Mrs.LenFlack.com

Zuppa Toscana

1lb ground itialian sausage

1 1/2 tsp crushed red peppers

1 large diced white onion

4 TBSP (about 4 full pieces) Bacon Pieces

2 tsp garlic

5 quarts chicken broth

3 large potatoes, diced

1 cup heavy whipping cream

1/4 bunch of kale or spinach

In a a soup pot (extra large pot), brown sausage, remove fat, return to the same pot. Add peppers, onion, bacon and garlic.  Cook on medium heat until vegetables are soft.  Add chicken broth and potatoes.  Cook on low heat for one hour.  Add in cream and heat thoroughly.  Add kale or spinach and enjoy!

Add Parmesan cheese for a true Olive Garden taste.

We love this recipe for a great after church meal!  I do everything before the cream and then heat it up when we get home, add the cream and kale and serve.  SOOOO yummy on these cold and wintery days!

This recipe is WONDERFUL for church dinners!  Last time I made it, it was gone before Len even got through the line.

Crockpot Mac & Cheese

Cook 4 cups dry elbow macaroni
Stir in 1/4 cup oil
Add 2 cans evaporated milk
16 oz shredded sharp or extra sharp cheese *
2 t salt
1/2 cup melted butter
4 T minced onion

Cook on low for 3 hours.

*I also had 8 oz mozzarella.

Everyone in this house LOVES onion rings.  Eli and Moriah always beg Len for one of his when we go out to eat.  BUT since we’re eating in lot more frequently than we had been and eating healthier, I decided to look up some alternative recipes.  These were FANTASTIC!!

BAKED ONION RINGS

2 egg whites
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tap. pepper
1/2 lg. sweet yellow onion, cut into rings
1/3 c. dry bread crumbs

Cut onion into rings. Combine egg whites, salt, and pepper into a bowl.  Dip onion rings into mixture and coat with bread crumbs.  Bake for 10-15 minutes at 450.

Enjoy!

I LOVE my new bread maker!! My awesome mother in law bought it for my birthday and it is one great gift, let me tell you! Put everything in and walk away…easy peasy!! Today while making bread, I also watched Moriah in her new Bumbo seat (thanks Aunt Ruthie!) and gave Elijah a bath in the sink. Talk about multi tasking! LOL!

Here are some things I’ve learned so far (in two days) about bread making:
1. Making bread with my man is loads of fun and he looks like a kid on Christmas peeking through the viewing window.
2. If you don’t add enough water, it looks chunky.
3. If you add more water it fixes the problem.
4. We need something to help in the guiding of slicing bread. My slices are very uneven.
5. If you turn away for a few seconds, your toddler might swipe the entire loaf and take a bite! (I really wish I’d gotten a picture of this, but the little turkey ran away!)