-Best Baked Potato Soup

-its WA so summer hasn't arrived yet- so soup is still acceptable to serve ! :)

Ingredients:
4 baking potatoes (about 2 1/2 pounds)
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
6 cups non-fat milk
1 cup reduced-fat shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese

1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup reduced-fat sour cream
3/4 cup chopped green onions
6 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled
Cracked black pepper

Preparation

- Preheat oven to 400°.
- Pierce potatoes with a fork; bake at 400° for 1 hour or until tender.

- Cool. Peel potatoes; coarsely mash.
- Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Place flour in a large Dutch oven; gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk until blended. Cook over medium heat until thick and bubbly (about 8 minutes). Add mashed potatoes, 3/4 cup cheese, salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, stirring until cheese melts. Remove from heat.
- Stir in sour cream and 1/2 cup onions. Cook over low heat 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated (do not boil).

Sprinkle each serving with cheese, onions, bacon and garnish with cracked pepper.

Serve in a bread bowl if you are feeling inspired!

 I suggest you double this recipe- ENJOY!

Heather
 YIELD: 8 servings



What's been going on......

Ive been M.I.A because:

- Lost my job - due to economy
- Found a new one - ya money!
- Got robbed - :( :::::::
- Went to Hawaii - :)
- Flew back 1st Class - long story
- Went back to work - whew

But yesterdsay I :
- Bought myself a NEW NINJA Blender!

I'm inspired by the lovely beverages I had in Hawaii and will be posting some nice new drink recipes ASAP!

Heather

Multi-Seed Cocoa Energy Bars

These homemade energy bars are  healthy, filling & delicious! They have TONS of fiber and are vegan friendly. My husband says they taste like dessert… and they take 15 min to make!

Ingredients:

¾ cup almond butter

¾ cup dark brown sugar

½ cup local honey

¼ cup agave

1 tbs vanilla extract

½ cup cocoa powder

1 ½ cup whole oats

1 cup coconut

½ cup almonds, chopped

½ cup walnuts, chopped

½ cup wheat germ

½ cup flax meal

½ cup pumpkin seeds

½ cup flax seeds

Directions:

1. Measure the almond butter, sugar, honey, agave & vanilla into a sauce pan and heat on medium heat until it is heated & melted together. Stir constantly.

 2. Mix all other ingredients except flax seeds together in a large bowl.

3. Take the melted mixture and fold into dry ingredients.

4. Press into a greased 9x13 pan, sprinkle flax seeds on top and let cool for 1 hour

5. Cut into squares or bars and keep in freezer or refrigerator.

ENJOY!

Heather

Spicy Steak & Sweet Potato Taco’s

Taco – tortilla + sweet potato cubes = a gluten-free alternative

These are SO delicious its scary. I cautioned my husband that they weren't going to be the TRADITIONAL TACO he is used to which then made him a bit leary. But after just 1 bite, he was hooked. The filling combination is fresh & delightful and they are so flavorful! Sometimes recipes need a new twist to them so that they are exciting again and that's what this is. I will be making these again & again into the future!

Ingredients

• 1 pound Steak strips, cut into 1in pieces (cut for pan frying)
• 1 TBS cumin
• ½ TBS chili powder
• ¼ TBS cayenne pepper
• ½ cups Tomato Sauce
• 1 can (15 Oz. Can) Black Beans, Drained
• 1 Jalapenos pepper
• 4 cups Sweet Potatoes, Peeled And Cut Into 1/2-inch Cubes
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• ½ teaspoons Salt
• 1-½ cup Chopped Fresh Spinach
• 1-½ cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• Sour Cream, Salsa, And/or Guacamole For Garnish

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 425ºF.

Season then brown the steak in a skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in tomato sauce, and black beans. Set aside.

To assemble packets, spray the foil with non-stick spray. Place 1 cup sweet potato cubes in the center of each piece. Top with a small piece of butter (about 1 teaspoon), 1 jalapenos slice and a pinch or two of salt. Sprinkle some chopped spinach over the sweet potatoes, followed by about 1/3 cup of meat mixture and a  GOOD sprinkle of cheese. Fold the sides in, then bring the top and bottom ends of the foil together in the center and fold, sealing the packet.

Repeat with remaining ingredients, placing the packets on a rimmed cookie sheet. Bake for 25–30 minutes, until the sweet potatoes are tender.

Cook your 'Tortilla Land' tortillas at the very end so they are fresh and warm, and fill them with your taco mixture.

Serve with chips, sour cream, salsa, and/or guacamole. Makes 6 servings.

ENJOY!

Heather

Grilling Time!

These past few weekends have been filled with grilling, grilling & more grilling!

Some of our MOST favorites are:

Jalapenos Cheddar burgers

Blue Cheese burgers

                                                                                                                                   Spicy BBQ & Siracha Chicken (drum sticks)

Johnsonville Brats with ALL the trimmings

Kabob’s with peppers, onions & mushrooms

Homemade salsa & guacamole with tortilla chips

& my NEW favorite- Curry Pork kabob’s ~marinated for 2 days in olive oil & red curry paste

Don’t forget the potato salad, cold beer and grilled pineapple!

ENJOY!

Heather

Tropical Rainbow Salad

with Shrimp or Grilled Chicken

I went into a local store and got sucked into the FRESH PRODUCE vortex..... I bought everything in sight and then decided on making this wonderful salad.

All the colors of the rainbow come together in this delicious medley of fresh fruit and vegetables to create a wonderful and refreshing taste. The homemade dressing makes it perfect.

Ingredients:

 3 vine-ripe tomatoes, diced

2 mangos - peeled, seeded, and cubed

2 avocados - peeled, pitted, and cubed

1 orange bell pepper, chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 red onion, chopped

2 stalks of celery, chopped

1 english cucumber, sliced

1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped

1/4 cup/ 2 fresh limes juiced

1/2 cup pineapple juice

Directions:

Place the tomato, mango, avocado, bell pepper, onion, celery, cucumber and cilantro into a large bowl. Pour the lime juice and pineapple juice over top. Stir gently until evenly combined. Serve immediately for the freshest taste!

I added fresh bay shrimp to my salad and grilled chicken to Jared’s. Season your meat with a little cayenne pepper and paprika to give it a little PUNCH! The Spicy Sweet combo is amazing!

Serve as a main dish or as a side to any meal.

ENJOY!

Heather

Sliced Egg & Cucumber Sandwich

 It was a warm weekend and we had already BBQ’d our hearts out. We were trying to decide what kind of “light” dinner to have and Jared came up with this long lost sandwich idea he used to have as a kid!

I’ll put down the ingredients as he had it (classic) and my version as well.

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients for Jared’s sandwich:

MUST be an English Cucumber

·         5 hard boiled eggs, cooled and shelled

·         Dave’s Killer Bread

·         Sliced ENGLISH Cucumber (super crisp)

·         Salt & pepper

·         Mayo

Ingredients for My version of the sandwich:

·         5 hard boiled eggs, cooled and shelled

Slice thin but with substance

·         Dave’s Killer Bread

·         Sliced ENGLISH Cucumber (super crisp)

·         Red Bell pepper thinly sliced

·         Basil

·         Salt & pepper

·         Jalapeños Greek yogurt spread

Preparation:

1.    Thinly slice your cucumbers and peppers

2.    Lightly toast your bread of choice

3.    Place your mayo or spread lightly on both sides of the toasted bread

Salt & Pepper

4.    Lay down the egg slices, salt & pepper them

5.    Place down your veggies of choice

6.    Top with toasted bread & then take a bite!

These may sound TOO simple to be anything to fuss over, but they sure HIT the SPOT!

Enjoy!

Heather

Ours were eaten so fast i could not snap a pic- so this one is borrowed!