Baked Potato Soup

For those with extra russet potatoes in storage: I tried this recipe from www.verybestbaking.com last night. It was really easy and yummy.

Ingredients:

• 2 large or 3 medium baking potatoes, baked or microwaved
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 can (14.5 fl. oz.) chicken broth
• 1 can (12 fl. oz.) evaporated milk
  
• Cooked and crumbled bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, sliced green onions (optional)

Directions:
Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; saute, for 1 to 2 minutes or until tender. Stir in flour. Gradually stir in broth and evaporated milk. Scoop potato pulp from 1 potato (reserve potato skin); mash. Add pulp to broth mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes just to a boil. Dice remaining potato skin and potato(es); add to soup. Heat through. Season with salt and ground black pepper. Top each serving with bacon, cheese and green onions, if desired.

Festive Fudge

I make this every year for Christmas. I love it because it is easy and tastes great. I will generally use milk chocolate chips but any flavor chips are fine. If you would like to do a chocolate peanut butter fudge just replace butter with the peanut butter. Don't add more than 2 T or it will not set properly.

Ingredients:

12 oz chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 T butter
1 T vanilla
1/4 cup nuts any flavor (optional)

Directions:

Place ingredients in a microwave safe bowl. Place in microwave for 1 minute on high. Take out and stir. Then if needed place in microwave for 30 seconds. Spread mixture in a greased (I use pam spray) dish and cool. Enjoy.

Halloween Spud Nuts

I had intentions of getting this up sooner but then life threw me a curve ball that turned my world upside down, so I'm just now getting this up. In fact, my mom has these rising on the counter at this very minute!

2 cups warm water (at least half of it being potato water from preparing your mashed potatoes)
2 cups sugar
1 tab yeast
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup melted shortening
2 beaten eggs
1 cup mashed potatoes
7-9 cups flour

Combine yeast, sugar and water and let sit for about 5 minutes. Mix in remaining ingredients to make a soft dough. Let raise until double. Knead down, let raise again. Roll out on floured surface until 3/4 in thick, then cut and set on floured surface for about 1/2 hour. Prepare glaze by mixing 1 pound powdered sugar with hot water in a large bowl to make a thin syrup. Fry in hot oil til golden brown, flip over and fry til the other side is golden brown. Dip spud nuts into glaze right after pulling out of the oil and place on a baking rack or hang on wooden dowel or spoon handle to cool. Enjoy! (Makes about 5 dozen.)

Halloween Treats

If there is any of you out there thinking I don't have a recipe to add or would like to do something fun and different. I would like to request that you put a recipe for your favorite halloween treat to help others think of ideas for any parties that they may be having this month. It can be anything from a special themed dinner to a fun cookie to a gooling treat. Also add any other recipes as well I just thought that this would be fun.

Marinated Cucumber Salad

Ingredients:
1 cup apple cider vinegar
3/4-1 cup sugar
1/2 T salt
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 T pepper
2-3 cucumbers sliced
1/2 small onion thinly sliced(optional)

Directions:
Mix first 5 ingredients well. Add remaining ingredients and chill for 2 hours. Makes a great summer salad.

Chicken ala King

Sorry that it has been a while since I have added recipes. I really haven't been so good at cooking lately. But I am hoping that I will be better now since I have new found energy that I didn't have before. I made this yesterday curtesy of cooks.com. It sounded yummy and tasted great as well. My husband and daughter gobbled it up. I also added to it about 1/2 tsp of Cajun Seasoning. I was lucky to find a neighbor who had a jar of pimentos in her pantry. I don't know if that is required but it seems every recipe has it in it with no optional next to it. Has anyone tried it without pimentos and liked it. Please comment and let me know.

Ingredients:
1/4 c. butter
1/2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. chicken broth
1 c. milk
1 can or jar sliced mushrooms
1 sm. jar pimentos
3-4 chicken breast halves, cooked & cubed

Directions:
Melt butter and blend with flour and salt. Add broth and milk. Cook on low, stirring constantly, until thick. Add chicken, mushrooms and pimentos. Heat through. Good served over toast.

David's Favorite Burritos

These are my husbands favorite burritos and they are quick and easy to prepare so we have them a lot.

2 lbs ground beef
1 can refried beans
Pepper to taste

Brown the ground beef and drain off the grease. Mix in the refried beans and the pepper. I usually use about 3 tablespoons of pepper, but you can use more or less according to your personal preference.

Warm one tortilla shell on a skillet or griddle. Spread grated cheese on the tortilla like you would if you were going to make a quesadilla. Spoon some of your meat/bean mix on top of the cheese in the middle of the tortilla in a line. Top with sour cream, salsa and any other topping you wish (or omit the toppings). When the tortilla starts to bubble, wrap the edges over your toppings. The tortilla will be hot and crispy.

You can store the unused portion of the meat/bean mix in the refridgerator for about a week. You can also use taco seasoning in place of the pepper, or opt for a soft shell by only warming the tortilla on the skillet instead of letting it crisp up.