Creamy Potato Soup with Sausage

Shopping list at the end....

Peel and dice 3-4 lbs. of potatoes.
About this many: You will also need,
1 pint of heavy whipping cream,
4 cups (32 oz.) of chicken broth, and
1-2 pounds of smoked sausage (I use 1.75 lbs. because it's what I had).
You will need:
1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning (or any combination of basil, parsley, etc.),
1 teaspoon of black pepper, and
1 teaspoon of garlic powder (not pictured - and don't ask why!):

And I add:
6-12 ounces of chopped mushrooms -
but that's because I love mushrooms. Doesn't matter what size since they shrink:

Also, 1/2 cup chopped celery along with 1/2 cup chopped onions:

The sausage needs to be diced. I make smaller pieces. But Guy was helping so bigger chunks were just fine by me.

I use my Dutch oven so it's all-in-one.

Melt:
1/2 cup of butter or margarine, then add
onion, celery, and sausage.

Saute until the veggies are tender and the sausage is lightly browned.

Stir in:
1/4 cup of flour until smooth and well blended.
Then stir in:
Italian seasoning, black pepper, and garlic.

Continue cooking for a minute or so....

Blend in the chicken broth:

Add:
the diced potatoes,
cover,
and simmer for about 30 minutes (until the potatoes are tender).

Last,

stir in the heavy cream,
add mushrooms,
and continue cooking until heated thoughout.

It makes 15-20 servings.

In my house that translates to 24 hours, at best, and it's gone.

I serve it with a salad and lots of grains wheat bread for sopping.

The original recipe is here: Spicy Sausage and Potato Soup

Enjoy!

Shopping List:

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped celery

1-2 lbs. spicy smoked sausage

1/4 cup flour

1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

4 cups (32 oz) chicken broth

3-4 pounds potatoes

1 pint heavy whipping cream

Spinach-Cheese Pie

Spinach-Cheese Breakfast Pie

adapted from: AmericanProfile.com

Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
2 eggs
1/2 cup self-rising flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup milk
8 ounces grated sharp cheddar
10 ounce package frozen spinach, thawed and well-drained

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Melt butter in round cake pan
3. Beat eggs with flour, salt, and baking powder
4. Stir in milk
5. Add cheese and spinach
6. Spread evenly in pan
7. Bake 20 - 25 minutes, until golden and set in center
8. Slice into 8 servings

Enjoy!

Lemon Blueberry Bread

Lemon Blueberry Bread

Ingredients:
4 Large eggs
1 cup milk
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
4 cups fresh blueberries
2 tbs lemon peel
3 cups all purpose flour
2 2/3 cup sugar
12 tbs unsalted butter

*4 tbs unsalted butter-melted
*6 tbs lemon juice

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 13x9 pan.
2. In a bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and salt.
3. In large bowl, cream butter and sugar.
Add eggs, one at a time.
Mix well after each addition.
Add grated lemon peel.
4. Mix in dry ingredients alternating with milk.
Fold in blueberries.
Spoon into pan.
5. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes at 325 degrees F.
6. After baking, pierce loaf with a toothpick many times.
Mix lemon juice and melted butter and pour over cake.
Cool 30 minutes on rack.

The blueberries all settled to the bottom but it was amazingly delicious!

I have no pictures to share. It didn't last long enough.

Perfect Pancakes

Perfect Pancakes
Feeds 8

Ingredients:
3 cups self-rising flour (all purpose will make "flatcakes")
6 tablespoons sugar
2 cups milk
2 eggs (slightly beaten)
1 stick salted butter (melted)

Directions:
1. Stir flour and sugar together.
2. Stir in milk and eggs.
3. Stir in melted butter.
(here's where you can addo M&M's, or chocolate chips, or blueberries, or strawberries, etc.)

4. Heat frying pan with oil.
5. Pour in a small amount of batter.
6. Turn when bubbles appear.
7. Cook other side evenly.
8. Remove to platter and continue until batter is gone.

Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

Makes 5 dozen

Ingredients:

1 cup salted butter (softened)
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar (packed)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
3 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup raisins
~or~ 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Grease cookie sheet.
3. Beat butter and sugars until creamy.
4. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well.
5. Combine flour and baking soda.
6. Add to butter mixture; mix well.
7. Stir in oats and rasins (or chocolate chips).
8. Using rounded tablespoons, roll into balls.
9. Place 2 inches apart.
10. Flatten a bit with a fork (or fingers).
11. Bake about 10 minutes until lightly browned.
12. Let stand 5 minutes before removing to racks to cool.

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Cheap (when chicken is on sale) and so easy!
This recipe can be halved for smaller (or less hungry) families.

Chicken Salad
Makes enough for 14-16 sandwiches
Prep Time: 15 minutes

Ingedients:
4 cups diced chicken
2 cups diced celery
1.5 cups Miracle Whip (or mayonnaise, or sour cream, or plain yogurt)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Mix together.

Seriously. That's it.

My oldest daughter does not like mayo, or Miracle Whip, so I made her a portion with sour cream. It's really good!
I've also used 1 cup Miracle Whip and the other 1/2 cup with sour cream. I can't tell the difference.


We like it on toasted bread.
But I love any leftovers as a "dip" with celery sticks.
Or serve on a lettuce leaf.
Or for guests, use croissants.

Strawberry Bread

I had never heard of this but Guy had been mentioning it with talk of Banana Bread.
As in, "Banana Bread is ok but I really like Strawberry Bread."
So I adapted the Banana Bread recipe and it was well received!
Woo Hoo! We have a winner!

Strawberry Bread Recipe
Makes 20 servings
Prep: 5 minutes
Bake: 40-60 minutes

~

Ingredients:
16 0z bag frozen strawberries (thawed enough to mash with a fork)
2/3 cup melted butter

2 cups sugar

2 eggs, beaten

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt

3 cups of flour

No need for a mixer.

~

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F.

2. Mix butter into the mashed strawberries in a large mixing bowl with a wooden spoon.

3. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla.

4. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in.

5. Add the flour last, mix.

6. Pour mixture into a buttered 9x16 inch loaf pan.

7. Bake for up to 1 hour (my oven takes only about 40 minutes).

8. Slather butter on top while hot.

9. Cool on a rack.

10. Remove from pan (or not - mine didn't last long enough) and slice to serve.