Dinner Anyone?

Well, today was a day that I finally felt like cooking. Antibiotics are an amazing thing in making one feel better.

After posting the Chili Recipe yesterday I decided I was on a roll and wanted some sort of soup today. My kids both LOVE baked potatoes so Baked Potato Soup it is. We have Chase's AFTERS soccer and Kenzie's dance this evening so not home till nearly 6 pm and we usually eat 5 or 5:30 so this will be nice to have ready on the stove when we get home. If you are interested, here is the recipe. I made a half pot as that is plenty for our family of 4. It took less than 1 hour from decision to make it till completely ready just needs reheated when we get home.

Baked Potato Soup

6 medium baking potatoes, cut bite sized & boiled (I leave skins on and use Yukon Gold potatoes)

1 lb bacon, cooked & crumbled (I use costco real bacon bit and about 1 cup of that)

4 stalks green onions, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

1/2 cup celery, chopped

6 cups milk

2 cups water

2 cups shredded cheese

8 oz sour cream

1 cup butter

In a large pot, melt butter. Add flour, when mixed together, add onions adn celery and cook till tender. Add milk and stir until smooth. Cook at medium temperature. Stir often so it won't stick to bottom of pot. Add water, and stir to combine. Add bacon, cheese, green onions and stir. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add sour cream and potatoes. Thin as needed with water or milk.

Makes a BIG pot!

Then to decide what to serve with it. hmmmmm! I love biscuits and I have recently found the best biscuit recipe so that is what I am making. Here is the recipe and it is the BEST!

Fluffy Biscuits

2 cups flour

4 tsp baking powder

3 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup shortening

1 egg

2/3 cup milk

In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Cut in shortnening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Beat egg with milk, stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Turn onto flour surface; knead 20 times. Roll to 3/4 inch thick; cut with floured biscuit cutter. Place on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 450 degrees for 8-10 minutes or till golden brown.

Yummy!

Thunderstorms mean warm inside food

We have been in Florida on vacation for about a week and a half. We got home on Friday and it has been cold and windy since then and then the rain and thunder started today.

On cold wet days, one looks for good warm recipes. Today I will share my Taco Chili Recipe. Easy, quick and loved by all - even the kids like it. I serve it with tortilla chips and sour cream!

Taco Chili

2 lbs ground beef, browned & drained

3 cups tomato juice (or 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce & 1 1/2 cups water)

1 jar (16 oz ) salsa (pick the degree of spiciness you want your chili to be

1 can (16 oz) kidney beans, drained

1 can (15 1/2 oz) great northern beans, drained

1 can (15 oz) butter beans, drained

1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained

1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce

1 can (6 oz) tomato paste

1 can (4 oz) chopped green chilies (can double this for extra spice)

1 envelope taco seasoning

Combine all ingredients in big pot and simmer for 15 min. Can be served at this point or I have put it in my crock pot on low for up to 4 hours!

Enjoy!

Happy Easter

We have been blessed with some nice and some odd weather in the past week or so here in Chelan. We have had nice sunny days where we were able to enjoy the park but then we had snow on Friday, April 2, 2010!

We took in the local Easter Egg Hunt put on by the local Lions Club yesterday. Somehow we managed to enjoy the 30 second hunt even after waiting outside in windy below 40 degree weather for 20 minutes.

Wishing you and yours a very happy Easter. May you enjoy family, friends, food, faith and fun!