Crock Pot Cheesy Potato and Broccoli Soup

It is a cold winter day in Charleston - it is 50 degrees at supper time so what could be better than a hot bowl of homemade soup?  My picture does not do this recipe justice!  This is a great soup that Kirby didn't even add Tabasco to - which he usually does!  I just found this today in my January issue of Southern Living - which is a great source of delicious recipes.  I added just a little bit of leftover ham and after serving I added freshly grated pepper.  It really is very easy and it uses the slow cooker which is wonderful!

• 2 T butter
• ½ C chopped onion
• 2 T flour
• 2 – 14.5 oz cans chicken broth
• 2 C peeled and diced red potatoes
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 C broccoli, chopped floret and thinly sliced stems
• 1 – 12 oz can evaporated milk
• 12 oz sharp white cheddar, grated (about 3 cups)

1. In a large skillet over med high heat, melt butter. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until tender and starting to brown, about 3 minutes. Stir in flour and cook, stirring for 30 seconds longer.  Gradually whisk in 1 can broth and stir until simmering and thickened.
2. Transfer onion mixture to slow cooker.  Add remaining can broth and potatoes, stirring to combine.  Cover and cook on high setting for 2 hours or until starting to simmer.
3. Stir in broccoli and evaporated milk.  Cover and cook 30 minutes linger or until broccoli is tender.
4. Add cheese and stir until melted.

Christmas Morning - 2011

I am not sure I need to write anything here! As is evidenced - we had a great time!

My Pictures in Puzzles

I put all new pictures into my puzzles! Just follow the link below to try it!



Or, on the right under "More Great Sites" you can go to Our Pictures in Puzzles to try some more.  It's fun!

Sun Room

The floor tile and the wall behind the stove are installed. (The floor is still dirty.  We can't walk on it yet)  Kirby is working on window sills now.  Isn't it cool that the floor looks like wood but is porcelain tile?

Any ideas on what to do with the windows?  I am thinking maybe just nothing.  I don't want to make the room even smaller with too much window treatment.  Anyone have good ideas??

Yours Truely

This picture of us was taken at my company holiday party.  So, that's us!

Asparagus Roll-Ups

Back in the early '80's when I was entertaining a lot and was a stay at home mom with time to do labor intensive dishes, I made these often.  Then then things changed, I went back to work, I lived on a boat, and never had time to make wonderful appetizers like this for parties.  I made them again yesterday!  And they are as wonderful as I remembered.  They were the hit of the party and I promised to post the recipe so it could be shared so here it goes with my notations.

• 15 slices white bread, crusts removed. (I used cheap sandwich white that is more square in shape)
• 2 containers of Boursin Garlic & Herb cheese spread or 8 oz of cream cheese
• 2 oz packaged bacon bits or 8 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled (the 2 oz is estimated - just buy a small jar or package)
• 30 fresh small asparagus spears cooked until just crisp
• 1/4 C. butter, melted
• 3 T grated Parmesan cheese

1. Flatten the bread thoroughly with a rolling pin.
2. Spread the cheese over the bread  (about 2 tsp each slice).
3. Place 2 spears of asparagus on each piece of bread with a spear protruding from each side. Sprinkle with a little of the bacon.
4. Roll the bread around the asparagus and place it seam side down on a backing sheet.
5. Brush each roll with the melted butter and sprinkle with the Parmesan.  (at this point you can cover them with plastic or foil and put in the refrigerator until ready to cook).
6. Bake at 400 degrees for about 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.
7. Serve immediately and accept the praise!

Wine Time

Last night we had Wine Time at my house. It is always so much fun to have a hen party and just laugh together.

This time because it is Christmas we did a gift exchange and it was a blast.  No, I didn't not end up with the giant wine glass (that holds a whole bottle of wine).  It was stolen from me! 

Would you believe that Christie selected the gift that I brought?  She must have just sensed that it was mine.  She loved the scarf!

You can see and read about the original Wine Time almost 2 years ago by clicking HERE.

W I N E

I just stumbled upon a great website - if you love wine and are passionate about it, check out Dr. Vino!  Don't you just love the name of the blog?  He knows a lot of "stuff" about wine!

About Dr. Vino

I talk, teach and write about wine. My first two wine books appeared in 2008: the first tells the backstory of the wine industry in France and America; the second is a practical guide chock full of wine recommendations. Wine Politics: How Governments, Environmentalists, Mobsters, and Critics Influence the Wines We Drink (University of California Press) has been called “enlightening” by Publishers Weekly and A Year of Wine: Perfect Pairings, Great Buys, and What to Sip with Each Season (Simon & Schuster) has been described as “witty, lively, and loaded with common sense” by the Chicago Tribune.
This all started in my Ph.D. dissertation on the political economy of the wine industry in France and the United States. So yes, I am a real doctor—I don’t just play one on the web. On this site I make good value wine recommendations and also look at the world through the wine glass, bringing in diverse perspectives and lively reader contributions. My wine writing has also appeared in print in Food & Wine, Wine & Spirits, the New York Times, Forbes.com and The Guardian among other places (see “in the media” for complete list). I also teach wine classes at NYU and formerly at the University of Chicago, taste over 1,000 wines a year, and give talks and tastings for individuals, groups and corporations (see “events“). Thanks for visiting and consider subscribing to the site feed. Cheers!
Tyler Colman

Sun Room

The sun room is coming right along.  The dry wall went up this week and is almost ready for the first coat of paint.  All the necessary duct work is done with fan and vents and all that stuff.  Today Kirby installed all the insulation in the attic.  There are so many things he does that you really can't see.

You probably are asking some questions so I will answer them for you!  The cut-out at the bottom is Jake's Doggie Door.  We got an insulated one so this should be interesting.  He will be able to come and go at will.  How much do you want to bet that I still have to suggest to him that it is time to go outside.  The area in the corner where there is no dry wall is where the wood burning stove will sit.  There will be tile installed on the wall behind it.

Sun Room

Just look at this! The windows are in and the siding is on! It looks fantastic doesn't it? I love the large picture windows even if they don't match the rest of the house.  It is a Sun Room after all!  And it looks more like the beach house I pretend it is!

The outside looks great but the inside is still lacking a little!  It will all take a little time.  No rush!

Craft Fair and Recital

My neighbor, Susan, and I drove up to Ladson yesterday to check out the craft fair. First we turned too soon and ended up at the Flea Market.  Remind me not to go there again.  It is all the leftover junk that wouldn't sell at garage sales and Goodwill didn't want.  Yukky and dirty.  Maybe there was a better area that we missed but we quickly found out that we were in the wrong area and left to correct our bad mistake!

So, we arrived at the craft fair and I have to admit, it looked like everything was home made or at least little cottage industry type of things.  It was interesting to see what people love crafting.  Sort of like my beading.  It doesn't matter if you are good at it or if someone else would like to pay for it.  You just like making it so you make it, and make it until you don't know what to do with it all and then you get the bright idea to sell it!  I don't think much of what we saw sells. :)

We saw a lot of big behinds too!

I did buy some dip flavor packets because they were good!

See, lots of stuff to buy.  They just keep making it and making it!

But the best part was this recital that was going on outside.  The children were precious trying to remember what to do.  They would copy the one next to them who was copying the one next to her and so on, so they were all different.  It was so cute!

Excuse the Mess

Kirby needed a project.  He needed a wood stove to stay warm.  I am getting a new Sun Room with a wood burning stove! I know that "sun room" and "wood burning stove" don't go together but in our room they will!  I don't want a "stove room" or "warm room" because for most of the year we won't be using the stove.

Today he and Mark are installing the windows.  I think we have even selected the floor tile and AGREED on it!  We are in love with the porcelain tiles that look just like wood.  With a dog and visiting dogs, tile is what works for us but wood looks so nice!  This is a good compromise.

So much fun watching it begin to look like a room, not a screened porch!