Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients:

• 6 large baking potatoes, peeled, cut in 1/2 -inch cubes
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 quart chicken broth
• 3 garlic cloves, minced (or pressed)
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 cup cream or 1 cup half-and-half cream
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
• 1 cup sour cream (optional)
• 8 slices bacon, fried & crumbled
• cheese, for sprinkling

Directions:

1. Combine first seven ingredients in a large crock pot; cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours or bring to a boil on the stove for about 30 minutes (potato should be tender).
2. Mash mixture until potatoes are smooth and soup is slightly thickened
3. Stir in cream, cheese and chives, and heat thoroughly.
4. Top with sour cream (if used), sprinkle with bacon and more cheese.

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/crock-pot-style-loaded-baked-potato-soup-301754#ixzz1bBijfP1G

Beef Stew

This is the quick beef stew recipe that I made today.  I've never made stew before and although I'm not a huge fan of stew in the first place Brett said it was delicious so I guess it turned out good.  We had some stew meat that the Brett's parents gave us and we needed to use up.

Beef Stew (Crockpot style) 

• Stew meat (cut into bite size pieces)
• Potatoes (cubed)
• Carrots (cut into similar sized chunks)
• Onion (cut into medium size pieces) 
• Large container of Beef broth (it was 3 cups I belive)
• Packet of Beef stew seasoning/mix

Add all ingredients into the crock pot and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4.

I served it in a bread bowl and we were thoroughly full by the time we finished.  I'm glad we got it in on a cold day although I'm hoping spring will be here soon!

Chicken Corn Chowder

This soup is easy to make and relatively healthy but still has good flavor.

CHICKEN CORN CHOWDER:

2 slices bacon (I usually use Turkey bacon because that is what we have)
1/4 c. chopped onions
3 T. water
2 c. low-sodium chicken broth
1 package (10 oz.) frozen corn
2 potatoes, peeled and chopped
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 T. flour
2 c. skim milk
2 c. cooked chicken or turkey (light meat), chopped


Cook bacon till crisp in a large heavy saucepan. Drain bacon, wiping drippings from saucepan with a paper towel. Crumble bacon and set aside.
In same saucepan, cook onions in 3 T. water until tender. Add chicken broth, frozen corn, potatoes,  salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and summer until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.

Stir flour into milk until smooth. Pour into vegetable mixture and cook, stirring constantly until thickened. Add chopped chicken or turkey and stir over heat 2-3 minutes more, until heated through. Top with crumbled bacon. Makes 6 servings.

NUTRITION (PER SERVING): 235 calories

Total fat: 3 g (11% of calories)
Protein: 28 g (48% of calories)
Carbohydrates: 24 g (41% of calories)
Cholesterol: 50 mg
Sodium: 515 mg

This recipe would be great with other veggies added (celery, carrots, etc) or some added Ham chunks.  

Taco Soup

This soup can be made quick and easy on the stove top or in the crock pot.

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 c. water
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can kidney beans
1 can corn
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1/2 pkg. taco seasoning mix

STOVE TOP:
In a heavy saucepan cook ground beef with onion. Drain off fat. Then add water, tomatoes, un-drained kidney beans, corn, tomato sauce and seasoning. Simmer together for 20 minutes!

CROCKPOT:
First brown ground been and drain the grease. Then add ground beef and all the other ingredients in the crock-pot (undrained) and cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Top with cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips etc and enjoy!