Thursday, February 3, 2011

Potato Soup

It is so easy to throw these ingredients together in a crock pot and one of my favorite potato soup recipes! I love it thick and creamy! If you like yours a little more 'soupy', go ahead and add both boxes of chicken broth.

You can also choose to use two bags of the frozen potatoes without peppers and onions, and add your own onion, as I prefer to do. I am not a huge onion fan and there are a lot of them in the Potatoes O'Brien.




1 (28 oz) bag Frozen Potatoes O'Brien (small cubes with peppers and onions)
1 (28 oz) bag Frozen Southern Style Potatoes (small cubes without seasonings/extras)
1 1/2 (32 oz) boxes of Chicken Broth
2 cans Cream of Chicken Soup
2 packages Cream Cheese

In a crock pot, combine both bags of potatoes, chicken broth, and soup. Cook on High for 4 hours. Cube cream cheese and add to soup. Cook on High for 1 more hour or until cream cheese has melted. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve topped with shredded cheddar and bacon.

Sausage and Green Pepper Pasta

This is a super easy, quick and delicious pasta.





1 lb Rigatoni Pasta
1 lb Mild Ground Italian Sausage
2 Green Peppers, chopped
2 cans Italian style Diced Tomatoes, undrained
1 Tablespoon Dried Basil
1 Tablespoon Dried Oregano
1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 1/2 cups Shredded Italian Blend Cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese
1 cup reserved pasta cooking water


Cook pasta as directed on package, omitting salt.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet brown sausage. Stir in peppers and cook until peppers are tender. Stir in tomatoes, basil, oregano and garlic powder. Heat through stirring occasionally.

Before draining pasta, reserve a cup of cooking water. Drain pasta, return to pot. Add sausage mixture,  water, shredded cheese and Parmesan cheese. Mix well, then serve fresh.