Bean-and-Ham Soup

From: Southern Living

Ingredients:
3 cans northern beans, divided
1 can chicken broth, divided
2 Tbsp butter
1 small onion, diced
8 oz cooked ham, cubed
1/4 tsp pepper

Rinse and drain beans. Process one-third can of beans and half of chicken broth in a food processor until smooth. Set aside.

Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, and saute 5 minutes or until onion is tender. Add ham, and saute 10 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring constantly.

Add bean puree, remaining beans, and remaining chicken broth. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in pepper. Serve immediately.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! Very simple, filling soup. Great flavors - I love ham and bean together. Great consistency with the blended beans. Hunter (my 2-year old) was gobbling this up! I would definitely recommend this soup for the ease with which you can make it and the yummy flavor!

Ham 'N' Swiss Soup

From: Taste of Home

Ingredients:
4 1/2 tsp butter
4 1/2 tsp AP flour
1 can chicken broth
1 cup chopped broccoli
2 Tbsp chopped onion
1 cup cubed fully cooked ham
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/8 tsp dried thyme
3/4 cup shredded Swiss cheese

In a saucepan, melt butter; whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually add broth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Add the broccoli and onion; cook and stir until tender-crisp. Add the ham, cream and thyme; heat through. Stir in the cheese until melted. 

Please note: This picture is from the Taste of Home website, not my personal picture. The soup was gone before I ever got my camera out!!

Verdict:
Thumbs up! Oh my goodness, this soup was so delicious and melted in our mouths! I will definitely be making this one again. My only note - I recommend doubling this recipe. It only gave us three servings in the end and I would have liked more of it!

Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

From: Ocean Spray Craisins advertisement

Ingredients:
2/3 cup butter, softened
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 6-oz package Craisins
2/3 cup white chocolate chunks or chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Using an electric mixer, beat butter or margarine and sugar together in a medium mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, mixing well. Combine oats, flour, baking soda and salt in a separate mixing bowl. Add to butter mixture in several additions, mixing well after each addition. Stir in dried cranberries and white chocolate chunks. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

It helps to have really cute cooks in the kitchen:

Verdict:
Thumbs up! I tasted a cookie from all three pans I cooked, just to make sure they weren't too bad. Seriously, these cookies are delicious! And addictive! And my kids love them, so I don't feel too bad about them eating them. Oats are good for you... cranberries HAVE to be good for you, right?? Anyway, I highly recommend this simple cookie recipe! I'll definitely be making it again!

Pepperoni Pizza Pie

From: Lynn's Kitchen Adventures

Ingredients:

• 1 unbaked (9 in) pie shell
• 8 ounces of shredded cheese
• 2 ounces of sliced pepperoni
• 1 (12 ounce can) Carnation evaporated milk
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
 

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese and half of the pepperoni onto the bottom of the pie shell.  Whisk together the milk, eggs, flour, basil, and garlic powder.  Pour into pie shell. Sprinkle remaining cheese over top and carefully lay pepperoni on top of cheese.  Bake for 40-45 minutes or until done. 

 

Verdict:
Thumbs up! What a delicious dinner. This did not stick around long at our table. I made this several months ago and I cannot remember if we even had any left over after dinner or not. If you like a quiche-type recipe and are looking for a little variety from regular pizza, this is perfect for you. I will definitely be making this again in the future!

Chocolate Cheese Pie

From: An old index card

Ingredients:
1 8-oz pkg cream cheese, softened
1 3-oz pkg cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup chilled whipping cream
8-inch packaged crumb crust
Cherry pie or peach pie filling

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In large mixer bowl combine cream cheese and sugar; beat well. Blend in cocoa, scraping sides of bowl and beaters frequently. Add eggs and vanilla; blend well. Blend in whipping cream. Pour into crust. Bake 35-40 minutes. Center will be soft but will set upon cooling. Cool to room temperature. Cover and chill several hours or overnight. Garnish with pie filling.

Verdict:
Just the way I like it - simple and delicious! Thumbs up! Classic recipe for a potluck or having friends over for dinner. I'll definitely be making this again in a pinch!

P.S. The recipe name "Chocolate Cheese Pie" is NOT my creation. A chocolate cheese pie sounds pretty disgusting in my opinion. But trust me, that's what it's called.

Homemade Granola

From: An old index card

Ingredients:
3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats 
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup oat bran
4 Tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ginger
1/2 cup apple juice or cider
4 Tbsp warm honey
1 Tbsp vanilla
2 Tbsp unsalted butter

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Butter a baking sheet. Stir together oats, flour, wheat germ, oat bran, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg and ginger. In a separate bowl whisk together the apple juice, honey, vanilla and butter. Pour over dry ingredients. Toss. Spread on baking sheet. Cook for 45 minutes, stirring about every 15 minutes. Cook until it is all dry to the touch. If you want to add fruit, add in the dried fruit of your choice after it's done baking.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! Yummy to sit out on the counter and munch on as I'm walking around! :-)

Homemade Cream of Chicken Condensed Soup

From: Tammy's Recipes

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt (or less; taste to test)
1/4 teaspoon parsley
dash of paprika
1 1/2 cups milk
3/4 cup flour 

In medium-sized saucepan, boil chicken broth, 1/2 cup of the milk, and the seasonings for a minute or two (longer if using fresh onions or garlic). In a bowl, whisk together the remaining 1 cup of milk and flour. Add to boiling mixture and continue whisking briskly until mixture boils and thickens.

Verdict:
Thumbs up!! Ever been in the middle of a recipe and realize you don't have any cream of chicken soup in your pantry? Okay, if you're a prepared cook that's never happened to you. But it happens to me all the time!! This is an easy way to whip up your own condensed cream of chicken soup. Yummy and no extra ingredients like you will find in the canned stuff!