Grocery Cart Challenge

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Baked Potato Soup

I was given this recipe by a friend from another site, and I’ve tweeked it a bit to make it my own.  I’m not a big fan of plain potato soup, but I love this one!

 

2/3 cup butter (10 2/3 Tbs butter)
2/3 cup flour
7 cups milk (measure milk out prior to starting potatoes and allow to slowly become lukewarm)
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
4 lb potatoes baked, diced and peeled
1 Tbs dill weed
12 slices of bacon- crumbled
4 green onions chopped
1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
8 ozs sour cream

Peel & dice potatoes.  (Michael helped me with the potatoes.)

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The size you want the potatoes depends on your preference, but I make them bite size.    Cook potatoes just until fork tender (you pierce with a fork and they slide right back off), drain, and set aside.

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Melt butter in large pan; add dill weed and let saute briefly (about 1 minute).  Add flour to make a roux. 

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I did not have any green onions this time so I used a small onion and sauted it in the butter for about 5 minutes before adding the flour. 

Very gradually, add the milk, stirring between additions and allow to thicken between each addition.

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Once all milk is added, add back in potatoes, salt & pepper to taste.  If soup is not thickened, bring to a boil and simmer 10 minutes.  If it is already thickened, simmer for about 10 minutes.  

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Add in remaining ingredients, stirring well to combine, and heat through.

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Enjoy!

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This soup is very quick and easy to make.  It makes a lot, so be prepared for at least 2 meals or to feed several people at once. 

This post is linked to:

Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap

Food On Fridays

Foodie Friday 

Friday Feasts

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Strawberry Dumplings

 

This is one of my all time summer time favorite recipes!  It’s quick, cheap,  and easy to make, and delicious with homemade vanilla ice cream!  I haven’t made it this week, but I wanted to share the recipe with you. 

 

Strawberry Dumplings

1 quart strawberries, roughly chopped (can use frozen)
2 cans evaporated milk
1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
1 (4 pack) cheap refrigerator biscuits (will need 2 cans)

Melt butter in large pot, add sugar and stir until dissolved. Add both cans of evaporated milk and strawberries. Heat to a slow boil.

Flatten each biscuit and cut into strips. Make sure strawberry mixture is at a slow, rolling boil, and add "dumplings" 1 at a time, slowly stirring constantly. Turn heat down to a simmer and cook another 12 to 15 minutes, or until dumplings are done. Serve hot over ice cream.

FYI: This does not look the best in the world, but it is delicious! I promise!

 

This post is linked to:
Grocery Chart Challenge Recipe Swap
Foodie Friday 
Friday Feasts 

 

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July Grocery Shopping – Week 2

I got to go back to Kroger this week!  It was so nice to be able to get some really awesome deals this week.  

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Here’s what I got at Kroger:

4 gal. milk $9.52
6 lb carrots $2.34
10 boxes pasta $8.80
12 (16 oz.) bags frozen veggies $10.56
1 ltr bottle diet green tea (for Brian) $1.25
Subtotal $43.29
Savings (24%) $10.82
Tax $2.52
Total $34.99

Here’s what I got at Wal-Mart:

3 boxes cake mix $2.31
2 boxes snack crackers $2.96
4 packs tortilla shells $4.08
1 bag almond slivers      $3.98
4 containers cream cheese spread      $6.92
4 gal. Green Tea       $11.92
Subtotal:  $30.17
Tax:          $2.26
Total:        $32.43
   
Grand Total:      

$67.42
   
Total so far for July $182.44

I did purchase some food items for Katie’s birthday party, but I budget separately for those so they are not included in the above total. 

It’s going to be a little close this month, but I still think I can pull off a $300 budget!  Our meals should mainly be out of the pantry/freezer, and there is very little else that I really need to pick up for the rest of the month except for fresh fruits/veggies and milk.   So, we’ll see what happens!

This post is linked to Grocery Cart Challenge. Don’t forget to check out how everyone else did this week!