Easy Crockpot Potato Soup

Wow, I think I almost forgot how to sign in to blogger, it's been awhile! :) I've been trying lots of new recipes lately, especially crockpot recipes, since I teach piano lessons a couple of evenings a week, and it's supper time as soon as my last student leaves. This is a super easy, and very tasty new favorite of ours.

1 30 ounce bag of frozen, shredded hash browns

3 14 ounce cans of chicken broth

1 can cream of chicken soup (I use the 98% fat free kind)

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/4 tsp. ground pepper

1 pkg. cream cheese ( don't use fat free, it won't melt, I do use the 1/3 less fat cream cheese, though)

Combine everything in crockpot, except for the cream cheese. Cook for 6-8 hours on low heat. About 1 hour before serving, add cream cheese, and keep heated until thoroughly melted. Serve with your choice of sour cream, cheese, bacon bits, green onion, etc. I just sprinkle some real bacon bits on top.

Potato and Carrot Soup

3 Tblsp. butter or margarine

2 Tblsp. olive oil

1/2 onion, diced

3 large potatoes, peeled and diced

1 16 oz. bag baby carrots

48 oz. chicken broth

1 cup milk or non dairy milk substitute

salt and pepper to taste

In a large soup pot heat butter and oil until melted. Stir in onions, potatos, and carrots and cook for 3-5 minutes.

Add broth to the pot and bring to a boil. Allow the soup to cook for 45 minutes.

Cool soup slightly and process in a food processor or blender until smooth. Transfer soup to a large bowl and then add tempered* milk. Add salt and pepper to taste.

*Temper milk by adding a little warm soup to the milk, and then pour the mixture into the pureed soup.

For some reason I didn't have high hopes for this soup, but it turned out delicious! I will definitely make it again. And it is so filling there's not too much of a need for anything else. Although I bet it would be great with some fresh bread or breadsticks!

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

This is a great meal for a cool fall day! It takes a little prep work but comes out beautifully. You can also doctor it up any way you want. For example, I omitted the onions and added corn. You can also add some red wine for richer flavor.

INGREDIENTS:
2 pounds beef stew meat, cut
into 1 inch cubes
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black
pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon Worcestershire
1 onion, chopped
1 1/2 cups beef broth or chicken (I used chicken and it was just as yummy)
3 potatoes, diced
4 carrots, sliced
1 stalk celery, chopped
DIRECTIONS:
1.
Place meat in slow cooker. In a small bowl mix together the flour, salt, and pepper; pour over meat, and stir to coat meat with flour mixture. Stir in the garlic, bay leaf, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, onion, beef broth, potatoes, carrots, and celery.
2.
Cover, and cook on Low setting for 10 to 12 hours, or on High setting for 4 to 6 hours.

Chicken Wild Rice Soup

1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup slivered mini carrots
1 cup chopped celery
10 Tblsp. butter
1 cup flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
6 cups chicken broth
2 diced chicken breasts
2 cans cooked wild rice
1 and 1/2 cups half and half

Saute chicken. Melt butter. Add onions, celery, and carrots until cooked. Add flour and chicken broth. Add drained wild rice. Simmer 5 minutes. Add diced chicken and half and half to desired thickness. Add more broth or water if too thick.

I'm sure this is fattening (10 Tblsp. butter!!!) but it is SO good. I decided that when I'm at my parents next week I'll make the meals, as an early Mother's Day present to my mom. So I made up a few things ahead of time. This is really good frozen, then you can just reheat it in the crockpot.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

2 cans cream of chicken soup
2 cans milk
1 c. salsa
4 oz. Pepper Jack cheese, shredded
1 large chicken breast, cooked and cut up (or you can use 1 large can of chicken)

Mix ingredients in large saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes, or until thoroughly warmed up. Serve topped with tortilla chips and cheddar or Pepper Jack cheese.

It's so easy and so good! In fact, it's what's for supper tonight.