Crock-Pot Potato Soup

Holy cow!  This recipe is easy and GOOD. I got it from the always fabulous Pearls, Handcuffs and Happy Hour.  It is a perfect busy weekday meal!

Ingredients:

32 oz. bag of shredded potatoes (hash browns)
(3) 14 oz. cans chicken broth
(1) can cream of chicken soup
1/2 onion, chopped
1/4 tsp. pepper
8 oz. pkg cream cheese (don't use low/fat free...it won't melt)

Directions:

-  Pour all ingredients, EXCEPT cream cheese, into your crock-pot.
-  Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
-  About one hour before serving add cream cheese to the soup and let it melt.
-  Serve topped with shredded cheese, bacon, green onions or whatever you like!

Chicken & Corn Chowder

Since we have been iced/snowed in for the past four days I have been able to cook this week. I mean, what else am I supposed to do?! I made Chicken Pot Pie which is a huge hit at our house and I tried this new recipe last night which was also a hit and super simple!Ingredients:

2 1/2 c. chicken, cooked and chopped
15 oz. can Mexicorn
4 oz. can chopped green chilies
2 tbls. cilantro, chopped
3 c. chicken broth
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1 can cream of mushroom soup
4 oz. Velveeta cheese
8 oz. sour cream

Directions:

- Mix all ingredients EXCEPT for the Velveeta and sour cream in a large crock pot and cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 8-10 hours.
- With 30 minutes remaining on your cooking time, remove one cup of the soup and pour into a medium bowl. Stir in the Velveeta and the sour cream.
- Pour mixture back into the crock pot and stir.
- Cook for 30 minutes before serving.
- It was really good with crushed tortilla chips and I would have put avocado slices on top too if I had had an avocado!

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

This is my dad's recipe. He is the king at making this soup! It is the best and we always look forward to fall and winter because we eat this a lot and can never seem to get enough! It's pretty easy and makes your house smell amazing! This recipe makes a ton of soup (enough for 6 people and plenty of leftovers) so plan accordingly. Also, my dad just sort of dumps things in so there aren't measurements...he just does everything to taste.Ingredients:

2 whole chickens (make sure you remove all the guts before you boil them)
3 large onions, cut in large chunks
1 bag carrots, peeled and sliced
2 cartons of sliced mushrooms
1 bag celery, sliced
2 bags of rice
8 oz. bag of no yolk noodles
salt, a lot
pepper, a lot
dill weed, a lot
onion powder, some
herbs de provance, a little

Directions:

- Put each chicken in its own pot covering it with water. Add 1/2 of an onion, a little dill, lots of salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, boil for 45 minutes to an hour.
- Remove chickens from water and de-bone.
- Return chicken to water and add all your veggies.
- Add more of all the seasonings, cover it and let it simmer for 1 hour (the longer you let it simmer the better it tastes)
- If some of your liquid has evaporated add a little chicken stock.
- 10 minutes before you are ready to eat add the noodles and the rice and bring back up to a boil. - Check the seasonings and adjust before serving.

Tortilla Soup

I got this recipe from my sister who got it from her sister-in-law Shannon. It is so easy and so yummy! It looks like a lot of ingredients and work but you basically dump everything into one pot. It definitely hits the spot on a cold and rainy day! It may be the best tortilla soup I have ever had!Ingredients:

4 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded OR 1 whole rotisserie chicken {my personal preference}, shredded

2 tblsp. oil

1/4 c. onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/2 can Rotel

1 can Cream of Chicken soup

1 can Tomato soup

1 can black beans

1 can corn

1/2 soup can of water

1 can stewed tomatoes

1 tsp. cumin

1/2 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. salt

Garnish with {optional}:

tortilla chips

shredded cheese

avocado

sour cream

Directions:

- In a large pot, sautee cooked chicken, onion and garlic in the oil until onion is tender.

- Add all remaining ingredients.

- Bring to a boil stirring occasionally.

- Reduce heat and let simmer for one hour.