Baked Potato Soup

Baked Potato Soup

Recipe from Our Best Bites

3 Tbsp butter

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 C. flour

4 1/2 C. Milk (low fat works great)

1 - 14 oz can chicken broth

4 Medium baking potatoes (about 2 1/2 lbs) baked (or microwave)

2 C. grated cheddar cheese, divided

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 1/2 C. Sour cream, divided

1/2 C. chopped green onions, divided

8 Slices bacon, cooked and crumbled, divided

Melt butter in a stock pot over medium heat. Add garlic and saute for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.  Add flour to pan.  Slowly add milk a little at a time while whisking constantly to eliminate lumps.  Whisk until smooth and then add chicken broth.  )Now, if you get to this point and don't have a smooth liquid. Stop! Save your soup by popping the mixture in the blender, then continue.) Bring soup just to a simmer and heat until thickened, stirring often, about 5 minutes.

Once soup is thickened, turn heat down to medium-low.  Cut potatoes in half length-wise and use a spoon to scoop out potato flesh into the pot.  Use a wooden spoon to smash potatoes, breaking up large clumps.  Add 1 1/2 C. grated cheese and salt and pepper and stir until cheese is melted.  Remove pan from heat and stir in 3/4 cups sour cream, 1/4 cups green onions, and 4 strips of the crumbled bacon.  Add additional salt and pepper to taste.  ladle into bowls and top with each serving with the remaining sour cream, onions, cheese, and bacon.

Cashew Chicken with Noodles

Cashew Chicken with Noodles
Recipe from Taste of Home
Serves 8

16 oz uncooked thick rice noodles
1/2 Cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
4 Tbsp cornstarch
6 Garlic cloves, minced
3 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed
2 Tbsp peanut oil (or canola oil)
2 Tbsp sesame oil
12 green onions, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 Cups unsalted cashews
4 Tbsp sweet chili sauce

Cook rice noodles according to package directions.

Meanwhile, in a medium sized bowl, combine the soy sauce, cornstarch and garlic.  Add chicken.  In a large skillet or wok, saute chicken mixture in peanut and sesame oils until no longer pink.  Add onions; cook 1 minute longer.

Drain noodles; stir into skillet. Add cashews and chili sauce and heat through.

Black Bean and Sweet Potato Turkey Chili

Recipe from OurBestBites

1 tablespoon olive oil, divided

1 medium onion, diced (any color)

4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 bell pepper, diced
1-2 jalapenos, minced
20 ounces ground turkey breast
8 ounces mushrooms, minced (about 2 heaping cups)
2 teaspoons cumin
2  teaspoons kosher salt
½  teaspoons pepper
1  teaspoon oregano
1  teaspoon chili powder
1 1/2  teaspoons smoked paprika
1 1/2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2 inch cubes*
1 28 ounce can tomatoes (notdrained)
2 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
32 ounces beef broth (one box/carton)
1 15 ounce can pumpkin puree (make sure you’re not using pumpkin pie filling 
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

*”Sweet potatoes” and “yams” are often sold interchangeably depending on what part of the country you live in.  Just buy whichever one is orange 

optional: sour cream, sliced avocado, chopped cilantro or green onion, and fresh lime juice for serving

Heat a large skillet to medium-high heat.  Add 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil and add onion, garlic, bell pepper, and jalapenos.  Saute for about 5 minutes, until veggies are tender and fragrant.  Add to slow cooker.

In same skillet, heat remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil.  Add turkey and mushrooms and stir to combine.  Sprinkle in cumin, salt, pepper, oregano, chili powder and smoked paprika.  (note: the meat will taste very seasoned when done.  Keep in mind these seasonings are not to flavor just the meat, they will season the entire pot of chili, so they are intentionally strong!)  Add turkey mixture to slow cooker.

Add sweet potatoes, tomatoes, beans, broth, pumpkin, cinnamon, and cocoa powder to slow cooker and stir til combine.  Place lid on pot and cook for  4-6 hours on high, or 8-10 on low.   Slow-cookers vary greatly in temperature and cooking times, but really, the important thing to note is if the sweet potatoes are tender.

When done, turn off heat and let chili sit with lid off for 10-15 minutes to thicken.  Season with additional salt to taste before serving.  If desired, serve with sour cream, sliced avocados, and a small squirt of fresh lime juice, and any other toppings desired.

Yields: About 4 quarts (16 cups)