onion Archives - Simply Sells Kitchen

Instant Pot Black Beans

Sandra Sells — Thu, 05 May 2022 22:41:40 +0000

Simple, healthy, and kid friendly meals are a must when you are a busy family. My children absolutely devour a bowl of this instant pot black beans and rice. We have truly made this a weekly staple. My son loves to squeeze his own limes on top and sprinkle on a little salt. I believe that you can teach your kids what food is normal in your family. Children can be extremely picky when it comes to dinner time. I find it’s just about offering them what is cooked and making no other options available. We have a rule that you must try everything; We call it our “two-bite rule”. Because black beans and rice are something we have made since the kids were babies, it has not been an issue. Of course, they love their nuggets and fries now and then, but we really try to give their bodies and taste buds a variety of foods that are good for them. As we know black beans are loaded with iron, antioxidants, fiber, protein, and good carbohydrates. Easy Household Recipes I have a few recipes that are loaded with nutrients, super easy, and on repeat at my house. One being quinoa cooked in chicken stock with a delicious tomato sauce and served with meatballs. Another recipe that I truly love, which takes a little bit more effort but is a very rich dinnertime experience, is a roasted sheet pan dinner. For this one, I preheat the oven to 400℉ and take 3-4 large chicken breasts (bone in, with skin) and place them on a large sheet pan. I then surround the chicken with cubed white or sweet potatoes, Brussel sprouts, and large chunks of onion. To season, I drizzle the ingredients with olive oil and sprinkle them with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper to taste. I then place the pan in the preheated oven and roast the meal for about 40-45 minutes, depending on the level of crispiness I want. Another great meal is our Shepherd’s Pie—you have to try it! And this next meal is an absolute favorite in my family—black beans and rice! Black beans and rice are a menu item that many people are familiar with. It crosses many cultural boundaries and can be as flavorful as the cook desires. It has a reputation for being a simple meal that is very cost efficient and packs a lot of nutrition. Recipe I have come up with the most “set it and forget it” black bean meal I have ever made. It only requires three ingredients and my Instant Pot. I put a large 32 oz bag of dried black beans, a 24 oz jar of my favorite salsa, and 72 oz of water (just fill the jar of salsa with water 3 times) in the Instant Pot, and then set it to pressure cook on high for 45 minutes. That’s it! I do make white rice with toppings to go along with the black beans, but it is still so simple. For vegetarian and vegan diets, this is a great protein rich meal. We sometimes top the beans with squeezed lime juice, a little salt, sour cream, or some shredded cheddar cheese. Alternatively, you can add the lime juice, salt, and a little vegan mozzarella cheese. This recipe is versatile and can be adapted to your preference. If you want the black beans a little runnier you can add more water or chicken stock to your desired liking. Personally, I don’t even add salt to this; the salsa does all the work. I tend to lean towards a mild salsa because of the kids but the spicier the better in my book. If you want to add a little more heat you can even cut up some pepperoncini peppers and add them to the Instant Pot (they are a great addition). Here is a great tip for added spice and flavor: splash some vinegar in the Instant Pot as some of the liquid. The vinegar will surprise your taste buds. I also have a friend that uses whiskey in her black beans. What can I say, be creative!

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Chickpea, Tomato, & Cucumber Salad

Sandra Sells — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 17:03:25 +0000

Spring is here and summer is on the way, so it’s time to start making those fresh salads! We love a greek salad which is what I have made versions of this chickpea tomato and cucumber salad for years. However, I’ve never written down the recipe until now as it can be made in so many different ways. Fast & Fresh I think a fresh salad doesn’t always have to be just lettuce and ranch dressing. Salad can have many textures and vegetables, and a depth of flavor that will have you begging for seconds. One of the benefits of this recipe is that it can handle being stored in the fridge for several days. In fact the chickpea tomato and cucumber salad gets even better over time. This salad is so simple it can be made right in your favorite wooden salad bowl or an easy to store container. We sometimes store ours in a mason jar, especially when food prepping for the week. We love pouring this salad over a hearty grain like farro, quinoa, couscous, or even brown rice. Other times, we like to throw a few Kalamata olives in and pour it over a bed of lettuce to make a delicious cool salad. Recipe Start by washing your vegetables and peeling and chopping them. Drain the chickpeas (dry them if you prefer). Combine everything in a bowl or container, add the feta cheese and mix or shake it all up. Put all the Greek salad dressing ingredients in a mason jar, and then shake it to mix. Drizzle the dressing on top of the salad and stir or shake the dressing and salad mixture until combined. Wow! The lemon and garlic in the dressing makes this salad so fresh and flavorful! One of the amazing things about it is the lemon in the dressing helps delay the browning of the avocado. I hope that you make this for your next meal or gathering!

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Tomato Soup

Sandra Sells — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 13:48:15 +0000

So, we had our friends over this past weekend and decided to indulge in a childhood favorite. The inspiration for tomato soup came from our friend Josiah. He requested a grilled ham and cheese sandwich with tomato soup when a group of us went out to eat. His choice caught everyone’s attention and left us craving the comfort food that he had ordered! We are always looking for ways to please a crowd. Our home has always been an open door to amazing people that we do life with. Feeding them is our love language. I have learned in my tomato soup journey that it is very different from marinara sauce. The texture and levels of flavor are very different, and should be. For me, it’s ok to have some texture and a little spice in my tomato soup. To me it lets you know that it was made from the heart and from scratch. Although I love tomato soup, I had not really made it from scratch before. Campbells has been the tomato soup of most our childhood. However when expressing our art and love of food it had to be home made and a little more grown up. Recipe I started by dicing 2 large, sweet onions and about 6 medium peeled carrots. Next, I sautéed the onions and carrots in a fair amount of butter and olive oil. When it was browned, I added some garlic. At this point the aroma coming up from my pan was dreamy! I added some salt, pepper and spices to the pan, making sure I didn’t forget the secret ingredient—red pepper flakes. The red pepper flakes take the soup up a few notches. When everything looked lightly browned and caramelized, I added the diced tomatoes. This helps to deglaze the pan and mix all the flavors together. Once combined, I put the mixture in my Instant Pot and added the chicken stock. I set the cooker to slow cooker, the temperature to medium heat, and the cook time to about 5–6 hours. This soup is done at any point you would like it to be. However I do enjoy letting the soup cook and flavors deepen over time. This soup was a make ahead meal for us for an after church gathering. When we were ready to serve it, I placed the soup in my Vitamix blender. I made sure the center hole of the lid was open. This is to prevent a hot soup explosion. Due to its hot temperature make sure to cover the center hole with a towel. I then blended the soup to our desired smoothness. Another way to blend the soup is to use an immersion blender if you have one available. When the soup was blended, I put it back into the pan and added one cup of heavy whipping cream. Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese Party At this point it was looking like the most indulgent tomato soup I have ever had. Upon taste test I knew it was. A tip is to arrange a few different types of bakery style bread with an array of sliced cheeses. Maybe even some deli ham, turkey, or chicken. Our cheeses we used ranged from a mild mozzarella to a spicy pepper jack. The countertop griddle was heated up and the butter was ready to spread on the bread. Everyone that came over got to pick their cheese and bread. We then joined the line for the make-your-own grilled cheese sandwich buffet. This was a fun party and having the activity of making your own sandwich created a great memory. Our guests were able to be creative and custom make the grilled cheese sandwich of their dreams. Obviously, there were also a variety of mustards, pickles, jalapenos, and mayo condiments and even some hot sauces to add a special touch. This meal was familiar to everyone and, though simple, it caused some great smiles and full bellies. The cheese pulls and tomato soup dipping had begun. I am sure we will do this again!

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Shepherd’s Pie

Sandra Sells — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 15:38:13 +0000

When growing up, there were three or four favorite recipes that we repeatedly made in my mother’s house, and I bet your family did the same thing. These days, I find myself going through seasons where certain meals in our house are repeated. I think it’s because they’ve become our family favorites, especially for the weeknights. Kodi and I find food to be our creative outlet and something that inspires us as part of living well and loving well. We love to cook and make new creations in the kitchen, but sometimes you just need to make that family favorite you have made so many times before. The kids love it, and you usually have the ingredients in the fridge or freezer. The dishes that were my favorites when I was growing up were definitely chili, taco bowls, barbeque meats, salad and my mother’s famous shepherd’s pie. Today, I thought I would share with you one of our family favorites – our Simply Sells shepherd’s pie. My father is a British man straight out of Yorkshire, England. My mother is a Colombian lady who found herself in England at a very young age. It’s in England where my mother met my father. She picked up a few good recipes along the way that have found their way into our kitchen at the Sells house. I wouldn’t call them generational traditions, just good home cooking inspired by a combination of both the Hispanic and British sides of my parents. Shepherd’s pie is made traditionally with lamb. In our house we tend to use beef. We still call it shepherd’s pie like my mother did, but some might say our version is more like cottage pie since we use beef. Sometimes I lighten it up a bit and use ground turkey for the meat or mashed cauliflower for the potatoes. Whether ground beef or turkey, mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower this recipe is the real deal and full of flavor and deliciousness. Be ready to indulge! A bit of History… Shepherd’s pie was created in the 1800’s in England. It’s a very sneaky dish that may have come about just to cover up leftovers with mashed potatoes, and then served to the family as a new meal. Genius if you ask me! I love it since I am always trying to make sure I use everything in the fridge, to limit waste. We could learn from those mommas that may have lived through lean times. Even though we may not live in lean times at the moment, one thing we have learned is that it’s important to stretch out meals and, when needed, feed a neighbor or someone in need. Making Shepherd’s Pie To make our Simply Sells shepherd’s pie, I start by melting the oil and butter in a Dutch oven pot. I like using a Dutch oven because I can make the whole recipe right in the same pot – anything to save a dish in my opinion (who likes doing the dishes). This also makes it easy to store the leftovers because you can just cover the pot with the lid. After the butter and oil melts, add your onions and carrots, and then sauté them until softened and the color begins to brown. Next, stir in the tomato paste and let it begin to deepen in color for a couple minutes without burning. Toss in the garlic – take a minute to inhale the aroma coming from the pan. Wow! Add the lean beef, Worcestershire sauce, broth, salt and seasonings. Let it all start to combine and bubble up on the stove, and then stir in the peas. Top it with your favorite mashed potatoes. I have the recipe and ingredients listed for how we make ours, which has a coarse texture as I prefer hand mashing, which tends to leave some lumps. When I top the dish, I like to create peaks in the mashed potatoes like my mother always did. I then sprinkle the top with a most delicious cheese, to create a beautiful masterpiece. This shepherd’s pie is great to make ahead and freeze for another day. Along with being delicious, I love it because the leftovers are just as good as on the first day. I hope you enjoy our Simply Sells shepherd’s pie. It really packs a hearty punch and sneaks in yummy veggies.

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Turkey Farro Soup

Sandra Sells — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 18:55:13 +0000

There is nothing like all the preparation leading up to a holiday meal, or the memories created together with your loved ones that keep family traditions alive. Keeping traditions alive is very honoring to those who have gone before us. This turkey farro soup in our household is one of those traditions! Holiday Traditions One tradition that I love is making my mother’s millionaire shortbread (also known as caramel squares) during Christmas time. It’s a recipe that will make its debut on Simply Sells very soon, as Christmas approaches. The millionaire shortbread is so absolutely delicious you can’t stop eating them. Before Christmas though comes Thanksgiving! For Thanksgiving this year we want to share a recipe for what to do with your leftover turkey. I mean, there is nothing like loading up another plate of Thanksgiving food for round two, pouring on the gravy and buttering up those rolls that your grandmother made, but we figured let’s shake things up a little bit. We often enjoy this soup with our homemade Challah Bread that we make traditionally every Thanksgiving. Did I mention that I am definitely a soup person? I could have it multiple times a week. Not only can soup be delicious but it can also be a great way to make sure that you are eating your vegetables. It’s also a great way to feed the little ones a variety of foods that prioritize nutrition. Every year in November, when turkey goes on sale, Kodi and I have made it a tradition to buy a few small turkeys that we put in the deep freezer to cook throughout the year. This way we don’t have to wait another 12 months before we have a delicious roasted turkey meal. Every time we cook a turkey, we are always thinking of ways to extend the meal and creatively use all the leftovers. Sometimes we even cook extra turkey just for the leftovers. For quite a few years, we have turned our leftover turkey into a delicious turkey soup. This turkey farro soup became our ultimate after-Thanksgiving turkey meal! We are sticklers for making meals with as much homemade flavor and healthy ingredients as possible. This turkey farro soup recipe is very simple and carries a lot of the familiar flavors you may be used to. Simple is good after a big holiday of very hard work. Make your own stock We begin by making our own turkey stock. If you’re in a rush you can just purchase a good quality store bought stock. To make your own stock, put all the leftover turkey bones, organs, and neck in a large stock pot, and then add 12-14 cups of water. Bring the liquid and turkey parts to a boil. Add in four carrots, four celery stalks, and one onion. (All chopped in very large pieces as you will strain and discard the ingredients at the end.) Then add one tablespoon of Italian seasoning, one tablespoon of salt, and pepper to taste. Bring everything back to a rolling boil, and then turn the stock down to simmer for a minimum of 4-6 hours. For a deeper richer flavor, you can simmer it for up to 12 hours on low. When ready, strain the liquid through a sieve or cheese cloth and you will have the most delicious turkey stock. Recipe After preparing the turkey stock, warm some olive oil over medium heat. I like to use my favorite large coated Dutch oven. While the olive oil is heating, chop the fresh carrots, celery, and onions into small even pieces. Throw the vegetables into the olive oil, and then sauté them until they are soft and starting to caramelize. There is tons of flavor in the browning on the bottom of the pan. Beware of burning because you don’t want your veggies to disintegrate. Add the chopped garlic to the vegetables then sauté until the garlic is softened. Then add salt and pepper to taste. Ladle some turkey stock into the pan to deglaze it and keep as much of the pan flavors as possible. Add thinly chopped dill, shredded or cubed cooked leftover turkey, and the rest of your freshly made turkey stock. Simmer the soup for at least 30 minutes. Years back we discovered a grain called farro, which is like couscous or rice. It can be used in many ways. We find it gives this soup the perfect hearty “stay in” winter touch. Add the farro then cook the soup for an additional 10 minutes. Serve the soup with your favorite loaf of crusty, buttery, bread and enjoy!

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Lemon Curry Lentil Stew

Sandra Sells — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 05:45:40 +0000

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Simply Salsa

Sandra Sells — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 02:30:35 +0000

Chips, Salsa, and salsa music were a common theme in my home growing up. We always had a crowd at my parents home multiple times a week. We have a large family from cousins to aunts to uncles to friends that became family. My dad was an AC technician for many years. He would often go to factories for jobs. One particular job led him to a tomato plant. Let’s just say we had a lot of salsa. I mean he was blessed with cases of tomatoes! My mother’s salsa recipe was the inspiration for this simply salsa recipe. You gotta have the cilantro, the onion, the lime, and the jalapeño for the freshest salsa you will ever have! Salsa can be made in many ways. This particular salsa is our go to favorite because it has simple and fresh ingredients that we always have on hand. This recipe agrees with many diet plans as it has vegetables, is low calorie, and has zero fat. It’s healthy! What you pair it with is up to you but it can alter the health factor. Some great ideas to pair with this salsa recipe are of course tortilla chips, over chicken, or on tacos. Sometimes I slice cucumbers, sprinkle them with a little salt, and scoop this salsa right on top. It is a delicious and healthy snack with no guilt and tons of nutrition. We hope you enjoy! Please enjoy making this recipe as much as we do and remember to create long lasting family memories around that delicious chip bowl. Enjoy!

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