Friday, November 8, 2013

Crockpot Potato Broccoli Cheese Soup


Now that the weather is getting colder.. well California colder, which is not really that cold… more like cool, it is the perfect time for soup! And since I had potatoes, broccoli, and cheese that were unused in my house I decided to add them all together to make this delicious soup! 


First chop up the carrots, potatoes, and broccoli. 


Then melt a tablespoon or two of butter in a large pan or dutch oven.


Add the carrots and some chopped garlic and cook until the carrots are soft but not too soft. Next, add about 6 more tablespoons of butter and melt.


Once the butter is melted add the flour and stir constantly while it cooks for 2-3 minutes.

Next, pour in the HOT chicken broth and heavy cream. 


Stir occasionally while it simmers for 6-8 minutes. 


Put the chopped up potatoes in the crockpot.


Pour the pan mixture over the potatoes and stir.


Add the chopped up broccoli and stir again.


Next add more chicken broth to bring the liquid up to the broccoli line.


Stir and let it cook for 2-3 hours on high. 


Now at this point either use an immersion blender to puree it or, if you want to leave it chunky like I did, just add the cheese and stir it in while it melts. If you want to puree it, do that first and then add the cheese.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Crockpot Potato Broccoli Cheese Soup

Ingredients:
3 Russet Potatoes, cubed
3 medium heads of broccoli, chopped
1 carrot, diced
2-3 cloves of garlic, chopped
½ cup of butter, divided
½ cup whole-wheat flour
3 cups chicken broth, plus some if needed
1 ½ cups whole milk (I used a mixture of whole milk and heavy cream because I didn’t have a full 1 ½ cups of whole milk)
2-3 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:
1.     Wash and peel potatoes and carrot; wash broccoli
2.     Cube potatoes and put in the crock pot
3.     Dice up carrot and set aside; chop up broccoli and garlic cloves and set aside.
4.     Add 1 tbsp. butter to a large saucepan or Dutch oven; once it has melted add carrots and garlic. Cook until carrots are soft but not too soft.
5.     Add the remaining butter and melt, add flour and stir. Continue stirring while it cooks for about 2 minutes until you have a blonde roux.
6.     Add hot chicken broth and milk, stirring occasionally. Let it cook and thicken for 6-10 minutes.
7.     Pour over potatoes into crock-pot. Add chopped broccoli and stir.
8.     Add enough chicken broth so that all vegetables are covered in crockpot. Stir to combine.
9.     Put lid on and cook on high for 2-3 hours.
10.  Add cheese and stir while it melts, let it cook for another 20 minutes.

11. Serve warm, garnish with shredded cheese and crushed croutons.




Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Roasted Asparagus


In my house we love asparagus.. I mean like love. It's one of our faves. 


First, I wash it and then break off the ends. You could cut them, but it's really not necessary. It's super easy to break the ends off and they break where they naturally need to. You don't need to wait for them to dry, just throw them in a large enough bowl to hold them all.


I use olive oil, onion powder, garlic powder, seasoned salt, and black pepper to season mine before cooking. You could really season them with whatever you like but this is a delicious mix! 


Drizzle some olive oil, usually a couple tablespoons, over them and then toss them with some tongs to make sure they're all coated.


Next add the different types of seasonings.


And toss them again to coat evenly.



To make clean up super easy I line my cookie sheets with foil.


Drizzle the foil with olive oil.


Next spread the asparagus out as even as possible.


Pop them in the oven and cook them for 15-20 minutes. 




- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Roasted Asparagus

Ingredients:
1-2 bunches of asparagus
2-3 tbsp. of olive oil
2 tbsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. onion powder
1 tbsp. seasoned salt
2-3 tsp. black pepper

Directions:
1.     Preheat oven to 450º. Wash and break off ends.
2.     Place them in a bowl big enough to hold them. Drizzle with olive oil and toss them to coat evenly.
3.     Season with garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, and black pepper. Toss them to coat evenly.
4.     Line baking sheet with foil. Drizzle foil with olive oil.
5.     Spread asparagus evenly between 1-2 pans.
6.      Cook for 15-20 minutes depending on the thickness of the asparagus.



Monday, November 4, 2013

Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Cake

 

My best friend of all time just turned 24 and she LOVES ice cream cake so I decided to make an ice cream cake for her birthday instead of a traditional cake or cupcakes. She likes the Dairy Queen version of the ice cream cake, not the Baskin Robbins version… i.e. there's not actually any cake. I was really happy with how it turned out, it's delicious! 


 First, freeze your springform pan and then grease it with butter. 


Spread a thin layer of vanilla ice cream on the bottom and up the sides, then put it back in the freezer for 20-30 minutes to get it frozen. 


Then add a layer of Oreos on bottom.


Cover the layer of Oreos with the remainder of the ice cream. (I used 2 1.5 quart things of vanilla, so I did the bottom and sides as well as the first layer with 1 of the 1.5 quart and the second layer and frosting with the second) Then, put it back into the freezer.


Next, make the filling. Throw cookies, butter, heavy cream, and 1 cup of pre made icing into a food processor and pulse until spreadable. Spread it over the first vanilla layer and then put it back into the freezer to freeze it.


Add another layer of Oreos, breaking some if needed to fit. 


Cover and fill the rest of the pan with the second 1.5 quart of ice cream. You won't use the whole 1.5 quart, save the rest for the frosting. Freeze the cake for at least 3 hours, overnight is preferable. The longer, the better.


I don't have any pictures of making the frosting and I'm not really sure why… but you toss the rest of the ice cream and one tub of cool whip into your stand mixer and whip until smooth. Take the cake out of the freezer and wrap a heated towel around the pan to melt it just slightly so that the pan can be removed from the cake. Next, frost the cake like you would a traditional cake using a frosting spatula. Once it's smooth put it back in the freezer for as long as possible.


Once frozen, remove from the freezer and decorate with cool whip by placing cool whip in a pastry bag  with the tip of your choice.


Freeze often as the cake will melt quickly.


Crush Oreos and garnish the top of the cake.





After decorating freeze over night if possible, at least 3 hours if not to ensure cake is fully frozen.



- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Cake

Ingredients

Cake:
2 tubs of Cool Whip
2 1.5 quarts of vanilla ice cream
1-2 packages of Oreos

Filling:
3 cups Oreos
2 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. heavy cream
1 cup premade frosting, either homemade or store bought

Instructions

Cake:
1.     Freeze spring form pan for at least 15 minutes prior to starting. Grease pan with butter. Take vanilla ice cream out to defrost while pan is freezing.
2.     Spread a thin layer of vanilla ice cream along the bottom and sides of the pan. Freeze until frozen.
3.     Add layer of Oreos on the bottom and cover with the rest of the vanilla ice cream from the first 1.5-quart. Freeze until frozen.
4.     Make the filling as described below and spread on top of the ice cream. Freeze again.
5.     While the cake is freezing again for 15-20 minutes take the second 1.5-quart of ice cream out and let it soften.
6.     Add another layer of Oreos. Cover with vanilla and fill pan to the top. Freeze overnight or at least 3 hours.
7.     Place the rest of the vanilla ice cream and 1 tub of Cool Whip in your stand mixer and whisk until smooth and thick.
8.     Take cake out and wrap pan with hot towel, unlatch and remove sides of the pan.
9.     Frost cake and then freeze.
10.  Once frosting is frozen decorate cake with Cool Whip and garnish with crushed cookies.
11.  Freeze overnight or at least 3 hours before serving.


Filling:
1.     Place Oreos, butter, cream and frosting into food processor and blend until it’s spreadable.





Try it out and let me know how you like it!
Thanks for coming, stay awhile, and return often! xoxo