Split Pea Soup

This is a very easy and yummy food storage meal. I grew up eating split pea soup. I remember the first time I had it. Mom made it for dinner and I didn't want to try it because it was PEA soup! I hate peas and I couldn't believe they were trying to feed it to me. They knew how I loathed that ugly green vegetable! My dad coaxed me into eating it by telling me it didn't taste like peas and you know what? It didn't taste like peas! It has been a favorite soup of mine ever since!

Ingredients

1 lb. split peas (washed and sorted*)
1/2 pk frozen bacon
1/ onion (diced)
2 stalks of celery (diced)
2 carrots(diced)
2 cloves garlic
1 bay leaf
8 cups chicken broth
crock pot

Directions

1. In a frying pan add bacon, sliced into little pieces.
2. Add about 2 Tbsp olive oil to braise the veggies.
3. fry bacon until cooked, using medium heat.
4. Add chopped vegies ( not the garlic and bay leaf)
5. Cook until you have a slightly brown color.
6. Put the peas in your crock pot
7. Add chicken broth, veggie mix, bay leaf, and garlic to the crock pot.
8. turn on the crock pot to low for 8 hours.
9. enjoy yummy soup

Jo's tips: *You need to sort the split peas from any small pebbles that might be hiding in your peas. (it happens). You can also add a dollop of sour cream to the soup. It makes it taste creamier and is so good. If you don't have chicken broth you can add bullion cubes to water. I like lots of salt so I add some to my bowl!

Baked Potato Soup

This soup is great even if the picture isn't! I made this soup for my husbands work as a Christmas gift and it was a hit! I make this recipe to my tastes, but feel free to mix things up a bit if you want. I sometimes add more sour cream sometimes less. enjoy!

Ingredients

4 or 5 large baking potatoes
2/3 cups butter
1/3 cups flour
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups milk
1 1/2 - 2 cups sour cream
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
10 strips cooked bacon crumpled
1 1/2 cup cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Bake potatoes at 350* for 65-75 minutes or until tender. Cool completely. Peal and cube.
2. In a large saucepan melt butter. Stir in flour, salt and pepper until smooth with a wire whisk.
3. Gradually add broth then milk. stiring the whole time. Bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.
4. Remove from heat whisk in cheese and sour cream. Add potatoes and bacon. Garnish with green onions.

Jo's tips: Most or the time I just boil the potatoes with the skins on and then peal and cube the potatoes. It seems easier to me. Occasionally I will bake them.

Cheesy Chicken Tortilla Soup

This is a freezer meal! It is so easy and delicious! My friend Becky called me awhile ago to ask for this recipe, I just got the voice mail today, so, sorry Becky it took so long.
I don't have a picture yet I will post it later.
Make up 3- 4 lbs of cubed chicken breast. I just cut into chunks with my kitchen shears and fry the chicken up in a little oil with salt, onion powder, and garlic powder.

To prepare and freeze

3 divided portions cooked cubed chicken
9 cups tortilla chips (crushed)
6 cups frozen corn kernels or 3 cans of corn
largest pk. Velveeta cheese spread (cut in thirds and cubed dividing into three portions)
3 cans diced tomatoes
dash of cyane pepper (optional)

In three, gallon sized, ziplock freezer bags add all ingredients, one can or portion each. (even the tortillas!) put in freezer! It's so easy!

To finish and serve

pull out out bag from freezer, put contents of bag in large pot on med high heat. (you can thaw bag if you like first.) Add two cans (14 oz each) of chicken broth. Heat until hot and thick.

Garnish with crushed tortilla chips, sour cream, olives, tomatoes......anything you want!

*This is a Pampered Chef recipe
Jo's tips:
If you don't want to freeze this you can just make one batch up by just adding ingredients to the pot and continuing on to finish and serve. I just like making this as a freezer meal because you can buy the cheese in bulk at wall mart for a cheaper price.
You can also add cheddar cheese instead of Velveeta, It is still yummy.
I forgot to put the chicken in once and it was good that way as well.