A new series of posts concerning giving food and meals

G'ma Gladys January 24, 1917 ~ January 22 2012

She is my inspiration! I miss her terribly!!

I have always loved to "give" food. Since I was a little girl, I have cooked for everyone around me. As a pre-school, early years child, I would cook with my grandma for our large family while my mom and dad were at work. In elementary school, I would make pickles and would take a jar to school once a week to share with my "friends". I look back now, and realize that they just wanted my pickles. I was also responsible for cooking breakfast and lunch for my dad and brothers while they were working the garden and my mom was at work.  In high school, I would make pies, cobblers, and cakes to share with my FFA/AG crew. I so enjoyed those years of my life. Now, I get to cook or a tassel of children who tell me EVERY NIGHT that "this is the best food EVER" ;o) I just LOVE to cook. PERIOD. I have caught myself, over the years, giving ingredients for meals in a roaster, pot or pan at bridal showers, newly weds, or a house warming when a freshly cooked meal just wasn't a smart gift. I just think it is charming...you know?! A totally use able gift....lots of smaller gifts inside a large one. These people are going to need food, at some point....anyway. My grandma's generation would have a "POUNDING" for these same things that we call "SHOWERS". They would assign certain staples and very modestly wrap and give them to the people who were the object of this time of sharing. I know that money and food were much harder to come by in the early 1900's, so this has always inspired me when it comes to giving. We ALWAYS have SOMETHING we can give. My sweet grandma never had much in earthly possessions, but she had a giving heart...and until the day she wouldn't let you leave her company without a small token of her love and appreciation. I desire to pattern my life after her precious example. So, with this series, small or great....I want to share a few ideas on how to do just that!

angel hair pasta with garlic basil cream sauce

1 lb. Angel hair pasta prepared al dente

4 cloves garlic minced

1/2 cup fresh basil chopped

3 tbls. Butter

3 tbls. Olive oil

1 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

In a sauce pan, combine the olive oil and butter and bring up to med. Heat. Add in the garlic and saute for a minute and then add the basil. Stir well. Add cream and cheese, combine fully. Pour over prepared pasta. Salt and pepper to taste....Viola! I add crispy bacon or fresh diced tomato when I have some on hand. I usually add a nice drizzle of olive oil to loosen it up a bit more also. I like my sauce ;o)Talk about YUMMY!

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Mushroom Soup with Sesame Oil

This soup is my husband's new favorite. I pulled this together when we were on the Daniel Fast earlier this year. It was a HIT! Very easy to do.

Mushroom Soup with Sesame oil

2 lbs of mushrooms~sliced  (I prefer portabella and cremini, they have more flavor)
1 large onion~diced
3 stalks celery~sliced
2 carrots~peeled and diced
3 cloves garlic~minced
2 cups cabbage~sliced thin
6 cups stock (I prefer chicken, but vegetable works fine)
3 tbls. chopped chives
1 tbls. sesame seeds
4 sprigs of fresh thyme
salt and pepper
olive oil and or butter
Toasted Sesame oil

You will need a good soup pot over med/high heat. Place a tbls ot 2 of olive oil in the bottom, and add your onions, celery, carrots and garlic and saute for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, get a saute pan nice and hot, add a couple tbls. of butter into the pan and begin to brown. When there is some color to the butter, add the mushrooms in. (I prefer to saute each variety on its own) saute them until they have a nice caramelization and then add them to the soup pot with the veggies. Add the stock, sesame seeds, thyme, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil for about 5 minutes. Tunr off the heat and add the cabbage and stir well. You are only wanting to wilt the cabbage. When you serve this soup, you add a sprinkle of chives and very LIGHT drizzle of toasted Sesame oil into the serving bowl. Toasted sesame oil is very potent. A few drops is sufficient. This is a delicious light soup! Enjoy!