Broccoli Cheese Soup and Croutons

Tonight I attempted to use my small harvest of broccoli I picked yesterday from the garden. So I browsed a few recipes online and this is what I came up with.


1/2 Onion chopped
2 Cups of cheese (I mixed mine, some cheddar, swiss, american)Its what I had in the fridge
2 Cups of Fat Free Milk
4 Cups of Chicken Stock
4 Cups of Broccoli
1/2 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp Pepper
1/2 Tsp Nutmeg

In the crockpot on high I added the onion, milk, stock, spices and broccoli. I cooked for about 2.5 hours I then added the cheese. Now the cheese I used was not a smooth melting cheese so my soup didnt look appetizing but was. I let cook on low for 20 minutes added a small cornstarch water mixture and cooked a bit longer. In my Bullet I blended about 1 cup of the soup mixture and added it back in.

Now lets top this soup with some fresh croutons

1 Flute or Baguette sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil spread evenly onto cookie sheet
Arrange bread ontop of oil
Melt 3/4 stick of butter with 2 cloves of crushed or minced garlic, coat bread with butter and garlic mixture
Using Kosher salt spinkle a little on each bread
Sprinkle with pepper, paprika and dried parsley to your liking

Bake in oven at 250 degrees till desired crispiness. About half way through I flip my croutons. Enjoy!

Oven Baked Fries

What goes best with Sloppy Joes? French Fries!! Ugh Im out of oil lets bake them!!!

5 Medium Potatoes sliced into french fries
1/2 a stick of butter, cut into cubes
4 Tablespoon of Olive Oil
2 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning
1/4 Cup Parmesean

Presoak the fries in a large bowl of cold salted water for about 1 hour. Drain and pat dry

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Put two Tablespoons of the Olive Oil on the bottom of the Baking sheet

Lay fries, overlapping is ok

Top with Seasoning and Cheese, then drizzle with remaining oil, and scatter the cubed butter on top.

After baking for about 20 minutes check on your fries toss them turn them, drool over them and continue to bake till preferred doneness. I like my fries crispy so mine took about 50 minutes.

ENJOY!!!

Muffin CornDogs

Yesterday my son had his first corndog! First the amazement on his face that he got to hold his food with a stick was priceless, but after he took that first bite to find A HOTDOG in there was even more priceless. He gobbled it up and was so well behaived during lunch I thought to myself he MUST eat these more often. I then remembered I had just bought a Jiffy Box of Corn Meal Muffins for $.68 and a large pack of Turkey Dogs at Walmart for a little over $3 which included 24 turkey dogs! Lets make our own version of corn dogs and try this at home. To the kitchen I went!

Prepare the Jiffy as directed on the box
this includes 1 egg and 1/3 cup of milk I also followed the suggestion of letting it set for 3-4 mins before stiring a second time.

I then divided half of the batter into 6 greased muffin tins

I cut one dog into 6 equal parts and ditributed

divide remaining batter ontop of the dogs

In a preheated 400 degree oven bake until golden brown. My oven runs hot so mine only took 10 minutes to bake. Let cool and remove from muffin pan.

Now here is my opinion on these little goodies.
Pros:
Easy to make
They are darn good!
CHEAP!!!! $.13 for the dog and $.68 for the box of Jiffy. Approx $.07 for the milk $.20 for the egg = $1.08 = $.18 per muffin!!!!
Even at $1.08 for all six muffins that is cheaper than buying one from the hot table at Safeway

Cons:
Not much to complain about except for the fact that if your two year old is eating them keep the dust buster at reach.

Crockpot Sesame Chicken

So I found this recipe through Pinterest, as many recipes are now a days, and immediately wanted to try it. I love sesame chicken, and there is a place in my hometown of Cameron park, CA that has the BEST Sesame Chicken! (Shout outs to Shanghai) But can this recipe even compare to my all time favorite? At Shanghai I do beleive the chicken is fried before its covered in the amazing mouth watering sauce, this recipe is not fried but cooked in the crockpot, healthier? Yes, but good? We will see. So its off to the crockpot I go....

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts This is enough to feed my family of four
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons diced onion
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 cloves garlic, minced
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
3 teaspoons cornstarch dissolved in 4 Tablespoons water
Sesame seeds
Season both sides of chicken with lightly with salt and pepper, put into crock pot. In a small bowl, combine honey, soy sauce, onion, ketchup, oil, garlic and pepper flakes. Pour over chicken.
Cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high 1 1/2 – 2 1/2 hours, or just until chicken is cooked through.
Remove chicken from crock pot, leave sauce. Dissolve 3 teaspoons of cornstarch in 4 tablespoons of water and pour into crock pot. Stir to combine with sauce.
Replace lid and cook sauce on high for ten more minutes or until slightly thickened.
Cut chicken into bite size pieces, then return to pot and toss with sauce before serving.
Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve over rice or noodles.

My Rice:

2 Cups of Rice to 2.5 Cups of water put into rice cooker
Salt to taste
2 tablespoons Dried Onion
Paprika to taste

Well, the chicken was good, ok not good, it was wonderful. It wasnt Shanghai but is definately going to be made in my house again!It was a little too sweet for my daughter, my 2 year old son liked it, but my husband and I Loved it. OH and I had my Mother in Law try it and she gave me the "mmmmmmm look". Winner Winner its a chicken dinner!

Recipe taken from Chef in Training

Salmon Chowder

 1 jar of Salmon (16 oz)

3/4 cup butter $

• 1 cup chopped onion $
• 1/2 cup chopped celery $
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour + 2tsp cornstarch
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Dill weed to liking
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic granules 
• 4 medium potatoes diced
• 2.5 cups milk
• 6 thick-cut bacon slices, cooked and crumbled ( I was out of bacon so I subbed with a splash of smoke)

1. If using fresh salmon:
2. Sprinkle salmon with kosher salt and pepper; place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake at 400° for 15 minutes or until desired degree of doneness. Flake fish into 1/2-inch pieces; set aside.
3. Melt butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and celery, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Add flour; stir until mixture is smooth. Cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Gradually whisk in chicken broth. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt, dill and garlic.
4. Add potato, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until potato is tender. Stir in milk. Cook 6 minutes or until heated. Add cooked salmon, stirring gently to combine. Spoon into individual bowls; top with crumbled bacon.