Creamy Chicken Soup

A high school classmate shared this link on facebook a couple of weeks ago.  Since we've been back in winter again, I figured this was a good time to try it.  It does take a little bit of work to prep the veggies, but after that it comes together pretty quickly.  Except waiting for it to come to a boil and then simmering.

FOR THE ROUX (to thicken soup...this is made first):
• 4 T flour
• 2 T olive oil
• 2 T butter - unsalted
• ****make the roux by heating the oil and butter in pot then sprinkling the flour on top. whisk together until fully absorbed and turns almost golden. take off the heat and set aside while combining other ingredients****
• 2 T butter - unsalted
• 2 T olive oil
• 4 stalks carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped (opt)
• 1 sweet yellow onion - diced
• 4 cups chicken stock or broth (or a combo) - low salt or unsalted
• 3 1/2 cups milk or cream or half & half, i use a combination of skim milk and cream
• 2 T chicken base granules
• 1 t fresh cracked pepper
• 1 T dried parsley or 2 T fresh parsley
• 3 bay leaves
• 1 1/2 t Herbs of Provence
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric (optional)
• 1/4 t garlic powder or 1 t. chopped garlic (i use garlic from a jar)
• 3 cups rotisserie chicken - cubed or shredded and cooked
• 1/4 cup white wine (your favorite)
• shredded gruyere cheese to sprinkle on top after spooning soup into bowls

Instructions

1. start by making the roux (directions above)
2. chop the vegetables and set aside until ready to saute.
3. In a Dutch oven, saute the vegetables in 2 T olive oil and 2 T butter until softened. i cook the carrots and celery first, then add the onions since they don't take as long to cook.
4. Add all other ingredients including the roux, stir well.
5. bring to a boil then turn down the heat to low and let simmer 20-30 minutes until the soup thickens to the desired consistency.
6. Stir every 3-4 minutes. Do not leave the soup unattended - it can burn quickly.
7. if you need to thicken the soup a little, mix together some cornstarch with milk or water (per box instructions) then stir into the soup.
8. stir frequently - the soup is milk-based and can burn easily.
9. before ready to serve, take out the bay leaves
10. pour into bowls and sprinkle with shredded gruyere cheese
11. serve with french baguette or other crusty bread
12. enjoy!

Hearty Beef & Noodles

This recipe appeared in my Facebook memories this week.  I have no recollection of making it, but apparently I liked it!  

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I made this for dinner tonight and it is AWESOME! It comes from the latest issue of Simple & Delicious [I posted this on April 5, 2009]. It's a great magazine for easy, homemade recipes. I have made a ton of things already, and it just came a week ago! 

Hearty Beef & Noodles 

Ingredients: 
1-1/2 pounds boneless beef sirloin steak, cut into 1/2-inch strips 
2 teaspoons olive oil 
1/2 cup chopped onion 
1-1/2 teaspoons minced garlic 
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted 
1 cup water 
1 cup half-and-half cream 
1/3 cup brewed coffee 
2 envelopes brown gravy mix 
5 cups uncooked egg noodles 
1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream 
1/2 teaspoon paprika 
1/4 teaspoon pepper 

Directions: 

In a large skillet, brown beef in oil on all sides; remove and keep warm. In the same skillet, saute onion and garlic until tender. 

Return beef to the pan; stir in the soup, water, cream, coffee and gravy mix. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until meat is tender, stirring occasionally. 

Meanwhile, cook noodles according to package directions. Add the sour cream, paprika and pepper to skillet; heat through. Drain noodles. Serve with beef. Yield: 6 servings. 

Pimiento Cheese

I was looking for a "southern" appetizer to go with my Soul Food theme for a dinner party I was having and I found this recipe.  It is so yummy!  I've made it several times since then, and it is always gobbled down by guests.

I prefer to make it with finely shredded cheese.  And I didn't want to grate an onion just for 1 tsp., so I used dried onion instead.

Click here for the original recipe on the Southern Living website.

Basic Pimiento Cheese Recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
1 (4-oz.) jar diced pimiento, drained
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. finely grated onion
1/4 tsp. ground red pepper
1 (8-oz.) block extra-sharp Cheddar cheese, finely shredded
1 (8-oz.) block sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded

Stir together first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; stir in cheese. Store in refrigerator up to 1 week.

Biscuits and Gravy Casserole

I love biscuits and gravy, so I decided to try this recipe for our New Year's brunch.  It was fabulous!  It makes a bit more than two people can eat, however, and it's not possible to cut it in half unless you waste half of the biscuits.

I served it with Cranberry Orange Bread and Caramelized Ham and Swiss Buns.  Perfect combination!

Click here for the original link to the blog Lemon Sugar.

Biscuits and Gravy Casserole

INGREDIENTS

1 can large, flaky biscuits (such as Grands)

½ pound ground breakfast sausage

3 Tablespoons flour

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

2 and ½ cups milk

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 400 degrees (F).

Prepare a small casserole dish (approximately 7x10) with cooking spray. Set aside.

Open biscuits, and cut biscuits into quarters.

Layer half of the quarters in prepared pan.

Bake for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare gravy.

In a heavy skillet, brown the ground breakfast sausage over medium high heat until fully cooked.

Sprinkle the cooked sausage with 3 Tablespoons of flour.

Use a wooden spoon to stir flour into sausage until completely absorbed.

Lower heat to medium, and cook flour/sausage mixture for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add milk, and stir to combine.

Add salt and black pepper.

Stir frequently until mixture comes to a slight boil.

Taste, and adjust seasonings as desired. (I usually add more black pepper)

If the gravy is too thick, add a bit more milk. You want the gravy to be thickened but not too thick, not "globby," it should still be slightly runny.

Pour gravy over the cooked biscuits.

Layer the remaining uncooked, quartered biscuits over the gravy.

Place casserole dish on a baking sheet, and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. If they start to over-brown, you can cover with foil for the last 10 minutes or so.

Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Seafood Lasagna

This recipe is AMAZING.

My husband was worried that the sauce would be too "fishy" with an entire bottle of clam juice, but it was PERFECT.  I made it for a special New Year's dinner.  With all the seafood, it is a bit pricey to make, but SO worth it.

I bought small, bite-sized scallops, and I cut each shrimp into three pieces.

Click here for the original link on the Taste of Home website.

Seafood Lasagna

Ingredients

1 green onion, finely chopped

2 tablespoons canola oil

2 tablespoons plus 1/2 cup butter, divided

1/2 cup chicken broth

1 bottle (8 ounces) clam juice

1 pound bay scallops

1 pound uncooked small shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 package (8 ounces) imitation crabmeat, chopped

1/4 teaspoon white pepper, divided

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1-1/2 cups 2% milk

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, divided

9 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained

Directions

In a large skillet, saute onion in oil and 2 tablespoons butter until tender. Stir in broth and clam juice; bring to a boil. Add scallops, shrimp, crab and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 4-5 minutes or until shrimp turn pink and scallops are firm and opaque, stirring gently. Drain, reserving cooking liquid; set seafood mixture aside.

In a large saucepan, melt the remaining butter; stir in flour until smooth. Combine milk and reserved cooking liquid; gradually add to the saucepan. Add salt and remaining pepper. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

Remove from the heat; stir in cream and 1/4 cup cheese. Stir 3/4 cup white sauce into the seafood mixture.

Preheat oven to 350°. Spread 1/2 cup white sauce in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Top with three noodles; spread with half of the seafood mixture and 1-1/4 cups sauce. Repeat layers. Top with remaining noodles, sauce and cheese.

Bake, uncovered, at for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 15 minutes before cutting. Yield: 12 servings.

Cranberry Orange Bread

For our New Year's brunch this year, I wanted to serve something sweet to go with Biscuits and Gravy Casserole and Caramelized Ham and Cheese Buns.  I searched my Pinterest boards and found this really delicious cranberry orange bread.

Click here for the original link on the blog Taste and Tell.

Cranberry Orange Bread

Ingredients

2 cups flour

½ cup sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

grated zest of 1 large orange

⅔ cup fresh orange juice

2 eggs, lightly beaten

⅓ cup vegetable oil

1¼ cups fresh cranberries

½ cup nuts, chopped

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray.

Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl. Stir in the orange zest. Make a well in the center and add the orange juice, eggs and vegetable oil. Stir gently, just until almost combined. Fold in the cranberries and nuts, making sure you don’t over mix the batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Bake in the preheated oven until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes.

Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Slow Cooker Pork Chops

This recipe is super easy and very, very good.  It has become our favorite recipe for pork chops!

Click here for the original link on the Taste of Home website.

Slow Cooker Pork Chops

Ingredients

3/4 cup all-purpose flour, divided

1/2 teaspoon ground mustard

1/2 teaspoon garlic pepper blend

1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt

4 boneless pork loin chops (4 ounces each)

2 tablespoons canola oil

1 can (14-1/2 ounces) chicken broth

Directions

In a large resealable plastic bag, combine 1/2 cup flour, mustard, garlic pepper and seasoned salt. Add pork chops, one at a time, and shake to coat. In a large skillet, brown chops in oil on both sides.

Transfer to a 5-qt. slow cooker. Place remaining flour in a small bowl; whisk in broth until smooth. Pour over chops. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or until meat is tender.

Remove pork to a serving plate and keep warm. Whisk cooking liquid until smooth; serve with pork. Yield: 4 servings.