Creamy Potato Corn Soup

Well the clouds rolled in, the temperature dropped and the winds howled. My favorite kind of weather. My sister-in-law and her son came up so he could help her move in, the more the merrier I say! It was a perfect day to make a nice big batch of hearty soup and Potato Corn Soup is my favorite. Sometimes I get the nice Sourdough Bread Bowls and lightly toast the outside and fill them with the steamy hot soup. Nothing warms your insides like that!

No bread bowls this time but still just as good. I actually made a double batch but I doubt it will last long. As I mentioned before we have been trying to sell our house but until the market gets better we have to wait. In the meantime we are living with my in-laws and now that my sister-in-law has moved in here too there are 5 of us. I love it, we have lot's of fun and in today's economy it's nice to know we can all pool our resources and ride out this economic slump.

CREAMY POTATO CORN SOUP
6 slices bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 onion, finely chopped
2 10.5 oz cans condensed chicken broth
2 cups water
5 large potatoes, diced
1 to 1 1/2 cups of corn
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups half-and-half cream
1 12 oz can evaporated milk

Place bacon and onion in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until bacon is evenly brown and onions are soft. Drain off excess grease.

Transfer the bacon and onion to a slow cooker, and stir in chicken broth, water, potatoes, corn, salt, dill weed, and white pepper. Cover, and cook on Low 6 to 7 hours, stirring occasionally.

In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and half-and-half. Stir into the soup along with the evaporated milk and cheese. Cover, and cook another 30 minutes before serving.

Vegetable Beef Soup

My mother-in-law has been making this recipe for years but I could never get her to write it down so tonight I sat and made it with her and wrote down everything she put in it so I could preserve the recipe for myself and my kids.

It's very easy to make and tastes sooooo good. This is perfect for a cold rainy day but since we have rain about 1 day a year out in this horrendous desert we have to settle for a cold windy day, those we have plenty of in the winter.

VEGETABLE BEEF SOUP
1 lb stew meat
1 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
1 can peas
1 can green beans
2 small tomatoes, chopped
1 large onion, roughly chopped
1 1/2 cup frozen corn
3 medium red potatoes
4 cubes beef bouillon
1 cup baby carrots, sliced
3 stalks celery, sliced
1/2 bell pepper, diced
2 cups frozen broccoli cauliflower mix
1 tablespoon parsley
4 1/2 cups Water
pepper and garlic powder to season
oil for browning the meat

In a 5 qt dutch oven or pot, brown the stew meat in a little bit of oil. After it is brown add the onion, celery and bell pepper and cook until they are tender.

Wash and cube the potatoes, about 1 in chunks, do not peel the potatoes first. Add to the pot.

Open and drain the cans of peas and green beans, add to the pot.

Add the remaining ingredients except the water and bouillon.

In 2 cups of the water, break up and dissolve the bouillon cubes. Add to the pot along with the rest of the water. Stir just to mix everything and cover. Let simmer on low heat for a couple of hours at least. You can also add this to a crock pot and let simmer on low for several hours.

Simple Turkey Burger

For my lunch today I made something quick, easy and healthy. I keep lean turkey patties in the freezer for whenever I am in the mood for a quick simple burger.

SIMPLE TURKEY BURGER
1 lean ground turkey pattie
1 slice of pepper jack soy cheese
2 slices of tomato
1 T light mayo
1 double fiber whole wheat English muffin
Thin slice of onion (optional)
Seasoning of your choice

In a small skillet sprayed with cooking spray cook your turkey pattie until it is no longer pink inside. Turn it once to cook each side and season however desired. (I like spicy so I use red pepper flakes and garlic powder). Flip one more time, place your cheese on top and turn off the heat.

While the cheese is melting lightly toast your English muffin and spread with the light mayo. Place your pattie on one half and top with the tomato slices and the other half.

You can add ketchup, mustard or any other condiment if you wish.