Recipe Friday: Potato Soup

When the weather starts to get chilly, there is nothing better than hot soup to warm a body up. These two potato soup recipes are sure to become family favorites.

This first recipe is made in a slow cooker or crockpot and requires just a few minutes after cooking to prepare.

Smashed Potato Soup

Ingredients

3 ½ pounds potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes

½ cup chopped yellow and/or red sweet pepper

1 ½ teaspoons bottled roasted garlic

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

4 ½ cups chicken broth

½ cup whipping cream, half-and-half, or light cream

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (4 ounces)

½ cup thinly sliced green onions

Sliced green onions (optional)

Directions

• In a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker, combine potatoes, sweet pepper, garlic, and black pepper. Pour broth over all.
• Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 8 to 10 hours or on high-heat setting for 4 to 5 hours.
• Mash potatoes slightly with a potato masher. Stir in whipping cream, cheddar cheese, and the 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions.
• If desired, top individual servings with additional sliced green onions. Makes 8 servings.

This second recipe requires an oven and a little bit of time, but is it so well worth it.

Baked Potato Soup

Ingredients

2  large baking potatoes (about 8 ounces each)

6 tablespoons  thinly sliced green onion (3)

3 tablespoons  butter

3 tablespoons  all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons  snipped fresh dill or chives or 1/4 teaspoon dried dill

1/4 teaspoon  salt

1/4 teaspoon  black pepper

4 cups  milk

1-1/4 cups  shredded American cheese (5 ounces)

4 slices  bacon, crisp-cooked, drained, and crumbled

Directions

• Scrub potatoes with a vegetable brush; pat dry. Prick potatoes with a fork. Bake in a 425 degree F oven for 40 to 60 minutes or until tender; cool. Cut each potato lengthwise. Scoop out white portion of each potato. Break up any large pieces of potato. Discard potato skins.
• In a large saucepan cook 3 tablespoons of the green onion in butter over medium heat until tender. Stir in flour, dill, salt, and pepper. Add milk all at once. Cook and stir for 12 to 15 minutes or until thickened and bubbly. Add the potato and 1 cup of the cheese; stir until cheese melts.
• Top each serving with the remaining 1/4 cup cheese, remaining 3 tablespoons green onion, and the bacon.
• Makes 5 to 6 servings (5 1/2 cups)

Happy Eating!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Featured Freebies for the Week of October 31

Hello and Happy Monday to Everyone!

Here are this week's free digital images or printables found on websites, blogs, or submitted to us from friends and followers:

The Paper Squirrel shares a little witch girl digital image

Little Scraps of Heaven shares a fall crow and a little lady bug digital stamp

Edrian Thomidis shares a free coloring page ghost, tomato,  broccoli, and dancing squirrel

Lost in Paper Scraps shares 3 adorable owl digital images

Paper Dreams of Mine shares Christmas card ideas along with free digital images

That’s all for this week!  Happy Crafting!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!

Trick or Treat

I'd like something sweet to eat

I'll ask nice

I'll ask twice

Trick or Treat

Please, may I have a treat?

Wishing you a safe and Happy Halloween!
Creativity Bugs ~ Sandy and Sue

BESTeam Etsy Finds: October 28, 2011

Come look at some of the great products we found on Etsy this week presented by the Boosting Etsy Shops Team

Iris Blank Greeting Card from Empty on the Inside

Vince and I (that's Vincent Van Gogh to you), we like our irises. Sure, his is a masterpiece that is on the top ten list for most expensive paintings ever sold and mine is just a greeting card. The choice is yours: you can either save up, oh around $82 million for his, or snap up this future top ten masterpiece for only $5.25 plus shipping.

This 5"x7" card (image size approximately 4"x6") is hand-painted on cream-colored cardstock and comes with a matching envelope. Each card is titled and signed by me (Annie). Left "empty on the inside" for your message.

Teal Poly Satin Flower Ruffle Headband with Peacock and White Feather from Chicky D’s

A perfectly sophisticated poly satin flower headband is the perfect accessory for the next photo shoot of your little one! The white ruffled elastic headband fits ages 4-18 months {I can make a custom order to accomodate different ages/sizes}. The teal poly satin flower is made using the "Audrey" pattern from www.snazziedrawers.com and finished with a coordinating peacock and small white feather. 

Green Gray Leather Journal Set from The Orange Windmill

This leather journal gift set has been lovingly handmade by Shirley from The Orange Windmill. These beauties would make a great holiday gift, whether it be for your family, friends, or co-workers. It would also make a fantastic wedding gift!

The Creativity Bugs love the opportunity to promote other artisans including their fellow Estians but especially the BESTeam group. These friendly, talented, and very hardworking individuals work together to promote their shops and help others with marketing, advertising, and tips and tricks for running an online business. If you are a seller on Etsy, have a blog, and either FB or twitter, then you might be interested in joinging the BESTeam: Boosting Etsy Shops Team or the Etsy team page. You can find information about the team, as well as apply for membership HERE!

Happy Shopping!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue 

Recipe Friday: Meat Loaf Casserole

Brrr! The temperature sure has changed in the Midwest and the grill has been secured in the shed until next summer. That means it is time to warm up the house and our bodies by making hot comfort foods for dinner using the oven.

The following recipe combines meat and potatoes into a tasty casserole that the whole family will enjoy.

Meat Loaf Casserole

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

1 clove garlic, minced

1 can (10 ¾ oz) condensed vegetable soup

1 can (10 ¾ oz) condensed mushroom soup

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 cups water

3 tablespoons butter or margarine

¾ cup milk

2 cups instant mashed potato flakes or buds

Directions:

• Cook beef and garlic in 10" skillet over medium-high heat until well browned, stirring to break up meat. Pour off fat.
• Stir beef, vegetable soup, 1/2 can mushroom soup and Worcestershire in 12 x 8" shallow baking dish.
• Heat remaining soup, water and butter in 2-qt. saucepan over high heat to a boil. Remove from heat. Stir in milk. Slowly stir in potatoes. Spoon potatoes around outer edge of casserole.
• Bake at 400 degrees F. for 20 min. or until hot.

Happy Friday!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Boo Your Neighbors

This fun Halloween tradition is growing in popularity so be the first to start it in your neighborhood as a way to connect.

Here is how it works, you make up a Halloween goodie bag for a friend or neighbor. You ring their doorbell then leave the goodie bag at their house with a poem and sign that they have been "Boo'd." Kids love to ring and run. The neighbor is supposed to reciprocate and "Boo" someone else on your block.

What is Halloween Boo-ing?

Booing someone is a fun way to kick start the Halloween spirit and interact with friends and neighbors. The idea behind the Boo is that you gift a basket of Halloween treats for a neighbor and then they do the same for another neighbor. Hopefully it will spread around the neighborhood so that everyone gets a basket. I’m sure Boo-ing will be new to some people so to keep the chain going, Boo one or two neighbors to start or when you reciprocate.

How to Boo a Neighbor

1. Have the kids help you put together your Boo Basket filled with Halloween treats.

2. Write a mysterious note encouraging everyone to keep the chain going, or download and print out one of these adorable designed Boo Poems from KeepingLifeCreative.com, TomKat Studios, SkiptoMyLou.org, or BeenBooed.com to include in the basket.

3. Download and print off a “We’ve Been Boo’d” sign to put in the basket such as the ones from KeepingLifeCreative.com,  Amanda Parker and Family Blog, or TomKat Studios.

4. Pick a neighbor to Boo, leave the basket on their doorstep, ring their doorbell, and run. (The kids LOVE this part.)

5. Once you have been Boo’d, make sure you put your sign on the door to let all of your neighbors know, so you don’t get hit multiple times.

If you have a fun neighborhood and everyone participates, you’ll see Boo signs on all the doors in the neighborhood!

What to Put in the Boo Basket?

Basically, anything goes. Usually, the goodie basket will include some Halloween treats for the kids or the whole family, a “We’ve Been Boo’d” sign, as well as a mysterious note or Boo poem. The note or Boo poem should explain the tradition of Boo-ing and how the Boo “victim” now needs to reciprocate and Boo someone else.

I’ve seen suggestions for small toys for kids, Halloween hand towels, a Halloween decorating magazine for Mom, an inexpensive Halloween decoration or mug, and Halloween drawings that the kids have done.

Don’t wait for someone else to begin the Boo! Get your neighborhood started and Boo someone this weekend. 

Have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Creativity Bugs ~ Sandy and Sue

BESTeam Etsy Finds: October 21, 2011

Come look at some of the great products we found on Etsy this week presented by the Boosting Etsy Shops Team.

Boogie Woogie bugle bow from Knitful Dezigns

Inspired by the Andrew sisters themselves! This is a perfect gift for you or your retro loving friend... This headband is in many shades of pink but can be custom made in any color or size you wish.

Glass Necklace with matching earrings from Las Flores Del Sur

If you want to get noticed then this is the necklace for you!  A very attractive bunch of red glass beads in one piece, ideal for wearing in a special occasion. The necklace completes with a matching pair of earrings.

Midnight Remembrance Silver Cross, Onyx, and Brecciate Jasper Necklace from CK Silver

This necklace is a beautiful combination of red brecciate jasper, black onyx, and sterling silver. It features a beautiful sterling silver cross wire-wrapped for strength and beauty on a 35mm brecciate jasper pendant.

Andalusite, Rutilated Quartz Gemstone, Autumn, Vintaj Brass Chain Bracelet from Headpin Wear

Distinguished Rutilated Quartz Cubes and color changing Andalusite Rondelles were incorporated together to create this earthy and natural styled bracelet. Combined with these alluring Gemstones is a Vintaj “Peanut Style” Brass Chain. This bracelet closes with a Vintaj Brass Lobster Clasp. 

The Creativity Bugs love the opportunity to promote other artisans including their fellow Estians but especially the BESTeam group. These friendly, talented, and very hardworking individuals work together to promote their shops and help others with marketing, advertising, and tips and tricks for running an online business. If you are a seller on Etsy, have a blog, and either FB or twitter, then you might be interested in joinging the BESTeam: Boosting Etsy Shops Team or the Etsy team page. You can find information about the team, as well as apply for membership HERE!

Happy Shopping!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue