Loaded Baked Potato Soup in Bread Bowls

This Loaded Baked Potato Soup in Bread Bowls is the perfect meal for your trick or treat night! It's always easier to get your kids to eat on Halloween night if you have a tradition of making something fun to eat. I love this Loaded Baked Potato Soup because it's a quick, easy, filling and delicious. You can load it up with extra toppings, or serve it straight out of the pot.

I found these cute bread bowls at Harmons Grocery in Farmington, if you don't live close to Harmons, you can pick up any type of small loaf artisan or french bread and carve out the middle. I loved the Harmons loaf, it was a bit more dense than other bread bowls I have purchased, which was perfect for holding a thick rich bowl of soup. We used the carved out pieces for dunking in the soup. Mmmmmm. So good.

Don't you love the little stem made out of pretzel?
Happy Halloween!

ABK's Loaded Baked Potato Soup
A Bountiful Kitchen

1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
2 cups milk, plus additional for thinning soup
1 cup cheese
2 cups baked potato, scooped out or in chunks
1/4 cup sour cream

crumbled cooked bacon
additional grated cheese
sour cream
chopped chives or green onion

Melt butter in a stockpot over medium to medium high heat. Add flour, whisk and continue to cook for about two minutes, add salt and pepper. Whisk in broth. Stir until smooth. Turn heat to medium.
Slowly add milk, continue to whisk. Add grated cheese and whisk. Fold in cooked potato. Cook until bubbly and smooth. Just before serving, add sour cream. Heat until bubbly. Turn heat to simmer.
Scoop out bread bowls. Serve soup in bowls, add milk if the soup gets too thick.
Top with crumbled bacon, grated cheese, chives, and a spoonful of sour cream.
Serves 2-4, about 1 1/2 cup servings.

Tips:
-I used potato that had been baked a few days earlier. I scooped the potato into a bowl and used the skins for baked potato skins. If you are baking the potatoes for this recipe, scrub the skins, bake the potatoes to use in this recipe. It is not necessary to peel the potato before chopping for the soup.
-This recipe may require more salt and or pepper depending on the amount of flavor in the broth.
-This recipe is easily doubled.

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Chiles Rellenos Chowder with Fried Tortillas Con Huevos

Just after Christmas, we headed to one of our favorite places on earth, Mexico. Or as my friend Mel calls it "my Mexico".  It was 7 days of post-holiday bliss. Our days went like this:

sleep in
huevos for breakfast with guac
pool
beach
quesadillas for lunch with guac
nap
beach
pool
walk on beach
dinner made by our favorite new friend, Beto.  delivered to our beach house. always with guac.
another nap.
games. yes. amazingly, our non-game playing family unplugged and played games, talked, read and watched bowl games.
good times.

The taco meal- Tacos Al Pastor, Carnitas and beef.
Served with Chorizo, condiments and of course, pico and guac. 

pool time with Aunt Brookie

Ani is not so sure about catching a wave. Yet.

fun with Ani in the pool

Grandpa, getting ready for a beach run

The boys, waiting for some waves

the obligatory family vacay photo :)

view from the living room

best cook and new found friend, Beto

We stayed just outside of Puerto Morelos in the Secret Beach Villas  which offered as many or as few meals cooked to order, and either served outdoors on a patio area (complete with a pet alligator in the pond a few feet away) or delivered and set up in your kitchen.  One of our favorite meals was the Conchinita Pibil served with Chiles Rellenos. The pork dish was wrapped in banana leaves and roasted in a sour orange juice, the Chile Rellenos were stuffed with cheese, battered and fried. A true cheese lovers dream!

the Chiles Rellenos that inspired today's recipe

I thought it would be fun to recreate the flavors in the Chiles Relleno in a soup.  Perfect for a January dinner. The best and most fresh ingredients in my neighborhood are always found at Harmons Grocery.
Get out the guac.
You're going to love this.

Chiles Rellenos Chowder with Fried Tortillas Con Huevos
A Bountiful Kitchen
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2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons butter
2 Hatch or Anaheim Chilies, seeded and chopped (about 1 cup)
1 medium white onion, chopped (about 2 cups)
1 large clove garlic, minced (about 2 tablespoons)
1 lb frozen corn (about 2-3 cups)
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano (optional, but highly recommended)
1-2 cups grated Monterey Jack cheese (regular or Pepper Jack)
4 tablespoons butter
l/3 cup flour
3 cups milk, lowfat or whole

4 cups white potato, chopped, skins left on
32 oz chicken broth

Tortillas Con Huevos
10-12 small, thin corn tortillas
2 eggs, beaten
3 tablespoons milk
1 cup vegetable oil
grated Monterey Jack cheese (regular or Pepper Jack)

Place oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add chopped green chilies and onion.  Saute for about 5 minutes, or until softened. Add clove of garlic, cook for one additional minute or until fragrant. Add corn, salt, pepper and oregano. Turn off heat, set aside.
Place potatoes in a large pot. Pour chicken broth over the potatoes in the pan. Cover with a lid and set heat to high. After the broth comes to a boil, reduce heat to medium high and cook for five minutes. Turn heat off.  Add the vegetable mixture to the cooked potatoes.
Using the pan that previously held the cooked vegetables, melt 3 tablespoons butter. Add 1/3 cup of flour, whisking with wire whisk. Cook for about 1 minute over medium heat. Slowly add milk about 1/2 cup at a time, whisking while adding milk. Cook for about 5 minutes or until thickened.
Add the milk mixture to the vegetable/chicken broth mixture.  Continue to cook over medium heat until heated through. Add grated cheese. Keep warm until ready to serve.
Prepare the tortillas:
Beat 2 eggs and milk in a pie plate. Set aside.
Heat oil in a fry pan over medium high heat.
Dip corn tortillas, one at a time in egg mixture. Let the excess egg drip off the tortilla back into the pie plate and fry tortilla on both sides. You may need to flip the tortilla more than once to get the middle of the tortilla to crisp up a little. It is not necessary to completely cook the tortilla until crispy. The idea is to fry the tortilla until the edges are a bit golden, and the middle sets up a bit. Remove and drain on paper towel. Top with grated cheese. Cut into wedges if desired and serve with chowder.

Tips:
-Mexican Oregano is found in the spice aisle in the grocery or packets are often sold near the Mexican foods (hanging on the wall). They are usually less expensive in the Mexican foods section.

:)

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Panera Copycat Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Have you been to Panera Bread? It's a chain, and even though I'm not a fan of chain restaurants, I love a sandwich and soup from Panera. Maybe it's  because we don't have Panera in Utah?  You always want what you can't have.
I'm not a fan of super thick and cheesy soup. That's why I like Panera's Cheddar Broccoli. It's filling, but not the gloppy-overly-salty-processed-cheese type of soup you find in so many restaurants. Doesn't that sound so appetizing? I looked at several recipes online that claim to duplicate Panera's recipe. Many of those recipes left out  (little, but significant) ingredients, like a bit of mustard, hot pepper sauce, or paprika, which are all listed as ingredients in Panera's soup.  So, I made my own version- a one pot, less than 30 minute recipe.
Just like Panera in your own kitchen.
It's always better home made.
Promise.

Panera Copycat Broccoli Cheddar Soup
A Bountiful Kitchen
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1/2  cup butter
1 cup onion, chopped
1 cup  chopped carrots ( I used baby carrots)
4 cups chopped broccoli
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
few drops of hot pepper sauce
4 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 1/2 cups cream or half and half
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
1/4 cup cornstarch, whisked into 1/2 cup cold water or cold broth
2 cups (about 8 oz)  grated sharp cheddar cheese

Melt butter in large stockpot. Add onions and cook until soft, about 4-5 minutes. Add carrots and broccoli cook for additional 3-4 minutes, season with salt, pepper, paprika and hot pepper sauce.  Pour chicken broth and cream into vegetable mixture. Add one teaspoon mustard, whisk until smooth.
Simmer over medium-low heat.
In a small bowl or cup, whisk the cold water or broth together with the cornstarch until smooth. Pour into the stockpot with the vegetable mixture. Whisk until smooth. Add additional salt and pepper to taste. Add cheese and cook just until cheese is melted. Reduce heat until ready to serve.
Serves 4 as a main course

Tips:
-Sharp or extra sharp cheese is best for this recipe.
-If you want to make a heartier soup,  cook a couple of chicken breast halves and shred or chop before adding to the finished soup.

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Slow Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

Sometimes, I get funny little texts or emails or phone calls from friends about cooking.
My friend Jo sent me this text a few days before Christmas:

Dear Si

I need new

soup recipes. Please.

Help soon.

A month and a half later, I'm coming to her rescue. 

Good thing she didn't fall into quicksand.

Dear Jo
Here is a
recipe I made.
just for you.
Sorry not soon.
But it is
so good.

Slow Cooker Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
A Bountiful Kitchen
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3-4 chicken breast halves (about 2 cups, after cooking)
2- 14.5 oz cans chicken broth
1 teaspoon each- salt and pepper

1 cup water
8 oz fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 stalks or about 1 cup chopped celery
2 medium to large carrots, sliced thin
1- 6 oz box- Long Grain and Wild Rice

1 cup parsley, loosely packed, chopped
1/2 cup cream or half and half

Place chicken in slow cooker with 2 cans chicken broth. Generously salt and pepper. Place lid on slow cooker and cook for 2 hours on high.
Remove chicken, chop and set aside, leaving broth in slow cooker.
Add one cup water to slow cooker.
Replace lid, leave temperature on high.
Add chopped mushrooms, celery, carrots and box of wild rice mix and flavor packet.
Replace lid and cook for another 30-45 minutes on high or until rice is done.
Add chicken, chopped parsley and 1/2 cup half and half or cream to ingredients in slow cooker. Replace lid and cook an additional 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.
Garnish with additional parsley, if desired.
Serve while hot.
About 6 servings.

Tips:
-I doubled this so we had enough for dinner, and some to give to a family with a new baby. I know, I should have taken some to Jo  : o
-I used Uncle Ben's Wild Rice mix. You may use any brand available that is approximately 6-8 oz.
-This recipe may be made either in a slow cooker, or on the stove top.
If stove top:
Cook the chicken in broth for about 20 minutes boiling on high heat. Remove chicken and chop. Set aside.
Follow directions above, except, cook the rice in the broth and additional cup of water according to package directions, adding the mushrooms, celery, and carrots as well.
-If the soup seems a little thick, you may add more water, broth or cream.
-This soup may be made with any combination of added vegetables.
Additional suggestions: water chestnuts, onion, corn, peas.

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Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Soup

Every year on Halloween, it was a trick to get the kids to eat real food before going out in the neighborhood to collect treats. My rules on Halloween (besides stay in the neighborhood, don't run, say "thank you" after screaming trick or treat and don't eat the candy till we inspect it) were:

1. Eat dinner before you go out. 

2. Eat a few pieces of candy that night, then put the stash away until the next day. There was a limit on how much candy you could eat each day, something like 3-5 pieces.

Then I grew a new brain, and came up with the new Foster Family Halloween standard:

1. Eat a bowl of home made chicken noodle soup and buttermilk scones before going out. Invite your friends over to eat with you. Amazing how your kids will actually eat dinner if their friends are with them, and they're eating something they love. 

2. Eat the candy you gathered that night ASAP, therefore alleviating your mother the hassle of policing how much candy you eat every day for the following month. The bulk of treats were usually gone in a day or two. 

If you're looking for an easy fix for dinner on Halloween, try this recipe. I Pinned it a while back, made it and loved it. After you take the blender to the ingredients, the kids will never know they are eating something healthy.
Happy Halloween!

Slow Cooker Tomato Basil Soup
adapted from Big Girls Small Kitchen
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3 tablespoons olive oil
3 large carrots, scrubbed or 2 cups baby carrots
2 medium sweet onions, diced
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon salt
3 28-ounce cans whole peeled tomatoes
1 quart chicken (or vegetable) broth
10 basil leaves, fresh, plus a few more for garnish
Fresh grated Parmesan for garnish

Slow cooker:
Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 5-7 hours, until flavors are blended and vegetables are soft. Allow the soup to cool slightly.  using an immersion blender, blend the soup until smooth. Or puree in batches in a blender. Serve immediately, or keep on low until ready to eat.
Stove-top version:
Combine all ingredients in a heavy lidded pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then turn heat down to low, and simmer, covered, for about 2 hours, until flavors are blended and vegetables are soft. Allow the soup to cool slightly. Then puree as instructed above. Garnish with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.

Tips:
If you like a creamier version, omit about 1 cup of the chicken broth and add milk or half and half.

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Butternut Squash Soup with Bacon

Fall = temperatures dropping, leaves turning, FOOTBALL. Oh, that game last weekend. GO UTES!! 
And then there's soup. There's something therapeutic about simmering soup on a cool day. Does the fact that I made soup twice in the past week mean I need therapy? I'll have to think about that...
I found this recipe for Butternut Squash soup in Martha Stewart Magazine's October Issue.

It's a simple dish to make, and if you pair it with a good roll and salad and you've got a filling meal for a cool evening. Are you thinking, that's great for me. But how will I get the husband/kids/males in my house to eat it?  One word.
Bacon.

The recipe calls for cooking a slice of bacon and laying it across the cup or bowl before serving. Brilliant.
Bacon has magical powers. I cooked a few slices and they almost all disappeared before I served dinner.  Throw bacon on anything, and guys will love it.
Bacon makes everything better.

Butternut Squash Soup
Martha Stewart Magazine, Oct 2013
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6 slices bacon, cut in half crosswise
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 sweet onion, such as Vidalia or Walla Walla, coarsely chopped (about 3 cups)
2 1⁄2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, halved, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces (about 6 cups)
3 sprigs thyme
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
1 3⁄4 cups chicken broth

1 3⁄4 cups water

Cook bacon over medium heat in large pot, flipping once, until brown and crisp, about 15 minutes. Drain on paper towels; discard fat from pot but do not wipe clean.
Melt butter in pot over medium heat. Cook onion, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden, about 15 minutes. Add squash, thyme, 1 tablespoon salt, broth, and water; increase heat to high and bring
to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until squash is tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Discard thyme.
Working in batches, purée soup in a blender until very smooth. Return soup to pot and season with salt and pepper; cover to keep warm or reheat if necessary. Divide among heatproof glasses and garnish each glass with bacon. I opted to lay the bacon right on top of the soup with a few seeds I toasted and salted from the squash.
Bacon and soup can be made up to 3 days ahead, cooled completely, and stored in refrigerator in separate containers. Recrisp bacon on a baking sheet in a pre- heated 300 ̊ oven, about 10 minutes, while reheating soup over low heat.
Serves 10-12

Tips:
-I used my immersion blender and pureed the soup right in the pot. One pot cooking, hooray!

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Boy Scout Stew

Some days are made for stew. Yesterday was one of those days. It was the first snow here. Yikes. October 23. While I'm not a huge fan of eating stew, I do like to make it. Something about chopping, mixing and having the aroma slowly fill your house on a cold day.

This is a recipe I've had for years. I've tweaked it countless times, and it's pretty close to perfection.  I named it Boy Scout Stew because it seems like the Scouts always make (translation, the wife of the Scout Master makes) a variation of this to eat on their camp outs. Did I tell you Jake received his Eagle Scout award a few months back?

Hooray and thank you to leaders who have mentored, served and loved my kid.
You gave your time to countless campouts, hikes, bike rides, merit badge clinics, build snow caves (and then sleep in them) and fish among other activities. I can only imagine how the tents/cabins smell after the boys live in them for a week at scout camp- without a shower, brushing their teeth, or changing their underwear. Your patience and the lessons you have taught my kid will never be forgotten.
You're the best.

Boy Scout Stew
A Bountiful Kitchen
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3 lbs beef brisket or chuck,  cut into 2 inch cubes
2 teaspoon dried thyme or oregano
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup flour
3-4 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3-4 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
6 cups v-8 vegetable juice cocktail
2 cups water
2 Knorr beef homestyle stock cups (4.6 oz each), or 2-3 bullion cubes
3 cups celery, cut into 1 inch pieces
3 cups carrots, cut into 1-1/2 inch pieces or baby carrots, whole
4 medium potatoes, scrubbed clean and cut into one inch cubes

Place meat in a medium bowl, season with thyme, salt and pepper. Toss with 1/2 cup flour.
Place the oil in a large stock pot or dutch oven. Heat to medium high.
Working in about three batches, cook the meat until it is browned on all sides, when the batch is browned, remove and set aside on plate. If there is flour left in the bowl, sprinkle it over the last batch of meat browning in the pan. Remove any remaining meat from pan, set aside.
Keeping heat on medium high, add a little more oil if needed. Place the onions and garlic into the pan on stove, cooking and stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened, about 5 minutes.
Return the meat to the pan with the onions and garlic. Add Worcestershire sauce. Cook for about 1 minute.  Add all remaining ingredients.
Cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

Serves 8-10

Tips:
-Knorr Homestyle Stock cups are sold in the soup section of most grocery stores. They come in a package with 4 cups enclosed. I like the flavor of the Knorr brand. You may use Swanson brand liquid flavoring, regular bullion cubes, or other types of stock flavoring if desired.
-Only purchase beef that is a lower quality cut, such as brisket or chuck. This will produce the best result when slow cooking.

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Healthy Chicken Tortilla Soup

Kari Cutler made this delicious and healthy tortilla soup at a South Fork class in February. The prep work is done the day or night before. Perfect  recipe for Soccer (or baseball) Moms.
Have a great weekend!

Kari's Healthy Tortilla Soup

Kari Cutler
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The day or night before serving:

2 cups dried beans (black beans, pinto beans, small white beans, black eyed peas or a mixture) or 

2-16 oz canned beans

½  medium size sweet onion

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1 teaspoon sea salt

½ teaspoon cumin

Soak beans in 8 cups of water all day.  Drain water.  Chop onion.  Cook the beans, seasonings, 6 cups of water, and ½ the onion in the Crock pot with the temperature set to  “high” overnight. 

Also chop the following ingredients the day or night before:

6 carrots

8 stalks celery

½ medium size sweet onion (reserved from step above)

1 bay leaf

1 teaspoon dried basil

Sea salt and ground pepper to taste

Chop carrots and celery, and other half of onion used in slow cooker.  Place in a gallon storage bag.  Add seasonings and refrigerate overnight.  You can add the carrots/celery/onion along with 4 cups of water to the beans in the Crockpot and cook on low during the day, or cook in 4 cups of water in a pot on the stove for approximately 20 minutes from the time the pot boils. 

About an hour before you are ready to serve, add:

1 large (28 oz) can diced tomatoes

1 small bag frozen corn

1 large container ready to serve fresh salsa

2 cooked chopped chicken breasts (optional)

1 medium can refried beans (optional)

Serve with any combination of:

Tortilla chips

Pepper Jack Cheese (cubed or grated)

Sour Cream

Avocados

Humus

Cilantro

Makes a large Crockpot of soup—about 12 medium sized bowls.  May be frozen for several weeks and re-heated.  

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Vegetarian Minestrone Soup

Soup. I love it because it usually takes 30 minutes or less, prep-to-table and I can throw together some buttermilk biscuits or simple cornbread muffins while the soup is cooking.  This one's a combo of some of my favorite Minestrone recipes. Dinner doesn't get much easier than this. Remember that "New Beginnings: College and Missionary Meals" category? This one qualifies.

Vegetarian Minestrone Soup
A Bountiful Kitchen
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3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped (yellow or sweet)
2 cups chopped carrots
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon each salt and fresh ground pepper
2 cups chopped fresh tomatoes
14 oz can vegetable OR chicken stock, if you aren't concerned about going meatless (check to make sure it's MSG free)
1 cup water
1 cup "ditalini" pasta or other small pasta shape
2 cups chopped zucchini or fresh spinach (optional)*
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1- 15 oz can Great Northern beans, drained
1 tablespoon basil, dried
additional water, if needed

Using a large, heavy stock pot, saute onion and carrots in olive oil on medium heat about 4-5 minutes. Add garlic and continue to cook for another minute.
Season with salt and pepper.
Add fresh tomatoes, fresh zucchini or spinach, chicken stock, and water. Bring to boil. Add pasta and cook for 7-9 minutes until al dente.
Stir in tomato paste, beans and basil.  Cook just until combined.
If needed, add a little more water to the soup.
Serve immediately with fresh grated Parmesan cheese.

Serves about 4-6.

Tips:
*I add a variety of vegetables to this soup. Adding one to two cups of whatever is in your fridge, such as zucchini, other squash, spinach works well.

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Giving Thanks Menu

Instead of posting another recipe, I'm going to give you a roundup of some of my Thanksgiving fave's from ABK .

And tell you this. If you've been with me for a while you know this is my all time favorite holiday. This year, double bonus. It's my bd and my fave holiday. All on one day. People ask, do you cook on Thanksgiving when it falls on your birthday?? YES. And I love it. Food, family, friends. A pause from everyday rush-rush to eat and give thanks.

I'm thankful for: (the short list)

My family. I am blessed to be a daughter, wife, mom, sister and aunt. Know what I aspired to be when I was young? A mother. I know it sounds trite, but I love being a mom and wife.

Grant. 28 years and counting. We are truly blessed.

My friends. I have been blessed with the best girlfriends. Ever.

Good Health.

Freedom. The opportunity to live in the land of the free and home of the brave. So thankful to Service men and women who are giving up being with their own families to protect mine.

Happy Thanksgiving.

love,

Si

Click on the text for link to the blog post/recipe.

Autumn Brie in Braided Bread Ring

Perfect appetizer for the big day...

You want simple? This is it.

Sweet Fresh Cranberry Salsa

Butternut Squash Soup...

Mashed Potatoes 101

Mom's Sausage and Apple Stuffing

Super Simple Pecan Pie

One of my fave's - Gorgonzola Pecan Crunch Salad

with Hazelnut Vinaigrette

Chunky Yams and Apples

Fresh Corn Cakes with Peach Mustard Sauce

Buttermilk Cluster Rolls

All time favorite. Apple Cranberry Pie.

Happy Cooking!

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