Creamy gnocchi & chicken soup

for Gnocchi:

 cook potatoes ( about 4 or 5 golden potatoes, peeled) until soft, then drain. blend potatoes (add salt) and add flour (gluten free or regular) and 1 egg. add enough flour for dough to become a good consistency to form.

roll out the dough into long strips and cut into 1 inch pieces and form into balls and press a fork down. let sit in fridge until ready to cook. 

(you may not need to use all of the dough.. you can make extra for another night of gnocchi with spaghetti sauce!!)

place frozen chicken (or thawed) in a pot (about 2-3 large chicken breasts) add:

about 1 tsp of: basil, italian seasoning, montreal chicken, salt and pepper.

about 1.5 cans of chicken broth

chopped carrots, onion and fresh or dried celery. ( I keep celery on hand cut up in the freezer or I use dried celery flakes)

-cover and let simmer for about 30-45min

shred chicken in pot and add: 2T cornstarch mixed with 2T water, about 24 oz heavy whipping cream, 1-2 cloves minced garlic, chopped spinach (any desired amount) 

and add gnocchi (any desired amount.. you don't want to overfill the soup with too many)

cover and continue to simmer

cook 4 bacon slices and crumble.. add to pot. simmer for a few more minutes and you are ready to enjoy!! 

(if the soup is too thick, add a bit of water until desired consistency.. or more cream!! it's all up to you how you like your soup!!)

Your kids will love it and you may or may not have leftovers

Cream of Asparagus Soup

you need:

asparagus

butter

onion

salt & pepper (white and black)

celery

carrots

flour

parsley

thyme

bay leaf

heavy whipping cream

garlic

potatoes

chicken bouillon

boil about a large handful of asparagus in water (1-2lbs) cut off the woody ends
in a seperate pan, add:
          2-3 T butter, 1/2 chopped onion, 1 celery stalk chopped, 1 carrot or a few baby carrots chopped, pinch of salt and pepper. simmer while asparagus cooks for just a few minutes, when the asparagus turns bright green.
          remove asparagus and strain. Add to a bowl of ice cold water.
pan of vegetables, add:
           about 1T flour and mix until combined, 1-2T chicken boillon and 2 c water, 1 c chopped and peeled potatoes.
strain asparagus and add to pan. add:
           a few dashes of salt and white pepper, thyme, parsley, and 1 bay leaf, 1-2 T garlic.
Cover and simmer for 30-40 min on medium.

Once all veggies are soft, remove bay lead and add about 1-2 cups at a time to blender and blend until well combined. Add to a different pot. once all the soup is blended simmer on med-low.
           add: 1-2c heavy whipping cream (whatever amount you want really)
finally, add salt and pepper to taste (if needed).

Add: shredded cheese after you serve in a seperate bowl :) you can even have saved some of the asparagus heads (cooked) and add for garnish.

This was a huge hit with all the kids..even the picky ones! what a great way to give them their veggies:)

Cream of Broccoli Soup

(picture soon)

add 3 Tbsp butter in a saucepan with:
1/2 c chopped onion (white)
3 Tbsp flour
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp thyme, tarragon, celery salt, salt & white pepper
with a tiny dash of nutmeg

combine and then add:
1/2 c chopped carrots, golden potatoes
1 c milk & 1-2 c heavy cream
1 tsp chicken bouillon & 8 oz water
about 2 c broccoli cut up

boil and simmer on med-low for 15-30 min..until everything is tender.

blend and return to saucepan and add 2 laughing cow cheese triangles or 1 Tbsp cream cheese ..until melted.

serve with shredded cheddar cheese on top and enjoy.. the kids looove it!

Split Pea Soup

In a pressure cooker:

add 1 bag (1 lb) split peas

8 cups chicken broth

salt & pepper

italian seasoning

parsley

tarragon

about 1 tbsp heavy cream

sauté:

chopped onions

a few cloves of garlic

pinch of minced shallots

handful of cooked carrots

handful of celery

cook for about 20-30 min

blend w/ hand mixer

add white cheddar shredded cheese

and

1 or 2 laughing cow cheese triangles

sprinkle crispy bacon on top and enjoy

...mmmm...

Chicken Tortilla Soup

This recipe I came up with on the spot and I liked the outcome, so I hope others will be able to replicate. Again, I need to get better at taking a picture of the food before I have already started eating it..but I guess that means it was too good to wait..haha

I started with leftover chicken stroganoff: which is a recipe coming soon: otherwise, cook some chicken and about 1 cup  heavy whipping cream and about 1 tbsp ketchup or tomato bouillon.

in a pan, add:
1 can (14oz) chicken broth/stock
a handful or 1 cup of chopped baby carrots
2 handfuls or 2 cups of frozen corn
1-2 cups water
a couple dashes of cumin, terragon, chopped dry bay leaves, savory, salt & pepper
a few squirts of lime and lemon juice
a few thin slices of anaheim chili pepper and jalapeno pepper (depending on how spicy you want it)
1 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 cup white onion slices
1-2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 stalk of celery cut in big pieces for flavor
chopped chicken (stroganoff style)

bring to a boil and then cover and simmer for 30 min on low

add 1 green onion, chopped
serve with a dollup of sour cream, shredded cheese and tortilla chips!

Creamy Cauliflower Soup

I'm excited that soup season has begun. I like a good soup every now and then. This is one I came up with this week and if it's a success, I post it..again, a lot of it is taste and add, so make sure you start on the blander side and go from there. (sorry the picture quality isn't wonderful..it was taken via blackberry) Also, bear with me, this is the first time I made this, so it should get better each time..depending on what I add or take out.

Cut and cook 1 cauliflower head:
add: dash of taragon, salt, pepper, garlic, onion, 1:1 water & chicken broth
opt: cook chopped onions (about 2 tbsp) in about 1-2 tbsp olive oil

Once cauliflower is cooked thoroughly, drain and put in a blender. Add 1 1/2 c chicken broth, 2 tbsp heavy whipping cream. Blend until smooth and creamy.
Grate 1-2 c white cheddar cheese and 1/2 c mozzarella cheese

Put creamy cauliflower in a pan and cook on medium heat. Add cheeses, 1 "laughing cow" soft swiss cheese triangle (opt), dash of white pepper, and about 2-4 tbsp of heavy whipping cream.
Simmer on medium-low heat for about 5 minutes.
garnish with garlic asparagus and french bread!

Asparagus: you can either cook on stove or oven: 350 degrees for 5-10 minutes or on medium heat covered for 5-10 minutes. Add butter, garlic, onion, salt and pepper.