Panera Bread Broccoli Cheese Soup

I love Panera Bread. I never go to "fast food" places any more so Panera Bread is my fast food place. (And Sheetz but that is another post...)

Most of the time I order the "you pick two" b/c I can never decide what I want. I usually get a turkey sandwich on asiago cheese bread and a bowl of broccoli cheese soup. Mmmm.

I found this copy cat recipe for the soup. It tastes very similar and isn't too hard to make. Sometimes I will pick up bread bowls to serve the soup in. I love bread bowls! Or we just buy a nice crusty loaf of bread.

Speaking of yummy bread check out the Parmesan cheese bread at the market district giant eagle. It is soooo good. It may have its own separate post coming up too.

But for now here is the recipe:

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups half-and-half
2 cups chicken stock or bouillon
1/2 pound fresh broccoli
1 cup carrots, julienned
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
8 ounces grated sharp cheddar

Directions:

Saute onion in butter. Set aside. Cook melted butter and flour using a whisk over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Stir constantly and slowly add the half-and-half (this is called making a roux). Add the chicken stock whisking all the time. Simmer for 20 minutes.

Add the broccoli, carrots and onions. Cook over low heat until the veggies are tender for 20-25 minutes. Add salt and pepper. The soup should be thickened by now. Pour in batches into blender and puree. Return to pot over low heat and add the grated cheese; stir until well blended. Stir in the nutmeg and serve.

Recipe is from here

White Spaghetti

I found this recipe a long time ago when Mike and I were 1st married. It was one of the first meals that I made that wasn't out of a box or packet! It is a quick, easy meal. Nothing too exciting, but a nice change from tomato sauce.

16 oz spaghetti noodles
2 or 3 eggs (beaten)
1 cup parm cheese
6-8 slices of bacon (cooked and crumbled)

Cook noodles according to directions. Drain. Immediately add the eggs and stir into the noodles (right in the pot). The eggs will cook right on the noodles (and the pot so stir often). Add the parm cheese. Top with bacon and serve.

So easy. The original recipe also called for ham and maybe green onions. I have also read where you can add garlic. You just heat some oil in a frying pan and cook some garlic. Then cook your bacon on in that pan.

Easter Dessert -- Vanilla oreo truffles

I was in charge of Easter dessert this year. I made egg shaped rice krispie treats decorated with white chocolate. I also made oreo truffles. But I didn't make chocolate ones. I made them using the Golden Oreos. They were yummy. I prefer them dipped in white chocolate but I always make some with regular chocolate for those who do not like white chocolate.

I made these for the first time for Christmas. The Smith family loved them. So did everyone else. I also make them with regular oreos and mint oreos. I can't decide which are my favorites...

Here is the recipe:
1 box of golden oreos finely crushed (into powder basically)
1 softened box of cream cheese
Chocolate for melting/dipping

Mix cookies and cream cheese. Roll into balls. Place on wax paper on cookie sheet. Put in freezer until they are hard. :O

Take out of freezer and dip into melted chocolate.

Decorate as you like.

Recipe is from here

Chicken Fingers

I love chicken fingers...Mike not so much. But he does enjoy these. The key to this recipe is soaking them in buttermilk. You have to do it, and you not substitute with regular milk.

After they are done frying, I melt some butter in a bowl and add hot sauce (only Frank's hot sauce please!). Then I roll them around and let them sit a minute or two. Sometimes I add some parmesan cheese too. Or i buy a bottle of arizona ranch sauce from quaker steak and lube.

For a new twist I tried this honey ginger sauce: sauce recipe

I want to do garlic and butter next time.

We usually eat these with a salad or make wraps. They are great the next day too (cold).

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

* 6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1/2 inch strips
* 1 egg, beaten
* 1 cup buttermilk
* 1 cup all-purpose flour
* 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 quart oil for frying

Directions

1. Place chicken strips into a large, resealable plastic bag. In a small bowl, mix the egg, and buttermilk. Pour mixture into bag with chicken. Seal, and refrigerate 2 to 4 hours.
2. In another large, resealable plastic bag, mix together the flour, bread crumbs, salt and baking powder. Remove chicken from refrigerator, and drain, discarding buttermilk mixture. Place chicken in flour mixture bag. Seal, and shake to coat.
3. Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
4. Carefully place coated chicken in hot oil. Fry until golden brown and juices run clear. Drain on paper towels.

Recipe found here

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have one go to chocolate chip cookie recipe. I will post it later. I just tried this recipe by Alton Brown on the food network. Mike really liked them and It got rave reviews from several people (one who doesn't like chocolate chip cookies).

I didn't have bread flour but they still turned out great. I will have to try it with bread flour next time.

Ingredients

* 2 sticks unsalted butter
* 2 1/4 cups bread flour
* 1 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/4 cup sugar
* 1 1/4 cups brown sugar
* 1 egg
* 1 egg yolk
* 2 tablespoons milk
* 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

Melt the butter in a heavy-bottom medium saucepan over low heat. Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda and set aside.

Pour the melted butter in the mixer's work bowl. Add the sugar and brown sugar. Cream the butter and sugars on medium speed. Add the egg, yolk, 2 tablespoons milk and vanilla extract and mix until well combined. Slowly incorporate the flour mixture until thoroughly combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Chill the dough, then scoop onto parchment-lined baking sheets, 6 cookies per sheet. Bake for 14 minutes or until golden brown, checking the cookies after 5 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet for even browning. Cool completely and store in an airtight container.

Recipe from here

Chicken Piccata and Garlic Cheese Bread

I love chicken parm but Mike doesn't really like breaded chicken. A while ago I was looking for some ways too cook chicken but not in a casserole. We like chicken piccata at Italian restaurants so I looked up some recipes. This one was pretty easy and tasted yummy. I save some of the sauce and add it to pasta.

We made this last week with the Pioneer Woman's Garlic Bread (which is my favorite)


Chicken Piccata Recipe

* 2 Boneless chicken breasts sliced in half or 3 slices
* 2 TBS Butter
* 1 TBS Olive oil
* 1/4 cup flour
* 3/4 tsp paprika
* 3/4 - 1 cup dry white wine
* 3 TBS lemon juice
* Salt
* Freshly ground pepper (white or black) to taste
* 1 TBS Butter (for sauce at finish)
* 3 TBS capers
RINSE chicken breasts under cold running water, drain, put on paper towel. Pat dry.

SLICE the chicken breasts to desired thickness 1/8 - 1/4" thick. Unlike veal, chicken is better cut than pounded thin.

MIX flour, paprika, salt and pepper

DREDGE chicken in flour.

HEAT butter and olive oil in sautée pan over medium heat; be careful not to burn the butter, if using it. Add chicken breasts - do not crowd the pan. Sautée for about two minutes per side. REMOVE to a warm platter; you can place platter in warm oven.

ADD lemon and wine to pan; DEGLAZE (Dissolve the remaining bits of food) the pan using a wooden spoon or spatula to scrape. This is the basis for your sauce.

BRING to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, let sauce thicken.

WHEN sauce is thickened, swirl in butter. Add capers.

POUR pan juices over chicken. Serve.

chicken piccata recipe


Garlic Cheese Bread

Ingredients

* 3-½ cups Grated Cheddar Cheese
* ¾ cups Monterey Jack Cheese, Grated
* ½ cups Grated Parmesan Cheese
* ½ cups (real) Mayonnaise
* 4 whole Green Onions, White And Light Green Parts Minced
* 1 dash Salt
* 1 loaf Crusty French Bread
* 1 stick Butter
* 4 cloves Garlic, Finely Minced

Preparation Instructions

Mix cheeses with the mayonnaise and the green onions. Add dash of salt to taste and set aside or keep in fridge until you need it.

Cut loaf of bread in half, then each half into half again.
Working 1/4 loaf at a time, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a skillet and add 1/4 of the minced garlic. Place 1 of the 1/4 loaves face down in the skillet, swirling it to soak up the butter and garlic. Allow bread to toast in the skillet, removing garlic if it starts to get too brown.

Repeat with remaining butter, garlic, and bread.

Spread cheese mixture on warm loaves and bake in a 425 degree oven until cheese is hot and bubbly, about 10 minutes.

Slice and serve.


garlic bread recipe

Copykat Recipe -- Max and Erma's Chicken Tortilla Soup

I love Max and Erma's Tortilla Soup. This copy cat recipe is pretty good, although not good for you! This makes a ton of soup so sometimes I cut the recipe in half.

Ingredients:

* 2 (10 3/4 ounce) cans Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup
* 2 (10 3/4 ounce) cans Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup
* 2 (10 3/4 ounce) cans Campbell's condensed cream of celery soup
* 2 (10 3/4 ounce) cans Campbell's cheddar cheese soup
* 2 (15 ounce) cans chicken broth
* 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes
* 1 cup picante salsa (Pace brand medium hot)
* 1 (4 1/2 ounce) can green chilies (Ortega brand)
* 1 medium onion, chopped
* 4 fresh garlic cloves, minced
* 1 teaspoon red new mexico chile powder
* salt and pepper, to your taste
* 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
* 4 cooked chicken breasts, cut into small chunks
* 10 flour tortillas
* 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
* 1/2 lb colby cheese or cheddar

Directions

1.In a large (8-10 quart) stockpot combine and whisk together until smooth all eight cans of soup.
2.Add chicken broth. Add tomatoes, salsa, green chiles, onion, garlic, chile powder, salt and pepper. Bring all ingredients to a full boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 1 hour.
3. Add cilantro and chicken breast chunks. Simmer another hour.
4.While soup is simmering, make your soup toppings: Cut flour tortillas into small thin strips. Heat oil and deep fry tortilla strips until lightly browned. Shred cheese.
5. To serve: Ladle soup into bowls, top with shredded cheese and fried tortilla strips.

Recipe is from here