Hamburger Soup

2-3 lbs of cooked ground beef

6 peeled and diced potatoes

1 T garlic powder

1 onion, diced

1 green bell pepper diced

1 large can diced green chilis

2-3 large cans of diced tomatoes

Combine all in large pot on med-low until soup begins to simmer....then turn to low heat with the lid on for 1-2 hours or until potatoes are tender. Top with grated cheese, a dollop of sour cream and serve with tortilla chips--yum!

Strawberry Bread

* I made some little loaves of this bread to give away to friends for Christmas, it is so yummy...Kai loves it! And, it is a Martha Stewart recipe so you know it is dang good!


The recipe for this fruit-swirled quick bread comes from a reader, Debbie Cascio-van Hees, from the Netherlands. It calls for fresh strawberries, but you can substitute thawed frozen berries. Softened cream cheese is a delicious spread.
Prep: 10 minutesTotal: 1 hour 10 minutes
Ingredients
Serves 8
5 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon unsalted butter, softened, plus more for pan
1 pint strawberries, rinsed, hulled, quartered, and mashed with a fork
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-by-4-inch loaf pan. In a small saucepan, bring strawberries to a boil over medium heat. Cook, stirring, 1 minute. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt; set aside. With an electric mixer, cream butter, sugar, and eggs in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add flour mixture alternately with 1/3 cup water, beginning and ending with flour. Fold in reserved strawberries.
Scrape batter into prepared pan, smoothing top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 1 hour (tent with foil after 45 minutes if top is getting too dark). Cool in pan 10 minutes. Run a knife around edges; invert onto a rack. Reinvert; cool completely.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

2 cans of Diced Tomatoes & Green Chilies (14.5 oz each)
2 cans of chicken broth (14.5 oz each)
1 can of Traditional Refried Beans
1/2 cup of corn
2 cups shredded cooked chicken (I just boil mine and then shred it)
1/2 cup of shredded mexican cheese blend or montery jack or cheddar...whatever you like :)
1 bag of chips to crunch up on top

combine tomatoes, chilies and broth over medium heat...stir in refried beans and corn....bring to boil....reduce heat to low and simmer, stiring frequently for 5 minutes...add chicken....simmer for 5 minutes....and top with tortilla chips and cheese & enjoy!

This soup is soooo easy and very good, I doubled it and served it at our Halloween Party last year--it was a hit!

Festive Holiday Punch

Sorry about this first pic...the photog's fingers messed it up

8 cups Apple Cider

8 cups cranberry juice

1 red apple

1 orange

1 bag of cranberries (about 1 1/2 cups)

4 liters lemon lime soda

Pour juices and soda in punch bowl....add apple and orange slices, cranberries and ice if needed. No need to stir. Yum!

ice cubes if needed