Is it the weekend yet?

 Happy Friday Eve..and Long Weekend Eve as well!

Brian and I have been feeling sick most of the week but luckily are feeling much better today! This morning I got to have brunch with my friend Rachel and we spent a good part of the day chatting, antique shopping and baking! How fun!

Tonight I had a couple friends over to try a Pinterest project and a couple pumpkin-y recipes. It was a great night full of good conversation and a lot of laughing! Im thinking about getting a group of girls together monthly to do a Pinterest craft and or recipe night! Fun right?

Here is my Crockpot Potato Soup recipe from the other night. It turned out great and the leftovers were just as good!

Ingredients:

6 Medium potatoes , peeled and diced.
1 (14oz) can of Chicken Broth
1/2 of a medium onion, diced
6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/4 cup butter
3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped

• 1/2 cup milk

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

• 2 cups milk

• 1 cup sour cream

• 1 cup of Cheddar cheese

• 2 tablespoons seasoned salt

Directions:

Put the diced potatoes, chopped onions and chicken broth in a sauce pan and fill just enough to cover 

the potatoes with water . Cook until soft.

Heat the crockpot on HIGH. Melt the butter along with garlic. Let it simmer in crockpot for 5 minutes.

Add 1/2 cup of milk and 1/4 cup of flour to butter mixture in crockpot. Mix well and let simmer until thick. Add remaining 2 cups of milk. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Add sour cream, cheese, seasoned salt, bacon and potato mixture to crockpot. Reduce heat to low and cook for 3-4 hours.


Simple enough right?

So. Good.

Now for my 2 pumpkin-y recipes from tonight. I found both on Pinterest of course!

1) Pumpkin Pie Fruit Dip (http://pinterest.com/pin/230105862181979250/)

Ingredients:

• 15 oz can pumpkin
• 3/4 cup brown sugar (Splenda would work too)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/8 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or more to taste)*
• 6 oz fat free Greek yogur
• 8 oz Cool Whip (I used fat-free)
• cut up apples, bananas, and other fruits/crackers/cookies to dip

Mix pumpkin with brown sugar, vanilla and spices, blend well. Mix in yogurt. Fold in cool whip and chill in refrigerator until ready to eat.


The Second is the easiest recipe ever-Pumpkin Muffins!(http://pinterest.com/pin/230105862181975012/)

Ingredients:

1 Box of Yellow Cake Mix
15oz can of Pumpkin

Directions:

 Preheat oven to 350.

Mix two ingredients and pour into muffin tin. Bake for 22mins at 350. 


Yep, That simple and they taste WON-DER-FUL!


Anyways, I hope you all enjoy your long weekend! Go out and do something fun!

Rainy Weather..

I dont know about you but when its rainy and dark I just want some soup. Creamy potato soup with lots of cheese and bacon.

 I've made it on the stovetop a few times but this time I want to try a good crockpot recipe with minimal ingredients.

I searched the internet and came across 2 recipes that I will combine and make my own. We'll see how this turns out tomorrow!

Recipe #1
Ingredients

1 bag 32 0z frozen southern style dices hash brown potatos, thawed
1/2 cup chopped raw onion
i medium stalk celery, diced 1/2 cup
2 cans (14 oz each) 99% fat free chicken broth
1 cup water
3 tablespoons Gold Medal all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 bag shredded colby-jack cheese
 ON SALE

1/4 cup Bac-o bacon bits
 ON SALE

1/4 cup green onions
 
 Heart-Healthier
 See how!

Directions

1) In a 3 to 4 quart slow cooker, mix potatoes, onion, celery, broth and water

2) Cover; cook on low heat setting 6 to 8 hours

3) After 5 hours add bacon bits, so flavor soaks into soup

4) In a small bowl, mix flour into milk; stir into potato mixture. Increase heat setting to High. Cover; cook 20 to 30 minues or until mixure thickens. Stir in cheese until melted. Garnish with green onions. Sprinkle with pepper if desired.

Number of Servings: 6

Recipe #2

Ingredients

• 3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 4 red potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch chunks
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups milk
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons seasoned salt
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon celery salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• chives for garnish (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat a large slow cooker by turning it to the High setting and covering with the lid.
2. Place the cut-up potatoes in a microwave safe bowl, and microwave on High for about 8 minutes, until the potatoes are cooked and steaming hot.
3. While the potatoes are cooking, place the butter in the preheated slow cooker, and cook and stir the onions and garlic for about 5 minutes, until the onions turn golden. Stir in 1/2 cup of milk, and whisk in the flour until smooth. Gradually whisk in the remaining 3 cups of milk, and let the mixture come to a simmer in the slow cooker. Simmer for about 10 minutes, until the soup begins to thicken.
4. Stir in the hot cooked potatoes, crumbled bacon, sour cream, Cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, seasoned salt, parsley, red pepper flakes, celery salt, and dried basil. Stir to mix the soup well, reduce the slow cooker setting to Low, cover, and cook for 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with chives and serve.

Whats your favorite rainy day recipe?

Miller Household Update..

...No, We are not pregnant. I just realized with that Post title my mom would automatically assume that we are announcing we are pregnant..We are not.


Now that we have that established I'm gonna give you a little update on whats been going on in our household.

1) We leave for Switzerland in 17 days! CAN NOT WAIT!!!

2) Brian and I are going to be helping with Awana at church this year. That should be interesting ;-)

3) I've started serving with a friend of mine at a local group home. For now we are bringing dinner 2x a month and hope to start mentoring a child soon. It is a super neat place!

4) We I am in full on Christmas mode. Like, I want to put my tree up today...but I wont, I'll at least wait for Nov 1st...Sorry Halloween and Thanksgiving, you may get overlooked this year.

5) We tried a new super easy recipe for Beef Stroganoff last night. It was pretty great for as easy as it is. I'll share the recipe below.

Beef Stroganoff Recipe

• 1 (8 ounce) package egg noodles
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 (10.75 ounce) can fat free condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Prepare the egg noodles according to package directions and set aside.
2. In a separate large skillet over medium heat, saute the ground beef over medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until browned. Drain the fat and add the soup and garlic powder. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Remove from heat and combine the meat mixture with the egg noodles. Add the sour cream, stirring well, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

6) I have just discovered Polyvore( I know, where have I been??). Its been a cool tool for me to find pieces like the ones I have in my closet and create new outfits out of them. Heres an  example of pieces similar to ones I recently purchased:

Mint and Gold by breakfastattiffanysblog featuring a mint green dress

7) I am really enjoying my "Home Management Binder"! It makes me feel like I have it together.

8) Brian has his first Church softball game on Friday. Im excited! I miss stuff like this!

I think thats everything for right now..Whats going on in your life?

P.S. I came across this on a blog I enjoy reading and LOVE it!