Springtime Tortellini Pesto Soup

When it comes to Spring, many ingredients come to mind, but one of my main go-to’s has to be asparagus!  I also let go of my rich, creamy soups for a light, broth version.  I know I’m about to make this soup whenever I can get my hands on that crisp, stalky green vegetable.  I also know I can prepare it on a busy weeknight, as it takes a mere 30-40 minutes to make.  Plus, since it fills a large pot, the leftovers can be had the following day for lunch or dinner!  Pair with a side salad and warm rolls and you have the perfect Spring time supper!

The Starting Lineup

• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 8 cups (64oz) chicken broth
• 1/4 cup prepared basil pesto, plus more for garnish
• 2 (15oz) cans great white northern beans, rinsed
• 16 oz frozen tortellini
• 1 pound asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 6 oz fresh spinach leaves
• Precooked chicken sausage, sliced (i.e. HEB Naturals Apple Gouda)
• Shaved parmesan cheese, garnish
• Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste

In a large Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat.  Add onions, garlic and a hefty pinch of salt and pepper and sauté for 5 minutes (*add garlic towards the end of the 5 minutes, careful not to burn).

To the onion and garlic, add in the broth and whisk in the pesto.  Add in the tortellini and white beans and bring to a simmer for 20 minutes.

Lastly, add in the asparagus, spinach leaves and sliced sausage and simmer until warmed through, about 5 minutes.

Ladle into bowls and top with more pesto and parmesan cheese.  Enjoy!

 

Pot Pie Potatoes

I am fairly certain that baked potatoes were made for ‘stuffing’.  Growing up with Midwest roots, we had this side dish quite often, and always, always loaded up with butter and sour cream.  Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing un-tasty about that, especially accompanied with bacon, cheese and chives, but why not something else?!  Let’s change it up!

Since it has been quite rainy here in Texas and the weather has cooled to proper Fall temps, all I have been craving is good, old-fashioned, comfort food!  Given my husband and oldest son are suckers for chicken pot pie, I just had to put the two together!  I chose our favorite, standard pot pie vegetables, but feel free to add green beans or corn or heck, buy a large bag of frozen veggies and be done with it!  *Just add the frozen veggies towards the end.  The other ‘best part’ of this meal is not having to worry about the crust!  If you MUST, feel free to serve it alongside warm biscuits (very yummmmmmy), but I actually liked just the warm potato for a change.  Plus the potato skin crisp’s up beautifully in the oven!

This delicious, home-style recipe is even easy enough for the work week!  Just throw all the ingredients into your slow cooker and set to low.  When you return home in the evening, bake the potatoes and bam!! dinner is served!

 

*If you have the time, by all means make your own “cream of” soup with flour, butter and cream/milk and add to the slow-cooker.  They also make great gluten-free cream soup’s now that can be substituted as well! 🙂 

 

The Starting Lineup

• 6 large, russet potatoes, baked (scrubbed clean, coated in extra virgin olive oil and kosher salt – baked directly on rack in 375 degree oven until fork tender, about 40-50 minutes.)
• 2-3 lbs chicken breasts, cut into 1-1/2′ cubes
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 2 stalks celery, sliced
• 8oz baby bella mushrooms, halved
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 26oz low-sodium cream of mushroom (or chicken) soup
• 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
• 1 bay leaf *remove prior to serving
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• *cornstarch/milk slurry to thicken at the end, optional

 

Spray or line your slow cooker for easy cleanup.  Lay in the prepped vegetables (besides the frozen peas) and the cubed chicken breasts.  Pour in the soup and the chicken broth, stir together.  Lastly, stir in the seasonings.  Set to low for 7 hours.

About 1 hour before dinner, preheat your oven and bake your potatoes till for tender.  You can also stir in the frozen peas to your chicken pot pie mixture.

When the potatoes are ready, slice vertically, careful not to cut all of the way through.  *I like to scoop out a bit of the potato flesh, but to each their own.  Ladle a large helping of your pot pie mix into the hot potato and enjoy!

 

Shiner, Kielbasa and Potato Cheese Soup

This recipe just screams Texas hill country…Shiner, sausage and a hearty dish?  Our German ancestors would be proud!  This hearty, creamy soup sings Fall in our home and I’ll gladly take the lead!  This dish is fantastic around the table with warm bread and is even better come winter around the fire.

I will say this though, please do not use a light “sissy” beer her.  Please, please go out of your way, if needed, and by the famous Spoetzl Brewery concoction!  So worth that deep, yet tangy, flavor!

 

The Starting Lineup

• 4 large russet potatoes (about 3 lbs), baked
• 8 strips bacon, chopped
• 1 package Kielbasa sausage, halved and sliced
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 1/4 cup flour
• 12 oz bottle Shiner Bock beer
• 2 cups chicken broth, low-sodium
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 1/2 cups Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Garnish

• Crumbled bacon
• Sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• Sour cream
• Jalapeno slices, fresh

 

Begin by baking your potatoes (oven or steamed in the microwave), once cool to the touch, chop up.  The skin is optional.

In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the chopped bacon until crisp.  With a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a bowl, reserving the bacon grease in pot.  Add the onions and kielbasa to the hot grease and allow to sauté for 5-7 minutes.  Transfer to the bowl of cooked bacon.

Back to the same pot, add in the flour to form a paste/rue, followed by the Shiner Bock and chicken broth.  Whisk until smooth.  Next, add in the chopped, baked potatoes and slightly mash up with a hand-held potato masher.  Stir in the cheese, milk and reserved cooked bacon, onions, and kielbasa.  Bring to a low boil and then simmer for 10-15 minutes until thickened.  Serve with your garnish of choice and warm, crusty bread for dipping.  Enjoy!

Slow Cooker White Bean & Sausage Soup

Due to the wacky weather of a Texas Spring, it fortunately still affords us the opportunity to enjoy a warm bowl of soup.  Now, I won’t delve into the rich, hearty, creamy versions that I indulge in come Fall and Winter.  I will, however, sit down to a light broth style.

This meal is so stinkin’ easy as you simply cook and sauté your sausage and onions and then it all goes into the pot!…or the slow-cooker so to speak.  *In many, if not all, slow-cooker meals, I advise always sautéing you’re veggies prior.  Your dish will have SO much more flavor!  Same goes with meatloaf, precook your veggies first people, do not add them to your meat blend raw!…I digress…

So back to THIS bowl of light and flavorful soup, my other tips and/or advice is to use the hot Italian sausage, not the mild or the sweet.  If you insist on the others, so be it, but I promise this soup is anything but spicy.  Also, please drain and rinse your beans with a fine mesh sieve or colander.  Removing the extra starch the beans contain in the can will ensure a light broth.

Now, I suggest if you’re in a slump for what to make this week, please try this out!  You can serve it with warm bread and butter, a half sandwich or a light salad… and life will be good.

The Starting Lineup

• 4 (15oz) cans of white cannellini (or great white northern) beans, drained & rinsed
• 2 (32oz) cans or boxes of low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 (14.5oz) cans of Italian-style diced tomatoes
• 3 cups spinach leaves, fresh/bagged
• 2 lbs of hot Italian sausage, casings removed
• 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt & pepper, to taste
• Fresh basil, torn (garnish)
• Parmesan cheese, grated (garnish)

In a skillet on your stovetop, over medium heat, brown the Italian sausage with the onion, garlic and a hefty pinch of salt and pepper.

Drain and add the cooked meat mixture to your slow cooker along with the beans, chicken broth, tomatoes and spinach leaves.  Set the slow cooker on HIGH for 3-4/LOW for 5-6 hours.

To serve:  Ladle into bowls and top with a bit of the fresh basil and parmesan cheese and serve with warm crusty bread.  Enjoy!

Pozole Verde de Pollo

I’mmm baack….with my awesome “Spanglish” in the kitchen!  Which, more often than not, means that something yummy is cooking up!  So today, mi amigos, I bring you a Carly rendition of pozole (or posole, depending what side of the tracks you’re on)!

In translation, pozole means “hominy”, which is basically a large, soft corn kernel.  This hominy is then stewed with a meat, peppers, and broth and served with various toppings for your taste bud’s enjoyment.

Now, typically, I like to make the rojo (red) version with seared pork chunks, but today I went out of my comfort zone and opted for verde (green) and chicken!  I must say, though quite different flavor profiles, this one is equally amazing!  A bit tart from the tomatillos, but the charred peppers and garlic yield that smokiness you want and they both pair wonderfully with the slightly salty broth and tender shredded chicken.

In closing, winter is not yet over (but please hurry up) and we still crave that bowl of warm soup on a cold day.  So next Domingo (that’s Sunday to my non Spanglish friends), try out this pot of yumminess!  It will not disappoint!

 

The Starting Lineup

• 1 lb tomatillos, husked, rinsed & halved
• 4 poblano/Anaheim chiles (you can mix and match if desired)
• 2 jalapeno peppers
• 6 cloves garlic, in skins
• 1 cup fresh cilantro, with stems
• Juice of 1 lime
• 2+ teaspoons cumin
• 2+ teaspoons Mexican oregano
• Kosher salt & pepper, to taste
• 2 Tbsp canola oil
• 2-3 lbs chicken thighs, boneless/skinless, cut into rough chunks
• 1 white onion, diced
• 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth/stock
• 28oz can white hominy, drained
• 4-8oz can chopped green chilies, drained

Garnish ideas

• Radishes, thinly cut into matchsticks or sliced
• Avocado, sliced or 1/2″ chunks
• Cabbage, shredded
• Mexican crema/ sour cream
• Pickled onions
• Lime wedges
• Peppitas, toasted
• Tortillas, warmed

Verde Sauce

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.  Line a large baking sheet with the tomatillos (cut side down) and also place the poblano/Anaheim and jalapeno peppers along with the whole garlic cloves (still in husks) beside them.

Place your baking sheet on top rack, 6-8″ from the broiler and turn the warm oven to HI Broil.  Watch closely with oven door cracked, but allow the tomatillos to brown and soften and the peppers to bubble up and char, turning with tongs as needed.  Remove and place all of the charred peppers in a large zip lock gallon bag.  Close and allow peppers to steam for 15-20 minutes.  Once time is up, peel off the pepper’s skin and stems and scrape out the seeds from each.  You can also squeeze the roasted garlic out of their skin.

In a blender, combine 1/2 cup of chicken broth with the now roasted tomatillos (and any sheet pan juices left behind), steamed chilies and peppers, garlic cloves, cilantro, cumin,  Mexican oregano, lime juice and a pinch each of salt and pepper.  *If you like a thin broth, you can now strain this through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl and discard any extra skins/seeds.  However, I like the rustic’ness of it all and do not strain.

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In a large Dutch oven pot (with lid), heat 2 tablespoons of canola oil over medium-high heat.  Add in the cut up chicken thighs and sear and brown all sides; also add in the diced onion.

Once seared, pour the remaining chicken broth over the browned poultry to deglaze the pan; scrape up all of the brown bits on bottom of pan with a wooden spoon.  Flavor right there!

Next, pour in the Verde sauce you made in your blender along with the drained hominy and green chilies (I also like to add another teaspoon or so of cumin and Mexican oregano here again).  Stir to combine.  Bring to a boil, drop way down to a simmer and cover.  Let cook, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 hours.  Slightly shred chicken chunks, if desired.

Serve

Ladle into bowls and top with your desired garnishes, serve with warm tortillas.  Enjoy!

 

Stuffed Tomatoes Puttanesca

A lot of influences helped bring this recipe idea to mind.  One, being my love for Pasta Puttanesca, a common order from me at many Italian restaurants.  Secondly, I love having people over and serving unique appetizers aka hors d’oeuvres if I’m being fancy, and thought this will make a great contender for my counter….and lastly, my hilarious, old soul of a little 6-year-old son who legitimately enjoys anchovies on his pizza.  Yes, if he’s not a chef, food critic or stylist when he grows up, I will be shocked.  Future foodie right there!

So because of that last reason, I had a couple containers of anchovies handy and the rest of the ingredients are pantry staples for me…so given all that, the Stuffed Tomato Puttanesca was born!  Thanks Brooks. 🙂

Also, you can make this with out stuffing the tomato/oven-step and serve in a dish drizzled with a bit more olive oil alongside crackers, bread and veggies for a great tapenade!  Heck, even spread it on your bread for an amped up turkey sandwich!  Endless options folks!  Ps.  These are great paired with a juicy steak and glass of red….

The Starting Lineup

• 12 small cocktail style tomatoes, 2-3 inches and ripe
• 1 Tbsp garlic, minced
• 2 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• 2 tsp fresh thyme, chopped
• 25+ pitted Kalamata olives, rough chop
• 1 Tbsp capers
• 8-10 anchovy filets (canned or jarred in olive oil)
• 1/4 cup bread crumbs or panko
• 1/4 cup Romano cheese, grated
• 2-3 Tbsp olive oil
• 2-3 Tbsp tomato juice
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, shaved

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment, foil or silpat sheet.

Using a serrated knife (I always use serrated when dealing with tomatoes, trust me), slice off the tops of each tomato (keep) and carefully scoop out the inside of each tomato with a spoon into a bowl.  Once finished, pour and press the tomato flesh through a fine mesh sieve to get the fresh tomato juice.

In a food processor, place in the tops of your tomatoes (stem cut off), Kalamata olives, anchovies and garlic.  Process until well chopped.

Combine the olive paste with the bread crumbs/panko, capers, parsley, thyme, olive oil, the tomato juice, pepper and Romano cheese.

Place the cut and hollowed tomatoes onto your lined baking sheet and use a spoon to stuff each tomato with your tapenade filling.  Once they’re all full, sprinkle the tops with the shaved parmesan cheese slices.  Place into your preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, until the cheese has browned and tomato is slightly wilted and heated through.

Sprinkle a bit of fresh thyme or parsley overtop and serve as an appetizer or side dish, enjoy!

Chowder Fries

Besides the scents, visuals and tastes of pumpkin, nothing says Fall more than a warm bowl of soup!  Especially a creamy bowl of New England’s favorite, the clam chowder!  Now yes, I know I live in the south, but I’ve had reoccurring dreams of visiting the east coast to watch the leaves change while sipping on hot cider and bobbing for apples.  Maybe sneak in a visit to ‘creepy’ Salem too…basically every east coast Fall cliché IS on my bucket-list.  One day….

So for now, I light a spiced candle and get out my candy apple red Dutch oven to reinvent the classic into our family favorite, Chowder Fries!  …quick toying with me Fall and just get here already!!

*You can absolutely use vegetable broth instead, but I find that the chicken stock brings a richer flavor.

The Starting Lineup

• French fries (frozen or scratch made), Old Bay seasoning optional for tossing with
• 5 Strips bacon, diced
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 Tbsp butter, unsalted
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp dried/ or ground thyme
• 3 Tbsp flour, all-purpose
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup chicken stock/ or vegetable broth
• 1 10oz can clams, juices reserved
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 russet potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 cup half and half
• Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
• Flat leaf parsley (chopped) or green onions (sliced), garnish

Heat a large heavy bottomed pot or Dutch oven to med-high heat and add in the olive oil and bacon and cook until crispy.  Transfer the crisped bacon to a paper towel lined dish and set aside.  Keep the bacon grease in the pot.

Next, melt the butter into that bacon grease and then add in the onions, stirring often, followed by the garlic.  Sauté for 3-4 minutes until the onions are translucent and finally sprinkle in the thyme and stir together.

*Meanwhile, if making a bag of frozen fries, preheat the oven and line a baking tray with parchment or foil for easy cleanup.  Whether frozen or not, I like to lightly coat my fries in a bit of oil and dusting of cornstarch, toss together.  This creates a great crispy exterior!

To the sautéed butter, onions and garlic, whisk in the flour for about 1 minute till everything ‘clumps up’ and is lightly browned.  To that, slowly whisk in the chicken stock/ or broth, milk, the juice from the clams and toss in the bay leaf.  After a couple minutes of whisking to incorporate, stir in the diced potatoes.

Bring this mixture to a boil and then reduce to a simmer and cover for 15 minutes; potatoes are tender.

**Fry or bake your fries during this time.

Once time is up, stir in the half & half, the clams and add in your salt & pepper to taste (I am pretty heavy-handed with that myself).

If eating family style, season the French fries with salt or even better, Old Bay, and transfer to a serving platter.  Ladle the warm and creamy clam chowder over top the hot fries and top with the crisp bacon crumbles and parsley and/or scallions!  Sooooo good!  Enjoy!

 

 

 

Slow Cooker Loaded Potato Cheese Soup

Growing up in my home, my parents and I being from the mid-west, comfort food was key.  Warm soups, braises, steak and potatoes, you get the idea…Yes, even in the hot Arizona desert, I knew I was at the right address when the smell of meatloaf waft towards the drive as the street lights turned on.

Now, when we did have the occasional dinner out, we loved Marie Callendars.  Remember that place?  It has since closed so, so many of its doors that it makes me literally sad.  So many memories growing up eating their comforting dinners after cheer and football practices, dance recitals, a great report card…which was always followed by one of their fantastic slices of homemade pie!  *Sorry Marie, I love you but your frozen meals and pie do not hold a candle to your restaurant staples I enjoyed as a child.

That All being said, I was apparently craving my comfort food!  The warm, always delicious potato cheese soup I would just short of lap up from Marie’s salad bar was on my mind.  Now they didn’t garnish theirs as I do mine (I win here), but the flavor is so close that I no longer have to mourn my childhood chain restaurant…well, that is until I figure out their Frisco Burger and Lemon Cream Cheese Pie.

*I really recommend buying chicken STOCK vs chicken broth.  It’s just a bit more in cost but thousands more in flavor!

The Starting Lineup

• 5-6 large russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 2″ chunks
• 1/2 yellow onion, diced
• 2 stalks celery, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 2 1/2 cups chicken stock
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 cups shredded cheese (I love Velveeta’s new original shredded)
• a HEFTY pinch of kosher salt and a pinch of pepper

Garnish

• Bacon, cooked and crumbled
• Green onions, sliced
• Shredded cheddar cheese (I love Velveeta’s new shredded Cheddar)

Spray your slow-cooker with a bit of non-stick spray.  Next place in the peeled chunks of potatoes, diced onions, sliced celery and minced garlic.  Pour the chicken stock directly over top and add in that salt and pepper!  (The stock will not fully cover the potatoes..and that’s perfect!)

Cover and set to low for 8 hours!  ..here is where you head off to work, tend to the home and loved ones or take yourself a nap and relax!

About 30 minutes before you’re ready to eat you will remove the lid of the now tender potatoes and with a potato masher, mash away!  I like to leave a bit of chunks in mine however for texture.

To this, stir in the heavy cream along with the 2 cups of shredded cheese.  Replace the cover and allow to come back up to heat (20-30 minutes).

While it is heating, if desired, crisp up some bacon and slice the green onions and shred your cheddar (if not pre-shredded).

Ladle into large bowls (trust me…no need to get up for seconds when you have a big bowlful!) and top with your favorite garnishes!  Serve alongside warm crusty bread with softened butter and you will have you and your family quite the comfort meal!

Chili Blanco

I’ve never met a chili I didn’t like, seriously.  With beans, without beans (‘Bowl of Red’), smoked chipotle, turkey, molé style…I could go on and on and on..and I will.

Contrary to its pale appearance, the recipe below for Chili Blanco (blanco means white 😉) is hardly pale in flavor.  The roasted peppers add depth with a touch of heat, the Monterey Jack cheese and white beans add creaminess and the cumin, oregano, cayenne and garlic round out that south-of-the-border flavor.  This one here is a winner when you’re looking to branch out on your chili culinary adventure!

The Starting Lineup

• 1lb white beans (Great White Northern), soaked overnight & rinsed OR 3 cans, drained & rinsed
• 3 cups cooked shredded & chopped chicken (you can use a rotisserie chicken if needed)
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 2 (4oz) cans of chopped green chilis
• 1 roasted poblano, skinned, seeded & chopped
• 1 roasted jalapeño, skinned, seeded & chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp dried Mexican oregano
• Pinch of cayenne
• 48oz chicken broth
• 1 cup Jack cheese, shredded
• EVOO 

Garnish Ideas

• Avocado slices
• Cilantro
• Sour cream
• Lime wedges
• Jack cheese, shredded  

Assuming your chicken is cooked, beans are soaked and rinsed (if using dried) and your poblano & Jalapeno have been roasted, etc…let’s begin!! Whew!… 

 In a large dutch oven over medium heat, add in about 2 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil. Once heated, toss in the onions and cook till translucent (about 10 minutes). 

 To the sweated down onions, add in the green chilis, poblano, jalapeño, garlic, cumin, mexican oregano & cayenne. Stir together for 1 minute. 
   Next add in the beans, chicken broth and the shredded & chopped chicken and bring to a low boil. 
 Once the bubbles start rolling, reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Stir about every hour or so for 2-3 hours (1 hour if using canned beans…but the longer the better either way really).
Finally, about 30 minutes before you plan to eat, mix in that cup of shredded Monterey Jack cheese. Re-cover and allow to melt in! 
 Serve this complex flavored chili with a dollop of sour cream, fresh cilantro, avocado slices and a lime wedge…oh and don’t forget more cheese and a fresh tortilla for dunking!! Enjoy! xo 
 

Loaded Beer, Kielbasa & Potato Soup

It’s a beautiful October weekend…and by beautiful I mean it will not stop raining, the windows are open in my home with temps being in the 60’s and my Fall candles are burning.   Yes, these are the things that bring me pure happiness.   Well…that and a big pot of comforting soup of course.   I decided to make this dish so it can last us a couple of days..more time to enjoy doing nothing.  Bliss.

There are all sorts of potato soup recipes out there, and they are all delicious.  However, my husband will not eat a ‘meal’ without some sort of meat in it.  Now while I found some yummy soups with loads of cheese, broccoli, asparagus, pumpkin, etc in them, I just knew that wouldn’t cut it in my carnivore household.  Soooo…what does my man like more than meat, beer and potatoes??  Not much.  Hopefully me…but even that could be pushing it 😉

Well after trial with no error, I can assure you that this is a winner!  Please enjoy with your family on a chilly day with a few slices of crusty bread for dipping!

The Starting Lineup

• 3 lbs russet potatoes, baked
• 1/2 lb bacon (plus more for garnish)
• 1 pckg kielbasa sausage, sliced
• 1 onion, yellow or sweet, chopped
• 3Tbsp flour
• 1 12oz beer, I prefer Texas’ own Shiner Bock
• 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups whole milk
• Salt & pepper, to taste

Garnish

• Green onions, sliced
• Bacon, cooked & crumbled
• Cheddar Cheese, shredded
• Jalapeno, thinly sliced
• Sour Cream 

Well start with getting a few of the ingredients prepped!  Now you can absolutely bake your potatoes in the oven as you normally may, but if you’re in more of a time crunch, then just “bake” them in your microwave till soft.  While the potatoes are becoming fork tender, you can slice up the kielbasa sausage and chop up the onion.

 In a large pot/dutch oven, lay in the bacon and cook till crisp (medium heat).  Transfer to a plate and set aside.  Now in that glorious bacon grease (do not drain), add in the cut up sausage and the chopped onion.  Cook till the onion becomes translucent, stirring occasionally.  After about 5 minutes the onions and sausage will be good to go.  With a slotted spoon transfer them to a bowl and set aside, while keeping the grease in the dutch oven.

     *While these above ingredients have been cooking, your potatoes should be ready.  IF you do not like potato “skin”, youre more than welcome to remove.  In our home and in this recipe we actually prefer it.  It adds great color, flavor and texture to the meal.  So, anyway, just roughly cut up the baked potato, skin or no skin.

 Back to the dutch oven!  Sprinkle the flour into the bacon and sausage renderings and whisk till a rue is formed (thick and clumpy basically).  Next pour in the entire beer while continuously whisking followed by the chicken broth till smooth.

   Now add in those cut up baked potatoes and mash up in the liquid.  I like to leave a bit of chunks in my soup, so I just use a good, old-fashioned, hand-held potato masher till I like what I see.

   Next, stir in the cups of shredded cheddar cheese until melted, followed by the milk.  Bring up to a boil and then down to a simmer and stir back in the bacon (crumbled) and the sausage and onions.  Let sit and thicken up for about 10-15 minutes.

Ladle into bowls and top with the garnishes of your choice and a hunk of fresh, warm bread….this tastes best with a cold brew on a cold day with the ones you love..