Megan, in honor of potato soup-picture later, sorry!

Baked Potato Soup
(allrecipes.com)

• 1/3 cup butter
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 cups milk, whatever you have
  
• 5 large baking potatoes, scrubbed
• 1 cup sour cream
• any additional toppings and seasonings- green onions, salt, pepper, lemon pepper, cheese, etc.
  

1. Microwave potatoes until done.
2. While potatoes are cooking make a roux over low to medium heat. Mix butter, margarine, or light olive oil, and flour. DO NOT BURN THE ROUX. When roux is thickened a bit (just takes a couple minutes), gradually blend in milk. Continue cooking over low to medium heat while preparing potatoes.
3. Peel and cut up potatoes. You may want to mash some of the potatoes also (DO). Add potatoes to the milk mixture. Blend in sour cream. Soup is ready to be served.

Our whole family loved this soup and it was gone in no time! It was the right thickness, and great with rolls. This soup calls for no additional seasonings, but needs whatever you like. I threw in a bouillon cube and salt and pepper. We liked lemon pepper too. I skipped the sour cream at the end because it didn't seem to need that but you can add it to individual bowls. A quick, yummy soup perfect for the cold days!

A summer drink, but really good anytime

Sparkling Raspberry Lemonade

• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can frozen raspberry lemonade concentrate
• 3 cups water
• 3/4 teaspoon lime juice
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can Sprite
  
• 1 cup crushed ice
• 1 cup fresh raspberries, garnish

In a large punch bowl, combine raspberry lemonade concentrate, water and lime juice. Stir in lemon-lime soda and crushed ice. Garnish each glass with a fresh raspberry.

Pretzel Salad

Pretzel Salad

• 2 cups crushed pretzels
• 3/4 cup margarine, melted (I halve this)
  
• 2 teaspoons white sugar
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese (I use Neufchatel)
  
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 4 1/2 ounces frozen whipped topping, thawed (I use light)
  
• 1 (6 ounce) package strawberry flavored gelatin
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 (10 ounce) packages frozen strawberries

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, mix crushed pretzels, margarine and sugar.
3. Press crushed pretzel mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish, and bake in the preheated oven 8 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
4. Blend together the cream cheese and sugar. Fold in whipped topping and spread evenly over cooled pretzel mixture.
5. In a medium bowl, dissolve the strawberry flavored gelatin in boiling water. Mix in strawberries and set aside to cool for 15 minutes.
6. Pour gelatin mixture over cream cheese mixture and refrigerate until set, about 4 hours.

This is always more of a dessert than a salad when we have this, but hey- who doesn't want to justify a dessert under the title of "salad"? The pretzel crust is really good- you wouldn't guess it's pretzels, but it adds a nice sweet/salty combo. I've had this with frozen strawberries and frozen raspberries. Both are great!

Please try this dish!

Indian Butter Chicken

• 1/2 cup butter, 2 T which are used to saute onion and garlic
• 1 small onion, minced
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic (I used about 1/3 t. garlic powder)
  
• 1 can tomato sauce
  
• 1 12 oz. can skim or 2% evaporated milk
• 1 1/2 c. whole milk (or 2 %)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (I used just a sprinkle)
  
• 1 teaspoon garam masala (you find this in the spice aisle anywhere)
  
• 2-3 chicken breasts, thawed and cut into bite-sized chunks
• 1 T. curry powder
  

1. Melt a few tablespoons of butter in a big skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion and garlic, and cook slowly until the onion is mostly translucent. Add chicken and heat until no longer pink, stirring regularly.
2. Turn heat to low and add remaining butter to the pan along with the tomato sauce, milks, salt, cayenne pepper, garam masala, and curry powder. Simmer on low until thickened.
   
3. Serve over rice with your choice of vegetables. We liked steamed peas and broccoli.

You just don't know what you're missing until you try this! I know people who think they don't like curry in general aren't going to be convinced, but this is an awesome meal. AWESOME. Even the kids like this one, and they aren't really fans of our other Indian dishes. This one is less spicy, unless you add more red pepper, and it it saucy and delicious with rice. The flavors are just so interesting and delectable! Really- give this one a try.

Ham and Tortilla Roll-Ups

R's family's Ham and Tortilla Roll-Ups

• 8 tortillas
• deli ham
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 can green chiles (I always skip)
• 2 cups milk
• 1/4 c. butter
  
• 1/4 c. flour
• 1/4 t. mustard
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1 dash seasoning salt

1. Make the white sauce by combining milk, butter, flour, mustard and salts. Stir with whisk and cook over medium heat until thickened, about 10 minutes.
2. On each tortilla, layer a few slices of ham, then a couple tablespoons of white sauce, and some grated cheese. Roll up and place in greased 13 by 9 pan. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
3. Cover with any remaining sauce and cheese.
4. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

This is a recipe that I always enjoy. It's fast, different, and the kids like it too!

Rachel Ray's Sloppy Joes

Rachael Ray's Super Sloppy Joes

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan
• 1 1/4 pounds ground beef
  
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon steak seasoning blend, such as McCormick brand Montreal Seasoning
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 small red bell pepper, chopped (optional)
  
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 4 crusty rolls split, toasted, and lightly buttered
• Garnish: sliced ripe tomatoes, pickles
  

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add oil and meat to the pan. Spread the meat around the pan and begin to break it up. Combine brown sugar and steak seasoning. Add sugar and spice mixture to the skillet and combine. When the meat has browned, add onion and red peppers to the skillet. Reduce heat to medium and cook onions, peppers, red wine vinegar and Worcestershire sauce with meat for 5 minutes. Add tomato sauce and paste to pan. Stir to combine. Reduce heat to simmer and cook Sloppy Joe mixture 5 minutes longer. Using a large spoon or ice cream scoop, pile sloppy meat onto toasted, buttered bun bottoms and cover with bun tops.

If you don't have a good sloppy joe recipe, this is a good one to have. The Montreal Steak seasoning adds a nice smoky flavor.

Easy, quick, delicious white bread recipe

Amish White Bread
(from allrecipes.com)

• 2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 6 cups bread flour

1. In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water, and then stir in yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam.
2. Mix salt and oil into the yeast. Mix in flour one cup at a time. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour. KitchenAid Users: Proof yeast, sugar, and water in bowl. Add oil and salt, then flour one cup at a time. After all flour is added knead on medium speed for 5 more minutes. I used more flour than called for; just add flour until dough forms a ball on dough hook and scrapes sides of bowl. Follow rest of directions as written.
3. Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes, and divide in half. Shape into loaves, and place into two well oiled 9x5 inch loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen about 1 inch above pans. (I like to preheat oven to 100 degrees, turn oven off and place pans in and let rise about 30 minutes. Without removing pans from the oven, heat oven to 350 and bake for 30-35 minutes.)
   
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes.

Holy cow, this is good bread! Soft, slightly sweet (though you can cut the sugar by a couple T if you'd prefer) and delicious! And really not hard or long to make at all. Not sure about the "Amish' part of it, but it makes for a more interesting title than just White Bread, I guess.