Generic Food Challenge-- Day 1

Hi. My name is Jenn, and I am a cookbook junkie.

Here is my story--

I can't help walking down the cookbook aisle at Borders or Target or Hyvee... (I think you get the idea.) And walking by is not such

a bad thing. However, I always seem to walk away with at least one or two. It has gotten to the point that my cookbook shelves are now overflowing. So many cookbooks, many marked with fantastic sounding/looking recipes, but it is getting out of control. I am forgetting what we have.. what we've tried... and which recipes I desperately wanted to try!

Solution? We created the Generic Food Challenge. What is the Generic Food Challenge? In a span of three months, our goal is to cook a different meal for supper each night of those 3

months- No Repeats. Once we have successfully completed a 3 month period, we are free to repeat up to 6 recipes over the course of the next 3 months.

Disclaimer--- I usually only cook 2 or 3 days a week, so I am not sure how this would work if you are super woman and cook EVERY night !

Impossible? Not really. It is actually a lot easier than I thought it would be. However I did get a HUGE craving for Asian Pork Burgers this summer and couldn't remake them, because that would break the rules! That was not fun, but we suffered through.

We have tried this out and seem to have worked out some of the wrinkles, so now I think I'm ready to share some good stuff!

Day One: 3 Cheese French Onion Soup with Turkey Bacon Panini

• 2 large red onions, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 4 cups Chicken or Veggie Broth
• 3 cups water
• 1 envelope onion soup mix
• 1 teaspoon pepper (maybe a little less)
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.. or a little more in our case.
• 7 slices French bread (3/4 inch thick)
• shredded Swiss cheese
• shredded mozzarella cheese
• grated Parmesan cheese

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  In a large soup pan, saute onions in butter until tender. Add the broth, water, soup mix, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat: cover and simmer for 5 minutes.

  
  

  Place bread slices on a baking sheet. Put some swiss and mozzarella cheese on each slice. Broil for 1 to 2 minutes. Put a slice on top of soup and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

• To make the Turkey Bacon Panini.....
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• Leftover French Bread
• 2 slices of Apple Smoked Gruyere cheese
• 2 slices of bacon
• Dijon Honey Mustard
• Mesquite Turkey Breast Lunchmeat

Cut French bread into 4 slices. Place honey mustard, cheese, turkey, and bacon on a slice of french bread and top with the other piece of bread. Repeat because you husband needs one too. Brush outside with a little olive oil. Cook for a few minutes on panini grill until dark and crusty. Yum!

Both parts of super tonight were awesome! I love nights like this!

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