Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Creamy Potato Soup

Are you sick of all the soup recipes yet?
My husband dropped a subtle hint a few weeks back letting me know that it was soup season. I'm almost positive I had already started making soups at that point in time. However, sitting here now I realize that the soups I had been making were a bit more 'healthy' than the one seen below, and probably a bit too 'healthy' for his liking. I believe the soup below was the soup my husband was hinting at a few weeks ago. According to him this soup is not just good, it's really good. Like, don't even think about touching any leftovers because it already has his name written all over it, good.


Creamy Potato Soup
(Recipe found here on our cousins' family cooking blog.)

2-3 c. diced or cubed potatoes
1 c. shredded carrots
1 c. chopped onion
½ c. chopped celery
12 oz chicken broth

Put vegetables and chicken broth in pan and add water just to cover vegetables. Bring to a boil and cook for 20-30 minutes until vegetables are soft. Make white sauce and add to cooked vegetables. Keep hot but do not boil.

For the white sauce:
¾ c. butter
¾ c. flour
1 quart half-n-half
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. sugar
Melt butter and add flour, salt and sugar. Be careful not to burn as it browns quickly. Slowly stir in half-n-half and cook stirring constantly until thick. 

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Thanksgiving Day Menu

I realize everyone probably already has their menu set for tomorrow, but if you're in a bind and looking for something good you're in luck. Our brothers are coming into town to celebrate Thanksgiving with us and I think we're all pretty excited about it.

Our menu plan is as follows:

The Best Cheeseball
Almond and Pomegranate Salad
Tara's Melt in Your Mouth Dinner Rolls
Turkey by mom (We let her do her thing--no recipe for this one.)
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Thanksgiving Stuffing
Sweet Potatoes Loaded with the Good Stuff (Marshmallows)
Roasted Carrots, by Pastor Ryan
Black Bottom Banana Cream Pie meets Banoffee Pie
Cherry Pie
Pumpkin Pie provided by Sister Kirkland (thank you Costco)
And a surprise chocolate pie I was just made aware of.

**Click on any highlighted item for the direct recipe. All other recipes will be posted shortly after Thanksgiving Day.


Happy Turkey Day to you!

Monday, November 21, 2011

Buttermilk Pancakes

Buttermilk Pancakes

3 eggs
1/2 cube (1/4 c.) butter, melted
2 c. buttermilk
1/2 T baking soda
1/2 heaping tsp. salt
1/3 c. sugar
1 1/2-2 c. flour

Preheat griddle to 350 degrees.
Melt your butter and set aside to cool (to prevent from scrambling your eggs). In a mixing bowl beat the eggs and buttermilk. Mix in the melted butter. Slowly sift in dry ingredients and mix well.
Makes about 12 large pancakes.

**If you don't have buttermilk on hand, add one tablespoon distilled white vinegar to one cup milk and let sit until it begins to curdle at surface.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Momma Polly's "Butter Rice"





For lack of a better name and because that is what I called it growing up, "Butter Rice" will have to do. It is a very comforting and delicious side that I enjoyed as a kid and still enjoy today. And I kind of feel like I can splurge a little if I am having chicken and a vegetable with it. It is super simple, and I will be totally surprised if everyone in your house doesn't love it too. Even my picky eaters gobble it up.




Happy Monday!



1 Lipton Soup Mix



1/4 C butter



1 1/2 C rice



3 C water




Melt butter. Pour soup mix and rice in pan and toast for 2 to 3 min in the butter. Add water, bring to a boil, and let simmer for 20 minutes.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Tara's Melt in Your Mouth Dinner Rolls

Are you sick of all these soup recipes yet? I'm afraid I have at least one more to share, which happens to be my husband's favorite, but for now how about we post something to accompany your favorite soup.
Several of my recipes happen to be ones I've gotten from my sister, this one included. And this one is a keeper.

Tara's Rolls

2 1/2 c. warm water
2 T yeast
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 tsp salt
1/2 c. dry milk
3 c. flour
And then
3-4 c. more flour

Combine first eight ingredients until smooth. Stir in 3-4 c. more flour. There should now be between 6 and 7 cups of flour in the dough. Let dough rise for 1 1/2 hours. After it has risen, punch the dough down. Divide the dough into two balls. Roll the first ball out onto your counter forming a circle of about 16 inches in diameter. Cut the circle into a pizza pie shape with 16 equal triangles. Roll triangles from the wide end to the point. Place the 16 individual rolls on a greased cookie sheet and let rise again for another 45 minutes. Repeat with the second ball of dough.

Bake rolls at 325 for 8-10 minutes.