Loaded Baked Potato Soup

My family really likes this creamy potato soup. I cut back on the bacon and changed the cream to milk and it still has plenty of flavor! Try it!

Ingredients:
1/2 lb bacon
1/2 onion, minced
12 baby carrots, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1 Tb minced garlic
4 russet potatoes, diced
(up to 1/4 cup butter)
1/4 cup flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup water
1/2 tsp rosemary
1/2 tsp sage
1/4 tsp paprika
2 cups milk
topping ideas: cheese, hot sauce, sour cream, bacon bits, green onion

Directions:
1. Brown the bacon. Remove from pan and drain most of the grease.
2. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Stir often and cook for 5 min, or until onion is translucent.
3. Add garlic and potatoes. Cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes. Add butter if sticking to the pan and if all of the bacon grease has been absorbed- up to 1/4 cup.
4. Add flour and cook for 4 minutes, stirring constantly.
5. Add chicken broth, water, and spices. Bring to a low simmer and cook 15-20 minutes, or until potatoes are soft, but not mushy.
6. Add milk and bring back to a boil. Boil for 5 more minutes.
7. Remove from heat. Serve hot with suggested toppings.

adapted from:
http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/01/carnation-cafe-closes-thursday-for-renovations-at-disneyland-park/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%253A+DisneyParks+%2528Disney+Parks+Blog%2529&utm_content=Google+Reader

Homemade enchilada sauce

2 8 oz tomato sauce cans
1 Tbsp chili powder
1/2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/8 tsp cocoa powder
dash of cumin
salt and pepper to taste

Great Grandma's Stuffing

My mom made this for Thanksgiving and it rocked! I am not a huge stuffing fan, but I couldn't get enough of this. I wrote down the recipe, but haven't tried to make it yet. I want to post it here before I lose it!

Ingredients:

-1 1/2 loaves of french bread, cut up and dried out
- 4 slices of bacon
-2 stalks of celery, chopped
-1/2 onion, chopped
-1 cube of margarine
-1 cup hot water with 1 bouillon cube dissolved
-1 egg, beaten
-sage and oregano, to taste

Directions:
1. Fry the bacon. Remove from pan and chop into little pieces.
2. Cook onion and celery in drippings. Combine with bacon pieces and bread pieces.
3. Get water really hot, stir in margarine. When just warm, stir in egg.
4. Mix sage and oregano into egg mixture. Toss lightly over bread mixture.
5. Cover. Bake at 375 for 20 min, then turn down the oven and bake at 350 for 30 to 40 more min.