Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Copycat Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup

Source: https://www.shugarysweets.com/wprm_print/copycat-panera-broccoli-cheese-soup-recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4



Ingredients
¼ cup unsalted butter
½ cup diced onions yellow or white
1 cup shredded carrots 
2 1/2-3 cups broccoli florets chopped small
1 ½ cups chicken broth
1 cup milk *
1 cup heavy whipping cream*
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions
In a large pot over medium high heat, melt butter. Add in onions, carrots and broccoli. Cook to soften about 5 minutes (may be more or less depending on the size vegetables you cut).
Slowly add in broth, milk, and cream.
Sprinkle with flour and add salt, pepper and red pepper flakes.
Continue stirring and heating over medium heat until thickened. This will take about 10-15 minutes.
Once thick, add cheese and stir until melted and smooth.
Serve soup and enjoy!

*I just used 2 cups of  1% milk, and it was still good. 

Monday, March 10, 2025

Cheesy Ham and Potato Casserole

Source: The Novice Chef

Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 45 mins
Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:
24 oz Frozen Shredded Hash Brown Potatoes (See note for how to use fresh potatoes instead)
2 tablespoons Frozen Minced Onions
2 cups Sour Cream (low fat)
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1/2 cup Butter (melted)
1 teaspoon Salt
2 1/2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese (divided)
3 cups Ham (cooked and diced)

Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large mixing bowl place frozen hash browns and minced onions and mix.
Add sour cream, cream of chicken soup, melted butter, salt, ham, and 2 cups shredded cheese. Mix well.
Place your mixed ingredients into a 9X13 casserole dish and top with 1/2 cup remaining shredded cheese.
Bake for 40-45 minutes.

Notes:
I had potatoes to use up, so I shredded them, rinsed them well, and squeezed as much water out of them as I could. Then I spread them in my prepared 9x13 pan and broiled them for a few minutes to get more moisture out so they weren't way soggier than frozen hash browns would be.

White Chicken Enchiladas

source: https://www.alyonascooking.com/white-chicken-enchiladas-recipe/#wprm-recipe-container-8281 

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 23 mins
Total: 33 mins

Ingredients:
10 8-inch flour tortillas
2 cups cooked shredded chicken
2 cups Colby & Monterey jack cheese shredded
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup sour cream
1 4oz can of diced green chilies

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 pan or any baking dish.
Mix the chicken and 1 cup of cheese. Roll up tortillas and place into the prepared pan.
In a saucepan, melt butter; stir in flour and cook for 1 minute. Add broth and whisk until smooth. Heat over medium heat until thick and bubbly.
Stir in sour cream and chilies. Do not bring to boil. You don't want curdled sour cream.
Pour over enchiladas and top with remaining cheese. Bake for 20 min then under high broil for three more minutes to brown the cheese.

**This is the recipe as it was written. I personally think the filling is a bit dry; next time I might try mixing some of the sauce with the chicken and cheese to see if that makes it less dry. (I like the taste of these a lot; I just want to experiment with the texture a bit.)

Sunday, February 23, 2025

Mini Sheet Pan Tostadas

Mini Sheet Pan Tostadas

Source: https://wholesomemadeeasy.com/mini-chicken-sheet-pan-tostadas/#wprm-recipe-container-4263

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Resting Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 12 tostadas

Ingredients
12 street taco size corn tortillas, approximately 4-inch
3 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil, or as needed
16 ounce can traditional refried beans, I used just shy of 1 can
2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken breast meat
2 cups shredded cheese, sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack

For Garnish
⅓ cup sour cream, or as needed
¼ cup finely diced red onion, or as needed
¼ cup chopped or torn cilantro leaves, or as needed
6 cherry or grape tomatoes, chopped into small pieces

Instructions
Line a large baking sheet with foil for easy cleanup. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
Brush both sides of the tortillas with oil and place on the prepared cookie sheet) they’ll be very close together but will shrink slightly after first bake). Bake for 9 to 10 minutes, or until firmed up but not overly browned or crisp (they’ll crisp up a bit as they rest and during 2nd bake).
Remove the baking sheet and let the tortillas rest for about 5 minutes or until cool enough to handle.
Flip the tortillas over and spread each one with refried beans and top with chicken and cheese. Return the tostadas to the oven and bake for an additional 5 to 6 minutes or until the beans and chicken are heated through and the cheese is melted.
Top each mini tostada with a small dollop (about 1+ teaspoon) of sour cream, a little diced onion, 2 pieces of cherry tomato (stuck in sour cream), and a little cilantro. Serve with the hot sauce.

Canned Pretzel Bites

Source: https://southernbite.com/canned-biscuit-pretzel-bites/

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 23 minutes
Servings: 32 bites


Ingredients
1 (16.3-ounce) can refrigerated biscuit dough (8 biscuits)
2 cup warm water*
1/4 cup baking soda
4 tablespoons butter, melted
coarse salt

Instructions
Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment or a silicone baking mat.
Cut each biscuit into 4 pieces and carefully roll each piece into a ball. Use a knife to make a small slit in the top of each ball of dough.
Pour the water into a medium bowl and whisk the baking soda in until it has dissolved.
Dip each dough ball into the baking soda water and place it, slit side up, onto the prepared pan.
Brush the dough balls with the melted butter and immediately sprinkle with coarse salt.
Bake for 8 to 9 minutes or until deep golden brown. Serve immediately.
*I made TWO batches and I had enough water/baking soda mix and butter left from the first batch that I didn't need to do more for the second batch.

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Vegetarian Tater Tot Casserole

Source: https://urbanfarmie.com/tater-tot-casserole/ 

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1hour 

Ingredients 
1 tablespoon olive oil 
1 large onion, finely chopped 
2 cloves garlic, minced (1/2 tsp garlic powder)
1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
10.5 ounces condensed cream of mushroom soup (1 can)
 ½ cup sour cream 
1 teaspoon smoked paprika (THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS REGULAR PAPRIKA!)
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon salt 
¼ teaspoon black pepper 
15 ounces frozen tater tots 

Instructions 
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 6x9-inch baking dish and set aside. (I used an 8 by 8)
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. 
Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute. 
Stir in the frozen mixed vegetables and cook for another 3-4 minutes until they begin to thaw and are heated through. 
Stir in the condensed cream of mushroom soup and sour cream until well combined. 
Add the smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes. 
Pour the vegetable mixture into the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly. 
Arrange the frozen tater tots in a single layer on top of the mixture, covering the entire surface. 
Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes until the tater tots are golden and crispy. 
Remove the casserole from the oven and let it sit for a few minutes.

Easy Cheesy Refried Bean Burritos

Source: https://theschmidtywife.com/refried-bean-burrito-recipe/ 

Prep Time: 10 minutes 
Cook Time; 15 minutes 
Total Time; 25 minutes 


Ingredients
1 ½ cups homemade or 1 (16-oz) can refried beans 
½ cup chunky salsa 
¼ cup diced onion 
1 teaspoon taco seasoning 
¼ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste 
2 cup shredded cheddar cheese 
4 (10-inch) flour tortillas (often referred to as “burrito-sized”) 


Instructions 
Preheat oven to 375ยบ F. Lightly grease a sheet pan. 
In a bowl add refried beans, salsa, onion, taco seasoning, and salt. Mix until combined. 
Spread 1/4 of the mixture evenly over a burrito tortilla leaving an inch from the end empty. 
Sprinkle 1/2 cup of cheese over the top of the bean mixture in each burrito. 
Wrap up the burrito making sure to tuck in the sides. Lay seam side down spread out on the sheet pan. Transfer to the oven and bake 12 to 15 minutes. 
Let rest at least 3 minutes before eating.