Creamy Vegetable Soup

adapted from: https://legallyhealthyblonde.com/vegan-pot-pie-soup/ 

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45-60 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients:
8 tablespoon butter
2 cups carrots, peeled and diced
2 cups Celery chopped
2/3 Large yellow onion diced
1.5 tsp Garlic powder
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
10 cups vegetable broth (or chicken broth)
4 Yukon gold potatoes peeled and diced or 2 russet potatoes
2 cups Frozen petite peas
2 teaspoon salt
Black pepper to taste

Directions:
Peel and finely dice carrots.
Dice celery and onions.
Melt butter in large non-stick pan. Add onion, carrots, and celery.
Peel and dice potatoes.
Once the onion is translucent, add garlic.
Add the flour and immediately stir to combine. Cook and continue to stir until the flour becomes lightly golden.
Add the milk and mix into the flour and vegetables until it becomes a thick, creamy sauce.
Add the broth and combine thoroughly. (Reduce amount of broth by 1-2 cups if you want a thicker soup).
Add chopped potatoes, and bring the pot to a simmer.
Simmer for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until the potatoes are cooked through and the soup has reduced to your desired thickness.
Stir in the frozen peas while the soup is still hot.
Season with salt and pepper.
Serve hot and enjoy!

Creamy Pasta Salad with Ham

Source:
https://kitchenfunwithmy3sons.com/bow-tie-pasta-salad/

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Chill Time: 1 hr
Total: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients
Dressing
1 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons relish (sweet or dill)
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Salad
1 pound bow tie pasta
8 ounces cheddar cheese diced
1 cup fully-cooked ham diced
1/2 small white or sweet onion peeled and finely diced
1/2 cup frozen peas thawed
1/2 cup red bell pepper seeded and finely diced

Instructions
In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients. Cover and refrigerate while you move on to the next steps.
Boil the pasta according to the package directions, just until al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
In a large mixing bowl, toss together all of the ingredients with the dressing. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

Ham Pasta Salad

Ham Pasta Salad 

Source: adapted from https://www.heathershomemadekitchen.com/ham-pasta-salad/

Prep Time: 30 minutes 

Chill Time: 1 hour 

Servings: 8 

Ingredients 

8 oz box small pasta, (rings, shells or macaroni) 

1 cup diced ham 

1 cup frozen peas, thawed

4 oz mild cheddar cheese, cubed 

1½ cups mayo or miracle whip 

1 tablespoon sugar 

1 teaspoon lemon juice 

¼ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper 

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions, drain, rinse with cold water and set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the mayo/miracle whip, sugar, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Add the pasta, ham, peas and cheese. Gently fold together until it is mixed thoroughly. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

Pea Salad with Red Onions and Cheese

Pea Salad with Red Onions and Cheese

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Chill for 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours, 10 minutes
Source: https://www.saltysidedish.com/pea-salad/ 

Ingredients
16 oz. frozen peas thawed and drained
6 strips bacon cooked and cut into small pieces*
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup diced red onion
1 cup real mayonnaise
salt and pepper

Instructions
In a large mixing bowl combine thawed peas (drained of any excess water), cut bacon, diced red onions, shredded cheddar cheese, and mayonnaise, and mix all pea salad ingredients together well. Season salad with salt and pepper and mix again to incorporate seasonings.
Refrigerate pea salad 4 hours or overnight. Mix well before serving to prevent settling.
Chill for at least 4 hours and keep cold prior to serving.

* I used a bag of bacon bits instead, and it tasted fine.

Tip: 

If you like red onion but do not want it to overpower the pea salad, soak red onion pieces in cold water for up to 30 minutes, drain, dry, and then add to salad.