12/8/08

Baked Potato Soup

4 large baking potatoes
2/3 cup butter
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
6 cups milk
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese, divided
12 slices bacon, cooked, crumbled, and divided
4 green onions, chopped and divided
1 (8-ounce) carton sour cream

Wash potatoes; prick several times with a fork. Bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour or until done; cool. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise; scoop out pulp, and reserve. Discard shells.
Melt butter in a Dutch oven over low heat; add flour, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly.
Stir in potato, salt, pepper, 1 cup cheese, 1/2 cup bacon, and 2 tablespoon green onions; cook until heated (do not boil). Stir in sour cream; cook just until heated (do not boil). Sprinkle servings with remaining cheese, bacon, and green onions. Yield: 10 cups

Southwestern Chicken-and-Rice Soup with Tortilla Strips

1 medium onion, chopped
1 Large carrot, peeled and chopped
1/2 medium-size red bell pepper, chopped
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
3/4 cup uncooked white rice
2 medium plum tomatoes, chopped
1 to 2 Tbsp. chopped pickled jalapeno slices
1 tsp. ground cumin
1/4 tsp. black pepper
8 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup loosely packed cilantro leaves, chopped
juice of 1 lime (about 2 Tbsp)
1 ripe avocado, chopped
Tortilla Strips

Saute first 3 ingredients in hot oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat 7 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add garlic; saute 1 minute.
Stir in chicken and next 5 ingredients. Stir in chicken broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until rice is tender. Stir in cilantro and lime juice. Serve with chopped avocado and Tortilla Strips.
Makes about 6 servings.

I use olive oil instead of vegetable oil.
I do not cook the jalapeno in the soup i let people add it if they want to.

12/6/08

Coconut Chess Pie

1 stick butter
1 1/2 c. sugar
3 eggs
1 c. coconut
2 tsp. vinegar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
pie crust

In a saucepan heat butter and sugar until melted. Combine rest of ingredients. Pour into unbaked pie crust. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 min. Cool and Refrigerate until serve.

Crepes (optional: w/ strawberries and cream)

Ingredients (makes 10 crepes) Crepes 2 large eggs 4 tablespoons oil, or melted butter 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 2 tablespoons sugar 1 ...