Author: Cissy Fridfinnsson

Mushroom Soup
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Mushroom Soup

Delicious Mushroom Soup

Well, hello friends.  It has been a very long time since I have posted on Tidbits of Joy.  2017 was a very hard year for me and my family.  With God’s grace and mercy we made it through but not without some life changes.  I will write later to fill you in.

It is oh so cold here in Atlanta.  I’m a Southern Girl that does not like cold weather.  But, it has made me want soup every day.  I love soup all kinds.  This Mushroom Soup is so tasty and easy to make.  I hope you will give it a try.

Mushroom Soup

A delicious, full of flavor Mushroom Soup
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Servings: 6
Course: Soup
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound white mushrooms cleaned
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice, I used bottle juice
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 Bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup half n half. You can use all half n half instead of heavy cream. So total half n half would be 2 cups
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon of water

Method
 

  1. Sprinkle mushrooms with lemon juice. In food processor, coarsely chop them
  2. Melt butter in large saucepan and lightly sauté the onions
  3. Add mushrooms, thyme and bay leaf and sauté over moderate heat for 10 minutes, or until the liquid disappears
  4. Add salt, pepper, cream, half n half and chicken stock. Bring to a boil
  5. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes
  6. Add cornstarch ( that has been dissolved in water) to the soup and mix well
  7. Continue to simmer for 10 minutes longer
  8. Serve in bowls or cups

Notes

Notes:
This soup in not a thick soup so it is perfect for enjoying from a cup.
I used bottle lemon juice because it was easier.
For less calories and fat content use all half n half and no heavy cream.
This soup freezes well so make a double batch.
 

This recipe calls for Chicken stock.  What is the difference between chicken stock and chicken broth?  From Google, what did we ever do before Google?

Chicken stock tends to be made more from bony parts, whereas chicken broth is made more out of meat. Chicken stock tends to have a fuller mouth feel and richer flavor, due to the gelatin released by long-simmering bones.

Health Benefits of Chicken Broth. … Rich homemade chicken broths help cure colds. Stock contains minerals in a form the body can absorb easily—not just calcium, but also magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sulphur and trace minerals.

I enjoy a hot cup of chicken stock on a cold day.

 

Mushrooms sprinkled and mixed with lemon juice
Chop the mushrooms in food processor. This small food processor is a must for my kitchen.
Saute mushrooms in butter till liquid disappears
Cornstarch for thickening before adding water
Cornstarch mixed well with water. Always use cold water

 

May your kitchen be filled with love, laughter, great aromas, delicious food, friends and family!  Happy New Year…Many Blessings and all God’s Goodness and Joy for 2018

 Thanks to my sweet friend, Linda, for the Southern Lady Kitchen Towel.

Chicken Tortellini Florentine Soup
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Chicken Tortellini Florentine Soup

Delicious Bowl of Hearty Chicken Tortellini Florentine Soup
“The Best I Ever Made”  Look at that rich broth and such a colorful soup.   Delish 

Hi Friends, Long time no post!!!  I have missed you and hope to get back to sharing some great dishes I made all summer.   I hope you are well and enjoying your family and friends.   I have been so busy with so many things.  Part of that busyness has been cooking for friends who are going through some really hard health issues.  This soup is one that I have made for them.   When you think of summer you don’t usually think of soup, but it seems folks including me, love soup all year.  With the arrival of fall, it doesn’t seem like it in “Hot Atlanta”, soup days are here.  Have you discovered Costco’s rotisserie chicken pulled off the bone and packaged in shrink-wrap?  It makes any dish that calls for cooked chopped or shredded chicken so easy and quick.  Check out the photos below.  Of course you can always cook the chicken for the recipe or buy a rotisserie chicken and pull off the meat.  When time is short go for the quick and easy way.  I hope you will try this easy, hearty, rich broth soup and make some to share.  It does freeze well.   It will be the “Best you ever made”!   Let me know your favorite soup and what you think about this one.   I love feedback. 

Costco's Rotisserie Chicken
Costco’s Rotisserie Packaged Chicken
Rotisserie Chicken
Rotisserie Chicken ready for chopping
Adding Spinach to Soup
"Plop Measuring gadget"
Sour cream measured in handy “plop” gadget. My favorite way to measure sticky items.
Boiling Tortellini
Boiling Tortellini according to package directions. Making 3 recipes to share.
Enjoy!
Delicious Bowl of Hearty Chicken Tortellini Florentine Soup

Chicken Tortellini Florentine Soup

Flavorful easy to make hearty soup
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Servings: 6
Course: Soup
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 9 oz package refrigerated 3-cheese tortellini
  • 2 14 oz cans reduced sodium chicken broth
  • 1 10 oz container refrigerated light Alfredo Pasta sauce
  • 2 cups deli roasted chicken, shredded
  • 1 8 oz Sour Cream
  • 1/2 cup oil-packed dried tomato strips, drained
  • 3 cups lightly packed fresh baby spinach
  • 1 oz Parmesan cheese, shaved or shredded

Method
 

  1. In a 4 quart pot cook tortellini according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
  2. In the same pot combine broth, alfredo sauce and sour cream
  3. Stir in chicken and tomato strips. Heat just to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.
  4. Add cooked tortellini and spinach to chicken mixture. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes to heat through and wilt spinach.
  5. To serve: sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Almond Torte
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Almond Torte

 

“The Best I Ever Made”

Hi Friends,  It has been a long time since I posted on Tidbits of Joy.  I took a new job as office manager for Pinnacle Endodontics, Dr. Cameron Howard last year.  Now that it is up and running I can scale back on the days I work.  So, I am hoping to get back to posting and hearing from you.

This is a simple but elegant Torte that my friend Marcy Howard made a lot this past Holiday Season.  The great thing is the recipe makes two so one to serve now and one to freeze.  Are you surprised that I like this?   I am making it today to take to our small group “Retreat” next weekend.  We all bring a meal and I am doing homemade lasagna, which I already made and put in the freezer, a chopped salad and this yummy Almond Torte.  I like to serve this Torte with whipped cream and berries.  I hope you will try it and let me know what you think.  

The credit for this Torte goes to Anna Lee’s Kitchen in Roswell, Georgia.  Her restaurant is known for cooking classes and wonderful lunches.  Over the years I have attended many classes and have acquired a lot of great recipes that I serve over and over. 

Happy 2016 and whatever you cook “It will be the best you ever made”.

Break eggs one at a time in separate bowl before adding to mixing bowl.
Break eggs one at a time in separate bowl before adding to mixing bowl.
Ready for oven all sprinkled with sugar and almonds
Ready for oven all sprinkled with sugar and almonds
Right out of oven
Right out of oven… We like it brown but you can cover with foil the last 5 to 7 minutes to prevent browning.
 

Almond Tart

Buttery almond flavored tart
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Servings: 8
Course: Dessert
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound unsalted butter (4 sticks)
  • 4 teaspoons vanilla
  • 4 cups plain flour
  • 4 cups sugar plus 2 tablespoons
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds

Method
 

  1. Grease and flour two 10" spring form or tart pans
    2. Tip: cut parchment paper to fit in bottom
  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  3. Mix butter, eggs, almond extract and vanilla extract
    4. Tip: Break eggs one at a time into separate bowl before adding to butter. This will help to pick out eggs shells if you get any.
  4. Add flour and sugar to moist ingredients stir together
  5. Pour into prepared pans and smooth
  6. Sprinkle with sugar ( 1 tablespoon per tart) and sliced almonds (1/4 cup per tart)
  7. Bake 35 minutes…it will not look done but it will set up after cooking.
    8. Tip: Cover with foil last 7 to 10 minutes to prevent browning too much.
  8. Cool 10 minutes in pan before releasing

Notes

Notes:
Serve with whipped cream and berries.
Freezes well which is great since the recipe makes two.   One to enjoy and one to share.