Menu Monday on Sunday - The world's gone crazy.

I had to post this a day early because Melissa's birthday is tomorrow and I dont' want her to have to share her day with a menu. As a result, you, my lucky reader, get treated to an EXTRA day of our eating habits. Aren't you all warm and fuzzy inside now?!?!?!?!?

This week is going to be rough. It's back to the ol' grind stone for all of us. So the menu has to be really easy.

Sunday - Chili served over Rice, Salad and Milk. (I love milk with my Chili. I think it soothes the heat.)

Monday - Sopa, grilled cheese and apple sauce. It's Melissa's birthday and she get to choose. Hmmm.

Tuesday - Pasta with jarred sauce and Salad. (I have to heat up 2 different sauces because my kookie family won't eat the same one.)

Wednesday - Tequila Lime Chicken, Rice, Asparagus and Salad

Thursday - Burritos/Soft tacos

Friday - Kielbasa, Buttered Noodles, Green Beans and Salad

Saturday - Pizza (might be home-made this time)

Sunday - Chicken Stew (Mom's recipe - Yummmmm)

If you feel so inclined, join me in this crazy quest I like to call Menu Monday. Post here with a link to yours.

Opus Gluei - Comfort Me - Sopa

The challenge this week on The Order of the OPUS GLUEI is "Comfort Me". Use your comfort food for inspiration.



My comfort food is really more of a category. In college I would sleep in on Saturdays and when I would wake up, I would watch Julia Child create some of the tastiest looking dishes. I would watch her from my bed until I finally had to get something to eat. Nothing as wonderful as I had just witnessed, but food. I still watch cooking shows on occasion. I can relate most to Rachel Ray. I don't have any formal training. But I love food and I love to cook. I have also "surfed" many a blog and seen many wonderful "Tutorials" on how to make certain dishes. So I decided to share one of my favorite dishes with you.


Here is my attempt to join the ranks of the cooking instructors:

Sopa

My Nana would make this dish every time I went to her house.

"Are you hungry?" was the first question out of her mouth.

WITH OUT FAIL.

She wanted to feed everyone that wandered through her door.

And she did!

Eating this makes me feel loved and warm all over.

Just like Nana did.

Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 T vegetable oil
1 lb. small pasta shape - I used orzo this day - uncooked
1/2 cup chopped onion - I normally use yellow, but had red in the fridge, so I used that
4 cloves garlic peeled and smashed
1 t oregano

6 chicken or beef bullion cubes - depends on what you are making with this dish
8 oz tomato sauce

6 cups water

Directions:

Pour vegetable oil in pan over medium heat. Let oil heat up.

Add uncooked pasta and stir to coat with the oil.

Stir about ever few minutes, add onion after about 3 minutes.

Stir. Let cook for about 5 minutes. Stirring about every 2-3 minutes so as not to burn anything.

Add oregano and bullion cubes. Continue to stir until pasta is a golden brown. Some will not be browned. This is okay. (Kind of like when you make Rice-a-Roni)

Add garlic and let cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Add tomato sauce. Stir.

Add water. Mix together.

Bring to a boil. Then lower heat and let simmer.

Sopa will be ready in about 15 minutes until pasta is tender. Sopa will be kinda of soupy. The pasta will continue to absorb the liquid as it sits.

Serve in bowls with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. I also serve with tortilla. Or quesadillas.

Leftovers are usually not available. But, if they are, this can be reheated in the microwave.

It won't be as wet, but it will still be tasty. I have to admit, I prefer this fresh cooked.

If you try this, let me know how it turned out for you.