Easy Slow Cooker Corn Chowder

Ingredients:

• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 medium potatoes, chopped
• 4 cups frozen corn kernels
• 4 cups veg. chicken stock
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• fresh parsley
• 1 1/2 cups milk

Directions:
1. combine all ingredients except cheese, butter, milk and parsley
2. cook on low for 8 to 10 hours until vegetables are tender
3. stir in butter and cheese until melted - cook for an additional 30 mins
4. serve with fresh parsley sprinkled on top

Oh so good arugula salade

Arugula Salad with Pears & Beets

3 cups arugula (washed and torn)

8 small beets

2 pears, sliced

3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

6 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

½ cup crumbled feta

¼ cup chopped pecans

Salt and pepper, to taste

Cook the beets either by steaming them (it should take about 40 minutes either way). Peel and cut beets into thin wedges.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper; whisk until mixture is smooth.

In a bowl, toss arugula with 3 tablespoons of the vinaigrette dressing. Arrange arugula onto four salad plates. Toss pears and beets with remaining dressing. Arrange over the arugula.

Sprinkle cheese and pecans over the salad.

Tasty Tuesday - Peanut Butter Fudge

This one is not one of my recipes I found it on allrecepies.com and it was perfect just the way it was. It's originally by Angieh and it's called Easiest Peanut Butter Fudge. Instead of using brown sugar we use panela in ours. Panela is slightly healthier then brown sugar (i.e. not processed as much) and it comes out tasting divine.

Image from allrecepies.com

Tasty tuesdays

Baby food, when did you start? Now that our little on has turned 6 months we are going to start pretty soon. I have been doing a lot of reading on the subject and everyone has a different opinion. Some say to start at 4 months, some say start with cereal, some say it does not matter is its cereal or fruits and vegetables if you start after 6 months, some say the first fruit has to be a banana, some say it does not matter if its fruit or vegetables you start with and others say it has to be fruit. With all that contradicting information we are going to do what feels right to us. Christophe seems to be interested in foods as he really enjoyed sucking on an cut open apple on is 6 month birthday. Therefore I plan on picking up 2 items for him to try out this week from the market (we always go to the market on Tuesdays) as long as I can find these we will be introducing sweet potatoes and apples. Here are the recipes:

Apples

4 cups chopped peeled apples (about 4)
1/2 cup water

In a medium saucepan, over medium-low heat, bring apples and water to a simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until apples are very tender, about 20 minutes. Let cool.

Transfer apples to blender and puree on high speed until smooth.

Transfer to ice cub trays and freeze.

Sweet Potatoes

3 cups chopped peeled sweet potatoes (about 2)
1 cup water

In a medium saucepan, over medium-low heat, bring potatoes and water to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are very tender, about 20 minutes. Let cool.

Transfer potatoes to blender and puree on high speed until smooth.

Transfer to ice cub trays and freeze.

quick and easy summer drink

For those of you who know me you know you wont find any sugary or fizzy store bought drinks in my house. A great alternative to these are iced teas.

Cool and refreshing
Steep 2 tea bags of mint or speermint tea in 1 litre of water for 10 minutes. Remove tea bags let cool to room add 4 to 6 mint leaves and chill in refrigerator.

Gingery Tea
Steep 2 bag of rooibos tea in 1 litre of water for about 7 minutes. Remove tea bags add 4-6 slices of fresh ginger (leave peels on). Let cool to room temperature then chill in refrigerator.

Over the summer I will be experiencing with other teas and will let you guys know if I find any other pleasant mixes.

Image by: Arria Belli