowl, add other ingredients.

Toss to combine. Two large servings.

Enjoy!

"Ask not what you can do for your country. 
Ask what's for lunch." ... Orson Welles

This is similar to my Spinach Pasta Salad with Asiago Cheese
Links: Designs By Gollum

Walkabout Soup

This is a creamy onion soup that's like the

Walkabout soup served at the Outback.
Perfect soup for a winter day.

It's very easy to prepare. You'll need:

beef bouillon cubes, onions, flour, salt, pepper, 

cream, and shredded cheese. 

It's been in my recipe basket for over 15 years.

 If you can boil water

and slice an onion, you can make this soup.

Bring 8 cups of water and 8 bouillon cubes to a boil.

 Add the onions salt and pepper.
Simmer covered for 1 hour.

 Then gradually whisk in the flour.

The lumps will dissolve with an additional
 30 minutes of cooking.

Whisk until smooth.

Add the cream.

 Whisk to blend

 Stir in the cheese.

Let simmer another 5-10 minutes.

Serve!

My grandchildren loved this soup.
 Just remember to call it

Walkabout Soup and don't mention the onions.

Walkabout Soup

8 C water

8 beef bouillon cubes

3 onions, cut in half and thinly sliced

1 t salt

1 t pepper

3/4 C flour

1 C heavy cream

1 C shredded cheddar cheese

Bring the water and bouillon cubes to a boil.
Stir until dissolved. Add onions, salt and pepper. 

Cover and simmer for 1 hour. 

While stirring, slowly whisk in the flour.
Simmer covered for another 30 minutes,
whisking occasionally. Lumps will dissolve after
 additional  cooking Stir in the cream  then add
the cheese. Simmer another 5-10 minutes. 

Serve with a little cheese sprinkled on top, if desired.

8 servings/200calories

Enjoy!

Links: Between Naps On The Porch,
Designs By Gollum

Cranberry Baked Oatmeal

This is a warm crumbly oatmeal that's good 

 on a cold morning.  In South Florida that's 

anything below 60F!

 Flavored with brown sugar, cinnamon and
 fresh cranberries.

 Combine the dry ingredients.

 Melt the butter in the baking dish to grease the pan,

then pour into the wet ingredients.

 Whisk in the vanilla.

 Combine with the dry ingredients and stir
in the cranberries.

(This is half the recipe and used an 8" square pan.)

 Bake for 30 minutes. Small pan for 20.
Cut unto squares and serve.

 Top with warm cream if desired.

 Leftovers, can be reheated in the

microwave during the week.

Baked Cranberry Oatmeal

9X13 pan has 6-8 servings

3 C oatmeal

1 C brown sugar

2 t cinnamon

2 t baking powder

pinch salt

combine in a large bowl

in another bowl combine:

2 eggs

1 C milk

1 stick butter, melted

2 t vanilla

whisk together and combine with the

dry ingredients. Stir in

1 C fresh cranberries

Pour into the buttered 9X13 pan

and bake @350 for 30-40 minutes

Cut into large squares and serve with

warm cream if desired.

Enjoy!

Homemade Biscotti

Biscotti are a twice-baked Italian dipping cookie. 

They are wonderful with a latte or cappuccino. 

Perfect for dipping into your favorite coffee.

 The recipe is similar to mandelbrot or Mandlel Bread 

which dates back to early European cultures and 

is a popular Jewish treat. Mandel means almonds in

 German, so they traditionally have

 almonds and almond extract.

 Beat sugar and oil in an electric mixer 

until sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes.

 Add the eggs one at a time, beating until well incorporated.

 Gradually add the flour. 

Stir in the vanilla and almond extracts.

 Add the toasted almonds. Toasting brings out

 the flavor. I used the toaster oven and bake 

 for 5 minutes at 350 until fragrant and golden. 

You can easily add your own touches.  

 I used 1/2C almonds and 1/2C

mini chocolate chips. 

Spray a large (12X18) sheet pan.

 Pour the batter evenly on the pan.

 Bake in a 350 oven.

 Until golden, about 20 minutes.

 Remove from oven and let cool for 7 minutes.

 Turn out onto a cutting board.

 Slice lengthwise down the middle, 

then cut across into 1/2-to 3/4-inch strips

 You can also cut lengthwise into thirds 

to make smaller pieces.

 At this point I store some in the freezer before

 the second baking. When I want to serve them I 

remove from the freezer and let sit at room 

temperature for about 5 minutes then bake on a 

cookie sheet at 350 until toasted, about 8 minutes.

 Return the cookies to the sheet pan and return to 

the 350 oven and bake for 6 minutes then flip. 

and bake the other side for another 6 minutes. 

 Serve for coffee.

Store extra cookies in a large jar.

Biscotti

Almond or Chocolate Chip

1 C sugar

1 C  vegetable oil 

4 eggs

1-1/2 C flour

2 t vanilla extract

1 t almond extract

1 C toasted almonds

(or 1 C mini chocolate chips or

half of each)

Beat sugar and oil with a mixer until dissolved.

Add eggs one at a time, beating until well mixed.

Gradually add the flour. Stir in the extracts.

Stir in the almonds or mini chips.

Spread onto a sprayed baking sheet (12X18)

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes, until lightly golden. 

Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 7 minutes. 

Turn onto a cutting board and cut in half lengthwise, 

then cut across into 1/2" to 3/4" strips.

 Return cookies to the sheet pan and return to

oven to bake another 6 minutes, flip and bake 

the other side for another 6 minutes, until golden.

Enjoy! 

Links: Designs By Gollum