Recipe: Easy Magic Bars

I couldn’t think of anything better to do yesterday, while watching the snow fall (heavily at that!) than to make some fresh bread and good ol’ fashioned magic bars.
Magic Bars are easy, and there are variations on every can of sweetened condensed milk and box of graham crackers out there.  Easily search on allrecipes.com or your favorite recipe site, or just look here.  You can mix and match practically any ingredients your heart desires…I used butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, crushed pretzels, leftover cashew pieces and sweetened coconut.

Magic Bars (adapted from Eagle Brand Condensed Milk Recipe)

Recipe: Easy Cream of Potato Soup

This recipe is super easy, and really perfect for winter weather.  It uses stuff you probably have lying around your house so you don't have to go to the store when its cold and nasty and wet outside!  Enjoy!

Easy Cream of Potato Soup

Ingredients:

• 3 Tablespoons Butter (or bacon grease)
• 3 Tablespoons Flour
• 1 small yellow or sweet onion, diced small
• 1-2 russet potatoes or 3-4 small red potatoes, cooked and cut in 1/2 inch cubes
• 1 can reduced sodium chicken broth, homemade broth or veg. broth
• 1 cup milk
• salt and pepper to taste.

Total Time: about 30 minutes
Directions:
Melt butter (or bacon grease) in medium sauce pan over low heat.  Add onions and sauté until translucent.
Add a pinch of salt and the 3 T flour.  Combine and mix well.  Cook about 2 minutes to really cook the flour.  The color should be a golden hue. Don't let it get too brown.
Add broth slowly, turn heat up to achieve a simmer, and constantly stir to incorporate the broth into the flour/butter/onion mixture.  As it starts to bubble and simmer, it will begin to thicken.  Add milk, stir, and let it continue to cook until a simmer is reached.  Add cooked potatoes, and salt and pepper to taste.  Reduce heat to low and continue to cook for about 5 more minutes. You don't want to boil the soup after adding the milk.  After you get that initial simmer--reduce the heat to just help warm the potatoes.  Soup will thicken as it cooks.
Variations:  try adding cooked carrots or cooked crumbled bacon with potatoes for different flavors.  Also, you can add 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese with potatoes for a cheesy potato soup!  Possibilities are endless.  Enjoy!