Shine's Thyme

Daily ramblings of a ridiculously happy housewife and mother. Come in and see how sweet life can be!

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Soup & Bread

Although today is exceptionally warm (55degrees!!), I still like to put a pot of soup on in my crock pot early in the mornings.

When we have a busy day, it is so good to know I don't have to worry about dinner. It's already done! My friend at With All My Heart...Deborah, posted about some amazing chili she puts in her crock pot, and I wanted to share this with her. So, while sharing with Deborah, I thought I'd share with you also!

 This soup is so good. I used to love Panera Bread's potato soup the best of any I'd tried, but when I found this recipe...well, I changed my mind. This is by far the best I've had, AND, I know everything that goes in it, and when it went in:) Hope you can try it and enjoy it as much as my family has.

 I'm also sharing a favorite bread recipe we love with our soup. This is by far the easiest bread I have ever baked. I love making homemade bread and I do it several times a week, but when I plan ahead, this is the easiest and goes well with all types of dishes.Lots of pictures for the bread also:)  Have a blessed day! Thanks again to Deborah for inspiring me to post up some yumminess!

                     Parmesean Potato Soup
8-med. potatoes
6 cups chicken broth
1 lg. onion, chopped
1 jar (7-oz) roasted sweet red peppers (drained & chopped)
1 sm. celery rib, chopped
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. seasoned salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. sage
1/3 cup AP flour
2 cups heavy cream, divided
1 cup parmesean cheese, divided
8 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled (may use turkey bacon:)
2 Tblsp. cilantro, chopped

*Combine first 9 ingredients in a large crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours till veggies are tender.
*Combine flour and 1 cup heavy cream. Add to slow cooker. Stir in 3/4 cup parmesean cheese, bacon, cilantro and remaining cream.
*Cover & cook 30 min. more. Sprinkle remaining cheese on individual bowls.
*Yields: 12 servings
*Note: I have varied this recipe many ways. I have left out the red peppers and cilantro. And I have used turkey bacon. It is STILL always yummy. The only thing I would recommend NOT doing is, DO NOT substitute any other type of milk for the heavy cream. That will definitely ruin your yumminess:)

Yummy bread to go along perfectly with soup

                                     Artsian Bread
3 Cups AP flour (I use half whole wheat & half unbleached bread flour)
1 tsp yeast
1 1/4 tsp. sea salt
2 cups water

Mix dry ingredients, then add water. Stir together till mixed. This will be a very loose dough. Cover bowl and let sit on counter at least 12 hours. Heat a dutch oven w/lid in a 500 degree oven.Turn dough out onto a floured surface and shape into a circle. Plop onto a piece of parchment paper or wax paper and set in your heated dutch oven. Bake @ 500 w/lid on for 30 min. Take lid off and bake another 5-15 min. till brown.
ENJOY!!

7 comments:

Deborah said...

Oh my my... Shine!!
This looks and sounds the yummiest hunny!!
And that bread..I have to try BOTH of these!!!
Thank you so much for your kind thoughts of me.....you know what?
I absolutely love seeing food and their recipes while visiting blog-friends!!
And this looks like a "keeper"!
I adore POTATO SOUP and Ill bet the parmesan in it is fantastic!
Thanks so much sweetie...you make me smile!!

Much love,
Deborah xoxoxoxoxo

Letitia said...

This sounds so good! I'll have to try it, although, I may have to do it without Marissa, who will only eat mashed potatoes! : )

The Charm of Home said...

I love soup and crusty bread in this type of weather. This looked like it turned out really well. Yes, please show us your Limoges! It is the most delicate china. How wonderful you have a set!
Sherry

Sweet Bee Cottage said...

Yumptious! I mean really yum! I am reheating my homemade turkey noodle soup right now but your soup sounds divine and that bread heavenly. Now I'm a wee bit jealous! We were 70 today, but it will get cold tomorrow and lots of rain is coming. I'll have to try your recipe this long weekend. Thank you!

Sweet Bee Cottage said...

Yoo hoo! Me again! Just love that Mercy Me song and I haven't heard it before - just scooted over to iTunes and bought it. Thanks again!

Deborah said...

Shine,
I visited my sweet parents today and my mom had made potato soup...thought of you dear friend!!
Blessings on your day..

Deborah xoxo

Cindy @ Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home said...

Yummy! I can't wait to try this...thanks so much for sharing!
Cindy