Panera's Cream Cheese Potato Soup

This is seriously an awesome knockoff of the real thing.  I originally got the recipe from Food.com.  The first time I made it, I happened to go to Panera that very weekend and have their soup.  The only difference was that mine had a little more spicy kick to it due to a few more crushed red pepper flakes.  Other then that, this one is like the real thing.

Panera's Cream Cheese Potato Soup


Ingredients:

• 4 cups of low fat/low sodium chicken broth
• 4 cups of peeled and cubed red potatoes
• 1/4 cup of minced red onion
• 1/2 tsp of seasoning salt
• 1/4 tsp white or black pepper
• 1/4 tsp of crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 (8oz) package of Neufchatel cheese or light cream cheese

Directions:

1. Combine broth, potatoes, onion and spices.  Boil on medium-high heat until potatoes are tender. 
2. Smash a few potatoes to release their starch for thickening.
3. Reduce to low heat and slow add cubed cheese.  Stir until melted. 
4. Serve it up while it's hot with any toppings you wish!

Enjoy!

~Chef Val

Pioneer Woman's Crash Hot Potatoes with my own spin!

I love these and make them often. Pioneer Woman's Crash Hot Potatoes are really good!

Here is what they usually look like.

I had a little extra cheese and bacon around. I shredded the cheese and nuked the bacon. Then I sprinkled it on top and look how amazing!

They were like little amazing potato skins! Yummy!

Turkey Pie with Potato Topping

Another new crockpot recipe that I found tastey.  It only takes 5 ingredients to make this one!  I found this recipe in a 5-ingredient slow cooking mini book.

Ingredients:
12 oz. turkey breast tenderloin or skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 10-oz. pkg. frozen mixed vegetables
1 12-oz. jar turkey or chicken gravy
1 tsp. dried thyme, crushed
1 24-oz. pkg. refrigerated mashed potatoes

Directions:
1. Cut turkey into 1/2-inch strips.  Place frozen vegetables in a 3 1/2-4 quart slow cooker.  Top with turkey strips.  In a small bowl stir together the gravy and thyme; pour over turkey.

2. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 6-7 hours or on a high-heat setting for 3-3 1/2 hours.  If using low-heat setting, turn to high-heat setting.

3. Using a spoon, drop eight small mounds of mashed potatoes on top of turkey mixture.  Cover and cook for 10 minutes more.

Enjoy!
Yankee Doodle

Cooking with Empty Cupboards!

Well, I obviously need to get to the grocery store stat! Alas, we had a bit of a rough day getting my little man down for his naps but he FINALLY is so I'm obviously stuck for the time being but I have a minute to throw something together. I had NOTHING in my cupboards but a bunch of miss-mash ingredients and three boxes of Hamburger Helper I've had enough Hamburger Helper in the last few weeks that I was determined to have a home cooked meal. Here's what I came up with... 

Bear with me here.... I was desperate!

Makeshift Shepherd's Pie

Ingredients:

• 1 or 2 chicken breasts (I only had one?!)
• 1 can each of Green Beans, Corn & Mushrooms (I also added a handful of frozen peas I had)
• Egg noodles (any kind of pasta would probably work though)
• Instant potatoes
• Tortilla chips 
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Fresh minced garlic
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions:

     Boil chicken until cooked through - set aside to cool. Crush tortilla chips. Boil noodles according to directions, drain and place in 9x13 pan. Mix in veggies and mushrooms. Shred cooled chicken with two forks and add to mixture. Mix in garlic, salt and pepper. Make instant mashed potatoes according to directions but add a little extra water (or milk) to make them a little more thin. Add to chicken mixture. Top with shredded cheddar cheese and with crushed tortilla chips. Bake on 350 until heated through and tortilla chips are browned. Enjoy!!!

I didn't have a 9x13 because mine literally exploded in my oven about 3 weeks ago 

so my crock pot worked ok?!

I'm not gonna lie... it was missing... something?!?! I'm not sure what though. But with what I had it turned out pretty good. Maybe a nice glass of Semillion or Chardonnay would have perked it up a little but I digress... To do list for tomorrow includes a trip to the grocery store!!!!

~Vino Vixen~