Bullshit makes the flowers grow

potato soup

Ok, first let me say here that all you really need for this soup is water, a little milk, a few potaoes, and some salt and pepper.  If you are absolutely broke and can’t afford anything else, then this will put a hot, nourishing soup on the table.  I’ve made it this way, and it is still delicious.  If this is what you have to do, then just omit all the other things.  Second, y’all should know that I don’t use an actual recipe, but I use whatever I happen to have on hand.  Feel free to change things up for your own tastes.  I’m going to write this down how I’m making it tonight.  Third, I cook to feed a family of five with enough leftovers for another night or two.  You can scale it down smaller for yourself, or you can make a pot as big as mine and freeze extras for another time.

You need:

• 4 or 5 lbs potatoes (I’m able to buy 10 lb bags on sale for around $3)
• 1-3 cups of frozen or fresh veggies (I’m using frozen broccoli and peas, and sliced fresh carrots)
• at least 1 cup of milk, more if you have it
• cheese (any cheese you have, a little or a lot, depending on what you have or how you like it.  Tonight I’m using some leftover bits of cheddar, pepper jack, and Velveeta.  Probably a total of 2 cups)
• salt, pepper, season salt, Greek seasoning, whatever seasoning you like the best and have on hand.  I use all of the above.

Wash and peel your potatoes, then cut them into large cubes.  Cover them with water in a pot and bring them to a gentle boil.  Let them cook about halfway, about 7-10 minutes, then add your other veggies if you have them.  Cook an extra 10 minutes or so.  You want the potatoes to be very done.  Take one out and see if you can cut it in half easily with a spoon.  If you can then it’s done. 

Pour off a little less than half of the water.  Add your milk.  If you can add extra milk then you can pour off more of the water.  Use a potato masher or a fork and mash about half of the potatoes in the pot.  Be sure that you are leaving plenty of potato chunks!  All you are trying to do is thicken the soup with the potatoes you are mashing.  Put the soup on medium heat and add your cheese if you’re using any, and season to taste.  Stir the soup until the cheese is all melted.  I serve this with crackers or yeast rolls.

I hope you like my soup!  My kids eat this like starving maniacs.  It’s a favorite at my house :)

Making my mom’s chicken and dumplings.

It’s one of the easiest, most basic foods to make, and I can never get it as good as Mom’s. And that’s kinda funny, bc my mom never cooks and can’t cook for shit. The only things she makes well are dumplings, fried chicken, and nachos. Meanwhile, I’m honestly the best cook of the family. Everyone calls me when they have a question about cooking. I can cook anything well. Except dumplings. Oh, they’ll be tasty, they just won’t be as good as Mom’s. Y’all wish me luck.

Having a glass or three of wine as I cook dinner.

I never drink, so I feel pleasantly buzzed :)

the secret to baking perfect chocolate chip cookies is to dance around your kitchen to elton john and billy joel while making them

bc i love you all, i will share with you the recipe for my personal creation:

chili dog casserole:

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 package hot dogs, sliced
• 1 small can tomato sauce
• whatever chili seasoning you like, to taste
• cheese, a little or a lot, whatever you like
• tater tots

cook the ground beef and onions, drain.  add sliced hot dogs, heat thru.  stir in tomato sauce and chili seasoning.  put into a casserole dish, top with cheese, top with tater tots.  bake at 400 for 30-40 minutes, until tater tots are done and crispy.

is it healty?  not really.  is it yummy?  yes.  will your kids eat it?  hell yes.  serve it with some veggies and dinner is done :)

i’m secretly laughing at all my friends on new year’s diets as i make chocolate chip cookies with m&ms from scratch.

mmmmmmmmm, cookie dough :)

what’s on the menu for tommorrow:

turkey (durr)

crock-pot dressing

mashed potatoes

giblet gravy

cheesy corn casserole

brussel sprouts with cheese

cranberry sauce

cresent rolls

pumpkin cheesecake

chocolate chip cookies

all made from scratch, except the cranberry sauce and rolls.  it’s just for the five of us, but i’m still excited about it.  is anyone else cooking dinner at home, or are you going somewhere else to eat?  What are you cooking?

i’m making pumpkin cheesecakes today :)

i’m making extra, would you like one?