Tara's Potato Soup

Alright Momma, this one is for you. Let me just warn everyone that this soup is to die for but when looking at the ingredients you must remember that I came up with it during our super poor days when WIC ingredients made up the majority of our pantry and fridge. With that said here ya go.

Ingredients

• 5lb. Potatoes
• 1 Onion
• 2/3 cup chopped celery
• 1 pkg diced ham
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 4 Tbspn Chicken Bouillon Granules
• 30 pieces American cheese

Base Ingredients

• 2/3 cup butter
• 2/3 cup flour
• 4 cups milk

Preparation

• Peel potatoes and cut into small cubes
• Peel onion and chop in the Food Chopper
• Cut celery and chop in the Food Chopper
• Add potatoes, onion, and celery to 12qu. stockpot. Add just enough water to cover all the vegetables
• Add diced ham to Stockpot
• Boil for twenty minutes or until potatoes are tender
• After boiling turn heat to medium-low and add the salt, pepper, garlic powder, chicken bouillon, and cheese and stir until blended
• Continue cooking on low

Base Preparation

• In a medium saucepan melt butter over medium-low heat
• Whisk in flour and cook stirring continuously until thick, about 1 minute
• Slowly stir in milk as not to allow lumps to form, until all the milk has been added. Continue stirring over medium-low heat until thick (about 4 to 5 minutes)
• Stir the base into the stockpot and mix well
• Continue cooking on medium-low until heated through

Tara's Sidenote: the 4 cups of milk is meant for a "soupy" type of soup. We prefer a thicker soup so we only add 3 cups.

If this amazing recipe has left you going crazy for the Food Chopper (lol, I know, I'm silly) then please visit my website www.pamperedchef.biz/tarasteward

Chicken Tetrazini

You're frantically searching through the pantry, fridge, and freezer. You have ingredients but nothing that looks like it could actually create anything your family will actually eat.... then through the mist emerges..... Chicken Tetrazini. Yay! It saved the day! Dinner without the last minute scramble to the grocery store. Victory!

This recipe comes from my mother in-law who always has good "whatever you got will do" kind of recipes and honestly, those are my favorite because I hate running to the grocery after all the other running I do all day.

Ingredients

• 5 Chicken Breasts (or Tyson Grilled N'Ready Chicken or left over chicken from a previous meal)
• 1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
• 2 Cans Cream of Chicken Soup
• 1 Cup Chicken Broth
• 1 Tablespoon Curry Powder (I promise, even my friends who hate Curry love this recipe)
• 1 Package of Spaghetti (or thin spaghetti or angel hair or whatever long pasta you have just sitting around)
• 2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees
• Boil Chicken and cut-up (or if it's Tyson Grilled N'Ready just throw it in the skillet for a few minutes)
• Combine soups and curry powder in medium saucepan and heat on medium-low
• Prepare pasta according to package directions
• Put cooked pasta in baking dish, cover with chicken, and pour soups over the entire thing
• Top with cheese and bake for 20 minutes uncovered

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Chicken Tater Bake

If planned correctly this meal can be made for super-duper cheap. I will usually make this the day after we have fried chicken so I can use the left-overs or I will buy a rotisserie chicken from Wal-Mart because they are also pretty cheap. If all of those avenues are unavailable then I use the Tyson Grill'N Ready Chicken (or whatever its called, it's just cooked, frozen chicken). I actually have this in the oven as I am typing this. :)

Ingredients

• 1 Can Cream of Chicken
• 1/8 Cup Butter
• 3/4 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1/4 Cup Milk
• 1 1/2 Cups Cubed Cooked Chicken
• 1 Package of Frozen Tater Tots

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees 
• Combine soup, milk, and butter in saucepan. Cook over medium heat until heated through
• Stir in chicken and 1/2 cup cheese
• Transfer to a greased 8" square baking dish, top with tater tots and sprinkle with remaining cheese
• Cover and bake for 35 minutes
• Uncover; bake 5 to 10 minutes longer

Tara's Sidenote: Stretch this sucker as far as possible. If you serve it over rice then you can seriously get 2 days of meals out of it. I know what you're thinking, "Rice with tater tots? Come on Tara that's just crazy talk." Just trust me, Shae loves it with the rice and so do the kids. I of course love it because the whole meal together has usually cost me maybe $5.

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Meat Filled Jumbo Shells

I feel so fancy when I make this dish for guests, lol.

Ingredients

• 1 pkg. Jumbo Shells
• 2 lbs. Ground Beef
• 4 Eggs Slightly Beaten
• 3/4 Cup Italian Bread Crumbs
• 1 Cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
• 3/4 Cup Chopped Onion ("Food Chopper" is all I'll say, tehe)
• 3/4 teaspoon Dried Oregano Leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1/8 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
• 3 Cups Spaghetti Sauce

Preparation

• Cook pasta according to package directions (You never realize how much you need The Pampered Chef "5" Strainer" until you are trying to fish these suckers out of the pot without breaking them) 
• Cool shells in a single layer on foil
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Meanwhile, in large skillet brown meat and drain
• In large bowl stir together meat, eggs, bread crumbs, mozzarella cheese, onion, oregano, salt, and pepper
• Fill each shell with about 2 Tablespoons of meat filling
• Spread thin layer of sauce on the bottom of a 13" x 9" baking dish (if you are lucky enough to keep all the shells from breaking then you will need more than one baking dish)
• Place shells in dish and cover with remaining sauce
• Cover with foil
• Bake for 45 minutes

Tara's Sidenote: If you are able to fill multiple baking dishes and you aren't having company over I recommend placing one of the covered dishes in the oven and the other in the freezer for a future dinner. If you freeze one then just cook it at 375 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour when the day comes to finally cook it.

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Oodles of Noodles

This recipe is my mother-in-laws. I love it but my husband refuses to eat it since he recently realized it contained Creamed Corn. Don't let that scare you off though, it's time to put that forgotten can of cream corn in the back of the pantry to use.

Ingredients

• 1 Box Rotini Noodles
• 3 Cans Creamed Corn
• 3 Tablespoons Chili Powder
• 1 lb Ground Beef
• 2 Cans Rotel
• 16 oz Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees
• Brown and drain meat and return to skillet; add corn, Rotel, and chili powder
• Cook mixture over medium heat about 20 to 25 minutes
• Prepare noodles according to package directions
• Place noodles in a 13" x 9" casserole dish (The Pampered Chef "Rectangular Baker" works perfect here)
• Pour the mixture over the noodles and cover with cheese
• Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes

Tara's Sidenote (Just imagine this is me, whispering over your shoulder in the kitchen, creepy huh? lol jk) Most people prefer to serve this dish with some tortilla chips

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Ranchball

I call this recipe "The Brain" when it is presented it sort of looks like a brain, I'll admit it, it can be kind of intimidating if you haven't ever tried it before but once a person tries it, they're hooked!

Ingredients

• 1 Package Hidden Valley Ranch Original Dip Mix
• 1/2 Cup Mayo
• 16 oz Shredded Cheddar Cheese (room temp)
• 2 Packages Cream Cheese (room temp)
• Real Bacon Bits

Preparation

• Combine in a large bowl (Yep, The Pampered Chef "Classic Batter Bowl" is my bowl of choice here) the dip mix, mayo, and cream cheese, mix with an electric mixer
• Mix in the shredded cheddar
• Cover bowl with saran wrap (or your super nifty "Classic Batter Bowl" lid) and place in freezer for 30 minutes
• Remove from freezer and divide into 2 balls of equal size
• Roll the ball in bacon bits
• Place the balls on small plates and wrap up tightly. Place in fridge until ready to serve
• Serve with crackers, but beware, they are super addictive

Tara's Sidenote * It is imperative that you allow the cream cheese to reach room temperature or else it will be next to impossible for your electric mixer to mix it.

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Sausage Balls

Now I'm pretty sure that this is an original Bisquick or Betty Crocker recipe from WAY back in the day. I love to make these during the holidays, they get gobbled up so fast.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. Ground Breakfast Sausage
• 1 1/2 Cups Bisquick
• 8 oz Jar Cheese Whiz (If you haven't had Cheese Whiz then you haven't yet lived, cuz this stuff is amazing)

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees
• Combine all ingredients in a large bowl (I prefer The Pampered Chef "Classic Batter Bowl")
• Make small balls and place on a cookie sheet (The Pampered Chef "Large Bar Pan" does well in the freezer and it keeps the balls from getting too done on the bottom in the oven)
• Freeze until firm, about 20 to 30 minutes
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes

Tara's Sidenote: They can also be placed in freezer bags instead of on a cookie sheet and be prepped ahead of time)

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Broccoli Casserole

This recipe comes from my momma and it is my favorite recipe ever!

Ingredients

• 2 Bags of Frozen Broccoli (little pieces, not big ones)
• 1/2 Block Velveeta Cheese
• 1/2 Cup Milk
• 1 Cup Breadcrumbs

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Boil broccoli according to package directions and set aside (yep, your house will definitely stink like broccoli)
• Cut Velveeta into small cubes and put into microwave-safe bowl with milk
• Microwave for 1 minute and stir. Continue this step until cheese is melted and liquidy
• Place broccoli in a 13" x 9" greased casserole dish and pour cheese mixture over it (I use The Pampered Chef "Rectangular Baker")
• Gently mix; then add breadcrumbs and mix
• Cover and cook for 45 minutes
• Remove from oven, sprinkle with a handful of breadcrumbs and return to the oven for another 5 to 10 minutes

Tara's Sidenote * If the mixture seems to runny after the first cup of breadcrumbs then continue to add more breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.

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Cheesy Bacon Penne

Now this recipe is by far my husband's fav! I think he'd eat it every night if I let him. And yes, you've guessed it, not the healthiest, but hey, we use wheat pasta most of the time so that should count for something.

Ingredients

• 2 Cups Uncooked Penne Pasta
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 1/4 teaspoon Pepper
• 3 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1 Garlic Clove
• 2 Tablespoons Flour
• 2 Cups Milk
• 1/2 Cup Crumbled Bacon

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Cook bacon, drain, and chop (The Pampered Chef "Food Chopper" makes this part so much easier)
• Cook pasta according to package directions for al'dente, drain, and set aside
• Mince garlic (I use The Pampered Chef "Garlic Press" because it keeps my hands from getting all stinky)
• In a saucepan, saute garlic in butter for 1 minute, then stir in the flour and pepper until smooth; gradually add the milk
• Bring the mixture to boil; cook and stir for 1 to 2 minutes until thick
• Reduce heat; stir in 2 cups of cheese until melted; remove from heat
• Add pasta and 1/3 cup bacon to the cheese sauce
• Transfer to a 2 qt baking dish (I use The Pampered Chef "Deep Covered Baker")
• Cover and bake for 30 minutes
• Uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheese and bacon
• Bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted

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Cheeseburger Pasta

So this is the homemade version of Hamburger Helper. I got this from my good friend Sara a few years ago and she'd probably laugh if she knew how often I still make it.

I love recipes that I can just throw together with some of the random stuff I've got in the kitchen and this is definitely one of them. My whole family loves this recipe and if you knew my kids you would know what a feat that is.

Ingredients

• 1 lb Ground Beef or Ground Turkey
• 1 Can of Beef Broth
• 1/2 Cup of Ketchup
• 1 Can Cheddar Cheese Soup
• 1 1/2 Cups Water
• 2 Cups Uncooked Shell Pasta

Preparation

• Cook ground beef in skillet and drain (I use The Pampered Chef "Stainless Mesh Colanders")
• Place ground beef back in the skillet and add soup, broth, water, ketchup, and pasta
• Heat to a boil then reduce heat to medium and cook for 10 minutes stirring often

Yep, that was it. It is seriously that easy.

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BBQ Bacon Meatloaf

This ain't your grandma's meatloaf. Yes, this recipe is just as fattening as it sounds but it is SOOO good. One of these days.... when I'm not being forced to be lazy I'll take step-by-step pictures like the fancy blogs do and post them here. But until then I guess the ingredients and steps will have to do.

Ingredients

• 12 oz Chopped Bacon
• 1 1/2 to 2 lbs Ground Beef or Ground Turkey
• 1 1/2 Cups BBQ Sauce
• 1/2 Cup Corn Flake Crumbs
• 1 Small White Onion Chopped
• 1 Egg
• 6 oz Shredded Cheese

Preparation

• Heat oven to 350 degrees
• Cook bacon over medium heat until browned, drain, and chop in The Pampered Chef "Food Chopper"
• Mix together in large bowl (I prefer The Pampered Chef "Stainless Mixing Bowl Set") the ground beef, egg, and BBQ sauce
• Using The Pampered Chef "Food Chopper" chop the onion into small pieces and "crumb" the cornflakes
• Mix in the onion and 4 oz of the cheese, then add all but 1 Tablespoon of the bacon
• Mix in the cornflakes
• Shape into a loaf and place into a meatloaf pan (I recommend a pan with ridges in the bottom to keep all the fat away from the food, like The Pampered Chef "Small Ridged Baker")
• Bake for 1 hour or until cooked through. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and bacon
• Return to over for 5 minutes or until melted

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Welcome, take a seat, look around, get full!

Well, here I am with a back injury and I've been forced to "take it easy". What in the heck am I supposed to do now? Ooo I know, I'll start sharing all of my favorite recipes that I make for my family all the time.

Only a few of the recipes that will be shared here are 100% mine, the rest I have collected over time and made a few changes to. So this is me, Tara Steward, letting everyone know that I am in no way trying to lay claim to all the recipes (I don't wanna get sued or anything lol).

If you see something you like, then try it. If you have any questions, just ask. If you'd like to get some amazing kitchen products to use when you make any of the recipes well heck I've got the solution to that too! www.pamperedchef.biz/tarasteward