Top Ten Food List

What would you do if you were told that you could only eat ten foods for the rest of your life? Would you panic? Or would you excitedly make a list of your favorite dishes? 

I think I would be a little sad knowing that I would never experience a new meal again, and it would be devastating not being able to list everything I REALLY love. That said, I do have several go-to foods that I will almost always happily devour. Ten of those foods, in no particular order are as follows:

1. Macaroni and Cheese - CLICK for recipe

2. Spinach and Onion Enchiladas

3. Chile Rellenos

4. Vegetarian Chili

5. Lemon Cake

6. Cheesy Black Bean Nachos

7. Broccoli Cheese Soup - CLICK for recipe

8. Zootskies (family recipe of sausage {I use vegetarian sausage} soaked in beer and cooked with lots of peppers)

9. Green Bean Casserole - CLICK for recipe

10. Baked Brie

It would be difficult to limit myself to those ten items, though, as I’m a big foodie. I love baking and cooking, but I especially love eating. Trying out new recipes for the first time is great, and I LOVE when Dan cooks for me. He’s great in the kitchen! I also adore going out to eat… there’s just something fun about not having to do the dishes! ;) 

PS - I only have recipe links for three of these. Expect the rest of them to have photos and recipes by the end of this year. One thing I want to work on is making more of my favorite foods and sharing the recipes with all of you.

• What are your favorite foods? 
• What is your favorite restaurant?
• Do you prefer eating in or dining out?

Recipe: Broccoli Cheese Soup

If you love Panera's broccoli and cheese soup, you'll love this one. It's a bit heartier (and full of even more veggies), but it's got the same great taste! 

Okay, so the name of this recipe is misleading. It should really be called "broccoli, carrot, cauliflower, onion, beer, and cheese soup"... but that is too much of a mouthful, so I condensed it. Just know that all of those wonderful things are inside this delicious concoction. You WILL want a mouthful of it!

Check out the pictures first, and then find the ingredients and recipe written below! ENJOY!

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon melted butter
• 1 yellow onion (chopped)
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 cups half-and-half cream
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 bottle of beer (I use Blue Moon)
• 2 cups fresh broccoli
• 2 cups fresh cauliflower
• 2 cups fresh baby carrots
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese
• salt and peper (to taste)

Recipe

1. Sautée the onion in 1 tablespoon of butter. Set aside.
2. Cook 1/4 cup melted butter with 1/4 cup flour over medium heat for three minutes. Stir constantly with a wire whisk constantly. 
3. Add the half and half.
4. Add the chicken broth. 
5. Add the bottle of beer. 
6. Simmer for 20 minutes.
7. While the soup is simmering, grate the cheddar cheese so it's ready to go.
8. Add the onion, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots. 
9. Cook on low heat for 25 minutes.
10. Add nutmeg.
11. Add salt and pepper to taste. 
12. Purée in a blender until smooth.*
13. Return to saucepan on stove.
14. Add grated cheddar cheese. Stir it until it melts. 

*I take out several broccoli florets at this step and add them back in after the rest is blended so there are still some chunks of broccoli in the soup. I do this for Dan because he prefers it, but you don't have to. You could also leave some of each veggie out if you prefer.

ENJOY!