Cooking with Kate and our menu

Updated: Okay several of you e-mailed or commented and asked for the tortilla soup recipe...I added it at the bottom.  Don't let the long ingredient list scare you.  It is easy peasy.

Ever since they cooked at school the other day (a few posts down), Kate wants to cook at every meal.  The other day she begged to make scrambled eggs with cheese.  We cracked eggs, whisked, cooked and then she refused to eat them.  This morning she made pancakes for the boys (and their friends who slept over).  BIG lesson learned-- NEVER have a sleep over when you are only 1/2 unpacked! I felt the boys needed it but it was complete chaos.

Really though this post is about our menu this week.  Over the past few months several people have asked for recipes and menu ideas for eating the way we do (gluten free and minimal dairy). A few bloggers post weekly menus and I know I will not be able to keep up with that. However,  since I actually made a menu this week, I thought I'd share it.  

Also, I briefly mentioned Harry's health problems last week.  Well, they were diet related.  We were not eating very healthy for the past few months.  We ate out a lot and did not have our cookbooks or pots and pans or spices. Also, Harry was going to a lot of friends houses and sleepovers and "cheating" on his diet.  As a result, Harry was having some severe stomach issues.  So, I really need to get back on track with cooking gluten-free and dairy free foods for our family.  Here is this week's menu:

Sunday-Lime and Cilantro Shrimp over long grain rice. (From Peace Meals-the new and FABULOUS Houston Junior League cookbook).  We had this for the first time tonight.  It was SO easy and delicious!

Monday-Chili (beef and kidney bean).  My favorite chili is from my old red and white cover Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook but it is not on their website. Even my friends who don't like chili like this one.  I will post it sometime but I am a terrible typist so it takes me a long time to post recipes.

Tuesday- Cherry Chicken  This is a crock pot recipe that is from Preppy Pink Crocodile.  It sounds easy and yummy!

Wednesday-Smooth Black Bean soup from my all time favorite cookbook Stop and Smell the Rosemary (another Houston Junior League cookbook). No, I am not a Junoir Leaguer but every single recipe in this cookbook is delicious.  It has won numerous national awards. My copy is literally falling apart!)

Thursday- Chicken Tortilla Soup (again from Stop and Smell the Rosemary). This is the best tortilla soup you will ever eat.

Friday- Leftovers because I have late afternoon parent-teacher conferences (and the two soup recipes make a lot of food).

I recently found this site called A Year of Crockpotting

She posts a gluten-free crock pot recipe and review every single day!  I am thinking this is a great site for our family.

Tortilla Soup (from Stop and Smell the Rosemary)

6 tbs vegetable oil

8 corn tortillas, chopped

6 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

1 medium onion, chopped (I do this in the food processor)

1  28oz can diced tomatoes

2 tbs ground cumin

1 tbs chili powder

3 bay leaves

6 cups chicken stock (I buy low salt organic)

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (I leave this out if the kids are eating it and Dave, Harry and I add Tabasco at the table)

4-6 cooked chicken breasts, shredded or cubed (I use 4 and I bake them and then shred them with two forks. Really, 4 is plenty of chicken).

Optional garnishes:

Shredded Monterey Jack cheese

cubed avocado

Sour Cream

2 corn tortillas, sliced and fried crisp (or a few tortilla chips) 

Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat.  Add tortilla, garlic, cilantro and onion. Saute 2-3 minutes.  Stir in tomatoes.  Bring to a boil and add cumin, chili powder, bay leaves and chicken stock.  Return to a boil.  Reduce heat.  Add salt and cayenne.  Simmer 30 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and stir in the chicken. Reheat for a few minutes.  Spoon into bowls and garnish with cheese, avacado, sour cream and/or tortilla chips.

P.S.  Read the post below for the opportunity to help bring Rachel home to her forever family.