French Onion Soup

Peel and Slice 4-6 large onions, yellow or white
2 large leeks (opt) if using be sure to rinse well, leeks can be sandy and taste gritty
Melt 3 Tbs butter in a large pot, saute onions until browned.

Next   add in 

1/4 cup white wine to deglaze pan, scraping bottom to release any onion that has stuck.

salt 

pepper

Add 4-6 cups beef or vegetable broth.

Simmer 15- 30 minutes. You may add more both if too much evaporation occurs

while simmering.

Toast 1 in thick bread slices and lightly season with salt.

 Place servings into individual oven proof bowls, Place toasted bread slice on each bowl and sprinkle with grated cheese -options for cheese- mozzarella, jarlsburg, assiago

Bake at 450 until cheese melts.  Serve hot

Cookie Pie

Pretzel bottom crust
2 c crushed pretzles
1/2 c sugar
1/2 melted butter
mix and press into sprayed pie plate
Bake at 350 for 8 minutes

While crust is baking make filling
1 c room temp butter
3/4 c brown sugar
1/2 c sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 1/4 c all purpose flour
1 c chocolate chips ( 1/2 standard size bag) you may use milk, or semi-sweet
1 8oz pkg Reese's mini peanut butter cups

Cream butter and sugars, add in eggs and vanilla until smooth.
Mix baking soda and salt into flour with wire whisk and add gradually to creamed mixture.
Next add in chocolate chips and Reese's . Press into crust and bake for another 30 minutes, Do not over bake, cookie should be almost set. 

Scallops

2 green onions sliced, or 1/2 small white or yellow onion
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tsp olive oil
1 pound sea scallops
1 tsp basil, fresh or dried
1 tsp thyme, fresh or dried
1/4 c white wine, or chicken broth
salt to taste
pepper
1/2 c dried bread crumbs or panko
2 tsp butter, melted

Rinse and pat dry scallops.
In nonstick skillet heat olive oil and saute onion and garlic until tender, add scallops and herbs.
 Cook over medium until scallops are firm and opaque.
Add wine or broth, and salt and pepper. cook uncovered for one to two minutes.

Place scallops in oven proof dish and sprinkle with bread crumbs, drizzle with butter.
 Broil 4-5 minutes or until crumbs are browned. Serve hot.

Jack LaLanne Juicer

Do you juice? I never did until last year, while an unexpected hospital stay had me laying around watching cable tv, a luxury we do not have at home.  I was watching Jack and his wife on their infomercial, of course when you health is compromised, anything that seems  rejuvenating takes on new meaning and interest. 
so....you can imagine my surprise when my step mom called me and said, she just came across Jack LaLanne juicers for an amazing price at a salvage store. I asked, no begged her to get me one!  She did and I was thrilled, she came to help me out in my recovery and it was a good time to start giving this thing a try.

I began once in a while but stored it in the cupboard which made access....eh not so easy. I liked it but just didn't have the counter space. Recently I made the move and placed it onto the counter which is encouraging me to juice more often. Now I use it on average 3 times a week.

The Review
overall it is an easy product to use
assembly and disassembly is easy, you must use a gadget that is included to remove the sharp blade
quality of juice is good, the fibrous left over fruits and veggies are as dry as they say on the commercial
texture of the juice is smooth but will sometimes separate and will cling to glasses so, be sure to stir if not drinking immediately and to rinse your glasses right away
clean up...not nearly as easy as they show on tv, I recommend immediate cleaning or at least soaking and you will probably need a brush for the fine mesh sieve (shown above)

left behind apple

My usual juice contains
2 large carrots
1 piece of fruit ( apple, orange, pear)
any left over berries


 Remember
Citrus fruits must be peeled
this product can not use bananas
It does not make smoothies so be sure you don't order if that is what your expecting.
The model shown here sells for about $100. at this site Power Juicer
want to guess what Rachel paid for ours?

how about.....$20.00....score!!!