Shouldn't Snow Days Have Snow?

Usually that's the way it is, but today was a no-school day because of the extreme cold. When I got up this morning, the thermometer read - 13. It got to -17 before it started warming up, if that's what you can call it. Now, at 12:20, it's a balmy -7!

So what does one do on a day off from school?

• let teenagers sleep
• drink coffee
• get dressed in warm clothes
• make blondies
• make tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches
• Work on making bags
• mop kitchen floor
• play some games on Facebook

My first cooking task today was to make Blondies. If you have never had these, you are missing out! Not PointsPlus Friendly, but really good! I found this recipe and the next one on this blog. She's got some great recipes here!


Blondies:



Basic Blondies
Ingredients:
12 tablespoons butter, melted
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 Cup Chocolate Chips

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 350.
-Line a 9 X 16 pan with foil and lightly spray with PAM.
-In a large microwave safe mixing bowl melt the butter.
-Allow to cool for 5 minutes.
-Mix the brown sugar with the melted butter and beat until smooth.
-Beat in egg and then vanilla.
-Add salt, stir in flour and baking powder (if using).
-Mix in any chocolate chips
-Pour into prepared pan and use a greased spatula to evenly spread mixture in pan and level the top.
-Bake for 20-25 minutes or until set in the middle. (Mine took a good 40 minutes)
-Cool on rack before cutting.

-Cut into 28 pieces - 5 WW PointsPlus each

Next up, "Creamless" Tomato Soup

I love tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. It takes me right back to my childhood. This recipe sounded great and points friendly, with a little modification as to the amount of olive oil. So for lunch, we had Creamless Creamy Tomato Soup

Creamless Creamy Tomato Soup
Ingredients:
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
1 medium onion, chopped
3 medium garlic cloves, minced
pinch hot red pepper flakes
1 bay leaf
2 28-ounce cans whole tomatoes packed in juice
1 tablespoon brown sugar
6 slices light sandwich bread torn into 1-inch pieces
2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth

Directions:
In a Dutch oven set over medium-high heat, heat oil until shimmering. Add onion, garlic, red pepper flakes (if using) and bay leaf. Cook for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent. Add tomatoes and their juices. Mash tomatoes using a potato masher, until tomato pieces are all smaller than 2 inches. Add sugar and bread. Increase heat to high and bring soup to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium and and cook, stirring occasionally, until bread is completely saturated and beginning to disintegrate, about 5 minutes.

Remove bay leaf, add remaining 2 tablespoons of oil and use an immersion blender to blend the soup until smooth. Stir in broth. Alternately, transfer half of soup to a blender. Blend for 2-3 minutes, or until smooth and creamy. Transfer to a large bowl and repeat with remaining soup. Return soup to pot and stir in broth. Season to taste with salt and pepper and return to a boil.

This made 10 cups of soup, 1 cup of soup = 2 WW PointsPlus

We really enjoyed this soup. With the grilled cheese sandwich, made with 2% milk American cheese and 2 tsp of butter, the total point count for the meal was 8 points. The soup had a little bit of a kick to it from the red pepper flakes. I think I'd also try Siracha to give it a pop. There is enough to share with my neighbor! Yum! Now I'm off to craft!