Category: Easy

Potato Leek Soup

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A flavorful soup that is creamy yet chunky with a hint of mace.
Great comfort food

Ingredients 

4 leeks halved, washed, and sliced*

2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes cubed*

1 large onion diced

3 T olive oil

4-5 C vegetable broth

1 C milk*

1/2 t mace*

Salt and pepper to taste

Chives or parsley optional

Directions

Serves 6

In large pot add olive oil, onions, and leeks. Cook 10-15 minutes until translucent.

Add broth and potatoes. Cook 25-30 minutes until tender.

Add milk and nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper. Use an immersion blender and beat until chunky. Retaste and adjust seasoning if needed. Add the minced chives or parsley  at this step. Serve with rustic bread and a green salad.

Note:

* I trim the leaks until I get to the light green stalk and use it and the white flesh. 

*I do not peel the potatoes

*Cream or half and half can be substituted for richer taste 

* Numeg can be used in place of mace.

Dress it up with parsley, seeds, and spiced nuts.

Popcorn Balls

Ingredients

6 quarts popcorn popped and cool on large parchment paper covered cookie sheet.

1 cup Karo® Light syrup

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup butter

1 t vanilla

Directions

Candy thermometer ideal

Add syrup, sugar, and salt in heavy sauce pan and combine. Cook until it reaches soft ball stage* or 235 to 240º. Remove and add butter and vanilla stir and then add to popcorn and toss to evenly coat. When cool enough to handle roll into popcorn balls.

*Softball stage description:At this temperature, sugar syrup dropped into cold water will form a soft, flexible ball. If you remove the ball from water, it will flatten like a pancake after a few moments in your hand.

Note: Can add nuts or cinnamon candies when tossing syrup into popcorn.

 

Helle’s Wine Cake

A simple dessert with grown-ups and easy dessert with little effort.

Ingredients

1 pkg. yellow cake mix + 5T. Flour

1 pkg. instant vanilla pudding mix

4 eggs

3/4 c. + 3T. Sherry

3/4c. Canola oil or vegetable oil

Directions

Heat oven to 350 degrees

Prepare bundt pan or tube cake pan by greasing and flouring lightly. Mix all above ingredients well and pour batter into pan. Bake 35-40minutes or until toothpick inserted into cake comes out clean.

Ice with icing made from the juice of one lemon and powdered sugar, mixed to desired consistency.