My Favorite Potato Soup for an Almost Snow Storm

This is my favorite Potato Soup ever.  It's so good I can eat 4 bowls without blinking.  I hope you love it too!

Ingredients:

5-6 Medium sized potatoes peeled and cut into small cubes
2 Vidalia Onions chopped
1/2 a stick of butter
2 Tbsp. of flour
2 Bay leaves
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley (or dried)
Salt & Pepper to taste
8 cups of chicken stock (or 8 cups water and 8 chicken bouillon cubes)
2 cups of milk
Optional Garnish (Bacon, Croutons, Shredded Cheddar Cheese, scallions)

Directions:

Melt the butter in a large soup pot, add the vegetables and saute on medium heat for 10-12 minutes.  Add flour and stir until just mixed.  Add chicken broth.  Add spices, salt and pepper.  Simmer for 30-45 minutes or until vegetables are tender.  Add milk and heat at medium heat until hot.  Serve immediately.  Garnish with croutons, shredded cheese and/or scallions.  Enjoy!

Meatball Appetizer

Yummy Meatball Sauce to Warm Up Any Winter Dinner Party

Makes an awesome quick and easy appetizer.

Ingredients:

Homemade or frozen pre-packaged meatballs  (this recipe assumes the meatballs are precooked!)
1 part grape jelly
2 parts ketchup
Chili Oil to taste

Directions:

Crockpot Method:  Place meatballs in Crockpot, cover with ketchup/grape jelly mixture (remember 2 parts ketchup to 1 part grape jelly).  Add chili oil, to taste.  I don't like things very spicy, so I only add about 1 Tbsp. chili oil.  Cook on high for 4-6 hours.  Serve hot.  I recommend using toothpicks for serving/eating.  Enjoy!

Stove Top Method:  Place meatballs in a saucepan, cover with ketchup/grape jelly mixture (remember 2 parts ketchup to 1 part grape jelly).  Add chili oil, to taste.  I don't like things very spicy, so I only add about 1 Tbsp. chili oil.  Cook on medium heat with lid on for about 30 minutes or until meatballs are warmed through.  Serve hot.  I recommend using toothpicks for serving/eating.  Enjoy!!!

Sweet Potato Bisque for a Cozy Winter's Night

Sweet Potato Bisque for a Cozy Winter's Night

Ingredients:

1 12 oz. package bacon (I love Trader Joe's Applewood Smoked Bacon)
2 medium sized sweet potatoes cubed (or one very large sweet potato)
1 cup sliced carrots (I use baby carrots)
1 medium Vidalia onion chopped
1 bag of frozen stir fry vegetables (mix of green, red and yellow peppers and onion)
1 can of light-colored beer (I used Keystone Light that someone left at my house)
1 tsp. pepper
6 chicken bouillon cubes
2 bay leaves
6 cups water

Directions:

1.  Cook bacon in a large soup pot until crisp.  Transfer bacon to a plate lined with paper towel and set aside; reserve bacon grease.  

2.  In the soup pot, heat 3 Tbsp. of reserved bacon grease.  Add sweet potatoes and carrots and saute for 5-8 minutes until the potatoes are tender.  Add onion and saute until onion is soft, about 4 minutes.  Add 1 bag frozen stir fry veggies and 1 can of beer and cook on high for 5 minutes.

3.  Add pepper, chicken bouillon cubes and 6 cups of water, bring to a boil.  Turn down to medium low and simmer covered for 30 minutes or until all vegetables are soft.

4.  Use a hand blender to blend soup until think and smooth.  If you don't have a hand blender you can use a blender, but its messier.  After blending the soup, add in the reserved bacon and heat.  Serve hot.