Delicious Ham and Potato Soup

I found this recipe the other day on AllRecipes.com and it had over 3,400 reviews and had 5 out of 5 stars. I decided to try it and it came out awesome. I used ham from a dinner earlier on the week and had all the other ingredients from the produce basket. I served with sour cream and cheese.


Ingredients
3 1/2 cups peeled and diced potatoes
1/3 cup diced celery
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
3/4 cup diced cooked ham
3 1/4 cups water
2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon ground white or black pepper, or to taste
5 tablespoons butter
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk

Directions
1.Combine the potatoes, celery, onion, ham and water in a stockpot. Bring to a boil, then cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the chicken bouillon, salt and pepper.
2.In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour with a fork, and cook, stirring constantly until thick, about 1 minute. Slowly stir in milk as not to allow lumps to form until all of the milk has been added. Continue stirring over medium-low heat until thick, 4 to 5 minutes.
3.Stir the milk mixture into the stockpot, and cook soup until heated through. Serve immediately.

Cha-Cha Chicken Salad

I found this Chicken Salad recipe in a Southern Living magazine. I have made it for lunchgroup and it wasn't hard at all. It looks impressive without the difficulty level.


Ingredients
1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
1 cup mayonnaise
2 teaspoons curry powder
1 teaspoon salt
6 cups chopped cooked chicken
1 (8-oz.) can crushed pineapple
2/3 cup orange-flavored sweetened dried cranberries
1 cup chopped roasted, salted almonds
Garnishes: fresh herbs, blackberries, raspberries, sliced peaches

Preparation
1. Whisk together cream cheese and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl; stir in chicken, pineapple, and cranberries just until blended.

2. If desired, spoon mixture into a plastic wrap-lined 8-inch round cake pan; cover and chill at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours. Invert chicken salad onto a cake stand, and remove plastic wrap. Gently press chopped almonds onto sides of chicken salad. Garnish, if desired.

Corn Casserole

Ingredients:
16 ounce can creamed corn
16 ounce can whole kernel corn, drained
1/2 cup butter, melted (1 whole stick)
1 box Jiffy corn muffin mix
1 cup sour cream
2 eggs
salt to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine and bake in well-greased casserole or 9x13 pan. Bake for 40 minutes until golden. You may need to adjust the time according to the size of the pan.

Easy Chicken Parmesan

prep time 5 min
total time 40 min
makes 6 servings

What You Need
1 jar (26 oz.) spaghetti sauce
6 Tbsp. KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided
6 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1-1/2 lb.)
1-1/2 cups KRAFT Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Make It
HEAT oven to 375°F. Pour sauce into 13x9-inch baking dish. Stir in 1/4 cup (4 Tbsp.) Parmesan. Add chicken; turn to coat both sides with sauce. Cover with foil.
BAKE 30 min. Uncover.
TOP with remaining cheeses; bake 5 min. or until chicken is done (165ºF) and cheese is melted.

Kraft Kitchens Tips Cooking Know-How: If using larger chicken breasts, cut them lengthwise in half before placing in the baking dish to ensure that they get done in the 35-min. bake time.
http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/easy-chicken-parmesan-63577.aspx

Broccoli Cheese Casserole

I had a request for the Broccoli Cheese Casserole and so here it is!

Ingredients:

4-6 cups of frozen broccoli (I buy the frozen broccoli at Sam's Club and then just lightly fill a 9x13 baking dish) (I prefer the broccoli at Sam's because it is mainly broccoli tops rather than stems) you can use fresh broccoli but you will want to make sure that you prepare the broccoli so it is not stringy once it is cooked

1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup mayo
1 egg
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 sleeve Ritz crackers
1 stick of butter

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Next, cook the broccoli. Like I said before I put the frozen broccoli in a 9x13 baking dish and then put a few tablespoons of water in the dish to cook the broccoli. I put the dish in the microwave and cook on HIGH for about 6 minutes. You want the broccoli to be cooked but NOT mushy! (If the broccoli is large, I cut it up after it is cooked)
3. While the broccoli is cooking I mix the cream of mushroom, mayo, egg and half of the shredded cheese together.
4. Once the broccoli is cooked, drain the water from the baking dish and pour the mixture over the broccoli. Mix and then sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
5. To make the topping you will melt the stick of butter in the microwave and then combine with the finely crushed sleeve of crackers (I put the crackers in a Ziploc bag and then let the kids go to town. Once crushed I pour the melted butter in the bag and mix)
6. Sprinkle topping on top of casserole. Cover with aluminum foil and cook for 30 minutes

Quick & Easy Recipes

Here is a list of great recipes that are quick, easy, and delicious. You'll probably have most of the ingredients on hand. I've created a google document (via the web), click here to view of full list of recipes: "Easy and Quick Recipes"

Enjoy!

TIPS for posting

**Click on View Blog after you post to check how it will look in case something doesn't show up right.

**If you aren't finished with a post, you can always click on Save Now at the bottom of the post and come back to it by going to Edit Posts.

**Go here to see the help section of blogger for posting. It will show you how to post and add links and more...

I will post a sample meal plan to give you ideas for what I was thinking this site would be good for and ease of use.

One-Pan Roast Pork with Parmesan Fries

time 10 min
total time 1 hr
makes 4 servings
recipe by: kraft

What You Need!
1 egg white, lightly beaten
1/4 cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese
1 tsp. garlic salt, divided
1-1/4 lb. Yukon gold or russet potatoes (about 4), cut into thin wedges
1 pork tenderloin (1 lb.)
2 Tbsp. KRAFT Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
1 Tbsp. honey

Make It!
HEAT oven to 425ºF.
MIX egg white, cheese and 3/4 tsp. garlic salt in large bowl. Add potatoes; toss to coat. Spread onto large greased baking sheet.
BAKE 15 min. Add meat to baking sheet with potatoes; sprinkle with remaining garlic salt. Bake 20 min.
MIX dressing and honey; brush onto meat. Bake 10 to 15 min. or until meat is done (160ºF) and potatoes are tender, brushing meat occasionally with any remaining dressing mixture.

Kraft Kitchens Tips
Serving Suggestion
Serve with hot steamed asparagus or green beans.
http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/one-pan-roast-pork-parmesan-104998.aspx#

Italian Chicken Primavera

prep time 10 min
total time 20 min
makes 3 servings, about 2 cups each
photo by: kraft
recipe by: kraft

What You Need
3 plum tomatoes, chopped
1 medium zucchini, chopped
1 cup chopped, drained marinated artichoke hearts
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 pkg. (6 oz.) OSCAR MAYER Deli Fresh Italian Style Chicken Breast Strips
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
2-1/2 cups hot cooked whole wheat spaghetti (about 4 oz. uncooked)
1 Tbsp. KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese

Make It
COOK and stir tomatoes, zucchini, artichokes and garlic in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat 5 min. or until zucchini is crisp-tender. ADD chicken and basil; stir. Cook 5 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally. SERVE over the hot spaghetti; sprinkle with cheese.

Kraft Kitchens Tips
Creative Leftovers: Cover and refrigerate any leftovers. Serve as a cold pasta salad.
Substitute: This great-tasting recipe can easily be prepared with dried basil if you don't have fresh. Just use 1/2 tsp. dried basil instead.

Just the Beginning!

Hello ladies! Here it is - we wanted a way to share and post meals and recipes with each other... at the same time get ideas to put something on the table every night.

Go to posting and click new post to post your plans and recipes. To add a link or internet site click on the little green doodad next to the italic marker in the new post screen.

That's all for now, I need a nap... :) but feel free to post! I will add more tips and tricks and pretty up the blog tonight or when I get time! ENJOY!