Fall Nights

Fall is such a great time for cooking :)  It is nice and cool outside and comfort foods are making a comeback.  I never complain about the cooler weather coming in, but my little man has caught a cold :(   With all the leftover chicken from the other night, chicken soup was on the stove today!  Hopefully he will be feeling better soon!


For dinner I tried an Emeril recipe for Turkey Meatloaf.  It came out great and definitely hit the spot on a cool fall evening!   

Chicken Soup

1 3-4 lb whole chicken (leftover is great as long as there is still a good amount of meat on it)

1/2 lb. large elbow pasta (use more or less depending on preference)
1/2 lb sliced carrots
1-2 tablespoons dried minced onion
salt and pepper


Place chicken in large stockpot and cover with cold water.  Bring to a boil over high heat and then turn down to simmer.  Simmer until meat is falling off the bone, about 45 minutes or so. 

Remove chicken from pot and separate meat from bones, discard bones.  Using a mesh strainer, strain liquid from the pot into a large bowl.  Return strained liquid and chicken to pot.  Return to boil and add carrots and onion.  Simmer for 10 minutes.  Add uncooked pasta, return to boil.  Cook until tender.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

*Some people prefer to boil the pasta separately and add in right before eating to ensure it does not get too soft.  I think that the starch in the pasta really adds to the soup, but it is a personal preference!*

Emeril's Turkey Meatloaf

1 teaspoon vegetable oil
4 oz. chopped turkey bacon chopped (I used regular bacon)
1 cup chopped yellow onion
1/4 cup chopped green pepper

coarse salt and pepper

1 minced garlic clove
3/4 cup oats-not instant
1 cup evaporated milk

1 1/2 lbs. ground turkey

1 1/4 cups ketchup or chili sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cook bacon in microwave until almost crisp, about 3-4 minutes.  Remove and chop.  In large saucepan heat oil over medium heat.  Add bacon, onions and peppers to pan and saute until tender, about 3 minutes.  Add garlic and cook 1 minute.  Remove from heat.

In large bowl mix oats and evaporated milk.  Mix in vegetables and allow to cool.  Add ground turkey, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper and 2 tablespoons ketchup.  Mix to combine.  Mixture will be very wet.  

Spray a 9x5 loaf pan with cooking spray.  Put mixture in pan and top with remaining ketchup.  Cook for 70 minutes.  Let set about 20 minutes before cutting!

*I served the meatloaf with mashed potatoes.*