Baked Potato Soup

Everyone in my house is sick (except me - knock on wood), so I decided for dinner last night we needed a good hearty warm soup. (Thanks sis for the recipe!)

I love my crockpot! It saves me time & money. This recipe has a little bit of extra prep - but it's so worth it. You'll have tons of delicious soup - really good leftovers! Nice and hearty.

• 4 large baking potatoes
• 2/3 cup butter or margarine
• 2/3 cup flour
• 6 cups milk
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 4 chopped green onions
• 12 slices cooked and crumbled bacon
• 1 1/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 8 oz light sour cream
• 1 1/2 tsp chicken bouillon granules

Wash potatoes and prick several times with a fork. Bake in foil at 350 degrees for 45 min to 1 hr. Let cool. Cut potatoes into cubes.

Melt butter in heavy sauce pan over low heat. Add flour, stir until smooth. Cook 1 min, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture is bubbly.

Pour into crockpot and then add salt, pepper, green onions, crumbled bacon, cheddar cheese, chicken granules. Mix through. Then fold in potatoes.

Cook on high for 4 hrs. Stir in sour cream right before serving. If soup is too thick, add a little milk at a time until desired thickness is achieved.

Garnish with additional sour cream and crumbled bacon.

*My changes: 1/2 tsp salt instead, no chicken bouillon granules and it tasted just great! I also only cooked for 2 hours and it was already overdone. Since everything is pre-cooked I think I'd even do it on low for 2 hours and it would probably be good and done. Also delicious when served in bread bowls!

Apple & Pear Pork Roast

LOVE this new recipe!! So tasty and so easy - I love you crockpot. Thanks to my guinea pigs, who all approved! Ry really liked it...I think he ate half the roast himself!
Apple & Pear Pork Roast

• 1 pork roast (3-4 lb)
• 2 apples - peeled & sliced
• 2 pears - peeled & sliced
• 1/2 onion - chopped
• 1 cup apple juice
• salt/pepper to taste

Place roast in crockpot. Pour apple juice over the top. Sprinkle with salt & pepper. Surround roast with sliced apples & pears & diced onions. Cook on low 6-8 hours, or high 4-6 hours.

Crockpot Lasagna

This one's for you Lisa! I wanted to try something other than a roast in my crockpot & I've never made lasagna - so here ya go.

The guinea pigs were a few of my in-laws. Minimal preperation, which rocks. I think next time I would do 1/2 lb ground beef & 1/2 lb italian sausage to give it more spice. I also would cut back on the cheese a little.

It just was a little too much cheese for me. Or maybe leave the cheese as is, but do another 1/2 lb meat to compensate. Oh, and the recipe also says cook on low for 4-6 hours - 4.5 was plenty. It was starting to burn on the bottom.

Click here for the recipe (and other great crockpot recipes)!

The Recipes

*indicates extra healthy factor - usually sneaky...

Appetizers

Breakfast

• Green Eggs *
• Pink Pancakes *

Entrees

• Creamy White Chicken Chili
• Penne Pesto Chicken
• Poppyseed Chicken
• Secretly Healthy Lasagna *
• Spicy Baked Macaroni
• Stuffed Zucchini
• Zucchini Souffle

Crockpot

• Apple & Pear Pork Roast
• Baked Potato Soup
• Lasagna

Side Dishes

Dessert {the most important part!}

• Cake Balls
• Cranberry White Chip Blondies
• Easiest Cheesecake Ever
• Lucky Lime Pie
• Pear Tarts
• Thanksgiving Pies 2009

Drinks

• Green Smoothies *

Baby Food

• The Basics

Food Storage

• Strawberry Freezer Jam

Misc

• Basic Sauces