Wednesday, September 9, 2020

Potato Soup

6 large baking potatoes, peeled, cut in 1/2 -inch cubes

1 large onion, chopped

1 quart chicken broth

3 garlic cloves, minced (or pressed)

1⁄4 cup butter

2 1⁄2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1 cup cream or 1 cup half-and-half cream

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

1 cup sour cream (optional)

8 slices bacon, fried & crumbled

cheese, for sprinkling


Combine first seven ingredients in a large crock pot; cover and cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 8 hours (potato should be tender).

Mash mixture until potatoes are coarsely chopped and soup is slightly thickened.

Stir in cream, cheese and chives.

Top with sour cream (if used), sprinkle with bacon and more cheese.

Monday, August 17, 2015

Bacon Cheeseburger Balls with Cheesy Dip (Thanks Am we LOVE them!!)

Bacon Cheeseburger Balls with Cheesy Dip

Ingredients:
*For the meatballs, makes 20 balls

1 lb grassfed ground beef
1/2 lb bacon, cooked to crispy, fat reserved
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup green onions (scallion), chopped
1/4 cup cheese sauce *recipe below
1 tsp salt
1 tsp granulated garlic
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp pepper



Cheese Sauce
*prepare this first, to use in meatball mix
Ingredients:

2/3 cup avocado oil or light olive oil
1 large egg
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp salt 
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp pepper
1 cup sweet potato, peeled and cooked
1/4 cup full fat unsweetened coconut milk 
1/4 cup nutritional yeast 

Directions (for sauce):

1.  Make sauce like mayo.  Add egg, lemon juice, salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder to the food processor or blender.  Pulse.  Slowly drizzle 2/3 cup oil in while constantly pulsing.  

2.  Once emulsified, add cooked sweet potato, coconut milk and nutritional yeast to food processor or blender and blend until it is a smooth and creamy sauce. 

Directions (for meatballs):

1.  Preheat oven to 400F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

2.  In a large skillet, cook bacon.

3.  While bacon is cooking, chop your jalapeƱos and green onions.

4.  To a large mixing bowl, add your beef, egg, nutritional yeast, cheese sauce, garlic, onion, salt and pepper.  Mix to combine.

5.  When bacon is cooked to cripsy, chop and add to meatball mixture.  Don't dump the fat!

6.  Roll 1-2 Tbsp sized balls and drop in hot bacon grease.  Brown the balls on all sides, on medium heat.

7.  When balls are browned, transfer to parchment paper.  Place in preheated oven for 10 minutes, until cooked through.  

8.  Serve with cheese sauce and enjoy!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Our first trip to Florida

As Sam was rotating in Florida for the month of August, James and i decided it would be the perfect time to visit.  We had a long flight over (complete with a man elbowing me in the ribs anytime the sleeping giant in my arms made a move) but we made it safe and sound.  We headed straight to the hotel and rested until Sam was off work.
I wish I had video'd the look on James' face when he saw his dad for the first time in 2 months.  It was the happiest, and sweetest thing I have ever seen.  They played and laughed all weekend.  And for that I would do it all over again.
We spent the weekend at the beach and the pool  Tiring ourselves out for nap time and working up an appetite for meal time.  It was a great weekend.
So happy we were able to spend time together as a family.  I have missed it so much!

Sunday, August 26, 2012

He's growing up so fast

Nicknames:  Jamm, Jammer, Jammy, Bubas, Jam-Jam, Baby, Love, Smoochie, Smoocher
Age: 21 months
Favorite Color: Boo (Blue)
Favorite Animal:  Puppy
Favorite Book: Mater and the Ghost Light
Favorite Movie: Cars
Favorite TV Show: Dinosaur Train
Favorite song:  Me me song
Favorite food: Popcorn
Favorite drink: Water and close second Dr. Pepper (which Jam calls Coke)
Favorite breakfast: Cheese Eggs or a Waffle
Favorite snack:  French fries
Favorite outfit: Dino PJs (which is actually Crocodile not a dino:))
Favorite game:  Gonna get you (where you chase and then tickle him)
Favorite toy: Mater aka Matey
Best Friend: Ryder Hachtman and Maddison Dickson
Favorite activity:  Playing with dinos or cars
What he takes to bed: Humphrey, Elmo, Puppy, Binki, and Blankie
Favorite restaurant: Chik-Fil-A
Favorite store: Target
Biggest accomplishment: Counting to 10!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Music Lover

I am a lover of music.
Right now I am listening to Amy Winehouse 'Back to Black' CD.
I know it's a little old but oh my gosh I am in love.
If you don't have it, get it.
Then play it over and over again and you will see how amazing it is too.

Not only do I love amazing music, but I love sharing it with people who enjoy it like I do.
Other CD's I am currently into:
Adele (but everyone is into her stuff right now).
The Beatles 'Help'.
Tegan and Sara, pretty much anything they do I love.
Kanye West '808 Heartbreak'

Okay so I know they aren't fresh out jams or anything but I love them.

And I thought I should do at least 1 post that wasn't about James ;)

Thursday, February 9, 2012

He says she says

James has been speaking in full sentences as of the last month or so.
At first I couldn't understand him, as he slurred words together and didn't really enunciate.
But, as he has slowed down, I can now make out some very clear sentences.
It is nuts!
I just didn't think it would be so soon.
His most frequent sentences:
"I want dat" if I don't respond he will say it fast and then it sounds like muna muna muna
"I don't want that"
"What is dat?" (also what is this, what are those; his grammer is amazing;)).
"I want up"
"I yike dis" (I like this)
"I don't yike dis"

2 stories:

I was on my bed and James was whining and reaching for me and I said, do you want up? No reply. So I said, "James, if you want up just say up." James replies, "I want up".

And this one surprised me this week. Jammy was walking toward me and his binki fell to the floor. He started to look around but not in the direction of the binki. I said James it's right there. (no reaction, no acknowledgement, no turn of the head, nothing). So I said it 3 more times. Finally with one last ditch effort I said, James your binki is where I am pointing and you aren't looking to see where I am pointing. He turns around, looks at me and says, "I don't want dat!"

Yikes. AT. IT. TUDE!

How does my 14 month old know English so soon?

And in case you did not see my facebook announcement, I got a job working as an inventory planner for Michael Kors in their shoe division. I started this week. I can do a lot of work from home but I will have to go into the office a couple times a week. I will also have to travel to New York and Dallas from time to time. I actually just got back from Dallas today. It was fun to see how the process works. The Fall line is amazing!! It made me excited to be part of such a great company.

Monday, January 23, 2012

My 14 month old

James has been a busy baby lately. It's so fun to see him learn and grow. It seems like just this week he has learn a few new tricks:
-He makes animal sounds. Namely Monkey "ahh ahh", Dog "arr arr", Snake "thhhh", Horn Bill (Honn Honn which should be honk honk :)), and Elephant "".
-He says apple "bapple" or sometimes "bap". He will see an apple on the page of a book and point to it and say "bapple". Really cute.
-He is obsessed with books. This is my favorite thing in the world. He pulls all of his books out and finds his favorite book of the moment, and brings it to Sam or me to read. If I say "ket's go bye-bye" he quickly runs and grabs as many books as he can carry for the trip. Then he spends the entire car ride pouring over his literature.
-James is very chatting. Usually it sounds like "Muna muna muna" or "Booda booda booda". So funny.
-He will smile proudly for the camera:

-He blows kisses but refuses to clap. He has clapped once, but is not into it.
-In place of dancing, he flaps his right hand. Not arm, wrist and hand. It's hilarious.
-He LOVES it when Sam and I dance and sing in silly ways. It makes him laugh so hard.
-He still sleeps really well although he has decided to cut out 1 of the 2 naps.
-He is never afraid, and always stands up for himself.

I just cannot get enough of this kid. He is so amazing. I am one lucky mama.