Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup

This is a copy-cat of Zupa's Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup-- it is soooo yummy!

Wisconsin Cauliflower Soup

INGREDIENTS

• 3 Tbsp. butter
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 cup half and half
• 1 cup milk
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 (14.5 oz) can chicken broth
• 2.5 lbs cauliflower
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 2 T minced garlic
• 1/2 tsp. Dijon Mustard
• 1 1/2 cups reduced fat sharp cheddar cheese shredded
• 1/2 cup pepper jack cheese shredded

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Combine chopped cauliflower, olive oil, and garlic together in a bowl. Place the cauliflower mixture onto a greased baking sheet and roast in the oven until lightly browned (about 20-30 minutes). Stir about every 10 minutes or so. 
2. Melt butter and chopped onion together in a large sauce pan and sauté for approximately 10 minutes over medium heat until onion gets golden in color.
3. Add flour and stir to make a roux. Heat while stirring for a couple of minutes.
4. Slowly add half and half along with the milk. Gradually add and stir the entire time. Following the milk, gradually add water and chicken broth and stir constantly.
5. Add roasted cauliflower and bring to a boil. 
6. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for about 5 minutes. 
7. Place contents of sauce pan into blender and blend until smooth. Remove center part of blender cover to allow steam to escape.
8. Return cauliflower mixture to saucepan; heat over medium heat until hot, stirring occasionally. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in mustard and cheese until melted and smooth.
9. Soup is ready to serve!

Recipe adapted from: http://www.chef-in-training.com/2012/09/copy-cat-zupas-wisconsin-cauliflower-soup/. 

Buffalo Chicken Dip

This is the most deadly yet delicious dip...EVER! It's great for any sort of party. I can promise that you and everyone else will LOVE it.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

1 Rotisserie chicken, shredded

1 package cream cheese

1 cup ranch

1 cup cheddar cheese

1/2 bottle of buffalo sauce

1. Combine all ingredients.

2. Put in 350 degree oven until warm and bubbly. 

3. Serve with crackers or celery.  

Hot Fudge Sauce

This is Kathy's hot fudge sauce-- one of my favorite treats!

Hot Fudge Sauce

1 cube butter

6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 1/2 cups evaporated milk

1. Melt the butter and chocolate chips.

2. Add the milk and powdered sugar. 

3. Boil 5 minutes, stirring constantly.

4. Serve warm over ice cream. 

Taco Soup

Here is mom's simple and delicious taco soup recipe!

Taco Soup

1 lb ground beef, cooked and drained
2 T dehydrated onion
1 package taco seasoning
1 can tomatoes
1 can red kidney beans, undrained
1 can corn, undrained

1. Combine all ingredients.
2. Simmer on low for 10-20 minutes.
3. Serve topped with grated cheese, corn chips, and sour cream.

Cilantro Pesto Tacos

I first found this recipe on Pinterest, and made them for an "Iron Chef" date night. After quite a few revisions, they quickly became a favorite recipe for me. When I made them this summer, my little brother loved them! He claimed that they were the best tacos he had ever eaten. And that was coming from an extremely picky teenage boy. Here's the darn recipe for Michael's favorite tacos:

Cilantro Pesto Tacos

3 chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves (do not include stems)
3 tablespoons chopped, fresh garlic
1 1/2 teaspoon lime juice
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan
2 1/2 teaspoon chicken boullion
1/4 cup water

Garnishes:
Grilled onions and peppers
Black Beans
Sour Cream
Salsa

1. Blend together the cilantro, garlic, lime juice, Parmesan, boullion, and water. 
2. In a skillet, cook chicken with salt, pepper, and a little minced garlic in about a teaspoon or two of olive oil. Once cooked through, add the cilantro pesto until heated. 
3. Serve with warm tortillas and taco garnishes.

Sweet & Sour Meatballs

This is one recipe that no one can seem to remember...ever! Which is why it is now going on the blog.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

1 1/2 lbs ground beef

1/4 cup oats

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

2 Tbsp milk

1/2 tsp garlic salt

1/4 cup onion, chopped

Sauce:

32 oz tomato sauce

1/4 cup vinegar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

1. Combine ground beef, oatmeal, salt, pepper, milk, garlic salt and onion. Mix well and shape into meatballs. Brown in the oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

2. Combine the sauce ingredients. Add the browned meatballs to the sauce. Simmer for one hour on stove top. 

3. Serve with rice. 

Pasta Fagioli

This is a yummy, easy to throw together, low calorie dinner. I believe props go to Granny for finding this one! Here is the darn recipe:

Pasta Fagioli

1 onion, chopped

1 carrot, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 stalk celery, chopped

1/2 lb ground beef

1 T chili powder

1 can diced tomatoes

4 cups chicken broth

1/2 cup small shell pasta

1 can northern beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 tsp ground pepper

Parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top (optional)

1. Brown meat. Add vegetables, spices, tomatoes, beans, and chicken broth.

2. Bring to a boil, add pasta.

3. Cook until pasta is done. 

Chinese Chicken Salad

For my senior project in high school, I created a cookbook with all of my favorite recipes from home. I printed multiple copies so that everyone in the family could have a simple place to go and find the recipes we grew up with. Fast forward a few years and here I sit-- the only one left with an original cookbook. The problem arises that everyone knows that I have this precious cookbook full of the recipes that they need. So, my phone rings, with my siblings and mom asking me for the recipe they need in order to finish dinner. Until now that is, with the start of this blog. Rather than getting a million phone calls for the much desired recipes in my cookbook, everyone can now come here and easily find the recipe they desperately need. With that being said, here's your first darn recipe:

Chinese Chicken Salad

Marinade:

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup soy sauce

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

2+ cups cooked chicken, cubed

Dressing:

1/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons salt

5 tablespoons vinegar

1/2 cup oil (I normally half the oil)

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 package rice sticks

1 package egg roll wrappers

2 heads lettuce, shredded

5-6 green onions

Sesame seeds

1. Marinate the chicken for several hours.

2.Fry the rice sticks and egg roll wrappers in hot oil; crumble.

3. Mix the salad dressing ingredients well. 

4. Toss everything together and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve immediately.