Broccoli-Potato-Carrot & Cheddar Soup

I keep seeing recipes on different Social Media sites for copycat Panera Broccoli & Cheddar Soup – why can’t we knock it outta the park? 

Broccoli-Potato-Carrot & Cheddar Soup 

Serves 6 generously 

1/4 C. Butter, melted 

1/2 C. Onion, chopped 

1/4 C. Flour 

2 C. Half and Half (or just Milk will do) 

2 C. Chicken Broth 

3 C. frozen Broccoli Florets 

1 C. Potatoes, diced & just cooked (I used the canned kind) 

1 C. Carrot, cut into match sticks (I buy the bagged stuff) 

2 C. Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded (don’t buy the bagged kind, it doesn’t melt well)

S&P to taste 

Sauté the Onions in it until soft.

Sprinkle the Flour over the mixture. Cook and stir over medium heat for 1-2 minutes. 

Whisk in 1/2 & 1/2 and Chicken Broth. 

Add the Broccoli, Potatoes and Carrots. Cook over low heat for 10-15 minutes or everything is tender. 

Taste for seasoning at this point, add as much S&P as you like. 

If the Soup is too thick to your liking, add some more Chicken Broth to thin it out.

This is a hearty Soup. I served it with some nice warm Bread and a Salad and was stuffed!  

Remember, a recipe is simply someone else’s idea, take it and make it your own. 

Cook for your friends and family (especially homemade Soup) !  

… and if you could, hit that ‘like’ button, leave a comment below maybe just to say ALOHA; subscribe to my blog if you like what you’re reading and get an email when a new post has been uploaded.      

MAHALO! 

And Speaking Of Christmas …

Since moving to Northern Arizona, I have not been able to get us our annual Christmas Haul. 

Around Thanksgiving or so, at the Mall in Southern Arizona, I could go to a Hickory Farms Pop-Up store and buy all our favorites. 

That ain’t happen’ here in Cowboyville! 

So what’s a gal to do? 

Thank you World Wide Web!  

AH YUM!!! 

DH just about had a kitten when he saw the credit card charge, but heh! “This is our Christmas gift to ourselves”, I exclaimed. 

Ummm, he changed his mind once I set out his first Snack Plate of the Season. 

😄

Cook for your friends and family!  (and buy them fabulous food gifts too 😉) 

… and if you could, hit that ‘like’ button, leave a comment below maybe just to say ALOHA; subscribe to my blog if you like what you’re reading and get an email when a new post has been uploaded.      

MAHALO! 

Christmas At Our House

Okay, so I told you about Halloween, now let me show you how I did our house for Christmas this past December. 

But hang on a minute, let me preface all of this. 

I have been so very, very ill for MONTHS and finally have enough energy to make it “Jolly And Bright”. So let’s decorate! 

I have oodles of decorations for each holiday, and this has been therapeutic for me. 

Cook for your friends and family (and hug them all tight) ! 

… and if you could, hit that ‘like’ button, leave a comment below maybe just to say ALOHA; subscribe to my blog if you like what you’re reading and get an email when a new post has been uploaded.      

MAHALO! 

Christmas For Someone Else

I know that I’ve told you folks that we moved my Mother into a Senior Living Community. This past Christmas they had a large Tree in the main lobby, decorated with “ornament cards”. 

DH & I have been in a long discussion on “Random Acts Of Kindness” and what better time and way to do this. 

Once I had brought home all the requested items, DH said, “Were there any cards that had been left on the tree? Let’s go back and make another elders Christmas joyful.” 

AWWWW! Did I say my husband is a great guy? 

Unfortunately, the cards were all gone, but I was chatting with the Community’s Coordinator, and she had told me that there might be one card returned, as the donor felt later that they weren’t able to fill that wish. 

HO HO HO! 

🎅🏼🤶🏼

I didn’t snap any photos of that wish, but I went to Wally World and found a Dog Bed on sale, some Dog-o treats and a huge box of assorted Christmas Cookies for another Veteran. 

My dearest husband and I have been so very blessed and fortunate in our lives, we wanted to pay it forward, and I’m sure that we will be doing it again in the future. 

Cook for your friends and family!  

… and if you could, hit that ‘like’ button, leave a comment below maybe just to say ALOHA; subscribe to my blog if you like what you’re reading and get an email when a new post has been uploaded.      

MAHALO! 

Halloween At Our House

I just love Halloween, it’s all great fun, even for adults. 

My Neighborhood Gal Pals and I, along with our husbands, gather together for a Potluck Linner (late Lunch/Early Dinner) and then pool our booty of candies all at one of our houses.  

We situate ourselves out in the driveway, put out the candy and wait for the kiddos. Some of their costumes are adorable! 

I like to decorate our table and have a cooler full of small, bottled water for those thirsty Trick ‘O Treaters. 

This past Halloween, I found a huge bag of assorted Chocolates at Costco, buying it long before October 31^st, because it was so reasonably priced… 

Rooky mistake!  

😄

I thought that I had hidden it well from DH, but .. oh well I went back to Costco and fortunately they still had more. 

Cook for your friends and family!  

… and if you could, hit that ‘like’ button, leave a comment below maybe just to say ALOHA; subscribe to my blog if you like what you’re reading and get an email when a new post has been uploaded.      

MAHALO! 

Homemade Chunky Apple Sauce – Round Three

Have we talked about this before, I want to say that I think we did, but … let’s get into it one more time. 

As I made mention two posts ago, I got this new kitchen toy to peel stuff (it works wonders on Potatoes too!) and so with all of the 22 pounds of fresh Apples that I was given by a neighbor, I made Chunky Apple Sauce. I had to break it into two sessions, it was just so much.

😆 

I got a total of 15 half pint Mason Jars filled with Chunky Apple Sauce! 

I figured that I could not only feed my family members with this bounty, but I could also use it to Trade & Barter with it … I had a pair of slacks hemmed up for me at the cost of 4 jars. 

Remember, a recipe is simply someone else’s idea, take it and make it your own. 

Cook for your friends and family!  

… and if you could, hit that ‘like’ button, leave a comment below maybe just to say ALOHA; subscribe to my blog if you like what you’re reading and get an email when a new post has been uploaded.      

MAHALO! 

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Another New Kitchen Toy

Not long ago, one of the neighbors had boxes and bags full of fresh Apples sitting at the curb with a big sign … “Get a bag and take as many as you want”. 

Hmmm 

🤨 

I always have those reusable grocery bags in the back of our car …  

I scooped up 22 pounds worth of Apples  

😎 

NOW! 

Have you ever peeled and cored 22 pounds worth of Apples by hand? 

I tried, that’s my stubborn side. 

I gave up after one round, and ordered this  

It worked okay I guess, but for $20 I expected a little better job, but ah, it’ll do. 

… if you could, hit that ‘like’ button, leave a comment below maybe just to say ALOHA; subscribe to my blog if you like what you’re reading and get an email when a new post has been uploaded.      

MAHALO! 

My Easier Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

In the Fall and Winter, hard squashes are in abundance in the markets, but have you ever tried to peel and cut up a Butternut Squash? 

WELL! 

Look what I found at Costco 

☝🏼

This recipe just could not get any easier. 

Easier Butternut Squash Soup 
 
5-6 servings 
 
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil 
1 large Yellow Onion, chopped 
1/2 tsp. Sea Salt 
4 1/2 – 5 C. Butternut Squash, frozen, prepared 
3 Garlic cloves, minced 
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh Sage 
½ Tbsp. minced fresh Rosemary 
1 tsp. grated fresh Ginger 
3 to 4 C. Chicken Broth 
Freshly ground Black Pepper to taste 
 
Preheat the oven to 450° 
Spread the frozen prepared Butternut Squash in a single layer on a sheet pan 
Roast for 25-35 minutes or until the Squash is golden brown and soft 
Heat a Dutch oven over medium high 
Add in the Oil and sauté the Onions, along with the Sea Salt, until they are translucent 
Stir in the Garlic and Ginger; cook until fragrant 
In goes the Sage and Rosemary, stir well 
Transfer the Butternut Squash to the pot, followed by 3 cups of Broth, reserving the last cup for later 
Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for anywhere from 15-30 minutes, until the Squash is fall-apart tender 
Puree using a blender or handheld stick Blender 
Add you Black Pepper to taste here 
Adjust the thickness at this point, if needed, with that reserved Broth 

I topped my bowl of soup with some roasted Pepitas, yum!!  

Remember, a recipe is simply someone else’s idea, take it and make it your own.       

Cook for your friends and family!  

… and if you could, hit that ‘like’ button, leave a comment below maybe just to say ALOHA; subscribe to my blog if you like what you’re reading and get an email when a new post has been uploaded.      

MAHALO! 

A Very Special Day For Us

Recently my dearest Husband and I celebrated a landmark Wedding Anniversary by making the drive to The Grand Canyon North Rim. 

This has been on my bucket list for quite a while now, and we finally made it there. 

We made arrangements to stay 2 nights at their Motel rather than getting a private cabin, and I’m glad that we did. 

On one of our visits to The Grand Canyon South Rim, I picked the brain of a Park Ranger. I asked him which he preferred and emphatically said do not bother with getting a cabin!  

After checking in to our motel room, we walked over to the Lodge, where they had both food and drink available. We both got a beverage and took a seat outside one of the two patios to watch the Sunset. 

It was a little chilly outside, so I quickly snagged us a great seat inside. AH! That’s better. 

That was breath taking!  

If you ever get the opportunity, GO! 

… heh, if you could, hit that ‘like’ button, leave a comment below maybe just to say ALOHA; subscribe to my blog if you like what you’re reading and get an email when a new post has been uploaded.       

MAHALO!