Baked Potato Soup

I know that I have posted this recipe before,  but I thought I would do it this time and take step by step pictures while doing it and post those..  :)

Baked Potato Soup

4 to 5 medium baked potatoes, cooked, cooled and cubed
2 Tbsp butter
6 Tbsp olive oil
8 Tbsp flour
8 c milk,  I use skim and vege broth
8 oz cheddar cheese, shredded
salt and pepper to taste
bacon..cooked and chopped..  I never put an amount because it is how much you want..
sour cream
chives

Melt the butter in the olive oil,  then add the flour and whisk to combine, salt and pepper,  about a tsp of each.  let cook for about 2 minutes over medium heat.  don't let it burn..  Then add the milk mixture slowly,  whisking quickly as you go..  when it is mixed well bring it to a soft boil and then add the cheese and potatoes..  taste and add more salt and pepper if needed..  let cook for about 15 to 20 minutes,  then add the bacon..  can use sour cream, chives and extra cheddar cheese as garnish..

SNOW!!!

What are you doing to pass the time??  I have decided to bake bread..  I know,  I am crazy,  but I haven't really baked bread in a long time..  yes,  I make dinner rolls for Thanksgiving and Christmas..  but this is different...   you ask how??  Well,  because I say it is different..  I love baking bread,  I love the smell of yeast,  I love the feel of the dough,  I love the end product and knowing that I did that with my hands..  and the help of a kitchenaid mixer..  but I did it..   I love the taste.. nothing better than a slice of fresh baked bread with butter..  mmmm..     I am also making Baked Potato Soup later for dinner to go with the yummy bread..  :)   This is a new recipe and in true Nina fashion I have changed it up..  :)  

The yeast, water and sugar mixture

after it proofed

add some flour

the wheat flour

I love making bread

more flour

and more

finally ready to knead the dough

after I kneaded it

such pretty dough

omg it doubled in size in 15 minutes..

cut into fourths

my pretty bread

the braid on the pan

ready to rise

my Italian loaf

the Italian loaf waiting to rise

after 30 minutes.. omg it's huge..  hehe

another angle

this is going to be my favorite new bread recipe

fresh, hot and buttered from the oven.. yummy

this is so good

the Italian loaf..

It turned out so nice!!!

Easiest White Bread

4 c warm water
8 tbsp sugar
4 tbsp yeast
4 tbsp butter, melted
4 tsp salt
7 to 10 cups flour ( I used 2 c. whole wheat flour and the rest all purpose)

Put 1 c water, the sugar and yeast in a large bowl or the bowl of your kitchenaid mixer.  Let sit until doubled in size.. 5 to 10 minutes.   add the melted butter, the 3 c. water, salt and 2 c. of flour.  mix together and then add flour 2 c. at a time and mix well after each addition,  keep adding the flour until a soft dough forms.   put flour on a clean surface and turn dough out onto the flour and knead for 2 to 5 minutes until no longer sticky.   form into a ball and then cover with a clean towel and let sit 15 minutes.   after it sits,  cut the dough into 4 pieces and then form each piece into either a loaf,  a rustic Italian loaf or take 3 of the pieces and braid it together..   place on greased pan and let rise until doubled.. 30 to 45 minutes..  then bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 to 45 minutes until golden brown.   brush with melted butter and enjoy!!!

Ok,  so the girls and I are devouring this bread and it is yummy..  This is the best recipe I have came across and tweaked to make my own..   I am thinking of all the wonderful ways to use this dough..  gosh I can't wait to experiment with it..  :)  

Again?!?!

So since mid week the weather channels have been predicting a major "weather event"  whatever that means..  It has been crazy at work..  people buying all types of food..  calling and asking for things that we don't stock in the south at my SuperT...   Maybe at home improvement stores and hardware stores,  but not at our store..   I love snow,  but the ice..  they can keep that..   waiting to see what we get..   I am wore out,  yesterday was not stop guest first(helping out on the checklanes),  went in this morning at 4am to set ad and it went pretty smoothly,  but had 7 carts of strays to take care of in the fitting room..  my Kimmie and I got it down to 2 carts in an hour and 10 minutes..  we rocked it out..  cause we're the bomb..  LOL!!! 
I didn't cook Thursday when I hot home from work..  it's been a very long stressful week,  and Friday I closed.   Last night I started Fettuchini Alfredo and my BekahBoo finished it for me.. it is so yummy..  I have posted the recipe before and tonight I made Spaghetti with Turkey Italian Sausage Sauce.. yummy..  I always try to use whole wheat pasta when I can..  makes me feel better about eating pasta..  :)
Friday was my Executive Team Leads last day at our store.. He is moving on to bigger and better things and I will miss him.   To have been able to work with him these past 3  years has been a privilege.  He has inspired me to want to do the very best job ever in everything I do..  He is funny,  a great counselor,  a great listener and very trustworthy and we are all going to miss him.  It was so funny,  when he would close you knew he was there because there was always a crowd of people at his office saying hi or needing to vent about something..  we are going to miss that..  I guess that means we will all have to find someone else to be all that he was..  but there isn't anyone else in our store that can come close to filling his shoes..  I do wish him the best and I cannot wait to be able to work with him again someday!!! 
I hope everyone enjoys the snow/ice and that they are careful if they have to go out..  I am going to play it by ear and see what is happening outside.. 

Hug your children often!!!

We are 5 days into the New Year!!!  Time just flies by so fast..  I first want to say to you all who have children,  hug your children,  tell them you love them and don't put off until tomorrow what you can do with them today..  spend time with them because you don't know how long they are going to be with you.  A friend of mine that I worked with for over 2 years tragically lost his 13 yr old son last Wednesday evening and there are no words of comfort that I can give him.  I can give him my love and my support,  but sadly he is going to feel this loss for the rest of his life...  I know some people say time heals all wounds,  not this type of wound.. no parent should ever have to bury their child..  You do move on,  but you are never the same person.. you live the rest of your life as a devastated human being.. you walk around not a whole person anymore..  it changes you forever!!! 
So Saundra has been sick since Sunday afternoon and has been home bound and the apt was looking a little blah because I have been working a lot this week and late and then went to the funeral yesterday and didn't get home until around 7pm..  so Rebekah and I got up this morning and went and got our free Chik-fil-A Spicy Chicken Biscuit and then went to the bank.  We came home and ate our free biscuit and it was so very yummy!!!  Then we tag teamed and cleaned the apt.  I of course got the kitchen..   so I washed all the dishes,  disinfected anything and everything that Saundra touched.  I cleaned out the fridge and freezer and organized both and then sat down and watched Greek with the girls and made out a dinner menu up through next Friday and I am so excited to get cooking again... 
Tonight for dinner I am making a new recipe..  it looks delish and I think I am going to follow it this time and see how I like it and maybe I will tweak it next time... 

Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce

2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 whole Medium Onion, Finely Diced
4 cloves Garlic, Minced
2 cans (15 Ounce Each) Tomato Sauce Or Marinara Sauce
Salt And Pepper, to taste
Dash Of Sugar (more To Taste)
1 c Heavy Cream
Grated Parmesan Or Romano Cheese, To Taste
Fresh Basil, Chopped
1 1/2 pound Fettuccine

Heat butter and oil over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and saute for a minute or so. Pour in tomato sauce and add salt, pepper, and sugar to taste. Stir and cook over low heat for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.   Cook pasta according to pkg directions,  drain reserving 1 c. pasta water.  Remove sauce from heat and stir in cream. Add cheese to taste, then check seasonings. Stir in pasta and chopped basil and serve immediately. (Thin with pasta water before adding basil if needed.)

Heat the olive oil and melt the butter

Add the chopped onion and cook for a few minutes

then add the chopped garlic,  cook for another minute

yummy tomato sauce

Add the tomato sauce and stir,  then add the sugar, salt and pepper and let simmer for 25 minutes

after the sauce has cooked for 25 minutes..  deep red.. mmmm

Cook the pasta while the sauce is cooking..

Add the heavy cream

OMG it looks so yummy

Stir well and it looks so beautiful

add the cup of parmesan cheese

Add the pasta

and a little pasta water

Stir to coat the pasta

It's time to eat!!

It is better than I expected!!!!

Serve with a green salad and crusty bread..     This is so yummy!!!  I highly recommend you try this recipe.. 

Happy New Year!!!

Happy New Year!!!  I hope that everyone had a wonderful and safe New Year's Eve!!!  We had a wonderful time..   Lots of laughs and good food..  :)   Saundra and Rebekah were in rare form as  usual..  :)   We do this so rarely so it doesn't concern me.  We all work very hard and stay pretty busy so it is nice to kick back and laugh and have fun. 
The food was outstanding..  I made my famous secret recipe hot wings,  and it is going to stay a secret for now..  maybe one day I will impart the recipe.  I also made Texas Cheese fries and guacamole..  Rebekah made Pecan Sandies and we heated up some mozzarella sticks and bagel bites.. 

Texas Cheese Fries

6 large potatoes
olive oil
salt
pepper
steak seasoning
paprika
1 lb bacon
jalapeno slices
shredded cheddar cheese

Cut each potato into 1/4 inch slices longwise and then cut each slice into 3 to 4 pieces depending on size of the slice..  into french fry shapes..   place in a bowl of cold water while slicing up the rest of the potatoes..   Drain the potatoes well and dry them off a little,  then put back in the bowl and pour in some olive oil and then sprinkle with salt, pepper, steak seasoning and paprika..  put on a large baking sheet and put in a 400 degree oven and bake for about 20 minutes..  testing with a fork to see if cooked through.. I like mine to get a little crispy.   While the potatoes are cooking place the bacon on a baking sheet and put in the oven with the potatoes and cook about 10 to 15 minutes until crisp..   When bacon is done remove from oven and then put on a paper towel lined place to drain..  When potatoes are done remove from pan and put on a large platter and then crumble the bacon over the potatoes and put the sliced jalepenos on top and then sprinkle with the shredded cheese..  

I had these at Chili's a while ago and came up with my own recipe.. not that it was hard..  :)   they are so yummy.. 

Guacamole

3 large avacados,  diced
2 roma tomatoes, diced
1 lime
salt
salsa

Put the diced avacados in a bowl..  cut the lime in half and squeeze the juice over the avacados,  sprinkle with salt and put the tomatoes in the bowl,  stir and then pour in a little salsa and stir.  Serve with tortilla chips