Cooking Lessons for Dad

Cooking Lessons for Beginners

Learn How to Include Chocolate as Part of a Healthy Diet!

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Do you love chocolate but are trying to eat healthy? No problem! You can include chocolate in a healthy diet! In this video Karen Breyer will show you how you can include yummy chocolate in your healthy diet. After you watch this video try some tasty chocolate treats! You can find some healthy chocolatey recipes at Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel and Cookinglessonsfordad.com. Enjoy some chocolate today!

Italian Pasta Soup with Rosemary

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Try this creamy, delicious Italian Pasta Soup with Rosemary! In this cooking video Karen Breyer and her dad will show you step-by-step how to make this Italian Pasta Soup with Rosemary recipe. If you are looking for new dinner ideas, I think you will be very happy with this yummy pasta and rosemary soup. Little and big kids will especially like the fun rotini noodles in this soup. This is a very healthy, flavorful soup recipe that everyone will love!

I expect you will find this Italian Pasta Soup with Rosemary recipe so impressive that you can even serve it to important dinner guests! It can be served as a main dish or side dish. For a main dish I suggest serving it with a salad, and garlic or other crusty bread. You could also put this soup in a thermos for your children’s or your lunch. What a delicious idea! Watch this cooking video and try this Italian Pasta Soup with Rosemary for your next casual or fancy lunch or dinner!

Italian Pasta Soup with Rosemary

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces pasta, corkscrew (cooked)
  • 1 - 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 1/2 cups onion, chopped (red or yellow)
  • 1 cup celery, chopped
  • 1 1/2 - 2 cups zucchini, chopped
  • 2 - 15 ounce cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
  • 6 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons chicken seasoning/broth, instant (vegan or regular)
  • 2 teaspoons dried or 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary
  • 1 teaspoon (or to taste) salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon (or to taste)

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to package instructions but leave out the salt. Drain and set aside.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
  3. When the oil is hot, add the onion, celery and zucchini. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are soft.
  4. Add the beans, water, chicken seasoning and rosemary to the cooked vegetables and simmer for 10 minutes.
  5. Using a slotted spoon, remove the vegetables and beans and add them to a blender of food processor. Blend until smooth.
  6. Return the puree to the saucepan. Add the pasta to the sauce pan. Stir frequently and cook over medium heat until soup is hot, about 5 minutes.
  7. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

Notes

Corkscrew pasta is spiral shaped pasta like rotini.

If you use fresh rosemary, chop it into smaller pieces as desired.

You can half this recipe for less servings.

See a cooking demonstration of this Italian Pasta Soup with Rosemary recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

Curried Red Lentil Soup

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Try this easy, healthy, delicious Curried Red Lentil Soup recipe! If you love curry and love lentils you will be crazy about this Curried Red Lentil Soup! In this cooking video Karen Breyer will show you step-by-step how to make Curried Red Lentil Soup.

A couple nice things about lentils compared to most beans is that you don’t have to soak them and they cook fast. One more bonus with this recipe is that it uses red lentils which cook even faster than brown lentils. Lentils are also very nutritious. They are high in protein and fiber and low in fat.

Looking for a new healthy soup recipe with lots of flavor? This is an outstanding curry and lentil recipe that is full of flavor and has a nice texture! Serve this soup as a main dish or side dish for lunch or dinner. Pair it with a salad and bread or crackers for a satisfying and filling meal! Watch this cooking video and try this Curried Red Lentil Soup recipe today!

Yield: 6 servings

Curried Red Lentil Soup

Ingredients

  • 1 - 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 - 1 1/2 cups onion, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup carrot, finely chopped
  • 4 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and minced OR 1/8 teaspoon ginger, dried
  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
  • 4 teaspoons chicken broth/seasoning, instant
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 cup red lentils (picked over, rinsed and drained)
  • 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can tomatoes, diced
  • 1 - 1 1/2 cups apple, finely chopped
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Heat the oil over medium heat in a large saucepan.
  2. Add the onion. Sauté until it is soft and translucent.
  3. Add the garlic and carrots. Sauté another 3 to 5 minutes or until the carrots are softened.
  4. Add the curry powder, ginger, cayenne, water, chicken broth/seasoning, lentils, tomatoes and apple to the pan. Bring the mixture to a boil.
  5. Reduce the heat and simmer 15 - 20 minutes or until the lentils are cooked to your desired softness. Serve.

Notes

You can use a sweet or tart apple.

I like to peel the apple but you do not need to.

Make sure to pick over the dried lentils and remove any debris or stones. Then rinse and drain the lentils.

See a cooking demonstration of this Curried Red Lentil Soup recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

Cranberry Walnut Truffles

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Make creamy, chocolatey Cranberry Walnut Truffles! These yummy chocolate truffles are filled with healthy walnuts and cranberries! I even used dark chocolate to make these a little healthier. You can also prepare them with semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate.

In this cooking video Karen Breyer will show you step-by-step how to make Cranberry Walnut Truffles. These creamy, chocolatey truffles have only four ingredients and are very easy to make. This is a perfect candy recipe for beginners to try.

I think these Cranberry Walnut Truffles are an excellent choice if you are trying to eat healthier and love chocolate. The cranberries and walnuts in this recipe are super good for you and dark chocolate has its health benefits too!

These Cranberry Walnut Truffles are perfect for a chocolatey snack or dessert. I also like to give these truffles as a gift. I pack them in a nice candy box with a see-through lid. They look and taste impressive! If fact I think these Cranberry Walnut Truffles are better than any you can buy in a candy store! Watch this cooking video and make these delicious Cranberry Walnut Truffles today!

 

Yield: About 30 truffles

Cranberry Walnut Truffles

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 10 ounces chocolate chips, semi-sweet or bittersweet
  • 2/3 cup cranberries, dried
  • 2 cups walnut, toasted and finely chopped

Instructions

  1. Pour the cream in a small pan. Heat the cream until it starts to boil around the edges.
  2. Add the chocolate and whisk until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
  3. Turn off the heat and stir in the cranberries.
  4. Pour the mixture into a 9 inch pie pan or square pan.
  5. Refrigerate the chocolate 1 - 2 hours or until firm.
  6. Scoop the chocolate with a teaspoon in about 1 inch-size pieces and place them on a baking sheet or tray. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
  7. Pour the walnuts into a dish or pie pan. Roll the chocolate in the nuts. Then roll the chocolate into a ball between your palms.
  8. Next, gently roll them again in the nuts.
  9. Store the truffles in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Notes

You can use chocolate chips or chop chunks of chocolate into small pieces.

To toast walnuts:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spread walnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet.
3. Bake 10 - 15 minutes, until they just start to brown. Larger nuts will take longer to cook than smaller nuts. Check them frequently so they do not burn.

Let the walnuts cool before chopping them.

See a cooking demonstration of this Cranberry Walnut Truffles recipe on the Cooking Lessons for Dad YouTube channel.

© Karen Breyer

 

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