Mahlzeit - Food without Borders

This is a keeper.  1 slice of bacon, cut into small size pieces 4 Tbsp olive oil 1 large onion, chopped 1 pack of Eckrich Turkey Sausages, sliced 1 can of no salt added diced tomatoes 6 cups of low sodium tomato or veggie juice 1/2 of a 7oz jar of sliced pimentos 3/4 cup of famous Dave pickles slices, chopped a bit more. 1 tsp of curry powder 1 tsp of ground cumin 1 tsp of smoked paprika 2 tsp of Knorr Tomato Bouillon   In a pot, add the bacon and the olive oil, rander the fat, add the onions and let them get translucent. Then add the sausage slices and let them get a bit of color. Pay attention that the onions don't start to burn. After 7-10 minutes add all the remaining things. Bring it to a boil, turn the heat down. Let it simmer with a cover for about 20 minutes. This can be a a soup by itself. A sauce for noodles, rice or couscous. As a soup serve with a tbsp of sour creme and a slice of lemon, or just like this. -Mahlszeit-

There are many versions of this on the internet. Some have 20 or more ingrediants, some only have a handful.  I decided to go with a medium version. Ingredients 5 medium potatoes chopped into smaller pieces 2 cups of chicken broth 1 can of Radeberger beer (Pilsner Style) 1 slice of bacon 2 tsp of butter 2 tsp olive oil 8 baby carrots cut into smaller pieces 3/4 of a stalk of celery half of a small onion finely chopped 1/2 tsp ground Allspice 1 bay leaf salt/pepper to taste (not much is needed as the chicken broth has plenty) hint of nutmeg Wash, peel and cut the potatoes. Cut the celery, onions and carrots. Cut the bacon into small pieces. In a soup pot, add the oil, bacon and butter. Cook over medium heat for about 4-5 minutes, but don't let anything burn. Add the celery, onions and carrots. Cook for another 5-7 minutes until the onions are a bit translucent. Add all the remaining things, cover and bring to a boil. The potatoes should be covered by liquid. Turn down the heat and s...

There are some veggies left over in my fridge, that need a purpose.   Missing on the picture: 3 bay leaves 1.5 tsp ground all spice 1 cup lentils cleaned and rinsed 1/2 cup of bite size chunks of celery 1/2 cup of bite size chunks of carrots.  10 cups of water 8 tsp of Knorr Tomato Bouilon Peal the potatoes, cut the cauliflower and the broccoli into bite size pieces. Clean the onion and coarsely chop it. Slice the sausage.  In a big pot melt 1 tbsp of margarine. Add the sausage and let it get some color. Add the onions, carrots and celery. Cook for about 5 minutes.  Add all the remaining ingredients. Bring it to a boil. Turn down the heat and simmer for about 30-40 minutes. It depends on how long the lentils need. For longer cooking times, it may be better, just to add the spices, water and the lentils and let this simmer for about 15 minutes and then add the rest. -Mahlzeit-

Soljanka is one of my go to soups. It is fast and easy to prepare.  At the grocery store I picked up some ground turkey and Napa cabbage. I want make filled cabbage rolls. Time to mix things up a bit 8 leaves of Napa cabbage, chopped into bite size pieces 1 pack of Eckrich Turkey sausage, sliced 1 medium onion, chopped 2 slices of bacon, sliced into small pieces 1 can of dices tomatos 1 can of whole corn kernels 1 can of red kidney bones rinsed tomato juice (1 can use one of the empty cans to measure) V8 hot and spicy tomato juice (1 can) 2 cups of water 1.5 tsp veggie Bouillon paste 2 tbsp of veggie oil 1 cup of chopped Famous Daves pickles 1/2 cup of Famous Daves pickling liquid 1 tsp of Chili from a can In a stock pot add the olive oil and add the bacon. Let the bacon get translucent. Add the onions and let them get translucent. Then add the sausage and let it get some color. Add all the remaining things and bring them to a boil Turn the heat down and simmer for about 20 mi...

This is one of my favorite soups. It can be a full meal or appetizer and also works great as hangover food. 2 slices of bacon cut into small pieces 3 tbsp of margarine 1 pack of Eckrich Turkey Sausage , sliced 1 medium onion chopped 2 cans of fire roasted tomatoes 1/2 jar of Famous Dave's spicy pickles spears chopped (1/2 of the pickling liquid) 8 cups of tomato juice  2 tbsp of Tostitos medium chunky salsa I buy bacon by the slices and actually leave the package open in the fridge. It dries out, but that is what I want. In a stock pot render the bacon. Over medium heat add the margarine and let it melt. Add the sausage slices and let them get some color. Then add the onions and let them get translucent. Add the remaining ingredients. Bring it to a boil. Turn the heat down and let it simmer for 45min to 1hour. Check the liquid levels every 15 minutes. Serve with sour creme, a slice of lemon and a slice of fresh bread. -Mahlzeit-

I had 2 cooked potatoes left over from lunch. Rather then frying them, I decided to make a potato soup out of them. 2 cups of a broth 1/2 cup of half/half 1 cup of cooked potatoes. A hint of nutmeg Get the the broth to  a boil and add the potatoes. As mine came out of the fridge, I let it cook for about 3 minutes, to get the heated up in the broth.  With a hand blender, carefully smash all the potatoes to a consistency of your liking. Add the half/half. Bring it to a boil gain, cook for a minute and then turn the heat off and serve. I garnished it with a bit of garlic powder and dried savory. With a fresh toast this is delish. -Mahlzeit-

After so much meat, I thought it is time for a little less meaty meal. There were still frozen shrimp in the freezer. The fridge had some mushrooms that needed a purpose. Oh yeah, some lemon grass is there as well. Here we go: 8 cups of water 6 tsp of Knorr Tomato bullion 2 hand full of frozen or fresh cilantro 3 cups of different kind of mushrooms cut into bite size pieces (I used shiitake and oyster mushrooms) 12 defrosted shrimp, raw and cleaned and de-veined 2 swirls of Asian noodles (store bought, they are usually pre-cooked, check the instructions) half a dried lemon 1/2 tsp of margarine I picked up a bag of dried lemons from an Indian grocery store. They are not even 1" in diameter. I asked the store owner how they use it and he said, I should grind it and use it in soups. It adds some nice freshness to the dish. In a big bowl, add the water and the Knorr Tomato  bullion. Heat up and bring slowly to a boil. When it starts to simmer add the mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes o...

This is based on a recipe I found in a soup book. When I was shopping for the ingredients, I ended up changing it. The rotisserie chicken was so pale in the store, that I was not sure it was even cooked properly. No need to spend money on it, when there are alternatives. We need 1 tbsp of margarine 1 medium onion chopped 2 cans of red kidney beans rinsed 1 can of diced tomatoes 1 can of fire roasted tomatoes (or 2 cans of either kind) 2 cans of tomato sauce 1 cup of cooked shredded chicken (see note) 1 tsp of cumin 1 tsp of sweet ground paprika 1/2 tsp of all spice 1/4 tsp dried thyme a splash of dried Turmeric 1 cup of water 1/2 tsp of chicken bullion   I thought I would need the tomato paste from the picture, but it turned out to be thick enough, there was no need for it. In a larger pot, melt the margarine add the onions and let them get translucent. Then add all the remaining ingredients. Bring them to a boil, then turn down the heat to simmer for 30 minutes.. Just before it is...

It is fall now and time to do some fall recipes. I decided to make a butternut squash potato soup. I need 1 lbs of cubed butternut squash 1 large sweet potato 2 medium yellow potatos Cook all of them the until tender.  Cook 4 cups of chicken or veggie soup. I was lazy and just used pre-made chicken bullion dissolved in boiling water.  In one of the pots used to cook potatoes, add all the other potatos and the butternut squash and bland with a handmixer until the desired consistency is reached. Add 1/2 cup of  heavy creme. Spice with nutmeg, salt and pepper,  dried coriander, curry and tumeric. Garnish with fresh basil or coriander a slice of garlic bread. -Mahlzeit-          

I bought a soup book some time ago. There are so many good recipes in there. I decided for a lentil potato soup, but then, I was missing some things and this came out of it.   3 slices of back cut into small bites 2 tbsp margarine 1 medium onion coarsely chopped 2 medium potatoes peeled and cut into small chunks 2 cans of diced tomatoes 1 can of tomato sauce 1 can of red kidney beans rinsed 1 pack of Eckrige Turkey sausage sliced 1 cup of Famous Dave's spicy pickles  chopped 8 tbsp Famous Dave's pickling liquid 2 tbsp chili powder  1/2 tsp tumeric 1/4 tsp dried thyme 1/2 tsp curry powder 1 tsp of cumin 4 cups of water 2 tsp Knorr Tomato Buillon In a stock pot melt the margarine. Add the bacon and render it and let it get a little bit crisp. Add the onion and cook over medium heat until they get translucent. Add all the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Then turn the temperature down and simmer until the potatoes are done. Optional add some buttermilk, cook for 2 ...

It was time for another version of Soljanka.   2 tsp of margarine  1 medium onion chopped 1 pack of Bologna, cut into smaller chunks (this can be sliced Bologna) 20 slices of salami, sliced into smaller pieces 1/4 cup of fat salted hog back cut into smaller slices 1/2 cup of pickles 1/2 cup of pickle juice 2 cans of tomato sauce 1 can of diced tomatoes 1 can of fire roasted tomatoes 1 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground allspice 1/2 tsp thyme 1 tsp sweet paprika 1 medium onion chopped 2 cups of tomato juice In a bigger pot melt the margarine, add the onion and let them get translucent. Add the Bologna and the salami. Cook for about  8 minutes, stir occasionally. Then add all the remaining items, bring to a boil and then turn the heat down and simmer for about 30 minutes. To bring it to taste, add some half 'n half and/or pickle juice, salt or pepper. Serve with a splash of fresh lemon juice, a spoon of source cream and a slice of toast. -Mahlzeit-    

Something I came up with when sitting in a waiting room. My fridge had some mushrooms and tofu. I always have onions at home. In my freezer there were several bags of frozen veggies. A soup sounded good.  The quantities really don't matter here except the ratio of water to better then bouillon beef flavor. Tofu Cut the tofu into bite size pieces. I like extra firm tofu, so I can fry it without breaking apart. In a frying pan, melt some margarine. Add the tofu and season with Old Bay seasoning to your liking. Let it get a bit cross on the outside. I like my soup with vermicelli rice noodles.They can be cooked in parallel Soup In a soup pot, melt 2 tsbp of margarine, add 1 chopped onion, cook until the onions get translucent. Add the chopped mushrooms and get them half way cooked. Add 4 cups of water and 4 tsp of better then bouillon beef flavor. I decided the other veggies were frozen artichokes. Add them into the soup pot as well. Cover and bring to a boil, turn down the heat and s...

It is about time to have a Crawfish boil again. It is high season right now. The spices one can buy are really spicy. While I like spicy, they are a bit to spicy for me. I also do not have a Crawfish right now. So a mix of shrimps and mussels will have to do it.   I used 3/4 lbs of deveined and cleaned shrimps 1 lbs of mussels (any kind is fine) 1 pack Eckrich Turkey Sausage sliced 1 1 large onion coarsely chopped 1 pack of frozen corn kernels  4 medium potatoes, chopped into bite size pieces (peeled or unpeeled is fine) 1 cup low sodium beef broth (optional, add 1 cup to water if you dont have this) 4 cups of water 3 tsp Maggie Tomato bullion 1 tbsp veggie oil 1 tbsp of margarine In a big pot, melt the veggie oil and the margarine. Add the onions and the sausage and cook for about 7-10 minutes. There should be some color on the sausage slices and the onions should be translucent. But the mussels and the shrimp add everything else, bring to a boil and simmer until the potatoes...

I watched some cooking show this morning when I was waking up. I don't remember if it was Valerie, Trisha or Ree. The talk was about a creamy cauliflower soup. Now there is an idea. I didn't feel like running a soup through the blender. Other then potatoes and cauliflower I don't remember anything about it... Sorry, I was waking up... Now there was a cauliflower in my fridge, there is a package of Eckridge Turkey Sausage. I can make something out of this. 1/2 bag of baby carrots 1 tbsp of margarine 1 cup of celery chopped 1 medium onion chopped 4 potatoes chopped into bite size pieces 1 head of cauliflower cleaned and cut into pieces 1 pack of Eckridge Turkey Sausage cut into slices 6 cups of water 2 tsp of ground all spice 2 bay leaves 2/3 tsp dried thyme 4 tsp of Knorr Tomato Bouillon In a stock pot melt the margarine, add the onions and let them get translucent. Then add the carrots, celery and sausage. Cook for about 10 minutes to get some color on the sausage and the o...

A noodle soup can be done very fast.   I like to take my noodle soups into the Asian direction. So here it comes 1/2 gallon water 6 tsp of Knorr Tomato Bouillon 2 kefir lime leaves 1/2 star  anise 1 black cardamon Mix all of this in a stock pot and bring it to a boil. Turn the heat down to simmer. Add the rice noodle vermincelli and let it simmer for 8 minutes. Add the cleaned shrimp and serve after 5 minutes. -Mahlzeit-

When I go to the east end, I am stocking up on a lot of things. Meat, tea (if I am out of it) and some spices.  So aside from chicken bones I also got a couple of ducks, 2 rabbits as well as pork hearts, frsh noodles. I really wanted to get 2 different meals out of the duck. It all starts with roasting on of the ducks. The other one was still frozen, so it went into the freezer right away. When roasting ducks, I like the combination of a balsamic pomegranate molasses as a baste. But let's start from the beginning. Ducks from a Chinese store come with the head and the feed attached. They got cut off as well as parts from the from the wings and put into a bag into the freezer for the next duck stock. Salt and pepper from the out and inside. I got myself a new roasting pan. The old one had lost some of the non-stick coating. I didn't want to risk more of this to show up in my food. In  the bottom of the pan add so much water, so it does not touch the duck. For me that was a almos...

My New Years soup is a variation of Soljanka.  We need 2 tbsp of margarine 1 medium onion chopped 1 pack of Eckrich turkey sausage sliced (can be substituted with extra firm tofu) 1 can of diced tomatoes 1 can of fire roasted tomatoes 4 cups of tomato juice 1 cup sweet and sour pickles, I use either pickles from Deutsche Kueche from Aldi or Famous Dave's Spicy pickles 1/2 cup of the pickling liquid 1/2 tsp ground Allspice 1/2 tsp of ground smoked paprika 1/2 tsp of ground sweet paprika 2 cups of water 1tsp of Knorr Tomato Bullion In a stock pot melt the margarine, add the onions and let them get translucent. Add the sausage slices and let them get a bit of color. Then add all the remaining ingredient, bring it to a boil, turn the heat down and simmer for 40 minutes. Optional add 1/2 cup of buttermilk and 1/2 cup of Half and Half. Bring to a boil and simmer for another 5 minutes. Then turn off the heat. Serve with garlic bread, a slice of lemon and a spoon of sour creme. -Mahlzeit- ...

I decided to make a seafood soup. I only have calamaris. 1 bag defrosted calamari 1 turnip, peeled and cut into cubes 1 cup of chopped carrots 1 cup of chopped celery root 1 red paprika chopped 1 onion chopped 1 can diced tomatoes 1 can of fire roasted tomatoes 1 tsp ground all spice 1/2 tsp dried thyme 1/2 tsp ground roasted paprika 1/2 tsp ground sweet paprika 2 tbsp of veggie or olive oil 3 cups of water 2 tsp of Knorr Tomato Bullion In a Dutch Oven add the oil, onions, carrots, celery root and paprika. cook over a little more then low heat for 15 minutes. Stir every 2-3 minutes a bit, so it does not burn.  Add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium low heat, turn the heat down and simmer for 30 minutes. Serve with a a bit of fresh lemon juice. -Mahlzeit-

The Thai place up the road is for weeks now out of duck noodle soup. Following a principle I grew up with "Create yourself what you can't get", it is time to make my own version. I read through many recipes on the internet to come up with something, I think, will work. There will be 3 steps Roast the duck make some broth make some more duck broth from the duck bones I want my duck really bown. I found some Pomegranate Molasses in the store and just bough one bottle. It is sweet and has some nice tang to it. The oyster sauce from the picture I ended up not using for the roasting process.   Preheat the oven to 375F. I cleaned the duck, removed the neck and parts of the wings and access skin and fat from the duck. Pad dray with a paper towel. Sprinkle salt and pepper into the cavity, cut the apple into smaller slices and stuff them into the duck, Salt and pepper from the outside. Brush some Pomegranate Molasses all over the outside.  Use a turkey pan that has a tray in the b...

I am exploring red beets these days. Until a couple of weeks ago I literally never had them.  My first try was a salad. I was not to sure about the textures and taste. Now before I put them  into the category "I don't like them", may be a different preparation might be a good idea.  I remembered, I stayed at a Courtyard downtown Austin a few years ago. Behind the hotel in a small side street was an authentic Russian restaurant named the Russian House. My friend Sue is always game for some fun food experiences. So we ended up there a couple of times. She had borscht there and she liked it. I am lucky that my colleague Larissa is into cooking as well, so I asked her for a good recipe. She gave me the link to a Russian website and translated it for me. Larissa, you are such an angel. Despite me taking a few liberties as I couldn't get some of the things, it turned out to be a home run. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Larissa. For the broth 1 bag of frozen bones for soup...