happily random

Cookie Day: Salted Mudslide Cookies

Yeh, yeh, I know. I'm an inconsistent blogger. So live with it. Trying to do better, get it into my routine, see if I can truly make a go at writing down my thoughts. 

Cookie day today. I don't really like store-bought, pre-package cookies. Anyone else thinks they're just too crunchy? Cookies should be chewy inside with a crunchy outside, chocolate oozing with each bite. Store-bought cookies just aren't like that, although I will make an exception for Girl Scout Samoas, but then who wouldn't? Anyway, I try to make at least one batch at the beginning of every week for the kids' and my Tall Man's lunches... and to much on myself from time to time. All that running makes for a healthy appetite.

Pinterest is a great enabler. Cookie recipes galore. Today I made Salted Mudslide Cookies from How Sweet It Is. Yum, yum! Chocolate chocolate chip with coffee and Kalua? Who wouldn't want to try them?

*I didn't use chocolate chunks because I had chocolate chips in my pantry. Still equally yummy. And I sprinkled the salt on before they baked which worked just fine.

By Popular Demand: Baked Potato Soup

Anytime I mention this soup, I have dozens of requests for the recipe. Without a doubt, it's one of my favorite soups, but it is by no means low fat, low carbs or low anything. It's a great cold-weather soup, the ultimate in comfort foods. Love to serve it with Steakhouse Wheat Bread. Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients:

• 4 large baked potatoes
• 2/3 cups butter
• 2/3 cup flour
• 6 cups milk (whole or 2%)
• 1 ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp pepper
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 12 sliced bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
• 1 cup sour cream

 Directions:

1. Scoop out pulp from potatoes & put in a small bowl. Mash up potatoes till they are lumpy.
   *I like to microwave potatoes in the morning and then peel them in the evening when they're cool before making the soup. For some reason when you microwave potatoes, the skins peel right off.
2. Melt butter in large kettle. Stir in flour. Gradually stir in milk. Continue to stir until smooth, thickened & bubbly.
3. Stir in potato pulp, salt, pepper, onions, bacon, sour cream & cheese. Cook until heated.
   *I cook my bacon in the oven on Pampered Chef Stone Bakeware. About 20-30 minutes at 400 degrees usually does it. Less mess and easier than a skillet. Also, it cooks very evenly.