Cheesy Thai Chowder

Inspired by Thai ClubHouse All in One Seasoning.  (I wonder if I keep linking to them, if they’ll send me product to review??)

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb ground beef, scramble fried
  • 6-8 fresh baby spinach, chopped
  • 1 small onion, cut into chunks
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 Tbsp Chicken bouillon
  • 2 Tbsp Thai ClubHouse Seasoning
  • 2 large baked potatoes, cubed (you could use raw too and increase cooking time)
  • 6 cups milk
  • 3 tbsp cornstarch, 3 tbsp cold water for thickening
  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions:

  1. Combine onion, celery, spinach and ground beef in dutch oven (large saucepan) over medium heat.  Add a touch of olive oil if necessary, and stir fry until veggies are tender.
  2. Add bouillon, seasoning and water.  Heat through.
  3. Add a couple tablespoons of the milk.  Stir so liquid is evenly heated.  Add a 1/4 cup of milk, and stir continually until it is spread evenly through the pan.  Keep increasing the amount of milk, and stirring between additions.
  4. Add baked potatoes, and thickener, heat to boiling and thickened.
  5. Remove from heat, and add cheese.
  6. Stir until cheese is melted and serve immediately.

thai-chowder

PS – if there are some photography guru’s out there, do you know if I’m having problems with photos because my camera is as old as the hills (point and shoot variety) or because of …  er… user error?

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When adding milk to soup

Okay, this happens to me about 70% of the time, because I’m a very efficient cook. (read: impatient) The only way (that I know of) to keep milk from curdling your soup is to heat it up first.

Like the old fashioned pudding recipes: pour a bit into the milk, swoosh it around, then pour it slowly back into the pot. That was back in the day when you had to cook pudding – can you believe that?  Cook.  Pudding

Here’s my tip for efficient, and yet curdle-free soup – cook milk in microwave, while soup broth is heating on the element.   Don’t boil milk either.  I dunno why.  You’re just not supposed to – I think it has something to do with the milk separating and not being much milk-like any longer.

Another tip:  since you want the soup or stew thickened, but cannot boil the cornstarch if it is put in milk, be sure to thicken soup before you add milk.  Milk can be the next-to last ingredients.  Then stir until well combined and serve.

Good, right?

Although I haven’t been blogging much, I have, of course, still been cooking gluten free.  And I have a fantastic banana pie, and another brownie recipe for you coming up.  Stay tuned!

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Featured Recipes for the Lunch Box

Banana Bread is still our favorite baking item and also a great way to use up too-ripe bananas.  This recipe stays soft for days.  I have no idea why really -I can’t seem to replicate that quality in other GF baking.  But it is awesome for this one!  :)

Macaroni Salad works well in a thermos or insulated lunch bag to keep it cool.  It keeps very well in the fridge and as an added bonus – is even healthy!

For ease of use – use these GF Campbell's Soups.   Add to this crispy rice crackers and cheese and you’ve got a nice and not entirely unhealthy lunch.

Here’s a homemade soup but it is super easy!  Tomato Soup

We are big fans of the pre-made purchased soup, which my 8 year old can actually heat up herself and put in a thermos before school.  Kid-made lunches: you have to love that!

Campbell’s Soup

In Canada, the Campbell’s Chicken with Rice Condensed soup is gluten free. Another fast, prepared food!

:)

Broccoli Cheese Soup

  • 3-4 cups cooked broccoli (5 cups of frozen, cooked in microwave for 6 min)
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 Tbsp chicken bouillon
  • dash thyme
  • 3 Tbsp margarine
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 3 Tbsp water & 2 Tbsp corn starch, shaken together to make thick liquid.
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
  1. In large dutch oven, simmer onions in margarine until golden.
  2. Add cold water, bouillon, milk, broccoli and spices. Heat through.
  3. Thicken with cornstarch mix. Just to boil.
  4. Remove from heat immediately. Stir in 1/2 cup of ice cubes to cool it*.
  5. Add cheddar cheese when the soup is cooled below boiling temp. Stir to melt. Serve it up!

*The milk will curdle if mixed with anything at boiling temp.

Cheeseburger Chowder

  • 1 lb scramble fried gr. beef
  • 2 cups cubed potatoes, cooked

Sauce:

  • 3 Tbsp margarine
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 4 cups milk
  • 2 cups water
  • 4 Tbsp chicken liquid bouillon (I haven’t found a GF beef bouillon yet)
  • 1/2 tsp thyme
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • pepper to taste
  • 4 Tbsp corn starch 2 Tbsp cold water, combined
  • 1.5 cups shredded cheddar

Directions:

  1. In dutch oven, melt margarine over med. heat.
  2. Add onion, celery and cook until transparent – couple minutes.
  3. Add milk, water, bouillon, spices. Heat through, stirring often. DO NOT BOIL.
  4. Add corn starch mixture. Heat until thickened. Again, do not boil milk.
  5. Remove from heat. Let soup sit for 5 minutes. (or simply put in 5 ice cubes). Add cheddar, stir until blended in.
  6. Serve! Makes enough to serve my family of 5.
  7. OPTIONAL: serve with sour cream or cheddar cheese for topping.