Cheesy Broccoli Soup

There are some who like cream of broccoli soup with cheese in it, and there are some who like cheesy soup with broccoli in it ;) We are the latter! I have never been successful at making broccoli soup, but this recipe was easy peasy and delicious! Let us know if you try it!

I halved this recipe and it was enough to feed three adults and leave a bowl of leftovers :)

Ingredients:

• 2 cubes butter
• 1 C flour
• 8 C water and 8 tsp. chicken bouillon OR 8 C chicken broth
• 1/2-1 lb Velveeta cheese
• 1 large bunch broccoli, chopped
• 1/2 pt. whipping cream
• Diced onion
• 1 C diced celery (optional) 

Directions:

1. Melt butter, add onion and celery (if used), and cook 5-10 minutes until onion and celery are soft.
2. Add flour and mix well.
3. Slowly add chicken broth and heat through. 
4. Add broccoli and simmer 30 minutes. 
5. Add cheese, stir until melted, add cream, and heat through. 

Beef-Broccoli Lo Mein

Recipe and photo found here

Hello, hello!!  Wow it's been awhile since I was here!  Have you all missed me??  Yes? Anyone?  Bueller?  (Name it!)  Anywho.  Well this here is a recipe I stumbled across some time ago and have been making it ever since.  It is yummy and easy and yummy....my three fave things!  I even did a cooking demonstration at the Utah State Fair with it last Saturday and it was a hit with the crowd who got to sample it.  And just so ya all know, I am always at the State Fair the last Saturday it runs.  I am involved with the beef cook-off (you should enter next year!!) and then I usually do a demonstration of a dish using beef.  Come see me!  Also if you are interested in seeing some great beef recipes that were demo'ed this year, as well as the entries from the beef cook-off you can go to utahbeef.org.  And noooow onto the recipe!!

Beef-Broccoli Lo Mein

You'll need:

• 4 cups hot cooked spaghetti (about 8 ounces uncooked pasta)
• 1 teaspoon dark sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon peanut oil (I use olive or whatever I have)
• 1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 cups chopped broccoli
• 1 1/2 cups vertically sliced onion
• 1 (1-pound) flank steak, trimmed and cut across the grain into long, thin strips (I usually use sirloin because it's in my freezer)
• 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon chile paste with garlic (I use Sriracha cuz I like it!  Be careful with this stuff.  At first it doesn't seem that hot so I always add more and then I regret it.  So please use caution with this stuff!)

Preparation

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; drain. Combine pasta and sesame oil, tossing well to coat.
2. While pasta cooks, heat peanut oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ginger and garlic; sauté 30 seconds. Add broccoli and onion; sauté 3 minutes. Add steak, and sauté 5 minutes or until done. Add pasta mixture, soy sauce, and remaining ingredients; cook 1 minute or until lo mein is thoroughly heated, stirring constantly.

This is seriously soooo good!  It's not super saucy but seems light and flavorful anyway.  I serve it with some baked, store bought egg rolls and it's good to go.  You're gonna love it!  Give it a try tonight!

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

Where have those dang Howe girls been? Well, let's see.... We have been

*Camping

*Swimming

*Splash Padding

*Shopping

*Lounging

*Eating

*FaceTiming

*Etc...

Basically, we have been doing nearly everything we can before 3 of the 4 of us head back to school aka work and the other one sends her cutie off to 1st grade! We have, however, also borrowed a few recipes off good ol' Pinterest! Now it's time to share a recent one that we really liked! This little beauty came from Six Sisters Stuff. I'm pretty sure we've used their recipes before. All the credit goes to those ladies, but in case you are unfamiliar with their blog we are sharing their recipe over here.

You will need:

1 box of chicken flavored stuffing

1 small can  of Cream of Chicken Soup (Campbell's will always rank #1 in my book!)

1 Tbs. Dijon Mustard
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breast, cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces

3 C. fresh broccoli florets
2 C. cooked, chopped ham (I actually used lunch meat that I chopped up)
6 slices of Swiss cheese

**Preheat oven to 375ºF.  

**Prepare stuffing as directed on package.  

**Mix soup and mustard in medium bowl then stir in the chicken, the broccoli, and the ham. 

**Pour/spread into 2-qt. (square) casserole dish sprayed with Pam top with cheese slices and stuffing.  **Cover with tinfoil and bake 35 to 40 minutes or until heated through.

Broccoli Salad

image found here

This is one of my most favorite salads to eat in the summer with a barbeque. It is light and refreshing yet rich and flavorful. I have yet to find a person who does not love this. (Ok, except for Kim. But she doesn't count because if it's not Olive Garden or Cafe Rio she won't eat it.) But you will...I am sure of it!

What you need:

5 C. chopped fresh broccoli

1/2 Craisins

(I just sprinkle some in until it looks pretty)
1/4 Chopped red onion-optional
(I never put these in because it is just plain wrong)
10 bacon strips-cooked and crumbled
1/4 C. sunflower seeds
1 C. grated chedder cheese

For the dressing you need:
1/2 C. Mayo
2 T. Sugar
3 T. Red wine vinegar

Mix the salad ingredients together. Blend the dressing ingredients until smooth. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until completely coated. Chill and Serve!

(We like ours "saucey" so if it seems too dry I will double the dressing.)

Chicken/Broccoli/Stuffing Casserole

I'm not a huge casserole fan, but this one always hits the spot!  It's very simple and it's the perfect dinner to make with that left over Thanksgiving turkey & stuffing!

 Top view--gold and bubbly!

4 Chicken Breasts (chunked and cooked)

2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup

1 pkg. dry Brown Gravy mix

2 heads of broccoli (washed, cut, and steamed)

2 pkgs. Chicken Stove Top (follow directions on box)

Grated cheddar cheese

*Combine soup and gravy mix in a bowl--mix well

*Stir in chicken

*Spread in the bottom of a 9x13 pan

*Layer cooked broccoli over the top of the chicken/soup mixture

*Spread cooked stuffing over the top of the broccoli

*Sprinkle with cheese

*Cover with tinfoil and bake at 350 for 30-45 minutes, until cheese is melting and soup is bubbling!

**I half this recipe for my little family and just put it in a 9x9 pan!

~~Kim