Recipes #1

For dinner last week I made Husband's favorite soup, Cheddar Potato I guess you would call it. The recipe is from my Mother-in-law only it has been tweaked a little to satisfy hubby's obsession with cheese. This soup is so yummy I could eat it for days. The best thing about it is that it is super easy. Brandon was so happy I made it that night, he came home from work soaking wet and freezing. Nothing better than delicious warm soup when you are cold!

Sorry I am not the most wonderful photographer

2 celery stalks, chopped

2 carrots, grated

1 tbsp butter

2 cans chicken broth

3 cans cream of potato soup

1 ½ c cheddar cheese, grated

1 c sour cream

Salt and pepper

 In a large pan, melt butter and saute’ celery and carrots.  Add chicken broth and simmer on low for 20 mins.  Add potato soup, cheese and sour cream.  Cook on medium low for 15 mins.  Finish with salt and pepper. 

My tweaks: I use 4 cans of cream of potato soup, a can of cheddar cheese (not to replace but to add), and I use bagged shredded carrots if I am in a hurry. I also use broth I make on my own instead of canned. The amounts may be modified in the recipe to whatever you may like. For instance, I do not even measure my carrots or pay attention to how much celery I chop up.

On overcast days I get a sudden urge to bake. This time I made chocolate chip cookies. I had made them only once before and it did not turn out so well. I left them in the oven for too long so they were crunchy. I did not realize that cookies would set up after taking them out of the oven, it is hard to know things that no one has ever told you. I thought 8 minutes was too short because by then they were still gooey. This time around they turned out perfect.

The recipe I used for these was on the back of a package of Safeway brand chocolate chips (I always use recipes on the back of packages because they are usually very yummy). I took some of them to work, some of them went with my Father-in-law, and the rest went in my hubby's tummy. One of my co-workers liked them so much she asked me for the recipe. She laughed when I told her where to get it. I do not have the recipe to post but I will later on, promise.

On Friday evening I baked a batch of choc. cookies, homemade brownies with nuts, and packaged brownies sans-nuts for a bake sale. The homemade brownies were nothing short of amazing. I was shocked at how well they turned out. I will be making them again, hopefully very soon!

The recipe was obtained from an app on my iPhone called Big Oven. I would die without this app, it has saved my butt so many times when it comes to meals. I am not sure if it is available on the other phones but if you have an iPhone and you cook, you should definitely get it.

The shiny ones are the packed brownies, I do not like them!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

1 c Butter

1 c. Sugar

1 c. Brown Sugar              

¾  c. Cocoa

3 lg Eggs

1 c. Flour

1 ½ ts Baking Powder

1 ½ ts Vanilla

1 c Walnuts

Melt butter. In separate bowl, mix together sugars and cocoa. Add melted butter. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add flour and baking powder. Add vanilla and nuts.  Bake in 9”x13” pan 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

I had to put foil around the edges of my brownies half way through because they were starting to get crusty. I am thinking next time I may try using a lower temp for a longer time, but the foil worked just fine.

I love to bake, I am not a big fan of cooking though. I really enjoy being creative and making making my goodies look "cute." If you have any recipes that you love feel free to share! I would love to try them.