Candied Tomatoes

These have an incredible taste. You can store them in olive oil in the refrigerator.

6 large ripe tomatoes (I usually use Roma's)
1/4 cup olive oil
salt

Preheat oven to 325 F. Slice the tomatoes in half crosswise. Place the tomatoes on a baking sheet, cut side up. (Note, I find the tomatoes get juicy when backing, so I use a baking sheet with a ridge, like one you would use for a cake roll/jelly roll.) Pour the oil over the tomatores. Sprinkle with salt as desired. Bake for about 2 hours until tomatoes are wrinkled on the outside, but still somewhat moist in the center. (We like them just a bit browned)

You can serve these warm or cold and can be used in omelets. We cook fish on them. Put them over baked chicken breast.

SO many uses! If you use them for something, post a comment. I would love to see the many ways they can be used!

Tarragon Chicken Salad in Lettuce Cups

This serves 4 - 6 Think of your lettuce leaves instead of tortillas! Wrap filling in them! That is what this one is about.

Just a note: I used the cooked chicken that was taken off the bone when I cooked chicken stock. Well... I thought all the taste was gone! So next time, what I will do is to partially freeze the chicken and cut the meat off. Then when I make stock, I'll have primarily the bones and things. I'll update the blog the next time I do that with an update!

HOMEMADE MAYONNAISE (Makes 1 1/2 cups)
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
juice from 1/2 lemon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
dash of tabasco sauce
dash of worcestershire sauce
1 cup vegetable oil

Combine all the ingredients except the oil in a bowl. Blend with a whisk, or in a blender. Add the oil very gradually in a thin stream, whisking constantly. Adjust seasoning to taste and refrigerate.

You can keep in the for a week. It has a smooth and silky texture, unlike store bought thick store bought.

CHICKEN SALAD
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
3 tablespoon homemade mayonnaise
3 celery stalks, finely chopped
1/4 sweet onion (maui or vidalia), finely chopped
1/2 red bell pepper, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon (or 1/2 teaspoon dried... I used dried)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Place all ingredients for chicken salad in a bowl and mix until well combined. Adjust seasonings.

LETTUCE CUPS
4 - 6 romaine lettuce leaves
3 green onions, chopped
sprigs of fresh tarragon, for garnish (which I didn't have. We sprinkled with paprika)

Place a large dollop of chicken salad in each lettuce leaf. Garnish with green onions and tarragon. Then fold it up like a taco and enjoy!

Oriental Turkey Meatball Soup

Ingredients:
6 cups chicken broth
1 pound ground turkey, rolled into 1-in balls
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
5 slices fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
2 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 heads baby bok choy

Bring the broth to a boil and add the turkey meatballs, celery, ginger, soy sauce and red pepper flakes. Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Then add the bok choy and simmer for an additional 10 minutes. Serve immediately.


Notes:
We really loved this soup. I actually added on TABLESPOON of red pepper flakes and it was spicy! I skimmed off the extra and added soy sauce to cut the heat.

I actually made home made chicken broth. Recipe to come later!