Bacon Potato Chowder

It is the end of February and

spring is just around the corner.

But right now we want warm, hearty, comfort food.

Bacon Potato Chowder hits the spot 

with a thick slice of bread fresh from the oven. 

 

Smokey bacon, chunky potatoes, and onions 

in a creamy mixture of milk, sour cream,

and cream of chicken soup.

Simple to make.

Brown your bacon.

While that is cooking, dice onions and potatoes.

Remove bacon and cook onions and potatoes

 in bacon grease until tender.

Drain if necessary. 

Add milk, sour cream and 

a can of cream of chicken soup.

Cook for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Add your bacon back into the chowder.

Chop some green onions 

and grate some cheddar cheese

 for delicious, colorful toppings.

Scoop up a big bowl of potato chowder like this.

 

Then top with

 green onions & cheddar cheese 

and have this.

Yum...a big bowl of love.

Bacon Potato Chowder

12 ounces bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces

3 cups potatoes, cubed

1 medium onion, diced

1 cup sour cream

1 1/2 cup milk

1 can Cream of Chicken soup

1/4 tsp. pepper

Toppings:

Green onions, chopped

Cheddar cheese, shredded

In 3 quart sauce pan cook bacon

 over medium heat until crisp.

Remove bacon from pan.

Add onions and potatoes to pan with bacon grease.

Cook over medium heat until tender.

About 20 minutes.

Drain grease if necessary.

Add milk, sour cream, pepper, and cream of chicken soup.

Stir well.

Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 15 minutes, until heated through.
Add bacon back into the chowder and stir.

Dish up into bowls and

 top with green onions and cheddar cheese.

Enjoy!

Apple Squares

An apple a day?

If it was in the form of apple squares,

 then our answer would be...

Yes, please!

A crisp juicy apple is delicious.

A Honeycrisp apple, especially.

But apple squares with a cinnamon sugar topping,

topped with whipped cream,

caramel, and nuts.

Need we say more?

They are pretty simple to make too.

First combine brown sugar, white sugar, and melted butter.
Mix well.

Stir in the egg and vanilla. 

Then add your flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.

Mix.

It kind of looks like cookie dough.

Next add the diced apples.

You can also add walnuts or pecans.

Spread into a 9x9 pan.

We love our parchment lined pans.

It makes it easy to lift the whole thing

 out of the pan to cut evenly. 

It also makes clean up a breeze.

Sprinkle the top with cinnamon sugar and bake.

 It comes out looking like this. 

Not very pretty, but you can dress it up.

With whipped cream.

 And caramel...

Yum!

Apple Squares

 1 cup flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

3/4 cup diced apple (1 apple)

1/2 cup walnuts, if desired

2 Tbsp. white sugar

2 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together the melted butter, brown sugar,

and white sugar with a wooden spoon until smooth.

Stir in the egg and vanilla.

Blend in the flour, baking powder, salt and 1/4 tsp. cinnamon.

 Add the diced apples and nuts.

Spread into a greased or parchment lined 9"x9" pan.

It will be thick like a cookie dough.

Mix the 2 Tbsp. white sugar and 2 tsp. cinnamon together.

Sprinkle over the top of the batter. 

Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes. 

The finished bars should spring back when lightly touched.

Cool.

Cut into squares.

Top with whipped cream and nuts.

Enjoy!

 Thanks for passing along this recipe, Jessi.

We have made it many, many times in the last few years.

BLT Dip

BLT Dip

Maybe it should be BTC Dip

Bacon, Tomato, and Cheese

Doesn't sound as good.

No matter what you call it though.

It tastes good.

When we first had this dip about 10 years ago 

we were surprised at how good it tasted 

with such few simple ingredients.

Thanks to Marilyn & Sandra 
for making it for us 

all those years ago.

We loved it then and love it now.

It is an easy, refreshing dip for parties.

Grammy Awards party?

Super Bowl party?

Scrapbook party?

You name it.

This dip can be a healthy dip also.

Use turkey bacon,

non-fat sour cream, non-fat mayo,

and reduced fat cheddar cheese.

Bacon...yum

Cook your cut up bacon.

Drain.

Grate your cheddar cheese.

Have you noticed how freshly grated cheese 

taste better than the pre-packaged kind?

Yum...cheese.

Mix everything together 

and 

chill for a couple hours.

There you have it...

Very simple

Very easy

BLT dip!

Grab your favorite dipping chips or crackers 

and dip away!

BLT Dip

 1 cup sour cream

1 cup mayonnaise (not Miracle Whip)

1 pound of bacon

1 tomato, diced

1 to 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Cut the bacon into 1 inch pieces.

Cook and drain.

Then mix together the sour cream,

mayonnaise, bacon, tomato, and cheese.

Chill for a couple hours.

Serve with your favorite chips and crackers.

Enjoy! 

Caramel Oatmeal Bars

Buttery oatmeal,

gooey caramel.

As our "little spoonful", Dylan says

nummmmm.

 

 This is a fairly new recipe that we found.

But have made many times in the last couple months.

Why?

Because we just love it.

We love oatmeal.

And caramel.

And it tastes good.

Although we're not too fond of unwrapping the caramels,

it is so worth it.

Once you have the caramels unwrapped

melt them over low heat with 1/2 & 1/2.

 Gather some basic ingredients:

Flour, brown sugar, chocolate chips,

oatmeal, baking soda, and butter.

Combine them

 and get this.

Press half of the mixture into 

a greased parchment paper lined square baking pan.

 Bake this layer for 10 minutes.

Then sprinkle with chocolate chips.

Drizzle the melted caramel over the chocolate chips.

 Yum. Don't you just want to take a bite now?

Top with the remaining oatmeal mixture.

And bake for about 18 more minutes.

Cool and then cut into squares.

Oops...sorry!

Couldn't wait to try a bite!

It just tastes so good warm from the oven.

Caramel Oatmeal Bars

35 caramels, unwrapped

1/3 cup 1/2 & 1/2

3/4 cup butter, melted

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup oatmeal

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Melt the unwrapped caramels with 

the 1/2 & 1/2 over low heat. Set to the side.

Combine brown sugar, flour, oatmeal, and baking soda

with the melted butter.

Press half of this mixture into a greased

parchment paper lined square pan.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.

Remove from the oven.

Sprinkle with the chocolate chips.

Pour the melted caramel over the chocolate chips.

Top with the remaining oatmeal mixture.

Bake for another 18 minutes 

until golden brown.

Cool then cut into squares.

Enjoy!