Tag: comfort food

Recipes and Cooking

Spaghetti Carbonara

Brandi C

Spaghetti Carbonara

Easy Spaghetti Carbonara – A Shelf-Cooking Favorite

Spaghetti Carbonara is a simple, satisfying dish that comes together with just a handful of ingredients. It’s the perfect shelf-cooking pasta recipe, using staples I always keep on hand. To round out the meal, I like to serve it with garlic cheese bread and a Caesar salad—quick, easy, and delicious.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. pasta (I used linguine)
  • Seasoning mix (your favorite blend)
  • 3 room-temperature eggs
  • Bacon (reserve 3 Tbsp. of bacon grease)
  • Fresh mushrooms (sliced)
  • 1 large onion (sliced)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • Parmesan cheese (a generous amount)
  • Reserved pasta water (about 2 ladles)

(Want to mix things up? Try adding sautéed bell peppers or spinach for extra flavor!)

Directions

Cook the Bacon & Veggies

  • Cook the bacon until crispy, then remove and crumble.
  • In the same pan, sauté garlic, mushrooms, and onions in the reserved bacon grease until soft. (Spinach would also be a great addition here!) Remove from heat and set aside.

Prepare the Egg Mixture

  • Crack 3 room-temperature eggs into a bowl and lightly beat them.
  • Ladle about 2 scoops of hot, starchy pasta water into the eggs, whisking constantly. This helps temper the eggs, so they don’t scramble when added to the pasta.

Cook the Pasta

  • Boil linguine (or your pasta of choice) in salted water until al dente.
  • Drain the pasta and return it to the pot while it’s still hot.

Bring It All Together

  • Add 3 Tbsp. of reserved bacon grease and the sautéed vegetables to the pasta.
  • Use tongs to toss everything together, evenly coating the noodles.
  • Slowly pour in the egg mixture, continuously tossing the pasta to create a silky sauce.
  • Add lots of Parmesan cheese, stirring until fully incorporated.
  • Finally, mix in the crumbled bacon and serve immediately!

Final Thoughts

This meal was so freaking good and ridiculously easy to make. My family loved it. If you want a vegetarian option, just skip the bacon (though in my house, that’s not happening). I may experiment with turkey bacon next time for a slightly lighter version.

After 30 years of cooking, I’ll admit—some nights, I am just over it. The inspiration runs dry, and I find myself staring at the fridge with zero motivation. That’s why I’ve started writing down my favorite recipes and tweaking them to fit my family’s tastes.

Originally, I found this dish in a Rachael Ray cookbook back when I was obsessed with collecting cookbooks. Now? They just sit on my shelf collecting dust. Maybe it’s time to dust them off and find some new inspiration!

The beauty of cooking is making a recipe your own—adjusting flavors, swapping ingredients, and creating something that works for your family. So, grab your pantry staples and give this one a try! You won’t regret it. 🍝

Recipes and Cooking

Garlic Parmesan Chops Soup

Brandi C

Garlic Parmesan Chops Soup

Garlic Parmesan Chops Soup

As promised from yesterday’s post, this is the Garlic Parmesan Chops Soup that is so good! Bart was so impressed, and the pot was instantly all gone! So excited to add a new soup.

Ingredients

Pork Chops (I used boneless)

Seasoning

Bacon grease (or oil)

Butter

Seasoning

Parmesan Sauce

2 c. heavy cream

2 c. parmesan

Garlic

Spinach (chopped)

Fresh mushrooms (chopped)

Onion (chopped)

1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

Addition

Potatoes washed and cubed (with or without skin)

2 c. cheddar

2 cartons of chicken broth (you can make your own or use water and chicken bouillon cubes)

Cream of Mushroom Soup

How to Make

In an electric skillet, pour some bacon grease (or oil) and butter. I pounded my chops and seasoned them well with my seasoning mix. Fry them up. Once done, remove them from the pan. Again, these were leftovers from last night, so all I did was chop them up into bite-size pieces.

Place all of the parmesan sauce ingredients in the same skillet the chops were in. Stir until thickened. This was, again, leftovers from the night before.

Soup Process

Get your chicken broth boiling, and add some seasoning. Put in your washed, cubed potatoes and let them boil. Once they were done, I scooped them into a bowl, leaving the chicken broth water in the pot.

I added the cream of mushroom soup, parmesan sauce, and cheddar to that pot. I whisked that all into the water to get all the lumps out. Then, I placed the cubed leftover pork chops and let them simmer to warm and soften them up. Once that was done, I added my potatoes back in.

So.  Freaking.  Good.

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Recipes and Cooking

Garlic Pork Chops with Parmesan Sauce

Brandi C

Garlic Pork Chops with Parmesan Sauce

Garlic Pork Chops with Parmesan Sauce

Here’s another winner that has quickly become a family favorite—Garlic Pork Chops with Parmesan Sauce. This dish was not only easy to make, but it also made a fantastic soup the next day! Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post, where I turn this dish into a soup my family loves. Edited to add: The soup was a huge hit too! I absolutely love being able to cook once and enjoy two completely different meals. It’s the perfect way to stretch ingredients and minimize time in the kitchen.

Ingredients:

  • Pork Chops (I used boneless, but any cut will work)
  • Seasoning (your choice—garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper)
  • Bacon grease (or oil of your choice)
  • Butter

For the Parmesan Sauce:

  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 cups parmesan cheese
  • 3-4 cloves of garlic, minced
  • Spinach (chopped, a handful or more to taste)
  • Fresh mushrooms (chopped)
  • Onion (chopped)
  • 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes (optional, for a little heat)

Instructions:

  1. Cook the Pork Chops:

    • In an electric skillet, add bacon grease (or oil) and butter.
    • Season the pork chops well with your seasoning mix and fry them up until golden brown on each side. Once cooked through, remove them from the skillet and set aside.

  2. Make the Parmesan Sauce:

    • In the same skillet, add the heavy cream, parmesan cheese, garlic, spinach, mushrooms, onion, and red pepper flakes (if using).
    • Stir the ingredients together until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency. If you’d like to keep the chops warm, place them back into the skillet and simmer on low. Alternatively, you can serve the sauce on the side, spooning it over each chop when ready.

  3. Serve and Enjoy:

    • Once the pork chops are cooked and the sauce is ready, plate your chops and pour the parmesan sauce generously over the top.
    • If you want to take it further, double the batch so you have leftovers for a delicious soup the next day!

Final Thoughts:

This dish is not only simple to make but also incredibly versatile. The Garlic Pork Chops with Parmesan Sauce are rich and flavorful on their own, but turning the leftovers into soup the next day takes it to a whole new level! It’s the perfect example of how cooking once can give you two completely different meals, saving you time while keeping things exciting in the kitchen. Enjoy the best of both worlds with this tasty and efficient recipe!

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Recipes and Cooking

Lipton Onion Soup Thighs with Rice

Brandi C

Lipton Onion Soup Thighs with Rice

 

Lipton Onion Soup Thighs with Rice

If you’re looking for an easy and delicious dinner that requires minimal effort, Lipton Onion Soup Thighs with Rice is the perfect choice. This recipe uses simple ingredients like Lipton Onion Soup Mix, chicken thighs, and rice to create a flavorful, hearty meal. The rice turns out perfectly cooked and full of savory flavor, and the chicken thighs are juicy and tender. It’s a great way to use up those packets of Lipton Onion Soup Mix without the need for a roast!

Ingredients:

  • Chicken Thighs
  • 2 cups rice (uncooked)
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 can cream of chicken
  • 1 can cream of mushroom
  • 1 packet Lipton Onion Soup Mix
  • Garlic powder (to taste)
  • Seasoning (your choice)
  • Shredded Parmesan
  • Panko breadcrumbs

Instructions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 13×9 baking dish.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the uncooked rice and chicken broth. Stir in the Lipton Onion Soup Mix, cream of chicken, and cream of mushroom soup. Pour this mixture into the bottom of the greased baking dish.
  3. Add the chicken thighs on top of the rice mixture. Sprinkle with garlic powder, your desired seasoning, and a generous amount of panko breadcrumbs for crunch.
  4. Top with shredded parmesan for an extra layer of flavor.
  5. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 1 hour. After 1 hour, remove the foil and bake for an additional 25 minutes to allow the chicken to crisp up and the rice to absorb all the flavors.

This dish is perfect for a busy weeknight or when you want a comforting meal with minimal prep. The rice is so flavorful and pairs perfectly with the tender chicken thighs. Plus, it’s a great option for using up pantry staples while still creating a satisfying meal that everyone will love.

 

Recipes and Cooking

Mexican Lasagna Created From Leftovers

Brandi C

Mexican Lasagna Created From Leftovers

Mexican Lasagna Created From Leftovers

Well, my my my, I had no idea my Mexican Lasagna Created From Leftovers would taste so good. A few days ago, I made Philly Cheesesteaks Sandwiches. I had a lot of the meat leftover, which I used instead of ground beef.

Ingredients

Steak um’s (you can use ground beef)

Salt-free garlic and herb seasoning

Seasoning

Creole Seasoning

Orange, yellow, and red peppers, chopped

Fresh garlic

Onion, chopped

Two cans of diced tomatoes

1/3 white queso Velveeta

Can of drained whole kernel corn

Directions

I placed my meat and veggies in the pan and sauteed them. You can add oil, bacon grease, or butter to keep them from sticking. Once that was done, I seasoned it until it tasted like I wanted it to taste.

Next, I added corn and diced tomatoes. My husband doesn’t like tomatoes like that, so I covered my pot and let them stew down. Then, I added the white queso Velveeta. Taste to adjust the seasoning.

Rice

2 c. of water

2 c. of rice

Place on “rice” mode in your instant pot. Let naturally release.

Layering

Put a small amount of sauce in a greased 13×9 dish. Then, place in flour tortillas; next, sauce. Then, rice. Finally, I had some Colby/jack cheese cubes. I broke those over the rice and added a bit of cheddar. Repeat layers ending with cheese.

Bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes and serve.

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Recipes and Cooking

Cinnamon Roll Cake

Brandi C

Cinnamon Roll Cake

Cinnamon Roll Cake

Oh my, is this Cinnamon Roll Cake the best thing ever. I hope you find it as good as my family does. It is so easy to make. This cake is good hot or the next day. It usually doesn’t last too long after that, at my house.

My parents are coming over for dinner and have chosen the menu. I’m unnaturally excited about them coming for no reason. Typically, when they come to my house, it is either a celebration or a crisis. This time is neither.

Technically, Thursdays are reserved for pizza night, but I am gladly rescheduling that for Friday night. I’m thankful that my parents can still get up and go whenever they want. It is a blessing.

I love cinnamon rolls probably more than my waistline does. We do not make this often, but tonight was a special occasion.

Cake

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups milk

2 eggs

4 tsps. vanilla

4 tsps. baking powder

1 stick butter, melted

Directions

Place ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Pour into a 13×9 greased dish.

Next Up

1 cup brown sugar

1 T. Cinnamon

3/4 cup melted butter

Directions

Mix in a small bowl and pour over top of the cake.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Icing

3 c. powdered sugar (for those who might not know, the symbol XXX is for powdered sugar as well).

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

5-8 tsps milk (you want it thin enough to pour quickly)

Directions

Allow sitting for 10 minutes. Pour over hot cake. If you get wild, poke some holes in the cake and let that yumminess seep into it.

THEN EAT!

 

Recipes and Cooking

Pizza Spaghetti Bake

Brandi C

Pizza Spaghetti Bake

Pizza Spaghetti Bake

I will write down what I did in this Pizza Spaghetti Bake because it was good! Yet, I will also write what I will add/do differently. I feel like all recipes need to be tweaked in some form or fashion, so this is pretty typical.

Ingredients

Beef

Onion

Minced Garlic

Pepperoni, chopped (and some whole for the top)

Next time, do a pound of beef and a pound of sausage.

Seasoning

Italian Seasoning

Rosemary

2 packets of spaghetti mix

1 jar of spaghetti sauce

Next time, I will add a jar of pizza sauce.

2 cans of mushrooms, drained

Chopped spinach

Panko

Parmesan

Cottage Cheese

1 egg

Mozzarella

Penne Noodles

Directions

Boil noodles and drain according to directions.

Cook beef, chopped pepperoni, onion, garlic, and seasoning (sausage if used) and drain. Put back in the pot. Next, add mushrooms and chopped spinach. Then, add the Italian seasoning, Rosemary, and spaghetti packets. Mix well.

Next up, add the spaghetti sauce (and about a quarter of that same jar, put some water to add). If you are also using pizza sauce, add it. Mix well. Add in some panko, parmesan, a couple of handfuls of mozzarella, cottage cheese, and the egg. Stir and keep warm until your noodles are done.

Finally, mix the meat mixture with the noodles and spread it in a greased 13×9 dish. Top with mozzarella and whole pepperoni—Bake at 350 for about 40 minutes.

 

 

Recipes and Cooking

Chicken Alfredo Soup

Brandi C

Chicken Alfredo Soup

Chicken Alfredo Soup

Just go ahead and slap your mama. Dang, it. This Chicken Alfredo Soup is now tied for first place for Big Daddy. The other two are Easy White Chicken Chili with Cream Cheese and Pizza Soup Recipe. Frankly, I am impressed with myself.

Ingredients

3 cans of chicken, drained (feel free to use chicken breasts because you can use the broth)

Seasoning

Onion

Garlic

3/4 c. butter

3/4 c. flour

1 c. heavy cream

Sour Cream

Chicken bouillon

Water

Parmesan

Mozzarella

Pasta

Directions

Saute up the cut-up onion and garlic in butter. Once sauteed, add in your flour and cook that down a bit. Get your whisk out and add 2 c. water. Whisk that all in really well. Now, I wish I could tell you how much chicken bouillon I used, but I used that paste. I think I did about 2 Tbsps. Sprinkle with your seasoning.

Once that is incorporated, add more water and keep stirring. I did this in my Instant Pot on saute mode, by the way. You will notice your “roux” is getting thicker. I think I did about 5 c. water. You can adjust accordingly. Add your chicken and parmesan.

Moving On

Let’s talk pasta real quick. I used bowtie pasta. I brought my water to a boil in my pot (not the instant pot). Once it came to a boil, I seasoned it and added my pasta. Drain and then add to your roux.

Next time, I might use a couple of boxes of Ditalini pasta or maybe cut up fettucini. The bowties were fine and good, but I think I want a smaller type, like a small rigatoni. Ugh, I need to go and look at all the types or make my own. Do you know what would be good? Putting in cheese tortellini. Cause, yum!

Anyway

Once I got all that in the pot, I added the heavy and sour cream. If you cook this in an instant pot, you must keep stirring because it will start to burn on the bottom. Baby it! In the end, I added about 2 cups (I know, I know) of mozzarella. Keep tasting to adjust the seasoning. Remember, you can always add seasoning, but you can’t take it out if you put too much in there. Start small and add as you like!

Dang, this was good. Had my Oak been here, I would’ve slapped her face 🙂 Then, she would have slapped me back, LOL.

 

Recipes and Cooking

Pizza Soup Recipe

Brandi C

Pizza Soup Recipe

Pizza Soup Recipe

Is it a secret that I love soup? I don’t believe it is. So, without further ado, here is my Pizza Soup Recipe. It’s a keeper! Bart says it is tied for first for his favorite soups. The other is White Chicken Chili. I did this all in the Instant Pot, but you can do it on the stovetop!

Ingredients

2# sausage

2# ground beef

Pepperoni

You Can add any meat you want here or combine your favorite meat toppings in this soup. Also, if you like a lot of veggies on your pizza, chop them up and add them here because you want to cook them down a bit. I want to use peppers, but my husband doesn’t care. Mushrooms would be good!

1 onion

Minced Garlic

Seasoning

Italian Seasoning

Rosemary

1 jar of pizza sauce

Water (I believe I filled up the pizza sauce jar 3x and put it in there. Eyeball it.)

2 cans of Tomato Soup

1 can of cream of mushroom soup

Mozzarella

Directions

On the saute mode (Instant Pot), combine the meats, onion, minced garlic, and seasoning. Cook until done, and drain if you need to. Once done, put it back in the pot and add your Italian Seasoning and Rosemary.

Next, add the sauce, water, and soups. Stir well and then place the lid on, seal, manual, for about 8-10 minutes. Everything is cooked, so you want to meld the flavors. Once done, use the quick release. Stir in your mozzarella. Again, put as much in there as you wish. I may have used 2 cups cause we like cheese!

Enjoy!

Oh, my original plan was to add a box of Ditalini noodles to it. I would have boiled them in saltwater on the stovetop. Then drained it and then added it to the instant pot. I have found that if I cook noodles that small in the IP, they get mushy.

 

Recipes and Cooking

Shelf-Cooking Co-Vid19 Style

Brandi C

Shelf-Cooking Co-Vid19 Style

Shelf-Cooking Co-Vid19 Style

Shelf-Cooking Co-Vid19 Style. With Co-Vid19 rearing its ugly head, I have not been out of the house. I lied. Twice. I have been out twice. Both of these times have been to take H to treatment in Nashville. So, grocery shopping is through pick-up, when my son works (at a grocery store) or my husband picks it up. Also, the school has been bringing food, for the week, for three kids. That helps tremendously.

Yet

There are some things my kids will not eat by themselves. Now, they are not picky eaters, but they prefer it to be cooked in something. So, I’ve been separating the breakfast foods, lunch foods, snacks, and fruit. They eat all the breakfast stuff throughout the week. Also, they eat most of the lunch food throughout the week. Yet, there are things like raw broccoli and cherry tomatoes that they will not eat unless I use them another way.

I do not waste food.

Plain and simple. I am not a short-order cook and do not throw things away. That is how I was raised, and that is how I raise my kids. With all that being said, I stockpile the carrots. For one, my kids do eat those. Secondly, I can cut those suckers and put them in any casserole. Thirdly, carrot bread or carrot cake. Yes, please. Fourthly, soup. Put them in any soup. Fifthly (I’m starting to giggle now because what do I do when I get up to tenthly? Is that even a word?), put them in a saute pan with some butter and brown sugar. It’s a good thing.

Next up, cherry tomatoes. Once I have a baggie, I give them to one of my older daughters, who both love them. Also, I juice them for chili or soup. I chop them up and saute them in any pasta dish. You can do a multitude of things with those things.

Now, onto this recipe and broccoli. My big girls love raw broccoli. Sadly, my other five kids do not. My son-in-law calls them “the trees of the devil.” He is a bit extra. You can make broccoli soup or Chicken and Broccoli Braid. Also, you can use it to make beef and broccoli stir fry—lots of things.

Odds and Ends

Today, however, I had a 1/2 bag of many things. N had brought home some leftover hamburgers and cooked bacon from work. I had a couple of bags of this and a bag of that. Then there was a 1/2 a bag of another thing. I put all those together, and I made 2 casseroles. Honestly, I didn’t think it would make that much. I’m cooking one casserole for tonight and freezing the other for another night. We also have leftover breadsticks from the pizza we ordered last night, so that is a side dish. I think I have a couple of cans of corn. Voila. Dinner is served.

Beef, Broccoli, & Extras Casserole

Two # ground beef

onion

garlic

seasoning mix

Worcestershire sauce

Brown all of this together, drain if needed.

In a 13×9 dish, grease it (preheat the oven to 350). On the bottom of the dish, place the meat mixture.

Step 2

Now, this is what I had on hand. Tweak this to what you have. Just have fun with it. If it sucks, you will remember what not to add!

2 c. chopped fresh spinach

carton of fresh mushrooms, chopped

fresh broccoli, chopped

cooked bacon, chopped

Cheddar cheese

Layer each of these components on your meat mixture.

Step 3

In a bowl, add 2 cans of cream of mushroom (can use chicken or celery) and 16 oz sour cream. Once combined, spread over casserole.

Next up, add cheddar cheese (any cheese will do, this is what I had).

Lastly, I had a 1/2 bag of leftover tater tots. I lined them on top. I wanted to get rid of the bag, mainly because I had no potatoes to cook up.

Bake at 350 for about 40 minutes, cover, and uncover for another 12 minutes until your tater tots are done. Now, I did not pre-blanch or steamed my broccoli. I was afraid it would get mushy.

On freezing this dish, I did not cook it first…again, the broccoli issue.

Other Options

Now, you can change up your cheese. Also, you can add in zucchini, squash, cauliflower, or carrots. You can change up your soups. Instead of tater tots, use instant or regular mashed potatoes to put on top. If you don’t want to do that, add egg noodles or rice at the bottom of the dish. The sky is the limit.

 

Recipes and Cooking

Tater Tot Casserole with Cheese

Brandi C

Tater Tot Casserole with Cheese

Tater Tot Casserole with Cheese

My OCD dictated my Tater Tot Casserole with Cheese. On a good day, I’d sling them on there. They each had a place tonight, and frankly, that makes me happy. I do believe I’m going insane. Insane, people. It’s fine. I am fine. We are all fine.

Tater Tot Casserole with Cheese

2# ground beef

Lipton onion soup mix

Worcestershire sauce

1 can cream of celery (I usually use cream of mushroom, but that’s what I had)

Sour cream, 1 c.

Seasoning

Cheddar

Spinach

Tater Tots

Directions

Brown beef with seasoning. Drain if necessary. Add in some Worcestershire sauce and the Lipton onion soup mix. I have a gluten-free, copycat Lipton onion soup mix recipe. Once that is done, add your chopped spinach and mix well.

In greased 13×9 dish, place the meat/spinach mixture on the bottom. Next, mix the sour cream and cream of celery. Pour that over the meat. Then add a layer of cheddar. End with the tater tots and be sure and season the tots.

Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes. You might want to add a few minutes if you put frozen tots on there. Mine were already thawed out. Again, it was good. My crew gobbled it up.

 

Recipes and Cooking

Traditional Pound Cake Recipe

Brandi C

Traditional Pound Cake Recipe

Traditional Pound Cake Recipe

I will weigh a thousand pounds by the time this quarantine is lifted. Cooking is something I enjoy doing. It brings me peace. So, with that being said, I haven’t made a pound cake in a month of Sundays. Here is my Traditional Pound Cake Recipe with a powdered sugar glaze. Forgive the “angel food cake” look because I couldn’t find my bundt pan.

The Traditional Pound Cake is a cake that you have to “baby,” but I’m telling you, my KitchenAid mixer made all the difference. You can use your hand mixer, as well. My mixer died a long, long time ago, bless its sweetheart.

Ingredients

1 pound butter, softened

3 c. sugar

6 eggs, room temperature

4 c. all-purpose flour

3/4 c. milk

1 tsp. almond extract

Vanilla extract, 1 tsp.

Directions

In a bowl, place the pound of butter and mix the crap out of it. It should be a pale yellow, whipped look. On a medium to high speed. Why am I singing the song “Whip It.” Good grief, now it won’t leave my head. Dangit.

Where was I? Oh, and a PSA, do not try and “sip” the almond or vanilla extract. My son-in-law learned a lesson on that one. I am just passing along the kindness to everyone. God love him. He’s a special boy, LOL.

Quarantine. Bunny trail. I cannot focus.

Cheesecake…no…Pound cake. I can do this.

Once the butter has been whipped, add an egg one at a time. Whip it till the yolks are blended. Next up, get your milk and flour. Go in this order: a bit of milk, whip, a cup of flour, whip, repeat ending with flour. Mix it until it is smooth. Lastly, add in the extracts. You can leave out the almond extract, but it was good.

Grease a bundt pan (yes, I used an angel food cake pan). After you grease it (spray or Crisco), you need to get some flour and swirl it around there. Add your batter—Bake at 300 for about an hour and 40 minutes. I started checking it at 1:30, but I did up it to 1:40. It was done.

Icing

Eyeball this part. I think I did 2 c. powdered sugar, a tsp of vanilla, and enough heavy cream (you can use 1/2 and 1/2 or milk) to thin it out. I made WAY too much, so Big Daddy drizzled all the leftovers over each slice he ate. My daughter put it on the cake.

For the love, people, it is good.

 

Recipes and Cooking

Copycat Lipton Onion Soup Mix Recipe

Brandi C

Copycat Lipton Onion Soup Mix Recipe

Copycat Lipton Onion Soup Mix Recipe

I went to make Tater Tot Casserole tonight and realized I had no Lipton Onion Soup Mix. What does one do during quarantine? I concocted a Copycat Lipton Onion Soup Mix Recipe. The recipe is enough for 2 packets, so if you are using this, 1/2 of it if you need the equivalent to one packet.

Ingredients

1/2 c. minced onions

4 T. beef bouillon granules

1/2 tsp. onion powder

1 T. parsley

1/4 tsp. paprika

Directions

Put it in an airtight container or a Ziploc baggie. Use immediately or store for up to a month. You can also double or triple this recipe and keep it in a mason jar. I don’t use this often. Always, though, I put it on a roast. Also, I put it in my Tater Tot Casserole, which I will post the recipe for tomorrow.

Anyway

I’ve been cooking up a storm during the quarantine. Well, who am I kidding? I cook all the time. Honestly, I feel like that is all I do: cook, clean, or educate. The highlight of my day is driving down the road to see Kevin, the pig. He is my neighbor’s pet pig that lives in the front yard. If you want to join in on the fun, I post daily on my quarantine log with my crew on my Facebook page. Come on over and “like” my page and join in. Let us all know what you are doing during this bizarre time in history.

 

Recipes and Cooking

Easy White Chicken Chili with Cream Cheese

Brandi C

Easy White Chicken Chili with Cream Cheese

Easy White Chicken Chili with Cream Cheese

I tried something out of my wheelhouse with this Easy White Chicken Chili with Cream Cheese. It was a HIT! Big Daddy loved it and didn’t want me to change a thing, which is huge. I did this in my Instant Pot, but you can do it on the stovetop.

Ingredients

3 cans of chicken, drained (you can boil and chop chicken breasts)

1 onion

Garlic

Seasoning

Oregano

Cayenne

Paprika

Cumin

Oil

**Coriander (I didn’t have this)

**Cilantro (I did not have this, so I didn’t use it. I don’t like Cilantro anyway)

1 can of green chiles

2 cans of white beans, drained

Chicken bouillon

Water

Cream Cheese

Monterey Jack

Directions

I added just a bit of oil to the instant pot to keep it from sticking. Then, I added the 3 cans of chicken, garlic, and onion. I sauteed until the onion was tender. Next, I added the spices, green chiles, white beans, and chicken bouillon (I used the powder and mixed it with the water. You can use chicken stock). I mixed it well while it was still in saute mode. Next up, I mixed the cream cheese and let it melt—lastly, about 6 c. water.

I put the lid on and put on “soup” mode for about 15 minutes. Once that beeps, I do a quick release. That’s when I add the Monterey jack cheese. Just stir that up until it is melted.

Now, For the Tricky Part

So, you can put 1 c. of white beans in a food processor, with a bit of the broth to puree it. Add that to your soup to thicken it up. Some people may like it more broth-y and just let it be. I put both cans of beans in and added some instant potato flakes to thicken the soup. You can also put some cornstarch in cold water, bring the soup to a boil, add the cornstarch mixture and mix till it thickens.

Lots of options. It was good!

 

 

Recipes and Cooking

Spin-on Tortellini Soup

Brandi C

Spin-on Tortellini SoupSpin-on Tortellini Soup

I love Tortellini Soup. Love it. So, today, as I was getting the stuff out of my pantry, I thought I would create a Spin-on Tortellini Soup. The broth is excellent! I did this in my instant pot, but it can be done on the stove.

Caution of warning, do not put your milk-based items in the soup before you seal the soup. You put that in AFTER it is done cooking, releasing the pressure. I made that mistake once, and I will never make it again.

Ingredients

Kielbasa quartered

Onion, chopped

Fresh garlic, chopped

Spinach, chopped (or kale)

Seasoning

Italian Seasoning

1 can cream of mushroom

6 tsp chicken bouillon paste

1/2 c. sour cream

2 cans of tomato sauce

1 Tbsp sugar

Water

Directions

In Instant Pot, saute the garlic, onion, kielbasa, and seasoning mix. Add a bit of water if it starts sticking to the pan. Once that is done, add in cream of mushroom soup; I think I did about 6 tsp of chicken bouillon paste. I will say, at this point, I added the sour cream and mixed it well. It did not explode, so that is a good thing. Then, I added the tomato sauce and the sugar. Next, add chopped spinach and Italian seasoning. I added enough water to thin it out just a little bit. You can always add more water towards the end.

Place on the lid, and move the lever to the “seal” position. I hit the soup function and adjusted it to 10 minutes. Once that is done, I did a quick release. I stirred everything well and tasted the broth to ensure the seasonings were good. A good rule of thumb is to start small. You can always add more, but you can’t ever take the salt out of something.

Bechamel Sauce

3 T. butter

Flour, 3 T.

Melt together while whisking.

Add a cup of heavy cream, and continue to whisk while on medium heat. The flour will thicken up. Once it was thick, I added in about 2 c. of cheddar. Stir well until it is all combined.

From this point, I added some broth to the bechamel pan. I did this to thin it out and make it to that it would incorporate easier into the soup.

Once incorporated and stirred, I added it to the soup.

Cue the angels, singing.

Tortellini

I cook these in a separate pot. I feel the tortellini get too mushy if I do the tortellini in the instant pot. Doing this serves a dual purpose. I boil the water, season it, and scoop out my tortellini. You can keep the starchy pasta in water. I add them to my Instant pot, and if I need additional water, I use the hot starchy water I cooked my tortellini in.

It’s good, people.

 

Recipes and Cooking

Cheesy Chicken Alfredo Lasagna

Brandi C

Cheesy Chicken Alfredo Lasagna

I started making just a cheesy type of lasagna, and then my brain started thinking. This quarantine has forced me to do more shelf cooking, which I do. It has also got me thinking outside of the box. So, I came up with a Cheesy Chicken Alfredo Lasagna. It was good!

Cheesy Chicken Alfredo Lasagna

2 packages of no-boil lasagna noodles (you can use the kind you boil, I don’t enjoy that)

2 packets of Ranch Mix

3 cans of evaporated milk

2 cans of canned chicken, drained and broken up with a fork. (I might use a 3rd can the next time)

1 jar of Alfredo sauce (you can make this homemade though)

Seasoning

Nutritional yeast (optional)

Fresh Spinach, cut up

Cheddar

Mozzarella

Parmesan

Directions

Combine your evaporated milk, ranch, seasoning, and nutritional yeast in a saucepan. I stirred that well and brought it up to a boil. Then, I added the alfredo sauce. I stirred until that was good and combined. It allowed it to thicken a bit. Once combined, I added the canned chicken.

In a greased 13×9 dish, place a bit of sauce on the bottom. Then, I layered the no-boil noodles—next, more of the sauce, mozzarella, and cheddar. Then sprinkle with parmesan and add a layer of fresh Spinach. Continue layering until you end with the sauce and cheeses.

Baking

Bake, uncovered, at 350 for about 30 minutes. Then take out and take a knife around the edge of the pan to make sure the noodles are soaked. I put mine back in for another 10 minutes. You could cover it at this time if you want to keep it from burning. This is done to ensure that the noodles are cooked through.

Pull out and sit for about 10 minutes before cutting to help the lasagna set up correctly.

 

Recipes and Cooking

Mexican Casserole

Brandi C

Mexican Casserole

Mexican Casserole

Here is a simple Mexican Casserole that my family enjoys.  There is SO MUCH MORE than you can add (ie fresh ingredients) that would be yummy.

I will add, down at the bottom, would I do when food is more readily available.  For now, you do what you have to do to feed the people in your house!

Be safe.  Stay in.  Wash your hands!

Ingredients

2# ground beef

Seasoning

Chili powder

2 cans Rotel tomatoes and chilis

1 can cream of mushroom

1 can cream of chicken

Onion

Garlic

Colby/Jack Cheese

Fritos (chili cheese Fritos would be spectacular in this recipe)

Directions

Brown ground beef, onion, garlic, and seasoning.  Once cooked, drain if necessary.  Next, add chili powder.  Then add in soups and tomato/chilis with the liquid.  Stir well.

In greased 13×9 dish, layer crushed up tortilla chips, meat, cheese.  Repeat until all ingredients are used up.  End with cheese.  Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.

Additions

Cut up some fresh peppers and saute with onion, garlic, and beef.  You can also add in kidney beans, black beans, corn, cooked rice.  Ooh, or you could add a layer of rice so do chips, meat, rice, cheese.  That’d be good.  You could also a layer of refried beans!  Oh man, add in a can of nacho cheddar cheese soup.  Good grief.  So many options!

 

Recipes and Cooking

Keto-Friendly Enchilada Casserole

Brandi C

Keto-Friendly Enchilada CasseroleKeto-Friendly Enchilada Casserole

This is a recipe that I needed to be able to throw together quickly.  Actually, my #2 kid is making the Keto-Friendly Enchilada Casserole.  Now, she knows how to cook but according to my husband…nothing tastes as good as my food.  #browniepointsforhim

Next time, we will go lighter on the cilantro EO or maybe use fresh.  I’m not a big fan of cilantro but I know that it is supposed to “bring the flavors together.”  Oh, and be a “bright note” on a heavy dish LOL.  Clearly, I’m watching too much Guy’s Grocery Games.

Ingredients

4 cans of chicken, drained (you can use fresh, but I didn’t have any)

1 can chile peppers

Cilantro (I used 4 drops of doTerra essential oil)

Cheddar

Enchilada Sauce

Olive oil

Onion

Minced garlic

Seasoning

6 T. chili powder (or to taste start with less and add as your palate can handle)

Cumin

2 cans tomato sauce

1 c. water

Directions

In a pan, bring together the oil, onion, garlic, and seasoning.  Saute till the onion is cooked through.  Add the chili powder, cumin, tomato sauce, and water.  Simmer till it thickens up.

In a bowl, add chicken, sauce, chile peppers, cilantro, cheddar, and the sauce.  Stir well.  Place in 13×9 greased dish.  Add more cheddar on top.  Cook at 350 for 15 minutes.  Serve with cauliflower rice.

 

Recipes and Cooking

Keto-Friendly Philly Cheesesteak

Brandi C

Keto-Friendly Philly CheesesteakKeto-Friendly Philly Cheesesteak

This is a really good Keto-Friendly Philly Cheesesteak recipe.

Ingredients

Round steak

Montreal steak seasoning

Onion

Garlic

3 green peppers

Fresh mushrooms

Bacon grease

1 block of cream cheese

2 c. cheddar

1/2 c. mayo

2 T. Worcestershire sauce

Provolone

Directions

In an electric skillet, get bacon grease hot.  Cut round steak into strips and then I cut those strips in half.  Throw them in the skillet.  Add your onion, garlic, mushrooms, Montreal seasoning, and sliced-up peppers.  Saute this until you have sweated out the veggies and they are tender but not mushy.

In Bowl

Add the cream cheese, cheddar, mayo, and Worcestershire sauce.  Mix this well and pour over the meat and veggies.  In a greased baking dish, add your meat/veggies.  Then layer on TONS of provolone…cause ya know…cheese.

Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes.  Let sit for a minute.  This can be served with “burnt” rice cauliflower.

This Keto-Friendly Philly Cheesesteak is a delicious twist on the classic, combining the savory flavors of round steak, sautéed veggies, and melty cheese for a satisfying low-carb dish. The use of cream cheese and cheddar creates a creamy, rich sauce that coats the steak and vegetables perfectly, while the provolone on top adds an extra layer of gooey, cheesy goodness. The bacon grease infuses the steak with extra flavor, making each bite even more indulgent. Serve this dish alongside some “burnt” rice cauliflower to keep things low-carb and add a bit of texture to your meal. It’s an easy, flavorful, and keto-approved dinner the whole family will love!

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Recipes and Cooking

Keto-Friendly Chicken Dish

Brandi C

Keto-Friendly Chicken Dish

Keto-Friendly Chicken Dish

I was overall pleased with this Keto-Friendly Chicken Dish.  Lately, I’m trying things (some fail, some not), and I post as I make them.  That way, when I look back, I can see what my crew liked and didn’t.

Ingredients

3.5 chicken breasts

Seasoning

Spinach

Italian Seasoning

Fresh Mushrooms

Green onions

1/2 c. olive oil

1 c. chicken broth

Mozzarella

Directions

I had Big Daddy take each chicken breast and slice them thinly.  With 3.5 chicken breasts, it filled 2 greased 13×9 pans.  I seasoned, with my seasoning mix, each side of the chicken.

Then, I added my spinach, Italian seasoning, and fresh mushrooms to my food processor.  I chopped them finely and then spread some over each chicken breast.  Then, I sprinkled Italian seasoning over the top.

Next Up

I put the cream cheese in the microwave for about 30 seconds to soften it.  Then, I added the oil and chicken broth and whisked those together.  Next, I smeared that over each breast and sprinkled the top with the green onions.

Bake at 375, covered, for 20-25 minutes.  Take the cover off, add mozzarella and cook for another 10 minutes.

What I Would Do Different

Next, I will add minced garlic and sauteed onion to the mix.  Overall, this was a good dish; my family gobbled it up guiltless!