Velveeta Broccoli Cheese Soup

Velveeta really makes this soup creamy, rich and delicious. After getting my kids past that there was broccoli in the soup, they really enjoyed it.

Ingredients
3 Tbsp Butter or Margarine
3 Tbsp Chopped Onion
3 Tbsp Flour
1 Can (14.5oz) Chicken Broth
1 Cup Milk
1/2 Lb (8oz) Velveeta, cut into 1/2 inch cubes (I accidently used 1 Lb, 1/2 box)
1 pkg (10oz) Frozen Chopped Broccoli, thawed and drained
(I used 1 head of fresh broccoli. I steamed it until it was very tender. Then I cut it into small pieces)

1. Melt butter into a pan and add onions. Cook until they are tender. Stir frequently.
2. Whisk in flour until blended.
3. Add broth and milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until it is warm.
4. Add broccoli and Velveeta. Cook until the Velveeta is melted.

ENJOY

Sarah's New Year's Appetizer - Bacon Cream Cheese Dip

My friend Sarah brings this appetizer every year to our New Year's Eve Party. It is a hit and everyone loves it. Plus it is super simple to make. You gotta love that!

Ingredients
1. 1 Package of Cream Cheese (Any variety...Regular or Fat Free)
2. Bacon Cooked Crisp (5 Slices)
3. 1/2 Jar of Pepper Jelly (I prefer spicy, but Sarah prefers not spicy. I used Pam's Pepper Jam.)
4. Wheat Thins

You can make this several ways...

Way One
1. Put the cream cheese on a plate and top it with jelly
2. Put the crumbled bacon on top off the cream cheese and jelly
3. Serve with the Wheat Thins. People dip the Wheat Thins in the dip.

Way Two
1. Spread the cream cheese on a plate or in a Tupperware container
2. Spread the jelly on top of the cream cheese.
3. Top with crumbled bacon
4. Serve with the Wheat Thins. People dip the Wheat Thins in the dip.

New Year's Eve Chili 2016 (Kristi Original)

If you haven't noticed, I really like to make chili. It's so great because you just dump a bunch of food in a pot and poof it becomes chili. It's so easy and fun to experiment in the kitchen. If you search for 'chili' on this blog, you will find many recipes. This is the mix I did for our New Year's Eve Party on Dec 31, 2016.

Ingredients
2 Lbs Ground Beef
1 Onion Chopped
2 Cans Dark Kidney Beans
2 Cans Light Kidney Beans
2 Cans Chili Beans
1 Can Great Northern Beans
1 Can Tomato Sauce
1 Large Jar of Medium Salsa (I used Pace Salsa)
1/2 Bottle of Amber Beer
1 Cup of White Wine - Sauvignon blac
1 Double Pack of Hot Dogs cut up, about 10 hot dogs
1 Jar of Diced Tomatoes - Chili Flavored
4 Crushed Garlic Cloves
Chili Powder - A lot, Several Tbsp - To Taste
Salt - To Taste
Pepper - To Taste
Fiesta Party Mix - Tastefully Simple - To Taste

1. Cook the ground beef and onions. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and Fiesta Party Mix.
2. Mix all the remaining ingredients, except the beer and chili, and put the chili in the fridge overnight.
3. Add beer and hotdogs.
4. Warm the chili, eat and enjoy. (I cooked it in the crock pot.)

Note: I'm not sure that it matters that you leave the beer and hotdogs out until the next day. That is just what I did. I was just missing some ingredients and had to wait until the next day.

Cauliflower Au Gratin - Gluten Free

I still need to try this recipe. I made it and it's sitting in our freezer. We were going to bring it for Christmas celebrations that got canceled for weather. It looks so delicious!

http://lowcarbyum.com/cauliflower-au-gratin-recipe-gluten-free/

Ingredients
14.5 Can of Chicken Broth
3/4 Cup Heavy Cream
4 Cloves Minced Garlic
1/2 tsp Onion Powder
1/4 tsp Poultry Seasoning
1 tsp Xanthan Gum or low carb thickener of choice
2 Packages Frozen Cauliflower Florets or 2 fresh heads cut into florets
16 oz Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
8 Slices Bacon Cooked and Chopped

1. Combine broth, heavy cream, garlic, onion powder, poultry seasoning, and xanthan gum in medium saucepan.
2. Cook liquids over medium heat, stirring frequently, until thickened, remove from heat.
3. Mix the cauliflower, cheese, and sauce together in 9x13 casserole pan.
4. Sprinkle the chopped bacon on top then cover with remaining cheese.
5. Bake at 350 degrees oven for 50 min or until browned and cauliflower is tender.

Nutrition Facts

Cauliflower Au Gratin - Gluten Free

Amount Per Serving (164g)

Calories 167 Calories from Fat 109

                               % Daily Value*

Total Fat 12.1g                        19%

Saturated Fat 5.5g                     28%

Cholesterol 34mg                    11%

Sodium 1187mg                      49%

Potassium 198mg                     6%

Total Carbohydrates 4.5g       2%

Dietary Fiber 3g                      12%

Sugars 0.8g

Protein 9.6g                            19%

Vitamin A                                 4%

Vitamin C                                21%

Calcium                                   10%

Iron                                            5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Crock Pot Cauliflower and Cheese

We made this for Christmas this year. It was really good. Who knew that you could make cauliflower so yummy? If only the childhood me had known this.

http://spicysouthernkitchen.com/crock-pot-cauliflower-cheese/

Ingredients
1 Head of Cauliflower, cut into florets
1 Can of Condensed Cheddar Soup
1 (5 ounce) can evaporated milk
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Pepper
1/2 tsp paprika
1/4 Cup Onion finely diced
2 Cups Shredded Cheddar

1. Grease the inside of a crock pot (3-4 quart crock pot)
2. Put cauliflower in crock pot
3. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a saucepan. Cook on a medium heat, stirring constantly until the cheese is melted.
4. Pour sauce over the cauliflower
5. Cover and cook on low for 3 to 3-1/2 hours, depending on how tender you want the cauliflower.

NOTE: Do not use extra-sharp. It is too acidic and can turn grainy.

Prep Time: 5 Min
Cook Time: 3 Hours
Total Time: 3 Hours 5 Min

Low Carb Bacon and Egg Bake / Quiche

I made this low carb egg bake for my family over the holiday's. My 5 year old is an incredibly picky eater. He took one bite without any argument, jumped up from the table, squealed for joy and ran and gave me a HUGE hug. He said it was the best food he had EVER eaten. :) We will be making it again.

http://www.food.com/recipe/low-carb-bacon-and-egg-quiche-256210

Ingredients
6 Large Eggs
1 Cup Heavy Cream
1 Cup of Grated Cheddar or Swiss Cheese (I used Cheddar)
1/2 Cup of Crispy Cooked Bacon Crumbled
Salt
Pepper

1. Mix the Eggs and Cream
2. Add in Remaining Ingrediants
3. Grease a Pan (I used a pie pan with pan spray)
4. Cook at 350 Degrees for 40 Minutes or until the egg bake becomes a golden brown.

Nutrition Info

Serving Size: 1 (173 g)
Servings Per Recipe: 4

Amount Per Serving % Daily Value

Calories 481.8

Calories from Fat 385  80%

Total Fat 42.8 g  65%

Saturated Fat 23.4 g  117%

Cholesterol 401.4 mg  133%

Sodium 541.3 mg  22%

Total Carbohydrate 2.7 g  0%

Dietary Fiber 0 g  0%

Sugars 0.5 g  1%

Protein 21.5 g  42%