Baked Potato Soup

Oh this soup. So so so yummy. This recipe comes from my sister-in-law Laurie who is a FABULOUS cook. Everything she makes is a winner. I love this recipe because it is made with left over baked potatoes and everything else I seem to always have on hand. It's a keeper!

2/3 cups butter

1/3 cup flour

7 cups milk

4-5 large baked potatoes

4-8 green onions, sliced (to taste)

12 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

1 ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup sour cream

¾ tablespoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

In a large kettle, melt butter. Stir in flour; heat and stir until smooth. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly. Add potatoes and onions. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Add bacon, cheese, sour cream, salt and pepper. Stir until cheese is melted.

*serves 8-10 people easily. Half the recipe for 4 servings

Taco Soup

Oh, bless this soup. It is so easy! All you have to do is brown some beef, open a bunch of cans, and turn on a crockpot in the morning and you have a yummy yummy dinner 6-8 hours later that makes a lot, and is great as leftovers too! It came in real handy today too because what I had originally planned for dinner tonight (Cranberry Pork with Red Potatoes) wasn't happening because it turns out you need pork for that recipe. Weird. I was SO glad that I had halved the Sloppy Joe recipe on Wednesday because then I already had a 1/2 lb of ground beef browned and all ready to go this morning when plan A didn't work out. It's like it was meant to be!

TACO SOUP

1 lb hamburger
chopped onion (brown with hamburger)
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 can beef broth
2 cans cream of potato soup
2 cans kidney or chili beans, drained and rinsed
1 can or 2 small cans tomato sauce
1 pkg. taco seasoning mix
1 1/2 cup chopped celery*
1 1/2 cup chopped carrots*
1 can corn

Cook all day on low in a large crock pot or until vegetables are tender. Serve with grated cheese, tortilla chips, and sour cream. A really easy recipe to cut in half if you are only serving up to 4 people.

*a lot of times I have this meal as a backup plan so I might not have these ingredients on hand so sometimes these ingredients are omitted. The soup is just as good without them, just more healthy with the extra veggies!

Momma Winegar's Chili

1 lb hamburger

1 onion, chopped

1 green pepper, chopped

1 large can diced tomatoes

1 can creamed corn

1 can kidney beans

1 can no-bean chili

1 large can tomato sauce

1 Tablespoon chili powder

1 can chopped olives (opt.)

Brown hamburger, onions, and pepper. Add remaining ingredients and simmer 1 hour. Goes well with cornbread.

*This is a great recipe to double. When I do, I only increase the meat by another 1/2 pound.