Showing posts with label cheese. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cheese. Show all posts

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Asparagus Soup

This soup is so creamy- a total comfort food. It has nice rich flavors and pairs with anything. I just love asparagus so this is an easy choice for me.

SERVES 6

INGREDIENTS
1/2 c onions, diced
3 T butter
1/4 t white pepper
2 lbs. asparagus, cleaned, trimmed, and sliced to 1/2 inch pices*
1/2 c slided Yukon gold potato
2 1/2 - 3 c chicken stock
3/4 c half and half
sea salt to taste
1 T sliced chives
3 T grated cheese

In a thick bottom soup pot, melt the butter and cook the onions and white pepper about 2 minutes. Do not brown.

Add the stock, asparagus and potato and cook until very soft. Transfer to a food processor and puree the mixture until it becomes a smooth paste. Return to pot.

Add the half and half, bring to a simmer and then add salt to taste. Serve immediately in warm bowls garnished with the chives and cheese.

*Peeling asparagus makes them very sweet

Monday, January 7, 2013

Skinny Cheesy Potatoes

These were super flavorful, and although they still have a few naughty ingredients, they're healthier than Grandma's recipe. I served these with Sticky Peppers and Sausage.

SERVES 6

INGREDIENTS
8 medium potatoes cut into matchsticks (or 32 oz bag shredded hash browns)
1 1/2 c plain greek yogurt 
1/2 c veggie broth
1/2 c milk (at least 2%)
1 t garlic powder
1 t onion powder
1 t season salt
1/2 t dried oregano
1/2 t pepper
1 t salt
1 c shredded sharp cheddar*

PreHeat Oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients into a large bowl.  Grease a 9 X 13 glass or ceramic baking pan with cooking spray.  Pour potato mixture into baking pan and spread evenly.  Bake uncovered for 1 hour and 10 minutes.

*Although this recipe is much lower in fat/calories than the traditional, it still needs some fat to make sure the ingredients bind while cooking. That is why it is suggested to use 2% milk and regular (not non-fat) cheese. If you were to use all low fat ingredients, it will turn out watery.

*I have never encountered this, but if you are worried about the yogurt curdling, try mixing in 1 1/2T of flour to the potato mixture before pouring into the baking pan