Baked Potato Soup

I received this recipe from my sister who got it from her friend Becky Kittaka. I will admit that this soup took a long time to make (you have to bake the potatoes-hence the name). The result was a nice soup to enjoy on a cold day. I made a few changes to lighten up the recipe.

Baked Potato Soup
by Becky Kittaka

5 or 6 baked potatoes
1/2 cup celery
1 medium onion, diced
1 tbsp butter
1 cup water
salt and pepper
chicken bouillon to taste (used 1 small can reduced sodium chicken broth)
1 cup half and half (omitted)
1 cup milk (used 2 cups)
1 lb Velveeta cheese, cubed (used Velveeta Light)
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 lb bacon, cooked crisp, drained, and crumbled (used turkey bacon)

Garnish with shredded cheddar cheese and chopped scallion

In a large pot, saute celery and onion in butter about 5 minutes.
Chop potatoes (I left the skins on) and add to pot.
Add water, bouillon (chicken broth), and salt and pepper.
Cook on 15 minutes on medium heat.
Reduce heat and add milk (and half and half is using).
Add cheese cubes and cayenne pepper.
Simmer on low for 15 to 20 minutes until hot.
Garnish with bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, and scallion and serve.

Steak Diane Dinner Party

My brother in law and sister in law came over for a dinner party. We all had a tough week (some of us worse than others). We had a lot of great food. Some was premade. Here are the recipes for what I made.

Menu

Shrimp Cocktail

Gouda cheese and crackers

Spinach dip and crackers

Smashed Garlic Cheddar Potatoes

Grilled Corn

Steak Diane

Chateau Gravat Medoc bordeaux 2005

Frappuccino Martinis

Angel food cake with berries and whipped cream

Strawberry Shortcake Cheesecake

Smashed Garlic Cheddar Potatoes

2 lbs red skin potatoes

3 cloves garlic, smashed

1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

3/4 cup milk (more or less for desired consistency)

salt and pepper

Dice potatoes into 1 inch chunks.

Boil potatoes and garlic for 20 minutes until fork tender.

Drain potatoes and add cheese, milk, salt and pepper.

Mash with potato masher until mostly smooth.

Grilled Corn

6 ears corn

butter

salt and pepper

Remove husks and silks from corn and pat dry.

Grill on medium high for about 8 minutes (turning every 2 minutes).
Drizzle with butter and salt and pepper.

Steak Diane

Inspired by Paula Dean, but with much less butter

3 tbsp butter

1 tsp extra virgin olive oil

2 cup sliced mushrooms

1/2 cup diced red onion

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 of lemon

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

pinch salt

1/2 tsp pepper

3 tbsp fresh parsley leaves

4 ribeye steaks

Add butter and oil to pan.

Add mushrooms, onion, garlic, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper to pan.

Cook until mushrooms are tender (about 7 minutes).

Stir in chopped parsley.

Salt and pepper the steaks.

Grill steaks on medium high heat for about 4 minutes per side.

Drizzle sauce or steaks.

Frappuccino Martini's

9 1/2 oz bottle Starbucks frapaccuccino coffee drink

1 1/2 oz Absolut vodka

chocolate syrup

Drizzle martini glass with chocolate syrup.

In a cocktail shaker, mix coffee and vodka.

Shake and pour into martini glass.

Crash Hot Potatoes

I have been wanting to make these potatoes ever since I saw them on The Pioneer Woman Cooks blog. Everyone who has tried them has really enjoyed them. You can find her recipe here http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/06/crash-hot-potatoes/

Crash Hot Potatoes


Baby Red Potatoes
extra virgin olive oil
salt
pepper
herbs of choice (I used fresh chives)
sprinkle of cheese
sour cream

Boil red potatoes until fork tender (about 20 minutes)
Place on baking sheet that has been drizzled with oil.
Place potato on sheet and mash with a potato masher.
Mash once in one direction, then rotate 90 degrees and mash again.
Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and oil.
Bake at 450 degrees for 25 minutes.
Sprinkle with fresh chives and cheese.
Serve with a dollop of sour cream.

Tilapia Sandwiches & Oven Roasted Potatoes

My husband and I are trying to incorporate more fish and healthy items into our diets. These fish sandwiches were great!!! The meal was quick and easy for a weeknight dinner.

Tilapia Sandwiches
4 tilapia fillets
4 wheat buns
1 tomato
2 slices red onion
handful romaine lettuce
tarter sauce
salt
lemon pepper

Sprinkle tilapia fillets with salt and lemon pepper. I grilled the fish on my George Foreman grill for about 6 minutes (they were frozen). Toast buns in 400 degree oven for 5 minutes. Assemble sandwiches with tarter sauce, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and fish. Enjoy!!

Oven Roasted Potatoes
6 medium red skin potatoes
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
salt
pepper

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Wash and dry potatoes. Quarter potatoes, and place on baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper on potatoes and toss. Cook for 30 minutes.

Pork Chops with Raspberry Mustard Sauce, Roasted Broccoli & Garlic Smashed Potatoes

Sorry about the shadow on the picture!
This meal helped me get through a rough night after work. I was exhausted and I had the rest of the weekend to work and be on call. I was ready to get take out but my husband was really craving the pork chops I had in the fridge. It turned out as a great blessing. Cooking the meal made me forget for a little while about work, and just relax and cook and eat a great tasting meal!! I got the idea for this sauce from one of Rachael Ray's talk shows. It was one of the bottom of the jar recipes. I added the shallots and beer to get all of the great pork bits from the pan. I stole some of the beer from the bottle my husband was drinking!! The pork chops were wonderful. I served it with my easy garlic smashed potatoes, and our favorite way to have broccoli which is roasted.

Pork Chops with Raspberry Mustard Sauce
4 boneless pork chops
1 shallot
2 tablespoons Smithwich's beer
2 tsp raspberry jelly
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp red wine vinegar
salt and pepper

I pan seared the pork chops on medium heat for about 4 minutes per side. Removed the chops from the pan and added 1 diced shallot and the beer. Cook the shallots for about 2 minutes. Meanwhile mix jelly, mustard, vinegar, and salt/pepper to small plastic container and shake until well mixed. Add mixture back to the pan. Drizzle mixture over pork chops and serve.

Garlic Smashed Potatoes
5 medium size red skin potatoes
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup milk
handful of shredded cheddar cheese
salt and pepper

Wash and cut potatoes into about 2 inches chunks and add to cold water. Add garlic with potatoes and boil for 20 minutes. Drain potatoes and add milk until the consistency desired. Mix in cheese and add salt and pepper to taste.


Roasted Broccoli
broccoli (florets and stems)
olive oil
salt and pepper

Wash broccoli, removed any leaves and cut 1 inch off broccoli and discard. Cut the remainder of florets and stems into 2 inches pieces. Place on baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Cook at 325 degrees for 20 minutes.