Creamy Tomato Soup

MOMYS recipe with Mommy Modifications

2 TB butter

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic

1 can (28 oz) tomatoes or 2 lbs fresh, peeled tomatoes

1 1/2 C chicken broth

1 1/2 tsp salt

2 TB sugar

1/2 C whole milk or heavy cream

Melt butter in a pot over medium heat.  Cook onions and garlic until browned.  Add tomatoes, chicken broth, salt, sugar and simmer at least 10 minutes or until tomatoes are soft and beginning to fall apart.  Puree soup and add milk or heavy cream.

Mommy loves tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches on a cold day.  I also enjoy being able to whip this up with the ingredients I usually have on hand.  

Love Always,

Mommy

Yummy Cheesy Noodles

Hannah Original

2 C broken spaghetti noodles
2 TB butter
2 C water
A whole heap of love
1 handful mozzarella cheese
2 handfuls cheddar cheese

Brown the spaghetti in a frying pan with the butter.  Add water.  Boil uncovered for 7-8 minutes.  Drain.  Add love.  Sprinkle on cheese.  Serve.

Boo Boo, this is a recipe you created.  I have copied it exactly as you have it on your recipe card.  I think you invented this last year when you were about 11 years old.  You and the boys LOVE to have this for lunch and Mommy has to admit; it's very tasty!  It must be all the love you put in it!  Gran Gran was right!

I like this recipe so much more than the Carrot Top Soup you created for Daddy & Mommy when you were about 6 years old.  Remember that one?  It was... interesting.  ;)  After tasting it I think you said, "That didn't exactly turn out like I wanted it too."  :)  I can't remember the ingredients except for the carrot top greens from the carrots in our garden and maybe some chopped carrots and water?  I think your Yummy Cheesy Noodles are much better.  

You are going to be such a blessing to your husband and family- just like you are now.  I love you very much Sweetie!

Love Always,
Mommy

Chicken Salad

Mommy Modified

13 oz. canned chicken breast, drained
1 tsp. ranch dressing mix
1 tsp. sour cream
2 tsp. milk
6 tsp. mayonnaise

Dump chicken into a bowl and break up the chunks with a fork.  Stir in the remaining ingredients.  Spread on bread or crackers.

Our favorite way to eat this is on bagel halves and broiled on low until warm.  Then add a slice of cheese and broil until melted.  This is a very yummy lunch!
Love Always, 
Mommy

Cheesy Vegetable Chowder

I saw this online and decided to try it.  Yum!

2 Tablespoons butter

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 cup finely chopped carrot

1 stalk celery, finely chopped or 1 TB dried celery 

1 Tablespoon minced garlic

4 cups chicken broth 

2 large baking potatoes, peeled and chopped

1 Tablespoon arrowroot powder

1/2 cup water

2/3 cup milk

2 cups chopped broccoli

2 heaping cups shredded cheddar cheese

Melt the butter in a large soup pot.  Add onions, carrots, and celery and saute over medium heat until tender.  Add garlic and cook 1 or 2 additional minutes.  Add chicken broth and potatoes, bring to a boil, and cook until potatoes are tender.  Mix arrowroot powder with water, add, and simmer until soup is slightly thickened.  Add milk and broccoli and cook until broccoli is just tender and soup is heated through.  Stir in cheese, allow to melt, and serve.

One chilly day a couple of weeks ago Mommy saw this recipe online and we decided to try it.  It was great!  All you children loved this.  Put enough cheese in something and everyone will enjoy it!  :)  Often we will bake up extra potatoes for Baked Potato Bar night.  Sometimes we cube the leftover potatoes and freeze them.  That makes this meal super fast to make.  If the potatoes are already cooked add them when you add the broccoli and everything will be finished cooking at the same time.

Love Always,

Mommy

Creamy Noodles & Peas

Mommy Creation

Double batch of Cream of "Whatever" Soup
Thyme
1 tsp. salt
2 C. cheddar cheese, divided
frozen peas, cooked & drained
1- 8 oz. package rice spaghetti, cooked & drained
potato chips, crushed
optional- 1 can chicken breast or tuna, drained well

Make the Cream of Whatever Soup.  Add thyme, salt, and 1 1/2 C. cheese.  Stir in peas and pasta.  Stir in chicken or tuna if desired.  Top with remaining cheese and crushed potato chips.  Yum!

Mommy created this for lunch today and it was a hit.  Fast, easy, and delicious is my kind of lunch!  Enjoy!


Love Always, 
Mommy

Black Bean Soup

I found this over at Women Living Well. Mommy has modified it significantly.  :)


2 cans of seasoned black beans (drained, not rinsed) 
4 C. chicken broth  
2 Tbsp palm shortening 
1 cup chopped onion 
2 cloves of garlic minced 
2 tsp chili powder 
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp marjoram
1 tsp rosemary
1 tsp salt 
Rice, cooked

Cheddar Cheese, shredded 

In a large pot saute onions and garlic in oil until soft. Add the spices and salt; stir well to combine. Add broth and beans; bring to a boil. Turn heat to medium and let soup cook for 15 minutes. Remove half the soup and blend it in the blender (or mash with a potato masher).  Pour back into remaining soup and stir well.  Serve over rice.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Yum!



February 4, 2011
I found this on Facebook this morning and I had everything on hand so we had this for lunch.  It was liked by everyone- even Hannah who isn't our soup gal.  :)  So, per Hannah's request- here is the recipe.  It was really good.  I foresee making this again in the near future.


UPDATE July 17, 2012
This is a wonderful soup and requested frequently around here!  All of you children cheer when you see Mommy making this.  It is so yummy!  


Love Always,
Mommy

Creamy Mac-N-Cheese

From Laura at Heavenly Homemakers
Creamy Mac N Cheese

2 1/2 cups whole wheat pasta
3 cups whole milk
1/2 t. sea salt
1 cup shredded cheese (I use white cheddar)

Mix pasta, milk and salt in a large sauce pan. Cook over medium-high heat STIRRING ALMOST CONSTANTLY until the pasta is tender (10-15 minutes). Remove from heat. Add cheese and stir until melted. Serve immediately.

This is really yummy!  It makes an awesome creamy, cheesy sauce.  I usually use a bit more salt and this is so good with Colby Jack cheese.  Delcious!  We have this often for lunch and sometimes even when Mrs. Munoz comes over.  This with Ranch Dip and carrot and celery sticks makes an wonderful lunch!  Three cheers for Mac n Cheese!  Hip hip horah!

Love Always,
Mommy

Baked Lentils with Cheese

From Auntie Shea

1 3/4 C lentils
2 C water
1 whole bay leaf
2 tsp. sea salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp marjoram
1/8 tsp sage
1/8 tsp thyme
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloved garlic, minced
2 C. canned tsomatoes, drained well

Mix all ingredients into a 9x13 pan, cover tightly and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Add:
2-3 large carrots, sliced 1/8" thick
1/2 C. celery, finely chopped
2 TB fresh parsley, finely chopped

Cover and bake another 40 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Sprinkle with 3 C. of cheese and bake uncovered 5 minutes more or until cheese is melted.

This a really yummy recipe from Auntie Shea.  Her crew LOVES this!  We made this for lunch today when Mrs. Munoz came over and she really liked it too.  When Mommy makes this I skip the celery and used dried minced onion and garlic that has been rejuvenated.  I also use 2 tsp. dried parsley.  In additon, I sometimes half the recipe and skip the tomatoes and cheese for a delicious dish for Joshua!  He really likes it too!  Auntie Shea has a yummy winner with this recipe!

Love Always,
Mommy

High $ Hot Pockets

Ham & Swiss Stromboli
Quick Cooking July/August 2001 page 37

1 tube (11 oz.) refrigerated French Bread
3 oz. thinly sliced deli ham
3 oz. thinly sliced deli turkey
1 ½ C. shredded Swiss cheese
bacon bits

Unroll dough on a greased baking sheet. Place ham and turkey over dough to within ½ in. of edges; sprinkle evenly with bacon bits and cheese. Roll up jelly roll style, starting with the long side. Pinch seams to seal and tuck ends under. Place seam side down on baking sheet. With a sharp knife, cut several ¼” deep slits on top of loaf. Bake at 350 degrees for 26-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly before slicing. Serve warm. Yields: 6-8 servings

This looks so fancy but it is so easy.  This is a good one for lunch or dinner on the weekends.  Our family is big enough now that we have to make two of these but we usually have left overs that heat up well for Daddy's lunch.
 
Love Always,
Mommy

Chicken Nuggets

Laura at Heavenly Homemakers
http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/blog/high-five-recipe-popcorn-chicken

6-8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 C. white flour
1/2 C. wheat flour
1 1/4 tsp. sea salt
3/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 C. butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place butter in a 13"x11" pan and melt butter by placing pan in oven. Don't let the butter burn! In a gallon zip lock, combine flours, sea salt, and garlic powder. Using meat scissors, cut chicken into bite size chunks and throw into zip lock bag. Zip up bag and shake well to coat the chicken. Pour chicken into colander over the sink or garbage can to shake off excess coating.

Put chicken into pan and bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Stir well and bake for another 12 minutes.

We had this for dinner tonight and it is one of our favorites. I found this recipe from Laura at Heavenly Homemakers but I modified it so much that it doesn't look much like the original recipe. :)  I think using a whole stick of butter really adds to the yummy-ness of this recipe!  I usually serve this with french fries or rice and a vegetable. Yum!

Love Always,
Mommy

Crock Pot Mac N Cheese

Mac- N- Cheese
Bernice Glascoe, North Carolina
Best of Country Slow Cooker Recipes

3 C. (16 oz.) elbow macaroni
½ C. butter, melted
2 eggs, beaten
1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk
1 can (10 ¾ oz.) condensed cheddar cheese soup
1 C. milk
4 C. shredded cheddar cheese, divided
1/8 tsp. paprika

Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain well. Place in a 5 qt. slow cooker; add melted butter. In a bowl, combine eggs, evaporated milk, soup, milk, and 3 C. of cheese. Pour over macaroni mixture; stir to combine. Cover and cook on low 4 hours. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Cook 15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with paprika. Yield: 10-12 serving

This is Daddy's all time favorite mac-n-cheese and it is always a hit when we take it to gatherings.  Daddy often says we need to make it at home more frequently because he never gets any when we take it somewhere.  It is quick to assemble and is oh so yummy!  Our whole family loves this one!  :)

Love Always,
Mommy