Easy Cream of Potato Soup

I made this scrumptious soup for my husband who was home sick with a stomach bug. It is so quick and easy to put together.

You will need (for 3-4).

3 medium potatos, peeled and cubed
2 c. water
1/2 c. grated carrots
1-2 celery stalk(s) chopped
1/4 c. chopped onions
1/4 tsp. minced garlic (optional)
2 chicken bouilion cubes ( used reduced sodium).
1 1/2 c. milk (I used skim)
onion powder to taste
pepper to taste
chili powder to taste
salt to taste

Combine into pot and cook to boiling. Reduce to simmer and allow to simmer for about 15 min. Serve and enjoy!

The Best House Dressing (taste just like Cafe Rio's)

I LOVE Cafe Rio, in fact love is an understatement. I could eat there every single day. I have been in love with that place since they first opened in St. George and will continue to be a loyal customer to them. Every time I have gone there, I have either ordered the veggie or chicken burrito (enchilada style)or the salad (the pork salad is awesome). I love the house dressing that comes with it and can't seem to get enough of it. I love the dressing so much I even pay for extra so I can take it home and put on my own salad. Well, now I have created the best house dressing that tastes very similiar to Cafe Rio's. I had to research what tomatillos were, but then found them at Walmart in the produce section. The flavors in this dressing are so tasty I will be making this dressing a lot. I will also continue to loyal to Cafe Rio, my most favorite restaurant ever!

The Best House Dressing!

1 package of Hidden Valley Ranch dry mix
1 c. of regular mayo (don't use olive oil mayo)
1 c. milk
2 tomatillos, sliced
1 small jalepeno pepper (remove seeds and stem).
1 bunch of cilantro
1/4 tsp. garlic chopped fine
1/4-1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper (how spicy do you like yours)? test it out until desired heat level. Cafe Rio has theirs moderately spicy.
1 tsp. lime juice

Combine all into blender and blend until smooth. If it is thin, it will thicken in fridge. Enjoy!

Kale Chips

These are just like potato chips, but Much healthier I must say! They are so thin and crispy and hold their shape well. To make these, remove the stem from each layer of kale. Then use big hunks of kale, brushed with olive oil. Add a little sea salt spread evenly and thinly over each kale peice. Bake at 350 for 12 min. Delicious!!

Fruit Pizza With Strawberry Cream

Fruit pizza is a great dessert in my opinion. You can use a variety of different fruits, with summer fruits being the best in season. A huge sugar cookie, topped with strawberry cream, then a variety of different fruits sliced like pizza.

Fruit Pizza

For the sugar cookie crust (my own recipe)

2 c. flour
1 egg
2/3 c. granulated sugar
1/4 c. powdered sugar
2/3 c. melted butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
2 T. milk
1/2 T. lemon juice

Preheat to 375. In a large bowl, combine butter, egg, sugar and vanilla and mix on medium. Add milk, baking powder and lemon juice and mix as well. Add flour and mix. On a round pizza baking sheet, grease pan and then lay dough in pan and spread. Top with about 1 T. flour and pat down with your hands until spread evenly. Bake for about 8 minutes or until firm. Allow to cool.

For Strawberry Cream Whipped Topping
1 small carton of whipping cream or heavy cream
1/4 c. powdered sugar
Mix on medium to high until set well. Allow to chill in fridge for about 1/2 hour. Then add about 1 c. of strawberry yogurt and mix on medium speed until creamy.
Spread over cooled cookie crust. Then top with your choice of fruits. Suggestions are: kiwi, strawberry, banana, peach, blueberries, raspberries, etc.

Easy Eggrolls

These egg rolls were simple to make and took less then 10 min. to make. Perfect crisp and dipped in the Thai ginger, garlic and chili sauce from the previous recipe. You may use any egg roll recipe, but I used the following:

To make about 4 egg rolls, you will need: (you can make up to 10 egg rolls with the egg roll wraps, so if you want to make more, just use more cabbage, carrots and meat.

1 package of egg roll wraps, available in most produce isles in refrigerated section next to salads and tofu.
1 1/2 c. well chopped cabbage (a food chopper works great for this)
1 large carrot or about 5 baby carrots, chopped fine with cabbage.
2 chicken breasts, cooked
oyster sauce (optional, if you choose to use sauce, follow directions on back of the egg roll wrap recipe)
1/2 c. bean sprouts, chopped
Cooking oil
combine carrots and cabbage together into chopper. Chop chicken into small cubes.
Pull out an egg roll wrap and spoon about 2 T. of cabbage mixture and chicken into wrap. Wet each side of wrap with water and fold like an envelope to pull up to seal tight. Heat oil on medium heat and then place egg roll into oil. Turn sides of egg roll(s) while in heated oil.

Once all crip, place on paper towl and serve. I recommend you use Thai ginger, garlic and chili sauce, plum sauce, sweet and sour sauce or soy sauce.

Thai Ginger, Garlic and Chili Rice Noodles and Chicken With Veggies

Here are a few fact about me. My favorite foods are: 1. Thai Food, 2. Chinese Food, 3. Japanese Food, 4. Mongolian Food and 5. Mexican food. It is definately worth visiting Asia or Mexico just for the food! The nice thing about the Western culture, is many of these ethnic foods are here in our country, available to make in our own kitchens or eat at a restaurant. I am a newbie at learning how to making many Asian dishes, but I am always open on perfecting my cooking skills in that area. This Thai dish is amazingly good with the tender rice noodles and the blended flavors of ginger, garlic and chili. The veggie stir-fry I added along with chicken added protein and fiber as well as nutrition and heartiness to the meal.

To make this meal, you will need:

4 T. of ginger, garlic and chili Thai sauce (found in Asian food isle next to soy sauces).
1 package of rice sticks (" ")
1/2 package of stir-fry (if you can find a Asian blend, that would be ideal)
2. T oil
1/2 c. chopped cilantro
3-4 chicken breast tenders, cut into strips

Begin by boiling water. Add rice sticks and then allow to sit off of heat for about 10 min. Cook chicken and then cut into strips and set aside. Meanwhile add oil to large pan and heat. Add stir fry veggies, cilantro and sauce. Mix in chicken and stir. Once warm and ready, add to rice noodles. Other variations to this meal are: Cooked shrimp (Thai dishes often have shrimp).

Easy Kettle Korn

In a medium to large saucepan, do the following:

1/4 c. oil (veg, canola, olive, ect)
1/8 c. sugar
a pinch of salt or about 1/8 tsp.
Heat the two on medium high until bubbles, then add:
1/4 c. kernals
then put the lid on pan and wait until you hear a popping sound and then lift the pan off heat and shake. Wait until popping subsides. If you don't hear much popping going on, put back on heat until you hear the popping again(only if needed). Enjoy as a snack.