Irresistible Potato Soup

 

Irresistible Potato Soup

 

A perk of having friends with the same interests as you, is that you can share things like recipes.  My friend Misty gave me this recipe and we have made it several times on these cold, Indiana winter days. 

 

 

Ingredients:

1/3 lb bacon, chopped (not cooked)

6 medium potatoes, diced to the size you like them (Bill like his potato soup a little chunky, so I don't dice mine as fine)

4 cups of chicken broth

2 cups of milk

1/4 cup of all-purpose flour

1/4 cup of butter

1 medium sized onion, diced

1 clove of garlic, diced (optional)

1 cup of sour cream

1/4 teaspoon of white pepper (regular pepper works too)

potato flakes (if needed for added thickening)

salt (to taste)

 

Toppings:

freshly chopped parsley

sliced green onions

grated cheddar cheese

crumbled bacon pieces

 

 

Directions:

Add bacon to a large soup pot and cook until it has rendered it's fat.  Remove and set aside.  Then add onions and garlic to bacon fat.  Cook until onions begin to be translucent and then add butter.  Let the butter melt and then whisk in flour.  Cook for 3 minutes.  Add chicken broth and bring to a boil while scrapping the bottom of the pan.  Add milk, potatoes and white pepper.  Bring back to a boil and make sure to stir constantly to avoid lumps.

 

Cook over medium heat until potatoes are very tender, stirring from the bottom every few minutes (this can be a slow process, but the outcome is worth it).  After potatoes are done, if your soup is too thick, add more broth or milk to it.  If it is too thin, add some potato flakes a few teaspoons at a time, until you get to the desired consistency that you like.  Wait about 2 minutes in between adding potatoes flakes to see what the consistency will be like before you add more flakes.  Don't forget to add salt if it tastes a little bland!

 

When soup is done, remove from hear and stir in sour cream.  Serve soup with your favorite topping(s).

Doritos Taco Salad



Doritos Taco Salad





Any time that you can eat lettuce, you know that leafy green stuff, you are doing good.  Growing up, my Dad always had a salad and ice tea with whatever we were eating.  I admit that I don't eat it as often as he does, but I like mixing it up every once in awhile like in this Doritos Taco Salad.

This is a great salad to throw together when you are in a hurry, or on nights that time is limited.  You can actually prepare everything the day ahead.  How easy is that?  It is also an idea dish to take to potlucks, reunions and church pitch-ins.

Doritos Taco Salad

Ingredients:
1 bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos (crushed)
1 bottle of Catalina Salad Dressing
2 pounds of ground beef, seasoned with  2 packets of taco seasoning
1 onion
2 medium size tomatoes
2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
2 small bags of shredded lettuce OR 1 head of lettuce cut up
1 can of black olives (optional)


Directions:
Brown your ground beef and season it with the taco seasoning packets.  Drain and the beef and let it cool.  Open your bag of Doritos and squish the bag, to crush the chips.  In a LARGE bowl, add the onion, tomatoes, olives, cheese and lettuce and toss well.  Next add the chips and cooled ground beef.  Toss again.  Add the bottle of Catalina Salad Dressing (depending on your taste, you may like a little more dressing or a little less).  Toss again and serve.