a reason to blog...

sorry it's been since february 4th. been working a whole lot this past week. i have a very specific reason for this post. since i've been married (well technically since we've lived in Raleigh), i've cooked a lot of dinners. We've probably only gone out to eat about 5 or 6 times in the 4 months we've been here. I haven't really cooked the same thing twice, because i've been experimenting with so many different recipes. i like trying new things. there have been several things i made that REALLY stuck out, but tonight was unlike any other. i made THE BEST baked potato soup ever. Since I was little i always loved potato soup (ordering at restaurants like Fatz, O'Charley's, Outback, etc. to mention some of my faves). I found this recipe that is supposed to be like Tony Roma's Baked Potato Soup. Of course I tweaked it a little. (I used to NEVER tweak recipes but i think ive gotten a lot more confident since i first started cooking and I change things around a good bit now) Anyway. I HAVE to share this recipe with yall. It is TRULY outstanding, and next time I have company, this is what I'm going to cook, to be sure to impress!!!

Baked Potato Soup

• 2 medium potatoes (about 2 cups chopped)
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup diced white onion
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 cup instant mashed potatoes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon basil
• 1/8 teaspoon thyme
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream or half-and-half

Garnish

• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup crumbled cooked bacon
• 1 chopped green onion (green part only)

1. Wash potatoes thoroughly and microwave until tender.
2. If you would like you can always bake in a 400 degree oven for one hour or until done.
3. As the potatoes are cooling, melt your butter in a large saucepan and saute your onions until light brown.
4. Add in your flour to make a roux.
5. Add in your chicken broth, water, cornstarch, instant mashed potatoes and spices and bring to a boil.
6. Reduce your heat and simmer for about 5 minutes.
7. Take your cooled potatoes and peel off the skin and chop up into desired pieces.
8. Add in your chopped up potatoes and the heavy whipping cream to your soup and bring it back to a boil.
9. Reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes or until it is thick.
10. Garnish with cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon and green onions.

That really is 10 steps to heaven. mmmm mm! I made some cornbread (wish I would have made homemade) to go with it, and it went together perfectly. I have been spoiled my whole life eating my Nanny's homemade cornbread. I found a deal on one of those little cornbread mixes (like muffin mix) and it was not that great. I'll make homemade next time. Let me know if any of you try this recipe, you should!!

B

things.

where to begin? i will start with how excited i am about this upcoming week! over christmas break, we planned to go to my mountain house in highlands for valentines weekend with some other couples. meanwhile, hunter dawson (matt's friend and loose change manager) had been asking us to come play a gig in clemson. matt decided since we were going to be so near for the weekend that we could play Thursday night in clemson at loose change. then we realized all the equipment is at matt's house in greenville so we would have to leave really early thursday or wednesday night, and matt cant miss that much work. so i happen to be off work next week and it's easier for matt to miss work on a sunday so we're going home to greenville on sunday!!! YAY!! i am so excited to watch the bachelor with my friends and go to taco casa and just see my family and friends, maybe go to tsunami downtown :) i am doing WORLDS better in raleigh than i was when we first got here, but i really do miss greenville mainly for the people who are there.

so, we'll be there sunday through thursday. then driving to clemson to play a gig at loose change and staying with my g'parents. then heading on up to highlands for valentines weekend with some of our best friends! what awesomeness to look forward to! i hope it snows in the mountains, it's so pretty up there!

in recent news, i was looking on the internet yesterday afternoon for one of those recipe generators. where you type in whats in your fridge and pantry and it tells you what all you can make. haha. (we are not buying groceries this week so we can save money for going to greenville next week). anyway. i found this recipe and i didnt have one thing, or i would think it needed something else so i tweaked it... a lot. and was really nervous how it would turn out, as i always follow the recipe, like, perfectly. SO it ended up being AWESOME and i am so happy because it's like ... my recipe. like when i give it to people i can be like i made it up. kinda. lol. here it is... it was great for a cold night like last! i have no idea what to call it. any ideas??? right now i will call it Brittney's Casserole. haha.

casserole
2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
2 5 oz. cans cooked chicken (I used Swanson)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (you could use another kind if you wanted)
2 cups of milk
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
a few shakes of minced onion flakes
salt and pepper.

topping
butter
breadcrumbs

preheat oven to 350F.

in a large bowl,mix all ingredients together well. pour into large 9x13 baking dish.

next i melted about 2 tbsp. of butter and mixed in some breadcrumbs. make sure they are all saturated and sprinkle over top of casserole.

cover with aluminum foil and bake 35 minutes. Remove aluminum foil and bake about 10 more minutes until bubbly.

AHH! that stuff is amazing. though next time i think ill use chicken i cook and not the canned chicken (but thats all i had last night) and i think next time i will add some broccoli florets. let me know if any of you make it. it was great! and it needs a name!! :)