Hash Brown Soup

From: Budget Savvy Diva

Ingredients:

• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 3 (14 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 1 (32 ounce) bag frozen hash browns
• 1 can cream of celery soup
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 8 oz of cheddar cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
• Sprinkle of Cayenne Pepper
• Sour cream ( optional)

In a medium size skillet melt butter and cook onions till browned. In a large stockpot – place onions, chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add hashbrowns and bring back to a boil.

Add soups, milk, seasoning – bring back to a boil.

Add 6 oz of cheese and mix till cheese is melted.

Garnish with remaining cheese and sour cream.

Verdict:

Thumbs up! I love potato soup and I like hashbrown soup because it's so easy to make. This was a great, tasty recipe that I'm sure I'll use again in the future! 

Italian Sausage Soup

From: Sunset Pasta cookbook

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs mild Italian sausages
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 large onions, chopped
1 large can (1 lb, 12 oz) Italian-style tomatoes
3 cans beef broth
1 1/2 cups dry red wine or water
1/2 tsp dry basil
3 Tbsp chopped parsley
1 medium-size green pepper, seeded and chopped
2 medium-size zucchini, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices
5 oz medium-size bow-shaped noodles

Remove and discard sausage casings; cut sausages in 1/2-inch lengths. In a 5-quart Dutch oven, cook sausages over medium heat until lightly browned. Spoon off and discard all but 2 Tbsp drippings. Add garlic and onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until limp. Stir in tomatoes and their liquid.

Add broth, wine, and basil. Bring to a boil; then reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 30 minutes. Add parsley, pepper, zucchini, and noodles. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 25 minutes or until noodles are al dente. Pass Parmesan at the table.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! I loved this recipe. I only made a couple of changes. I used beef bouillon cubes (3) instead of actual broth, and I did use the water instead of red wine. I used rotini instead of bow-shaped noodles. This was such a great, filling, delicious soup. I would love to make this again in the future.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

From: Southern Living 50 Favorite Cookie Recipes cookbook

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla extract
2 cups AP flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups uncooked quick-cooking oats
1 cup raisins
1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugars, beating well. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Combine flour and next 3 ingredients; gradually add to butter mixture, beating well. Stir in oats, raisins, and pecans.

Drop dough by heaping teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly on baking sheets; remove to wire racks to cool.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! Although this isn't my favorite oatmeal raisin recipe ever, you really can't go wrong with this recipe. It was simple and yummy!

Crispy Tilapia

From: Deep Fried Food

Ingredients:
3 lbs tilapia fillets
1/3 cup flour, for dusting fish
1 egg
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
salt
pepper
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 Tbsp Old Bay Seasoning
canola oil, to cover the bottom of the frying pan

Salt and pepper the fish. Dust with the 1/3 cup flour. Mix egg with buttermilk in one bowl. Mix flour, cornmeal, baking soda, baking powder and Old Bay in another bowl. Dip floured fish into egg mixture, then flour mixture. Heat oil in a large pan. Fry, turning every couple of minutes.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! I love tilapia because it doesn't have that "fishy" flavor. This is the best recipe I've ever made with tilapia and fried fish. My entire family gobbled it up. And the small amount that was left over was perfect the next day when I broiled it for a few minutes. Definitely making this one again!

Peanut Butter Rice Krispies

From: I Can Teach My Child

Ingredients:
3 Tbsp butter
1 bag of marshmallows (regular, not mini)
1 big, heaping spatula of peanut butter
6 cups of Rice Krispies

Dump the marshmallows and butter into a microwave safe bowl and set the microwave for 3 minutes.

After 2 minutes, take out the bowl and dump a big heaping spatula of peanut butter into the bowl.

Stir and put back in the microwave for the remaining minute.  In the meantime, grease your 9×13 pan.

Add the Rice Krispies and stir vigorously.  Dump into the greased pan. 

Spray your hand with a little nonstick cooking spray and press into the pan. Let sit for at least 15 minutes before cutting.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! I love Rice Krispie treats but the peanut butter added that little extra flavor that made them even more delicious! Simple, quick recipe that can't be beat! 

Tagliarini with Garlic Sauce

From: Sunset Pasta cook book

Ingredients:
8 oz tagliarini
2 large tomatoes or 1 can (1 lb) Italian-style tomatoes
1/4 cup water
1 tsp dry basil
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper and crushed red pepper
1/3 cup olive oil
6 large cloves garlic, minced or pressed

Peel, seed, and coarsely chop tomatoes. If using canned tomatoes, break up with a spoon. In a bowl, combine tomatoes, water (omit if using canned tomatoes), basil, salt, black pepper, and red pepper; reserve.

Place olive oil and garlic in a 1-quart pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, over medium-low heat until oil bubbles gently and garlic is a light gold. Add tomato mixture to pan and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.

Cook noodles in a large kettle of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain noodles, then place in a serving bowl. Pour sauce over noodles, toss gently, then serve. Pass Parmesan cheese at the table.

Verdict:
Well, I enjoyed this, but it definitely is not my favorite sauce recipe. I never thought I would say there is too much garlic in a recipe, but I thought that about this recipe! I also don't like the amount of oil that was added. If I were going to make this again I would put half as much olive oil, and 3-4 cloves of garlic instead of 6. I really do think that would make a huge difference in the flavor of this pasta. It was just a little too tangy for me!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies

From: Southern Living 50 Favorite Cookies cookbook

Ingredients:
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups AP flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
2/3 cup strawberry jam or grape jelly

Beat butter and peanut butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add brown sugar, beating well. Add egg and vanilla. Combine flour and baking soda; gradually add to butter mixture, mixing well.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls, and place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten balls in a crisscross pattern with a floured fork. Bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 1 minute on baking sheets; remove to wire racks to cool.

Spread jam on bottoms of half the cookies; top with remaining cookies.

Verdict:
Well, this is not my favorite peanut butter cookie recipe. But sandwiched together with the jelly I actually really liked these. I used grape jelly and raspberry jam. I'd like these again, using a different peanut butter cookie recipe, perhaps.

Glazed Carrots

From: Betty Crocker's New Cookbook

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs carrots
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 Tbsp butter
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp grated orange peel

Prepare carrots, cutting into julienne strips and boil until cooked (about 15 minutes). Cook remaining ingredients in skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly, until bubbly. Stir in carrots. Cook over low heat about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until carrots are glazed and hot.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! These were awesome. I left them whole since they were baby carrots. Hunter and I finished the whole plate easily. I will definitely be making these again! They were sweet but still had the carrot flavor.

Chocolatetown Special Cake

From: 100 Best Brand Name Recipes cookbook

Ingredients:
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup boiling water
2/3 cup shortening
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 1/4 cups AP flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/3 cups buttermilk or sour milk

Frosting:
6 Tbsp butter, softened
2 2/3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
4-6 Tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.

Stir together cocoa and water in small bowl until smooth.

Beat shortening, sugar and vanilla in large bowl until fluffy. Add eggs; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and salt; add to shortening mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating until well blended. Add cocoa mixture; beat well. Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake 35-40 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with buttercream frosting.

For frosting:
Beat butter in medium bowl. Add powdered sugar and cocoa alternately with milk, beating to spreading consistency. Stir in vanilla. Makes about 2 cups frosting.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! I love homemade cake. They are cheaper than box mixes (really!) and I usually have everything on hand already so I save a trip to the store. This recipe is delicious! It's so easy I'll definitely be making it again.

*P.S. It says "You're a beast" because I was celebrating Stephen completing a Spartan Beast race!*   

Sweet and Sour Venison Stir-Fry

From: One Pot cookbook

Ingredients: 
12 oz venison steak
1 bunch of scallions
1 red bell pepper
3 1/2 oz snow peas
3 1/2 oz baby corn cobs
1 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
1-inch piece fresh gingerroot, finely chopped
3 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp white wine vinegar
2 Tbsp dry sherry
2 tsp clear honey
8 oz canned pineapple pieces, drained
1/4 cup bean sprouts
freshly cooked rice, to serve

Trim any fat from the venison and cut into thin strips. Cut the scallions into 1-inch pieces. Halve and seed the red bell pepper and cut into 1-inch pieces. Trim the snow peas and baby corn.

Heat the oil in a preheated wok or skillet over high heat. Add the venison, garlic, and gingerroot and stir-fry for 5 minutes. Add the scallions, red bell pepper, snow peas, and baby corn cobs, then stir in the soy sauce, vinegar, sherry and honey. Stir-fry for an additional 5 minutes.

Carefully stir in the pineapple pieces and bean sprouts and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes to heat through. Serve with freshly cooked rice and extra soy sauce for dipping.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! I love stir-fry and I've done a sweet and sour before that I didn't love. I really liked this one although I did vary the recipe a bit on the veggies. I used onions instead of scallions, no baby corn cobs (didn't have any at home), ginger powder instead of gingerroot, I left out the sherry, and I didn't add bean sprouts. But the sauce was so yummy and I loved the other flavors as well! I'll be making this one again.

Chili Con Carne

From: One Pot cookbook

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp oil
1 lb ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 tsp chili powder
1 lb 12 oz canned chopped tomatoes
1 lb 12 oz canned red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups beef stock
salt
cilantro

Heat the oil in a large skillet. Add the beef. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes, or until broken up and browned.

Reduce the heat, add the onion, garlic and bell pepper, and cook, stirring frequently, for 10 minutes.

Stir in the chili powder, tomatoes and their juices, and kidney beans. Pour in the beef stock and season with salt. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, stirring frequently, for 15-20 minutes, or until the meat is tender.

Chop the cilantro and stir into the chili. Adjust the seasoning if necessary.

Verdict:
Well, although I did like this recipe, there are many other chili recipes I prefer. I probably won't make this one again. My two favorite recipes are my mom's recipe and the Wendy's copycat recipe. This one is a little sweeter than those and a little soupier. If you like trying new chili recipes I still recommend it. Great flavor.

Tuna Noodle Casserole

From: 100 Favorite Brand Name Recipes cookbook

Ingredients:
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 cup milk
3 cups hot cooked rotini pasta (2 cups uncooked)
1 can tuna (12 oz) packed in water, drained and flaked
1 1/3 cups french fried onions, divided
1 package frozen peas and carrots
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Combine soup and milk in 2-quart shallow casserole dish. Stir in pasta, tuna, 2/3 cup french fried onions, vegetables and cheese. Top with remaining french fried onions. Cover, cook in 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! I loved this. I did only use one can of tuna, but it was enough. I like tuna but I think one 5-oz can was just enough of the tuna flavor. I will definitely make this again in the future, even though I had to eat the entire casserole by myself. Why am I the only one in this family who likes tuna!?!?

Cinnamon Swirl Quick Bread

From: Recipes to Live By (Kelly)

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/3 cups sugar, divided
• 1 egg
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 Tbsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350°F.

In a large mixing bowl, beat together butter, 1 cup sugar, and egg. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture alternately with the buttermilk.

In a small bowl, combine the cinnamon and remaining 1/3 cup sugar. Pour a third of the batter into a greased 8X4X2-inch loaf pan. Sprinkle a third of the cinnamon sugar on top of batter. Repeat layers twice.

Bake for 45-50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! I actually made this recipe a year ago for the first time and forgot to blog about it. I love cinnamon bread because I will eat it for breakfast, lunch, snack, whatever! This is a great recipe because it's simple and delicious. I love it! 

Lemon Meringue Pie

From: 100 Favorite Brand Name Recipes cookbook

Ingredients:

Crust (make your own or buy pre-made like I did!)

Filling:
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
3 Tbsp AP flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups hot water
3 egg yolks, beaten
2 Tbsp butter
1 1/2 tsp grated lemon peel
1/3 cup plus 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

Meringue:
1/2 cup sugar, divided
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 cup cold water
4 egg whites
3/4 tsp vanilla

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

For filling, combine sugar, cornstarch, flour and salt in medium saucepan. Add hot water gradually, stirring constantly. Cook and stir on medium heat until mixture comes to a boil and thickens. Reduce heat to low. Cook and stir constantly 8 minutes. Remove from heat.

Add about one third of hot mixture slowly to egg yolks. Mix well. Return mixture to saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil on medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low. Cook and stir 4 minutes. Remove from heat.

Stir in butter and lemon peel. Add lemon juice slowly. Mix well. Spoon into baked pie crust.

For meringue, combine 2 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp cornstarch, and 1/2 cup cold water in small saucepan. Stir until cornstarch dissolves. Cook and stir on medium heat until mixture is clear. Cool.

Combine egg whites and vanilla in large bowl. Beat at high speed of electric mixer until soft peaks form. Beat in remaining 6 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp at a time. Beat well after each addition. Combine meringue with cornstarch mixture and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Spread over filling, covering completely and sealing to edge of pie.

Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until meringue is golden. Cool to room temperature before serving.

Verdict:
This was a great recipe! I won't say it was easy. It was simple but very time consuming. I will say that I did not realize until I was just typing this up that I completely left out the lemon juice! Kind of the most important ingredient!! Funny, though, neither myself nor my parents noticed this!

Also, based on my personal experience (i.e. failure), do not whip your egg whites in a plastic bowl. I have done soft/firm peaks many times in my life and I kept failing at this yesterday. I couldn't figure out why until I read online that plastic bowls have too much oil residue on them and will keep eggs from beating properly. Learn from my mistake!

Gaiety Pastel Cookies

From: 100 Favorite Brand Name Recipes cookbook

Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter
1 cup sugar
1 package (4 serving size) Jello gelatin, any flavor
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
Additional Jello gelatin (same flavor)

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix flour and baking powder in medium bowl. Beat butter in large bowl to soften. Gradually add sugar and 1 package gelatin, beating until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture, beating well after each addition.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten with bottom of a glass. Sprinkle with additional gelatin.

Bake 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from cookie sheets. Cool on wire racks. Store in tightly covered container.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! These are incredibly easy and fast to make. They are really good! The Jello cooking on top gives a little zing to the cookies. I also like that you can make any flavor you want. I made fruit punch. Yum!

Boston Cream Pie

From: 100 Favorite Brand Name Recipes cookbook

Ingredients:
1/3 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups AP flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup milk

Rich Filling:
1/3 cup sugar
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1 1/2 cups milk
2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1 Tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
Stir together sugar and cornstarch in medium saucepan; gradually add milk and egg yolks, stirring until blended. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil. Boil 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in butter and vanilla. Cover; refrigerate several hours or until cold.

Dark Cocoa Glaze:
3 Tbsp water
2 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp cocoa powder
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Heat water and butter in small saucepan over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil; remove from heat. Immediately stir in cocoa. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating with whisk until smooth and of desired consistency; cool slightly.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 9-inch round baking pan.

Beat shortening, sugar, eggs and vanilla in large bowl until fluffy. Stir together flour, baking powder and salt; add alternately with milk to shortening mixture, beating well after each addition. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake 30-35 minutes or until done. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely.

Prepare rich filling. With long knife, cut cake in half horizontally. Place one layer, cut side up, on serving plate; spread with prepared filling. Top with remaining layer, cut side down. Prepare dark cocoa glaze; spread over cake, allowing glaze to run down sides. Refrigerate several hours or until cold. Garnish as desired. Refrigerate leftover pie.

 
Verdict:
Thumbs up! Okay, there is no way around it. This is a messy, falling-apart kind of cake. But trust me - it tasted delicious! I don't think I'd ever had Boston Cream Pie before and this was awesome. I'll make this again in the future!

Boxcar Children Stew

From: Divine Hostess

If you read my personal blog you know that our family just finished reading the first book in The Boxcar Children series. We really enjoyed it, and then I found this recipe for the stew that the children make. I knew I had to try this out! My kids begged me to make it and then didn't even try it! (Actually I do think my 3-year old ate the carrots). But my husband ate it and told me he would rather I make this recipe than any other stew beef recipe I've made. Wow! Okay... definitely a keeper! (Him AND the recipe!)

Ingredients:

• 4 stalks of celery minced
• 3 carrots roughly chopped
• 1.5 cups of potatoes in 1 inch cubes
• 2 to 3 vegetarian or chicken bouillon cubes (Veggie or chicken broth as substitute)
• Black Pepper
• Cumin
• 21 seasoning salute
• 2 TBSP chopped Parsley fresh or freeze dried
• 1/4 minced white onion
• 1 TBSP minced garlic
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 cup lentils (Can also be made with chicken breast pieces or steak. If meat is used, it will need to be added after step 1 and allowed to cook  a little while longer)

Place large dutch oven over medium high heat and brown 1 Tbsp garlic and minced onions in 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil for about 2 minutes.

Add bouillon cubes to water once it is boiling. Use 5 to 6 cups of water and appropriate cubes, or about 40oz of broth. Add celery, carrots and potatoes and stir. Add 1 tsp of all seasonings except parsley. Add 2 tbsp of parsley.

Lower heat to simmer. Since lentils only take about 20 minutes to cook add these about halfway through the process. Leave at a slow simmer for 30 to 45 minutes, or until carrots and potatoes are nice and tender. Top with a few sprigs of parsley or minced chives and serve with french baguette.

I did change a few things in the recipe based on what I had available:

I browned the garlic and onion in oil. For liquid, I added two cups of water, two cups of beef broth (I used bouillon cubes to make it) and then I poured some vegetable broth in. I didn't have any celery, so I just added the carrots, potatoes, and some venison tenderloin that I chopped up. I added a small amount of salt and pepper and garlic powder. I added the parsley as well. Then I just cooked until the meat was done. I think it took about 45 minutes to an hour.

Simple and very tasty!!


 

Chicken Pot Pie Pasta

From: Martha Stewart

Ingredients:

• Salt and pepper
• 3/4 pound penne or other short tubular pasta
• 1/3 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 small yellow onion, minced
• 1 stalk celery, thinly sliced
• 2 carrots, diced medium
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups diced cooked chicken

 

In large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta 3 minutes less than package instructions. Add green beans and cook 3 minutes, then drain.

Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt butter over medium-high. Add onion, celery, and carrots and cook until onion is translucent, about 4 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Gradually add broth, stirring constantly, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes. Stir in chicken and season with salt and pepper.

Stir pasta into chicken mixture.

Verdict:

Thumbs up! I used Tyson grilled chicken chunks to make this meal prep even faster. This was a great meal. My whole family liked it, and I think it was because the flavor was so simple. My husband and daughter don't like things that have a lot of flavor or sauces, so this was right up their alley. I can definitely see myself making this again in the future. 

 

Firecracker Cookies

From: MomDot

Ingredients:

• your favorite sugar cookie recipe
• butter cream or white frosting
•  2 packs of pop rocks
• white sugar + blue gel paste

1) Make your favorite sugar cookie recipe
2) Frost with butter cream
3) Create blue sugar by adding sugar and blue gel paste into a blender and turn on for 30 seconds
4) Sprinkle sugar on frosting
5) Sprinkle pop rocks on cookies…you will hear them crackle as they hit the frosting
6) Enjoy!

Verdict:
Thumbs up! I used Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix and Betty Crocker buttercream icing to make these. So they were incredibly easy to make and I loved the combination of flavors. They weren't too sweet at all. The Pop Rocks do pop less the longer they sit on the cookies, so if you want a really big pop just sprinkle them on right before putting them in your mouth. I would love to make these again though!

Mini Egg White Omelets

From: Six Sisters' Stuff

Ingredients:

12 eggs

Salt and Pepper to Taste

Toppings you like in your omelets, such as:

Onions, Green Onions, Green and Red Peppers, Fresh Mushrooms, Tomatoes, Cheese, Turkey Bacon, and Ham

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

 

Spray a muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray, then crack an egg into each muffin tin hole. You can use a whole egg, or just the whites, or even egg whites from a carton. 

 

Once you crack them in the tin, take a fork and smash the yoke and mix around the egg whites. Add Salt and Pepper as needed. Add about 2 tablespoons of the veggies/toppings you like into each tin. Sprinkle a little bit of cheese on top.

 

Put into the oven and cook for 20 minutes or until the eggs are a little brown on top. Wait a few minutes then pop them out with a fork.

 

 

Verdict:
Thumbs up! I eat eggs at least 5 times a week for breakfast. Usually they are scrambled but every so often I get a craving for some extra veggies. These little omelets are perfect for satisfying my craving and filling me up. Three or four are perfect for me, along with my coffee and hashbrowns. For this recipe I used ham, green peppers and mushrooms but you can obviously use anything you want. I love recipes that can vary from time to time.

Nutrition info: (based on the ingredients I used)
Carbs: 2g
Fats: 10g
Protein: 23g

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chippers

From: An old cookbook (Ripped out; I don't have the title of the cookbook)

Ingredients:
1 cup creamy or chunky peanut butter
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
3/4 cup milk chocolate chips
Granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine peanut butter, brown sugar and egg in medium bowl; mix until well blended. Add chips; mix well.

Roll heaping tablespoonfuls of dough into balls. Place balls 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

Sprinkle with granulated sugar; press a fork criss-cross onto each ball, flattening.

Cook for 8-10 minutes approximately, or until golden brown. 

Verdict:
Thumbs up! Although the recipe didn't make very many cookies (that could have been due to the size I made them though - *ahem*) they were very tasty. And it seriously doesn't get any easier than this for a recipe! You could whip this up anytime. You probably have all these ingredients in your pantry consistently! I'll be making these again for sure - but next time I'll make sure to double the recipe!

Chocolate Pudding Cake

From: Spend With Pennies

Ingredients:
3/4 cup AP flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
2/3 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp vegetable oil

Topping:
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 1/4 cups hot water

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a 2-quart casserole dish, combine flour, white sugar, cocoa powder and baking powder. Add milk and oil and vanilla. Stir until well mixed. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, cocoa powder and chocolate chips. Sprinkle over cake batter. DO NOT STIR. Pour hot water over top.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the top looks cooked. Serve warm.

 
Verdict:
Thumbs up - if you like chocolate! This one-dish recipe is actually very cool. The dish creates the pudding sauce when you pour the hot water on top. The only thing about this recipe is it is very chocolate-y. I'm not a huge chocolate fan so it was a little overwhelming to me. My daughter and husband loved it though. Plus, it really doesn't get any easier than this, so I recommend this recipe!

S'mores Cookie Bars

From: All You

Ingredients:
2 cups AP flour
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
16 Tbsp (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups marshmallow topping (like fluff)
2 cups milk-chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a 9x13 pan with foil. Mist with cooking spray.

In a bowl, combine flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder and salt; mix well. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and sugar until light, about 2 minutes. Beat in eggs until well combined. Reduce mixer speed to low and slowly beat flour mixture into butter mixture. Divide dough in half. Press half of dough into pan until dough is uniform and flat. Spread with marshmallow topping and sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Scatter remaining dough over in clumps. Don't worry about covering the top; marshmallow and chocolate chips should peek through.

Bake until golden brown, 30-35 minutes. Place plan on wire rack to cool completely. Remove from pan, peel off foil and cut into bars.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! Oh my goooosh I really liked these. I actually liked them the most about 10 hours after they were cooked. Very simple, straight-forward recipe and absolutely yummy! I will be making these again.

Nutrition information: (based on my ingredients; 16 bars; 1 bar per serving)
Calories: 329
Carbs: 59g
Fat: 9g
Protein: 3g

Parmesan Crusted Tilapia

From: Kitch Me

Ingredients:

3 to 4 tilapia fillet, depending on size

1⁄4 cup bread crumbs, or crushed buttery round crackers

1⁄4 cup parmesan cheese, grated

1 tbsp Italian seasoning

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 kosher salt, to taste

1 pepper, to taste

1 garlic powder, to taste

1 olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Grease a baking dish.
2. Combine bread crumbs, parmesan, Italian seasoning, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder on a plate; mix well.
3. On a different plate, pour 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
4. Working one at a time, place a fillet in the plate with lemon juice, season to taste with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Turn fish over in the lemon juice and season the other side.
5. Dredge fillet in the parmesan mixture, patting it all over to coat.
6. Place in prepared baking dish; repeat with remaining fish.
7. Sprinkle a little lemon juice over fillets and drizzle or spray them lightly with olive oil.
8. Bake for about 20 minutes or until fish easily flakes with a fork and edges are brown.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! I really like the flavor of tilapia and am trying to incorporate more fish into our diet. I figured I would start with a recipe that isn't too outlandish. My son (3 years old) ate a ton of this. I also really liked it. My daughter (5 years old) said it was too spicy for her, which I guess is the tilapia flavor. I'll definitely be making this again though.

Nutrition information (based on my ingredients; 1 fillet serving)
Calories: 121
Carbs: 3g
Fat: 3g
Protein: 20g

Holiday Tortellini Soup

From: Taste of Home

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 oz. bacon or pancetta, finely diced (I used turkey bacon) 
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (49 1/2 oz) chicken broth
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 package (9 oz) cheese tortellini
1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
8 oz fresh spinach, rinsed, stemmed and chopped (I used canned)
salt and pepper (I left out)
Parmesan cheese (for topping)

Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add pancetta. Cook until crisp. Add onion; cook 3-4 minutes or until soft. Add garlic, cook 1 more minute. Add broth and Italian seasoning; bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes.

Cook tortellini according to package directions; drain. Add cooked tortellini to soup mixture. Stir in tomatoes and simmer 5 minutes. Add spinach and cook just until wilted. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with cheese.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! I'm sure I've made similar recipes before but I really liked this one. Very filling and hearty. Great flavors. And simple! So I would definitely make this again in the future.

Nutrition information: (based on my ingredients; per cup)
Calories: 159
Carbs: 20g
Fat: 6g
Protein: 6g

Italian Herb Marinated Chicken

From: McCormick

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts
1/4 cup olive oil 
2 Tbsp white wine vinegar
2 Tbsp McCormick montreal chicken seasoning
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning

1. Mix oil, vinegar, Chicken Seasoning and Italian seasoning in small bowl. Place chicken in large resealable plastic bag or glass dish. Add marinade; turn to coat well.
2. Refrigerate 30 minutes or longer for extra flavor. Remove chicken from marinade. Discard any remaining marinade.
3. Grill chicken over medium-high heat 6 to 7 minutes per side or until cooked through.

Verdict:
Well, here's the deal. My whole family and I found the herb flavor of this chicken to be too overwhelming for our tastes. So I shredded mine and made a wrap out of it. I found that to be the perfect offset to the herbs. If you like strong herb flavors such as oregano, rosemary, thyme, etc. you will really like this chicken. I would actually make this again and just not use as much of the seasonings.

Nutrition information: (based on my ingredients; per tenderloin)
117 calories
1g carb
6g fat
16g protein

Chocolate Protein Mug Cake

From: Recapture Fitness

Ingredients:
1 scoop protein powder (chocolate)
2 tsp coconut flour (I used white-wheat)
1/4 tsp baking powder
sweetener of choice (I added two packets of Great Value no calorie sweetner; their version of Splenda)
2 tsp unsweetened cocoa (I did not add this)
2 egg whites
1 tsp coconut oil
1 Tbsp almond milk (I used 1% milk)
1/2 tsp vanilla

Mix all ingredients together well in mug.  Cook mug in microwave for 45-60 sec.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! The website I got the recipe from added a peanut butter fluff to the top. I added Smuckers caramel topping because - YUM! I also overcooked it so it was a little dry but the caramel topping made up for that!

Nutrition info: (based on my ingredients)
Calories: 205
Carbs: 10g
Fat: 7g
Protein: 24g

Tender 'N' Tangy Ribs

From: Taste of Home

Ingredients:
3/4 to 1 cup vinegar
1/2 cup ketchup
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tsp ground mustard
1 tsp paprika
salt and pepper
2 lbs pork spareribs
1 Tbsp vegetable oil

Combine the first nine ingredients in a slow cooker. Cut ribs into serving-size pieces; brown in a skillet in oil. Transfer to slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or until tender.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! I enjoyed the flavor of these. My only problem is that I used about 3.5 pounds of ribs and I think I should have doubled the sauce. My whole family loved these and they like pretty bland flavorings, so they liked this. It wasn't overwhelming but there was definitely a tangy taste every time you took a bite. And the ribs were falling apart after about 6 hours. I would definitely make this again in the future, just double up on the yummy sauce! 

Ham and Egg Wrap

From: Kraft website

Ingredients:
1 whole egg
3 egg whites
6 slices of ham (I used Walmart brand smoked honey ham, 97% fat free)
2 tortillas (I used La Banderita brand, fat free)
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I used Harris Teeter brand, sharp cheddar)

Beat whole egg, egg whites and ham until well blended. Heat nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat. Add egg mixture; cook 3 min. or until set, stirring occasionally. 

Spoon egg mixture down centers of tortillas; top with cheese. Fold in opposite sides of each tortilla, then roll up burrito-style. 

Verdict:
Thumbs up! I know this is a really simple, common-sense recipe but it was just what I needed today. I'll definitely be making these more and freezing them when I get a chance.

Nutrition info: (1 serving; 2 wraps) *based on my ingredients*
502 calories
39g carbs
16g fat
42g protein

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole

From: Campbell's magazine ad

Ingredients:
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 1/3 cups water
3/4 cup uncooked white rice
2 cups fresh or frozen vegetables (I used one can of Veg-all)
1/2 tsp onion powder
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (I used 7 tenderloins instead of breasts)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Stir soup, water, rice, vegetables and onion powder in 12x8 shallow baking dish.

Top with chicken. Season chicken as desired. Cover.

Bake at 375 F for 45 minutes or until done. Top with cheese. Makes 4 servings.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! Oh my goodness, what a great combination of flavors. Loved this and I will definitely be making this again in the future.

Nutrition info: (1 serving)
206 calories
28g carbs
4g fat
14g protein

Homemade Banana Protein Muffins

I created this recipe based off the ingredients I had on hand and other recipes I had seen.

Ingredients:
Raw bananas, 100g (this is about 1 medium banana)
Peanut butter, 3.5 Tbsp (I used honey roasted, creamy by Peter Pan)
Flour, 1/2 cup (I used King Arthur white whole wheat)
Vanilla protein powder, 40 g (about 1/2 scoop; I used Forza)
1 egg
Coconut oil, 10g (almost 1 tablespoon)

Mix all ingredients together and bake at 375 F for 15-20 minutes. You may want to adjust your oven higher and cook for fewer minutes. This was my first time making these and I was just testing the temperature.

Verdict:
These were good. They were a little bit dry but nothing a small pat of butter couldn't help! I think next time I would add a little water or maybe an extra egg to make them more moist. Also I just realized I should have had two bananas, which probably would have helped. They were still yummy though!

Nutrition information: (per muffin)
148 calories
13g of carbs
8g of fat
7g of protein

The original recipe that made me crave these for breakfast is:
200g of banana (2 bananas)
50g almond butter
60g coconut flour
15g vanilla protein powder
1 medium egg
10g coconut oil

Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich

From: Macheesemo

Ingredients:
English muffins (I used Arnold sandwich thins that are made with flax and fiber)
Eggs
Cheese (I used store brand cheddar cheese)
I also used Jennie-O turkey bacon

Grab a muffin tin and crack an egg into each tin. The blog where I got the recipe from used a dozen (she was freezing them) but I only did four at a time. Make sure you spray with nonstick spray or spread with butter first!

Cook at 350 F for 10-15 minutes. Toast your bread if you like (I didn't).

After I cooked my eggs for about 10 minutes I added half a slice of cooked turkey bacon, crumbled, on top and cooked another 3 minutes. I sprinkled a quarter ounce of cheese on one bun, topped it with the egg and bacon, and then put the other side of the bun on top. I cooked it for another 5 minutes just to get it all toasty and melt the cheese.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! Trying to get more protein in my breakfast so this was perfect. You'll notice I had two eggs on my sandwich - that's because I used the sandwich thins instead of an English muffin. I will definitely be making these again. Check out the original recipe website for ways to freeze these!

*Macros noted are for the ingredients I used but only one egg, not the two I ended up using*

Calories: 213
Carbs: 21
Fat: 9
Protein: 14

Chocolate Chunk-Peanut Cookies

From: Southern Living

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup chunky peanut butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 1/2 cups AP flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup unsalted dry-roasted peanuts
1 bag chocolate chunks

Beat butter and shortening at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; add chunky peanut butter and sugars, beating well. Add eggs, beating until combined.

Combine flour and next 4 ingredients. Add to butter mixture, beating well. Stir in peanuts and chocolate chunks.

Shape dough into 2-inch balls. Flatten slightly and place on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 375 F for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on pan for a couple of minutes and then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Double chocolate chunk-peanut cookies: Reduce flour to 2 cups; add 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa, sifted. Proceed as directed.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! I just love peanut butter and chocolate AND cookies! What an easy recipe. I had all the ingredients on hand which I love. I think it still would have been great even without the dry peanuts though. I was surprised that the cookies had a great, cake-y consistency even though there were SO many peanuts and chocolate chips. These make a ton, so beware - around 3 dozen. I'll definitely be making them again though!

Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo

From: An old magazine

Ingredients:
1/2 of a 16 oz pkg. linguine
1 cup fresh or frozen broccoli flowerets
2 Tbsp butter
1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into little pieces
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
14 tsp black pepper

Prepare linguine according to package instructions. Add broccoli during last 4 minutes of cooking time. Drain linguine and broccoli well in colander.

Heat butter in skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until well browned, stirring often.

Stir soup, milk, cheese, black pepper and linguine mixture into skillet. Cook until mixture is hot and bubbling.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! I love alfredo sauce, and this was incredibly simple to make at home. This recipe is very filling and thick. I'm sure you could add more milk if you wanted to thin the sauce out some, but I enjoyed it like this. I can definitely see throwing some shrimp on top. I will definitely be making this again!

Stove Top One-Dish Chicken Skillet

From: Food & Family magazine

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups hot water
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 pkg Stove Top stuffing mix for chicken
6 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1 can condensed cream of mushroom or chicken soup
1/2 cup sour cream

Mix hot water, butter and stuffing mix; set aside. 

Spray nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Add chicken; cook on medium heat 5 minutes on each side.

Mix soup and sour cream; pour over chicken. Top with stuffing; cover. Cook on low heat 10 minutes or until chicken is done.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! I have had this recipe for years. I wanted something really quick for dinner so I finally got my chance to try this recipe. Great, great flavor. I was really surprised. I could see myself making this again in the future if only the majority of my family would eat it... But maybe you'll have better luck with your family!

Apple-Oat Muffins with Brown-Sugar-Cinnamon Swirl

From: Shape magazine

Ingredients:
1 cup AP flour
1/2 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, divided
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp warm water
1 cup milk
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
1 Tbsp canola oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 apple, peeled, cored and diced 

Preheat oven to 400 F. Coat a muffin pan with cooking spray or use cupcake papers.

In a large bowl, combine both flours, oats, granulated sugar, baking powder, 1/2 tsp of the cinnamon, baking soda, salt and cloves. Mix thoroughly with a fork, make a well in the center and set aside. In a small bowl, combine remaining teaspoon of cinnamon, along with brown sugar and water. Whisk until brown sugar is dissolved. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, applesauce, egg, oil and vanilla. Pour liquid mixture into center of dry ingredients and stir until just blended. Fold in diced apple.

Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups and then top each muffin with 1/4 teaspoon of the brown sugar-cinnamon mix. Using a toothpick, swirl the mixture gently into each muffin. Bake 12 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of one muffin comes out clean. Cool in pan for 5 minutes before removing from pan.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! I liked these yummy muffins. I did tell my mom I think I'd like them better without the diced apples, but that's just a texture preference. They are extremely moist and have a bouncy texture due to the applesauce in them, and I like that. They're very easy to make and have a great flavor. I definitely recommend this recipe.

Crockpot Barbecue Chicken

From: Stick a Fork in It

Ingredients:
4-6 pieces boneless skinless chicken breasts (Frozen, if you like)
1 bottle BBQ sauce
1/4 c vinegar
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/4 c brown sugar
1/2 - 1 tsp. garlic powder

Mix BBQ sauce with all ingredients listed under it. Place chicken in crockpot. Pour sauce over it and cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Verdict:
Two thumbs up! Okay, please don't judge based on my picture. I'm not a photographer, I'm a cook (ish). This barbecue chicken recipe was so good I found myself making it three times in just over a week. You literally cannot get any easier than this recipe. And it turns out perfectly every time. I make it with tenderloins instead of breasts, but you do what you want. I can see this cooking well in the oven, too, but why make any extra work!? My husband told me not to make any other barbecue chicken recipe again. He said this is the one. So, we highly recommend this recipe.

Simple Creamy Carrot Soup

From: Picky Palate

Ingredients:
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 lbs peeled carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 large onion, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp minced garlic
1 sprig of fresh thyme
1 sprig of fresh rosemary
32 ounces chicken broth
2 strips bacon, cooked
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp hot sauce

Place oil in large pot over medium heat. Add carrots, onions, garlic, thyme and rosemary. Cook for 15 minutes, until carrots are fork tender. Remove herb sprigs and transfer carrots and vegetables to blender. Puree. Add chicken broth and continue to puree. Transfer to large saucepan over medium heat and add cooked bacon strips. Season with salt, pepper and hot sauce. Simmer until ready to serve.

 Verdict:
Thumbs up! So, this recipe came about simply because I had no idea what I was going to cook for my parents' lunch the other week. I asked my 3-year old, who promptly replied that I should cook "Carrot soup!" My 4-year old added, "With corn!"  Thanks to Pinterest, I found this delicious recipe. The only thing I did differently is that I did, in fact, add corn to appease my daughter (who refused to taste it, by the way). I think it's pretty funny how everyone kind of cringes when you say the phrase "carrot soup". But the flavor was really great. I could definitely see myself making this again.

Sweet Potato Cauliflower Soup

From: Allyson Kramer

Ingredients:

• 1 large head cauliflower
• olive oil for drizzling
• Few dashes garam masala (optional)
• 3 medium to large sized peeled sweet potatoes, cut into 1″ pieces
• 1 sweet onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic
• 7 cups filtered water

Preheat your oven to 400 °F and cut up your cauliflower into bite sized pieces. Sprinkle cauliflower lightly with garam masala. Place cauliflower onto ungreased cookie sheet and lightly drizzle with olive oil. Place in oven and let roast until golden brown on the tops and tender, but not mushy, about 20-30 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool while you cook the rest of the soup.

In large stockpot, bring sweet potato, onion, garlic and water to a boil. Salt (about 3/4 tsp) and stir. Reduce heat and allow to remain at a constant simmer until sweet potatoes are tender. Add in cooked cauliflower and divide soup into 2 parts.

Let soup cool and then blend one part soup in blender until very smooth. Combine with second part soup and stir. Salt to taste and warm up over stovetop if needed.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! What a yummy blend of flavors! I absolutely loved this soup. I found the ingredient of garam masala on the spice aisle at Walmart. McCormick makes one, so I do recommend you either buy this or make your own (you can Google how to do that). It's a great spice that really heightened the flavor of this soup. This is going to be one that is added to my rotation!

Applesauce Pancakes

From: The Sisters Cafe

Ingredients:
2 eggs
2 c flour
1 c milk
1 c applesauce
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 c vegetable oil
2 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

Beat eggs until fluffy.  Beat in remaining ingredients just until smooth.  Heat griddle or skillet over medium heat or to 375 degrees.  (To test griddle, sprinkle with a few drops of water.  If bubbles jump around, heat is just right.)  Grease griddle.  For each pancake, use slightly less than 1/4 cup batter.  Cook pancakes until bubbly on top and dry around the edges.  Turn to cook other sides until golden brown.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! Okay, seriously such a good recipe. My kids usually want pancakes or waffles 4-6 times a week. I have a great homemade waffle recipe that I don't stray from, but I only have a couple of "okay" pancake recipes. This one is definitely a keeper. The applesauce makes these moist, and they are super thick and fluffy. And yes, you can add whatever you normally add - chocolate chips, bananas, blueberries, etc. Check out the link where I originally got the recipe from - the cinnamon syrup she adds looks amazing although I haven't tried it. And just in case you're wondering, these freeze beautifully. I make one huge batch every couple of weeks and freeze the leftovers.

Cream of Potato Soup

From: Better Homes and Gardens cookbook - Breast Cancer Edition

Ingredients:
5 medium potatoes, cooked, peeled and cubed
1/2 cup onion
1 1/2 cups chicken broth or vegetable stock
1 Tbsp butter or margarine
1 Tbsp AP flour
1/4 tsp dried dill or basil, crushed
1/4 tsp salt
Dash black pepper
1 cup milk, half-and-half, or light cream

In a large saucepan cook potatoes and onion, covered, in a large amount of boiling water for about 15 minutes or until tender. Drain. Reserve 1 cup of the potato-onion mixture. Blend the chicken broth and the potato-onion mixture in a blender (except the cup you reserved). Keep in blender.

In the saucepan you used earlier, melt butter. Stir in flour, dill or basil, salt and pepper. Add milk all at once. Cook and stir until slightly thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for one more minute.

Stir in the reserved 1 cup cooked potato-onion mixture, the blended mixture, and cook until heated through. You can add milk to reach your desired consistency.

Verdict:
Thumbs up! I am literally in love with this recipe. I do not make other potato soup recipes. It is just so good that I can't imagine another recipe ever taking the place of this one. Make this one. Now. Do it. Don't wait.