Meg's Tomato Soup

 2 (14 oz) cans diced tomato with juice

1 cup diced celery

1 cup diced carrots

1 cup diced onions

4 cups chicken broth

1/2 bay leaf

1 tsp dried oregano

1 Tbsp dried basil

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup flour

1 cup parmesan cheese

2 cups half/half

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

Crockpot tomatoes, celery, carrots, onions, chicken broth and bay leaf.  Cook on low for 5-7 hours.

Hour prior serving add: oregano, basil and prepare roux. 

Blend soup with immersion blender.

Roux: Melt butter over low heat in pan, add flour.  Stir 5-7 minutes.

Slowly stir 1 cup of hot soup from crockpot and then add another 3 cups of soup and stir.

Slowly add back to crockpot.

Stir in parmesan cheese, half/half, salt, pepper, cover and cook another hour.

Cafe Rio Lime Rice

 2 Tbsp butter

1 yellow onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

6 2/3 cups water

8 tsp chicken bullion (7 cubes)

1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped

2 tsp cumin

1 Tbsp lime juice

1/2 tsp salt

3 cups long grain rice

Sauté butter, onion & garlic.

In large pot, bring to boil everything else, except rice.

After boiling add onion & garlic, then add rice.

Cover and simmer.

Cherry Tomato Pasta Toss

Prep time: 25 minutes

8 oz dry pasta
2 Tbsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
3 Tbsp chopped fresh basil, packed
Shredded Parmesan cheese ( optional)

Cook pasta per package directions. Drain. While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a wide skillet over medium-low heat.
Add garlic and stir until golden (2 min).
Add tomatoes, increase heat to medium-high and simmer until tomatoes are softened and juicy (6 min).
Stir in pasta and basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve with Parmesan cheese.

Serves 4 people.

Olive Oil/Basil Marinade

 Marinade for chicken and/or vegetables

1/2 cup olive oil

4 Tbsp lemon juice

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 Tbsp basil, chopped

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

*for kabob- chicken, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, red onion, zucchini, cherry tomatoes

**Bryce and Erica's recipe.  Bountiful apartments