Tag: simple ingredients

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

Larabar Bite Knock Off Recipe

Brandi C

Larabar Bite Knock Off Recipe

Larabar Bite Knock-Off Recipe

Here is my Larabar Bite Knock Off Recipe that I make pretty often. We were first introduced to the Larabar at my sister’s house. My mom, aunt, H, and I traveled home from St. Augustine last year. Thankfully, my sister lives 1/2 away, so we could stop and regroup.

Because she loves me, she had a coke, cookies, and chocolate! This is against her norm. She struggles with some food allergies. Over time, she has chosen to stay away from her food triggers. I don’t share her discipline, so she indulged in giving me comfort things.

I tell you, she loves me like that.

She gave me this Larabar thing, and I had no idea what it tasted like, but I tried it. It looked like a chocolate-covered granola bar. Frankly, I am down with that. I ate it, and I liked it. Then, she snickered and told me that it was chopped up cashews and dates and had some chocolate surrounding it.

Dates, well, they make me catch vomit in my lower throat area, LOL. Not my jam. These, however, were yummy! As I tasted it again and let H try it, my mind began to wander.

Did You Know?

Cashews are a natural anti-depressant food. Dates are good for you. Cashews contain protein which is good brain food. It seemed straightforward enough, so I thought to myself and set out to recreate this phenom.

Larabar’s are expensive unless you have a coupon, are richer than me, or are on sale. We are always trying to save money, so my wheels were turning again. I got home and went to the store and bought some unsalted or lightly salted cashews and a bag of whole, pitted dates.

Mind Over Matter

There, they sat in my pantry for a couple of weeks because I thought, “I don’t like dates.” So stupid, LOL. Finally, I girded up my loins and whipped out my food processor. I poured the canister of cashews and the whole bag of dates in there and chopped and ground it down.

The Process

Next, I got some waxed paper and laid it out. I made 24 little balls out of the mixture. I set them on the waxed paper until I was all done. The first time I made these, I melted down some chocolate chips and water to where it was really thin. I used a spoon, rolled each ball in it, and then put it on a cookie sheet. I threw it in the fridge so it would harden the chocolate.

The Mess

That worked beautifully and tasted just like the real thing. The downside was that H made a huge mess out of it. Chocolate was everywhere. This time, I do not roll it in chocolate. I just let it sit for a couple of minutes and then put it in a container. This container goes straight to the fridge, and when H is melting, I get one or two out.

Being Wild

If you are super wild, you can throw in a teaspoon of salt and a capful of vanilla. Alas, I’m not that ambitious. I’m all about having two good ingredient recipes, proteins, and help with brain function.

 

 

Recipes and Cooking

Cream of Soup Mix

Brandi C

Cream of Soup Mix

Cream of Soup Mix

Adapted from Taste of Home

  • 2 cups dry milk powder
  • ¾ cup organic cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • dried thyme, ½ teaspoon
  • basil, ½ teaspoon
  • ½ teaspoon dried parsley
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  1. Mix all ingredients with a whisk.
  2. Store in an airtight container.
To make into soup:
  1. Combine 1/3 cup dry mix with 1 ¼ cups water in a small saucepan. Whisk until smooth.
  2. On medium heat, bring to a boil.
  3. Cook and stir for 2 minutes, until thick. Cool.

This amount = 1 can condense cream-of soup.

For Cream-of Chicken Soup: use 1 ¼ cups chicken broth instead of water.

For Cream-of Mushroom Soup:  use water; add ¼ cup diced, cooked mushrooms to the soup after it thickens.

For Cream-of Celery Soup: use water, add ¼ cup diced, cooked celery to the soup after it thickens or add a dash of celery seed to the mixture while it’s cooking.

Tidbit

This, for me, is easier because I can control the salt content. Also, it saves well in a glass mason jar. Furthermore, it is freezable. This makes all things a bit better in my life.

Cream of soup mix is such a handy and versatile recipe to keep on hand, especially when you’re looking to control the ingredients in your cooking. I love how easy it is to make and how many variations you can create based on what you need. Whether you’re using it for casseroles, soups, or other comfort foods, this mix is a great substitute for store-bought condensed soups. Plus, since it’s made with simple ingredients, you can easily customize it to meet dietary needs or flavor preferences. You can also use this as a base for other creative sauces or gravies.

The best part is that you can make a large batch of this mix, and it will keep for a long time, saving you time and money. Since I store mine in a glass mason jar, it’s always ready when I need it. And the fact that it’s freezable is a game-changer, making meal prep even easier. I’m always amazed at how something so simple can elevate meals and make life just a little bit easier.