Yummy Potato Soup

2-3 potatoes baked
3 T butter
1 cup onion chopped
2 T flour
4 Cups chicken broth
2 cups water
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup instant mashed potatoes
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp basil
1 cup half and half... or can do 1/2 cup one percent milk and 1/2 cup evaporated milk
Melt butter and saute onions until brown. Add flour to onions and cook 1-2 mins add broth, water, cornstarch, mashed potatoes and spices. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 mins. Cut baked potatoes in half scoring into cubes... I like to mash mine. Scoop out the cubes into the soup. Add milk and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 mins. Top with cheese, green onions, bacon and sour cream... of course if you want to =)

recipe from Just Another Day in Paradise

Oreo Truffle Balls

Okay ya'll here it is the recipe you have all been requesting. I share the recipe now so that I don't have to make them for you next year hahah LOL just kidding.

1 bag of Oreo's ( not double stuffed)

1 8oz cream cheese

3 symphony candy bars ( the 6.8 oz)

1 bag of peppermint candy melts

In a food processor grind the Oreo's into a fine powder...yes the whole Oreo

in a bowl combine powder Oreo's =) and cream cheese until moist. Roll into balls and put in the freezer for a couple of hours. Melt candy cars and roll Oreo balls until coated then drizzle melted candy melts on top. You can keep these in the freezer or in the fridge although I can almost guarantee they won't last long.

Enjoy =)

Buttermilk Cookies

This is a very light cookie...LOVE THEM!

1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups of flour
1/2 tsp salt
Cream sugar, shortening, and eggs. Mix flour, salt, and soda together. Add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk. Roll in cinnamon and sugar. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

Bottled Chicken

I'm going to warn you this requires a pressure cooker =) So if you don't know how to use one let me know and I can come help you.

All you need for this recipe is chicken breast and 1/2 tsp salt.

Put 1/2 tsp kosher salt into each jar. Cut chicken breast into chunks and fill the pint jar (just to the bottom of the jar, do not go up into the lid. Do not add water. Wipe off the top of your jars when you are done filling them. Boil lids for just a few seconds then place lid on and the screw top right away do the same with the rest of the jars. Process in a pressure cooker at 10 pounds pressure for 1 hour and 5 mins ( have a good book since you can't leave it unattended) =) this is soooo handy for cooking meals. It goes great in soups, casseroles, sandwiches and whatever else you want to use it for.

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Put some chicken in the crockpot with your favorite BBQ sauce..ours is Sweet Baby Ray's. Cook on high for 4 to 6 hours. Then shred with a fork

We used sourdough bread from Costco and sliced it put the shredded chicken on the slice and topped it with Havarti cheese. Butter both sides and toast just like you would a grilled cheese. OH SOOOO GOOD =)

Chicken A'lorange

Dust 2lbs chicken with 1/2 cup flour. Head 4 tbs oil in a heavy frying pan and brown evenly on all sides. Place in a baking pan, pour sauce Al'a'orange (see recipe below) over chicken and cover with foil. Bake at 300 for 1 hour, or until chicken is tender. Garnish with orange slices and serve with rice.

Sauce:
Defrost 1 6oz frozen Oj . Saute 3oz can mushrooms ( I use fresh) and 1 slice onion chopped in oil until tender. add a pinch of pepper, oregano, basil, rosemary, 1 tsp salt, oj, and a 1/4 cup of water. Simmer 5 minutes. Pour over browned chicken. This is a Sunday favorite.

Blueberry Muffins

I will have to warn you now....I forgot to take a picture =) forgive me these are really yummy though!

Streusel Topped Blueberry Muffins

2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 TBS flour
1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp lemon zest
1/2 cup milk
2 TBS flour
5 TBS brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 TBS butter diced.
I know these ingredients sound crazy but follow instructions as you make these

Preheat oven to 375 grease 12 muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners
2. Combine 2 cups of flour, 2 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt in medium bowl. Sprinkle 1 to 2 TBS flour over blueberries and set aside
3. In a large bowl beat 1/2 cup butter with 3/4 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, and stir in vanilla and lemon zest. Fold in dry ingredients alternately with milk. Fold in blueberries remember, fold gently, don't stir. Spoon batter into prepared cups.
4. Combine 2 TBS flour, 5TBS brown sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon in a small bowl. Cut in 2 TBS butter with a fork mix until the mixture resembles course crumbs. Sprinkle over batter in muffin cups. Bake for 20-25 mins.

allrecipes.com