Cream of Potato Soup

Cold rainy days are great days for staying inside and enjoying a bowl of homemade soup.  Which is what we did today.  In the mood for something a little different from my usual homemade soup, I dug out our church cookbook and tried my hand at cream of potato soup.  Yum!  It was a hit with my six year old, which is great because I can put it in a thermos and sneak some vegetables into his school lunch.

- 6 cups chicken broth (or Oxo cubes)
- 1 1/2 cups chopped onion
- 3 cups chopped potatoes
- 3 cups chopped carrots
- 1/4 cup parsley
- 1 to 2 tsp dill weed
- 1/2 cup margarine
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 tsp salt
- pepper to taste
- 4 cups milk
- 6 tbsp cheez whiz or 6 cheese slices
- 1 1/2 cups cooked chopped ham or sausage

Combine broth, onions, potatoes, carrots, parsley and dill weed in a large pot.  Bring to a boil and simmer until veggies are tender.  In a saucepan, melt margarine, blend in flour, salt and pepper.  Add milk all at once, cooking until thickened, stirring constantly.  Stir in cheese until melted.  Add to broth and veggies; mix well.  Add meat.  Cook until heated through.

Cookie Fruit Salad

I know...sounds disgusting but this is so delicious!! My aunt has been bringing this to family gatherings for years and it used to be served at the old "Penner Foods" grocery stores-anyone remember those?? Anyway, I recently had dental work and this qualified as some delicious "soft" food that I could actually eat. This salad (-or dessert as my husband calls it-) is so good and is perfect for big gatherings.

Ingredients:
1 package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 1/4 cup buttermilk
1 (16 oz) container cool whip, thawed
2 cans mandarin oranges, drained
1 can crushed pineapple, drained
1 pkg chocolate teddy grahams or crushed oreo crumbs

Directions:
Mix pudding mix, buttermilk, and cool whip together. Add drained fruit and fold in until combined. Mix in cookies or crumbs. If using cookies, let sit for a few hours to let cookies soften (best if made the night before) but salad made with crumbs can be served right away.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Dessert

I created this dessert in honour of of my husband's birthday.

Base:

1 1/2 cups Oreo Cookie Crumbs
1/4 cup butter, melted

Mix together and pat into the bottom of a spring form pan and a little ways up the sides. Bake for 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees. Let cool.

Filling:

500 ml whip cream
1 pkg milk chocolate chips
1 pkg peanut butter chips

Whip cream until stiff. Melt milk chocolate chips and peanut butter chips. (I use the defrost setting on my microwave!) Stir until smooth and let cool slightly. Fold melted chips into whipped cream and mix until well combined. Spread mixture over cooled crust.


Topping:

1 pkg mini Reese peanut butter cups, cut in half

Sprinkle on top of filling. Cool entire dessert for at least 2 hours so chocolate has a chance to set firm enough for slicing. Remove outer ring of spring form pan to serve.

Indoor Smores

There's nothing overly fancy (or even pretty!) about this dessert, but it's a favorite of my husband (or at least I assume because he ate almost half the pan at once) and it really easy to whip up when you're stuck for a lunch on the go.  It's combining season around here so many, many lunches are being made and consumed on the field.  I found this recipe on the back of the golden graham box.

- 5 cups golden grahams
- 4 cups mini marshmallows (divided)
- 1/3 cup butter or margarine
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips

If you spray your bowl and pan with cooking spray before using it, you'll have less mess to clean when you're done.
1. Measure cereal into a large bowl,  In saucepan heat 3 cups marshmallows, chocolate chips and butter over low heat, stirring frequently until melted.  Remove from heat.
2. Pour marshmallow mixture over cereal.  Quickly toss until completely coated.  Then stir in remaining 1 cup marshmallows.
3. Press mixture into 8 or 9 inch square pan.  Pop into fridge about 10 minutes until firm enough to cut into bars.

Microwave directions: Measure cereal into large bowl.  In large microwavable bowl, microwave 3 cups marshmallows, chocolate chips and butter on high 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.  Stir every 30 seconds until melted and smooth.  Continue with step 2 above.

Caramelized Onion Hummus

Ingredients:

1large or 2 medium onions, diced
2 tbsp butter or margarine
brown sugar, to taste
4 garlic cloves, chopped finely
1 (16 oz) can chick peas, rinsed and drained
2 Tbsp tahini (make your own with this recipe!)
3 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 - 1/3 cup olive oil
salt and pepper, to taste
2 tbsp plain yogurt
1 tbsp sweet paprika

Directions: Heat butter or margarine in a frying pan over medium heat. Add onions and brown sugar and cook over medium heat until onions begin to turn golden and are translucent (about 10-15 minutes). Add garlic and cook for an additional few minutes, stirring often to prevent burning. Remove from hear and let cool.

In a blender combine remaining ingredients and blend well. Add a little more oil or water if the consistency is too stiff. Add cooled onion and garlic mixture to blender and blend until smooth. Allow to chill several hours to allow flavours to combine.

Serve with crackers, vegetables, or pita bread that is cut into wedges.

Spaghetti Sauce

If you've ever had a garden, you know how you can get loads and loads of tomatoes from what seemed like very few plants in spring.  We've eaten our share of tomato sandwiches and there's still so many tomatoes left to go.  

 I tried a new recipe this fall (thanks Roxie & Christina) and was happy with the results.  Tasty, tasty spaghetti sauce.

Here's the recipe:

• 12 cups chopped tomatoes (I put everything through my food processor, skins and all.  Easy peasy)
• 1 cup chopped onion (again through the food processor)
• 1 green pepper (still through the food processor)
• 1/4 cup oil
• 1 1/2 tsp minced garlic
• 2 tbsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• chopped half bay leaf
• 1 1/3 tbsp oregano
• 1 1/2 tbsp basil
• 1 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 3 6oz cans of tomato paste
• 3-4 tbsp cornstarch

 Fry onions, garlic and green pepper in the oil.  Add to simmering tomatoes.  Add spice ingredients, sugar and tomato paste.  Simmer on low heat for 1-2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Mix cornstarch with a bit of water to make a smooth paste and add to tomatoes.  Bring to a boil and pour into jars and seal.

I put the jars into my 300 degree oven for 15 minutes, on a cookie sheet with a bit of water in it.  Then take them out and wait to hear the lids "pop" and you know it's sealed.
One recipe makes 3 quarts.

Homemade Granola

photo by Kezia

Ingredients

• 4 cups rolled oats
• 2 cups 12 grain mix (from bulk barn)
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• 1/2 cup oat bran
• 1 cup sunflower seeds (I used honey coated ones from bulk barn)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 3/4 cup honey
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• pinch nutmeg
• pinch ginger
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup raisins or sweetened dried cranberries (if desired)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking oil.
2. Combine the oats, grain mix, wheat germ, oat bran, sunflower seeds in a large bowl. 
3. Stir together the brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, margarine and spices in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and add vanilla then pour over the dry ingredients, and stir to coat. 
4. Spread the mixture out evenly on the baking sheet.
5. Bake in the preheated oven until crispy and toasted, about 20 minutes. Stir once halfway through. It will clump together and become more crispy as it cools. Be careful not to overcook it.
6. Cool, then stir in the raisins or cranberries before storing in an airtight container.