Cheesy Potato Soup

A cold front came through last night and gave us a lot of rain, big winds, and cooler temperatures. It's still cool and windy today and what would be better for weather like this than soup. Today, I am preparing Cheesy Potato Soup in my slow cooker. It's one of my favorites.

Cheesy Potato Soup

8 medium size potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/2 C. chopped onion
1 T. chives, chopped
1 1/2 C chopped celery
1/3 C. chopped parsley
1/4 t. paprika
1/4 t. celery seed
1/2 t. salt
1 C. milk
2 T. flour
2 T. butter
2 1/2 C grated cheddar cheese
bacon, fried & crumbled, optional
extra grated cheddar cheese, optional

In your slow cooker, put potatoes, onions, chives, celery, parsley, celery seed, and salt. Add enough water to cover. Place lid on cooker and set on High for one hour. Then, turn heat to Low and cook for 4-5 hours, or until potatoes are done. Combine the milk and flour and mix thoroughly. On top of the stove, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat and add the flour/milk mixture slowly. Stir constantly for about 3 minutes. Add the 2 1/2 C. of grated cheese to the saucepan and stir until completely melted. Add the cheese mixture to the slow cooker and stir well. When the soup is slightly thickened, serve. On top of the individual bowls of soup, add a sprinkle of grated cheese and bacon bits, if desired. Serve with your favorite sandwich for a hearty meal.

Don't forget to use the Reynolds Slow Cooker Liners to save more work.

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With the success of my novel, I have started a blog about writing. You can visit it at http://carolpre.blogspot.com

Carol

Mock Cadbury Creme Eggs

In the past, I have always tried to post something new at least six times a month. However, with the new job I have been transferred to, I'm afraid this won't be the case in the future. I'll do my best to keep up, but I may have to limit my time here to once a week. With that said, I have a great recipe for you that I promised.

Now that Easter is over, it's nearly impossible to find Cadbury® Creme Eggs, but I have a recipe where you can enjoy a mock version of these delicious products anytime you want. Normally, I try to only post short, easy recipes, but this time I am going to make an exception. If you want them bad enough, you'll work for it. As with all recipes, please read the complete recipe before starting.

Carol

Mock Cadbury Eggs

1/2 C. light corn syrup
1/4 C. butter, softened
1 t. vanilla
1/4 t. salt
3 C. powdered sugar
yellow food coloring
red food coloring
1 12-oz. bag milk chocolate chips
2 T. vegetable shortening

In a large bowl, combine the corn syrup, butter, vanilla, and salt. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Now mixing by hand, add the powdered sugar one cup at a time. Mix well until creamy. Remove about 1/3 of the mixture to a smaller bowl and add 4 drops of yellow food coloring and 2 drops of red food coloring. Stir until the orange color is completely blended throughout the mixture.

Cover both the orange and white mixtures and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. When the mixtures are firm, take a small bit from the orange mixture and roll it between your hands into a marble-size ball. Then, take enough of the white mixture and wrap it around the orange ball into the shape of an egg and roughly twice the size of the orange ball. Place the eggs onto a cookie sheet that has been coated with the vegetable shortening. Repeat this until all of the mixture has been used. Refrigerate the eggs for about 3 or 4 hours, until firm.

Once the eggs are firm, you are ready to prepare the chocolate coating. Place the chocolate chips and the shortening in a small microwave-safe bowl and microwave the mixture on High for about 1 minute, stir and microwave for about another minute, and stir again.

With a fork, dip each egg center into the chocolate, tap on side of bowl to remove excess chocolate, and place eggs onto the a sheet of wax paper to set. Once all of the eggs have been coated, chill in the refrigerator. After about an hour or two of chilling, heat the chocolate and dip the eggs again. Chill for a couple more hours and once they are completely set, they are ready for eating. Use wax paper to wrap the eggs individually.

This recipes should make about two dozen eggs.

Incredible Eggs

I first must apologize for being absent so much on this blog. I recently transferred to a new job and it involves more traveling, so I have been away for almost a week of both local and out-of-town traveling. I have a really good recipe to share, but it is a long one and I haven't had time to type it up. I will do my best to try and get it done this week, but it could be next weekend. I have not been given my work schedule for the week, so I don't know about my travel plans yet.

Now for today's post. I have to cheat a little. I have a web site for you to check out instead of giving you one of my recipes. I know we are all probably sick of eggs since Easter has just passed, but my local internet provider sends out a weekly e-newsletter and always includes some interesting sites to visit. The IncredibleEgg site was one of them and I thought it would be a great link to share with all of you. I know I am always looking for new ideas for breakfasts I can make to give myself a variety in the mornings.

Check back later this week for a new candy recipe of an Easter favorite.

Carol

Easter

I am taking the weekend off from my blog, but wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter. Enjoy celebrating the day and its meaning with your family and friend. As with all holidays, don't eat too much.

Carol

Reusable Shopping Bags

We've all seen them and probably have all used them. I love my reusable shopping bags, when I can remember to take them with me.

Recently, the Canadian Plastics Industry Association published a report about the dangers of reusing these cloth bags. The report said that bacteria can grow on these bags packed with the fruit, vegetables, and especially any meat that is carried in them. While I agree with what they are saying, you also need to remember who is reporting this, an association of plastics manufacturers. Who loses the most money when we stop using plastic shopping bags and switch to cloth bags? The Plastics Industry.

So, what can we do to prevent the transference of this bacteria to our foods? The main things is to periodically wash the bags, but drying is the key. Laying a bag flat to dry might not allow proper airing out of the bag to prevent bacteria growth. We all know how much bacteria loves warm damp places. After washing the reusable bags, they should be hung up to dry thoroughly. Please don't wash the bag and then throw it in a dark closet to dry.I'm not sure how they would do in a clothes dryer. I haven't tried that. Maybe if a reader has done this, they can post something in the comments section.

A few weeks ago, my eye doctor gave me a cloth bag (with his logo on it) that was insulated. The same that you can buy at the store to bring home cold meat or frozen foods. For these bags, you can wipe them out with a damp soapy cloth and then use a clean cloth to wipe dry.

Remember that food safety for us and our families has to start before we even go to the supermarket.

Carol

A day away from the computer....

I'll try and post something tomorrow, but for today I am off to visit a friend (waving at Marian) at an authors' faire. I'm not taking much money because I know I would spend a fortune on books, if I did. It's a beautiful day out today and I think I will do some yard work when I get back home this afternoon.

Carol

Happy Belated Pi Day

No, I didn't misspell it. I meant Pi, as in mathematics. Pi Day is March 14, 3-14 just like Pi is 3.14. When my daughter was in high school, her algebra class celebrated Pi Day by having everyone bring in a pie. I can only imagine all the pies in school that day. When she came home, she told me about a pie that one of her classmates brought in and how good it was. The girl was diabetic and had brought in a sugar-free Banana Cream Pie. I asked my daughter to ask her for the recipe, but you know how teenagers can be. That's right, I never got the recipe. After a little experimenting, it was actually rather easy to make a good sugar-free banana cream pie and I have included the recipe below.

Sugar-free Banana Cream Pie

1 reduced fat graham cracker crust
1 box instant sugar-free Banana flavored Jello pudding
bananas, sliced
Fat free Cool Whip topping

Place sliced banana on the bottom of the crust. Prepare pudding according to directions on box and pour over bananas. Let pudding set for a few minutes. Spread Cool Whip on top of pudding. Refrigerate for a couple hours to let it set.