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Friday, March 30, 2012

Potato soup... mmmmm... (First published 2/12/2012)

We love Potato soup! Or is this a chowder? I really do not know . All I know is It's good :)
I think this is a good basic recipe that can take on many flavors depending what your family likes. I made this a 2 weeks ago and think it may be in order today as well since it's easy, I have all the ingredients, it's super cold here and we have been a bit under the weather so need something simple but yummy.
Pictures were a bit spotty on this one. I love to take food pictures but I am so used to just moving along or doing 3 other things at the same time so I forget sometimes. I know it's hard to believe but it's true :)  
I hope you like it too!
Potato soup
4-5 small potatoes peeled & quartered
2 carrots peeled and chopped fine (a food chopper helps a lot here)
1 ½  cups chicken (or vegetable) stock
1 cup milk
½ to 1 tsp chicken bouillon granules to taste
½ small onion diced fine
1 tbsp butter
1 clove of garlic pressed or diced fine
Salt and pepper to taste
¼ - ½ cup shredded cheddar, or colby or Jack cheese whatever you like
Optional… you could easily add any of these that you like and have on hand!
Diced cooked ham
diced cooked chicken or turkey
crumbled bacon
leftover rice or Quinoa
Diced green onion tops
Steamed Brocoli
Corn
...please ignore the ugly green striped walpaper behind my cooktop. Someday it will be tile but untill then just don't look.Thank you :)
Put peeled & quartered potatoes into a 4Qt saucepan.  Add stock and diced carrots. Bring to a boil and cook covered until potatoes are fork tender.
Meanwhile melt butter in a small sauté pan, add diced onions, cook onions until they are translucent, add garlic sauté for 30 seconds or so or until the garlic is fragrant.  Add to potato mixture.
Hmmm my garlic press is starting to look a bit rough... It is well loved!
Add milk to potato mixture along with salt and pepper to taste (for us 4-5 turns on the S&P grinder is good). 
 If you need a bit more flavor add some chicken bouillon granules or herbs of your choice (start with ½ a teaspoon). 
Just before serving use a wooden spoon or potato masher lightly smash the potatoes to your desired consistency. If you like big chunks that is just fine.  If you mash the potatoes a lot the soup will get very thick which is OK if you like it that way (we do). You can add some water or stock to thin the soup if you need to.
Add a bit of the shredded cheese just before serving, then add a bit to each person’s bowl if they like.
Add any of the optional ingredients anytime after the initial cooking of the potatoes. You could also use ham, bacon, broccoli etc as toppings or serve as a “toppings bar”
My family really liked this but wished I had added some bacon. What can I say , they are carnivores…
I served it with homemade corn bread. Biscuits or a fresh loaf of bread would be nice too.

Playing Catch-up... (First published 2/12/2012)

Hi all, so sorry I have neglected my new project. Life got in the way (funny how that happens!). Over the last 2 weeks 1 or more people in my house have been sick (me included). Other wise I have been running my but off (I wish it was that easy to get rid of) delivering kids to sports practices, tournaments and scrimmages, pine-wood derby's and gearing up for GS cookie sales. Phew....
Also it was convenient that MN weather finally showed up just in time for our first out door cookie booth! Yeah baby 2 hours outside in 0 degree weather. Can you believe we had a blast? Yup it was fun and those kids are troopers!
I really need to work on my meal plan again and I will try to get it up tonight or tomorrow. Here is what is on my plate today...
Load up for cookie booth #2 and deliver to town
Come home wash dishes, fold laundry,etc...
Help the boy with his Valentines (Yay he wants to use his box from last year!!!!)
Have girl make GS poster for dad to take to work
Go work cookie booth with the girl
Break down booth and haul what is left home
Come home and figure out what to feed everyone... You thought I never struggled with this didn't you?
I think that is it... but you mom's know how it is, about 10 other things will pop up as well and we will figure out how to get it all done. Well maybe some of it anyway, we can hope right :)

Meal plan for week of 1/29 - 2/4 (First published 1/30/2012)

Sunday - Potato Soup / Chowder
Monday - Cheesy chicken chili (in the Crockpot) New to us
Tuesday - Teriyaki steak with fried rice
Wednesday - Oven fried chicken
Thursday - Sloppy Joe's (in the Crockpot)
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday - shepherds pie (from the freezer)

Meal Plan for week of 1/22 – 1/28 (First published 1/22/2012)

Sunday,  Smashed Potato Soup (This was the Plan but I was tired so we had a Bear Creek Broccoli Cheddar soup instead.) I never said I was perfect but for a mix this is good soup!

Monday,  Chicken Cordon bleu (in the Crock pot)

Tuesday, Italian Hoagies

Wednesday, American Chop Suey

Thursday, Garlic Chicken

Friday, Pizza

Saturday, Tacos

What we ate last week... (First published 1/22/2012)

So sorry I did not get this out last week, our schedule has bee a bit nuts!
Meal plan for week of 1/15 – 1-21
Sunday, Enchiladas

Monday, French dip sandwiches

Tuesday, Tortellini

Wednesday, Bacon and Cheese Chicken This was new for us and it was THE BOMB! It will be added to our regular rotation!
Thursday, Quinoa Chili Printable recipe / Quinoa Chili  This Recipe is below...

Friday, Home made (frozen) Pizza

Saturday, Hubby’s choice ( I will be out of town Scrapbooking all day, Yay me! )
Quinoa Chili
Adapted from All Recipes.com
We really like this! So far I have made it twice and it has become my "go to" Chili recipe. The great thing is it can easily be converted to a Vegetarian dish by omiting meat and adding in extra veggies like zuchini and summer squash.
This week I tripled this recipe and made it in my large 8 Quart Crockpot. (Crockpot directions are below for same day and night before prep)
Ingredients:
1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
2 cups water
1 pound extra lean ground beef
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 1/2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
3 cups home cooked or 2 (19 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1 teaspoon dried parsley
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Optional: Zuchini & Summer Squash

Directions:
1.
Bring the quinoa and water to a boil in a saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the quinoa is tender, and the water has been absorbed, about 15 to 20 minutes.
2.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and stir in the ground beef. Cook and stir until the beef is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease; set beef aside.
3.
Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the onion, garlic, and jalapeno pepper; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Season with chili powder and cumin; cook 1 minute more to release the flavor of the spices. Stir in the tomatoes, black beans, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, oregano, and parsley (also add zuchini and summer squash now if using it). Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Simmer until the bell peppers are tender, about 20 minutes.
4.
Once the red and green peppers are tender, stir in the quinoa, beef, and corn kernels. Return to a simmer, and cook 5 minutes to reheat. Stir in the cilantro to serve.
*** I make this in the crockpot. We feel that chili is best when cooked low and slow. The flavors are much deeper.
Here is what I do…
Add defrosted ground meat and set on high for about an hour… break up meat and add the rest of the ingredients stir and cook 3 hours on high or 5-8 hours on low.
You could easily prep this the night before Here is what I would do…
If your crock is removable add the meat to it, cover and put in the fridge. (Otherwise just add the deforsted meat to the crock in the AM)
Dice up all veggies and put them covered in the fridge.
Combine all spices in a small bowl or baggie>
Cook and refrigerate Quinoa
In the morning 1st thing before you do anything else get the meat  statrted and turn to high.
Before you leave the house, break up the meat, add everything else, give it a stir and turn it to low.   Viola!… you come home to a nice hot meal :)