by Tara Brannon
I really enjoy bringing meals to families in our church. My go to meal that I love to bring is Minestrone and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies. It is simple, and I think soup and cookies are great comfort foods.
The minestrone recipe is from a fun event that my daughter, Emma, and I did as a service project for American Heritage Girls. We met over zoom to learn how to cook the food because of COVID. The recipe is from Radish Kids. The cookies are a family recipe passed down from my mother in law’s grandma, Helen Morrow. I hope you all find it simple and that it blesses those people to you bring the meals for.
Minestrone
Ingredients:
| 1 small onion | ½ tsp pepper |
| 1 large carrot | 1 (15 oz) can white beans |
| 3 cloves garlic | 6 cups chicken broth |
| 1 large zucchini | 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes |
| 2 links fully cooked chicken sausage | 1 tsp dried basil |
| 2 TBSP olive oil | 1 tsp dried oregano |
| 1 ½ tsp salt | 1 cup dried pasta shells |
Steps:
- Cut onion, carrot, and zucchini in 1/4s. Put in medium bowl.
- Cut sausage into half moons and put in bowl with vegetables.
- Heat oil over medium high heat in soup pan.
- Add vegetables, sausage, salt, and pepper.
- Cook until vegetables are softened. 10 minutes.
- Drain white beans.
- Add broth, crushed tomatoes, white beans, basil, and oregano to pot. Bring pot to a boil over high heat.
- Add pasta to pot. Stir and reduce heat to medium heat. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- Enjoy!
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies by Great Grandma Morrow
Ingredients:
| 1 cup Crisco | 1 ¾ cup flour |
| 1 cup brown sugar | 1 tsp salt |
| 1 cup sugar | 1 tsp baking soda |
| 2 well beaten eggs | 3 cups quick oats |
| 1 tsp vanilla | 12 oz package chocolate chips (semi sweet) |
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cream Crisco, brown sugar, and sugar in large mixing bowl.
- Add eggs and vanilla to mixing bowl and mix well.
- Add flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix well.
- Add oats and chocolate chips. Mix well.
- Place cookie dough on lightly greased pans and bake for 13 minutes.
- Let them cool and enjoy.
Tara Brannon is married to Andrew and mom to three young children Emma (10), Noah (8), and Oren (6). She is a stay-at-home mom who loves puzzling and walks on the Douglas trail. She participates in Renovare bible study, and serves in Awana and the nursery on Sunday mornings.