Baked Potato Soup

Baked Potato Soup


3 Tbs butter
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 C flour
4 1/2 C milk (low fat works great)
1 14oz can chicken broth
4 medium baking potatoes (about 2 1/2 pounds) baked*
2 C grated cheddar (or sharp cheddar) cheese, divided
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 1/2 C sour cream (low fat is fine), divided
1/2 C chopped green onions, divided
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled, divided

*don't have time to bake potatoes in the oven? Just pierce them with a fork a few times and then pop them in the microwave. Cook in 5 minute intervals until a knife easily pierces through them. It usually takes 5-10 minutes. To bake in the oven, pierce each potato with a fork and place directly on oven rack. Bake at 375 for 45-60 minutes.


Melt butter in a stock pot over medium heat. Add garlic and saute for 30-60 seconds until fragrant. Add flour to pan. Slowly add milk a little at a time while whisking constantly to eliminate lumps. Whisk until smooth and then add chicken broth. (Now, if you get to this point and don't have a smooth liquid. Stop! Save your soup by popping the mixture in the blender, then continue.) Bring soup just to a simmer and heat until thickened, stirring often, about 5 minutes.

Once soup is thickened, turn heat down to medium-low. Cut potatoes in half length-wise and use a spoon to scoop out potato flesh into the pot. Use a wooden spoon to smash potatoes, breaking up large clumps. Add 1 1/2 C grated cheese and salt and pepper and stir until cheese is melted. Remove pan from heat and stir in 3/4 C sour cream, 1/4 C green onions, and 4 strips of the crumbled bacon. Add additional salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into bowls and top with each serving with the remaining sour cream, onions, cheese, and bacon.

Tortelloni Bolognese

ortelloni Bolognese
Classic ingredients and savory fresh herbs combine to create this hearty Bolognese, featuring a slowly simmered red sauce. Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese over cheese tortelloni.
Bookmark and Share
Print Recipe

Tortelloni Bolognese
Prep Time:

25 minutes
Cook Time:

1 hour, 15 minutes
Serving Size:

Ingredients
4 Tbsp olive oil
2 onions, finely chopped
2 carrots, finely chopped
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 lb ground beef
12 oz Italian sausage, skinned
2 cups red wine
36 oz can crushed tomatoes, chopped (ground)
2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped (1/2 tsp dry)
2 tsp fresh sage, chopped (1/2 tsp dry)
Salt to taste
Pepper to taste
4 lbs Tortelloni
Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
Procedures

1. HEAT oil in a large pan. Add celery, carrot, onion, garlic and cook about 5 minutes. Add meat and cook 10 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
2. DEGLAZE pan with wine; let reduce. Add tomatoes and remaining ingredients and stir. Simmer for about 1 hour.
3. TOSS hot, drained pasta in sauce. Top with parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce

www.olivegarden.com
...
Ingredients
1 1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup imported Parmesan cheese, grated
1/2 cup imported Romano cheese, grated
6 egg yolks from fresh jumbo eggs
Salt and black pepper to taste

Procedures
1. HEAT milk and cream in a heavy bottom saucepan until it begins to simmer. Turn off heat. Slowly whip in cheese, then remove from heat.
2. PLACE egg yolks in a separate bowl and slowly whip in a portion of the hot milk and cream mixture. Slowly add egg yolk mixture back into remaining cream mixture. Place back on very low heat and continually stir until simmering. Take sauce off heat so it thickens. (This will increase temperature of egg yolks, known as tempering).
3. SEASON to taste with salt and black pepper. Serve over your favorite pasta.