Cream of Chicken Soup recipe- to use in place of condensed soup

HOMEMADE CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP

Author: Pinch of Yum

Prep time:  5 mins

Cook time:  10 mins

Total time:  15 mins

Serves: 3 cups

Makes the equivalent of about 2 cans of condensed cream of chicken soup.

INGREDIENTS

• 2½ cups chicken broth (I used 2 cans)
• 1½ cups milk
• ¾ cup flour
• 1 tablespoon seasoning mix (or on your own, ½ tsp. onion powder, ½ tsp. garlic powder, ½ tsp. black pepper, 1 tsp. salt, ½ tsp. parsley, etc)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Combine the chicken broth and ½ cup of the milk in a large saucepan. Bring to a low boil.
2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk the flour and seasonings into the remaining 1 cup milk until a smooth, thick mixture forms.
3. Pour the flour and milk mixture into the saucepan with the broth mixture over low heat and stir continuously, whisking as the mixture simmers. Continue to simmer and stir/whisk until the mixture is smooth and thick, 5-10 minutes. The mixture will thicken a bit as it cools.

NOTES

The seasoning possibilities are really open-ended. I change the spices I use every time I make this depending on what I’m going to use the soup for. The texture can get lumpy really quickly so I suggest keeping the heat as low as possible and whisking continuously for a more smooth consistency.   

The best pancakes and syrup ever, must-try!

Yogurt Pancakes with Homemade Syrup
(from favfamilyrecipes.com)

For the pancakes:
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
3 tbsp. sugar
3 eggs
2 1/2 - 3 c. plain Mountain High brand yogurt (or 2 c. buttermilk)
1/4 c. butter, melted
2 c. all-purpose flour

Mix all ingredients. If it seems too thick, add milk a little at a time until it reaches a good

 "pancake batter" consistency.

For the syrup:
1 cup white sugar
1 cup plain yogurt (we like the Mountain High brand)
1/4 cup butter
3 Tablespoons corn syrup
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla

Bring first four ingredients to a boil in a large pot. Once boiling, reduce
 to a simmer and stir constantly for 5 minutes. Add baking soda and
 vanilla. Remove from stove and serve over pancakes, waffles or
 french toast. (The syrup will be thin-- this is normal. After it cools off
 a bit it thickens up. Store any extra syrup in the fridge for

 later use.)
**The baking soda will make it boil high so make sure you use
 a large pot.***

I've had this recipe bookmarked forever because I don't make pancakes
 that often. But the addition of yogurt in both the pancake and syrup was
 a different enough idea that I was intrigued, and I was amazed!  The
 pancakes were definitely pancakes, but more moist.  They even taste 
good plain.  The syrup is simply amazing and even though I'm not sure 
how healthy the recipe is with the butter and all, the yogurt balances it all 
out with its protein and bacteria!  

Tomatillo Ranch Dressing

Tomatillo Ranch Dressing

• 1 packet Traditional Hidden Valley Ranch mix (not Buttermilk)
• 1 c. mayonnaise
• 1 c. buttermilk (I use 1 cup milk with 1 T. vinegar cause I usually don't have buttermilk on hand)
• 2 tomatillos, remove husk, diced
• 1/2 bunch of fresh cilantro (I always skip and it's great without too)
• 1 clove garlic
• juice of 1 lime
• 1 jalapeno (if you like it spicy keep the seeds in it, if you like it mild, just remove the seeds or just skip altogether)

Mix all ingredients together in the blender. Enjoy over salad, on mexican food, whatever!


I know a lot of people make the Cafe Rio Pork a lot and love this famous dressing.  I have only made it a couple of times but I am amazed how good it tastes.  Don't limit it just to pork!

Have I really not posted this apple syrup recipe?

Apple Cider Syrup

• 1/2 c. sugar
• 2 T. cornstarch
• 1/4 t. cinnamon
• 1/4 t. nutmeg
• 2 c. apple cider
• 2 T. lemon juice
• 1/4 c. butter

In a saucepan, combine first four ingredients.  Stir in cider and lemon juice.  Cook and stir until boiling.  Boil for one minute, remove from heat and add butter.  Serve over pancakes, waffles, or french toast.


This is delicious!  My mom's famous recipe, maybe minus a little sugar and butter?  Anyway, it's a definite winner and a nice change from maple.

Dulce de Leche- 1 ingredient in the crock pot!

Dulce de Leche, or caramel dipping sauce

• 1 can sweetened condensed milk

Remove paper label from can.  Don't open can. Place in crock pot, then fill crock pot with enough water to cover the can.  Cook on low for 6-8 hrs.  

This is obviously super-easy, and who would have thought the sweetened condensed milk would turn into a perfect caramel dip?  I did read somewhere that there could be a danger of cans bursting, but that is usually with the stovetop method.  By cooking on low in the crock pot and keeping an eye on it you should be fine, right?  Well- mine worked great.  

Pizza sauce, 15 minute dough, Papa Murphy's Veggie Knock-off

Exquisite Pizza Sauce
(allrecipes.com)

• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 6 fluid ounces warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
• 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon anchovy paste (optional)
• 3/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon dried marjoram
• 1/4 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
• salt to taste

Directions

1. In a small bowl, combine tomato paste, water, Parmesan cheese, garlic, honey, anchovy paste, onion powder, oregano, marjoram, basil, ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, red pepper flakes and salt; mix together, breaking up any clumps of cheese.
2. Sauce should sit for 30 minutes to blend flavors; spread over pizza dough and prepare pizza as desired.

15 Minute Pizza Dough

• 2 1/2 c. flour
• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 cup hot water 
• 1 Tbsp. Rapid Rise or Bread Machine yeast
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil

Preheat oven to 450°. Mix dry ingredients together. Add hot water and olive oil. Mix for five minutes (I use my Kitchen Aid mixer with the dough hook but by hand works too). Let rest 10 minutes. Press dough on pizza pan, pizza stone, or jelly-roll pan. Bake at 450° for 3 minutes. Take out of the oven and cover with toppings. Return to the oven and bake 8-10 minutes more. Makes one large pizza (16-18 inches).

The pizza sauce was good!  I threw in what I had and it all worked out.  I can't really imagine buying anchovy paste.  I don't know what that would contribute and it sounds kind of gross. 


This dough was so fast, I had to keep it for that reason alone!  It tasted good too, of course.  On the photo you'll see caramelized mushrooms and onions.   My dream pizza, but not Russell's!  He hates mushrooms, poor sap.  Sam picked the mushrooms off his pizza, eating ONLY them.  Good boy.  Well, at least 3 of us like mushrooms in the house.

Papa Murphy's CopyCat Gourmet Vegetarian Pizza with Creamy Garlic Sauce
Ingredients:
-1 unbaked pizza crust (either homemade or store-bought- the homemade crust is what I used in the picture and it is amazing!)
-1 recipe Creamy Garlic Sauce (see recipe below)
-Fresh spinach
-Sliced zucchini
-Mushrooms
-Artichoke Hearts
-Tomatoes
-Minced Onions
-Grated Mozzarella Cheese
-Parmesan Cheese

Directions: 
Spread pizza crust in pan (I used a small 8" cake pan for this recipe). Spread creamy garlic sauce on top of crust. Add fresh vegetables (and any other toppings you like), sprinkle cheeses on top, and bake according to crust directions.

Creamy Garlic Sauce Recipe 
This sauce is amazing! I love to use it in place of regular tomato pizza sauce. This will make enough sauce for one very large pizza or about 3 personal-sized pizzas.

Ingredients:
1 cup ranch dressing
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
1 Tablespoon Parmesan cheese
1 tsp garlic salt
Dash of minced green onions
Dash of Italian seasoning

Mix all ingredients together and use as desired. 

Microwave Hot Fudge

Super Fast and Delicious Hot Fudge Sauce

• 6 T butter
• 6 heaping T. cocoa powder
• 1 can sweetened condensed milk (I used fat-free and it worked well)
• a few Tbsp. milk, if needed to thin out sauce

Microwave the butter until completely melted and starting to bubble Add the cocoa powder and whisk well to remove any lumps. Add the sweetened condensed milk and continue whisking. If sauce is too thick, add a little milk to thin it out.

Serve warm. Store in an airtight container for about a week.

This is a fast winner!

A good go-to french toast-camera broken, pics later

French Toast with Buttermilk Syrup
(allrecipes.com)

• 4 eggs
• 3/4 c. milk
• 3 T. brown sugar
• 1 t. nutmeg
• 12 slices bread
• cinnamon for sprinkling

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs. Add the milk, brown sugar and nutmeg; stir well to combine.
2. Soak bread slices in the egg mixture until saturated.
3. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Brown slices on both sides, sprinkle with cinnamon and serve hot.

Buttermilk Syrup

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 c. butter (real butter is great)
• 1/2 c. buttermilk (I use 1/2 c. milk with 1/2 T. vinegar for a buttermilk substitute)
• 1/2 t. baking soda
• 1 t. vanilla

Melt butter in pan. Add sugar, buttermilk and then soda. Make sure the pot you use is big enough, as the baking soda causes the mixture to foam a lot. Cook until thick, about 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, add vanilla, and serve.

I've always struggled making french toast that isn't soggyish in the middle. I liked this recipe, and the tip from my sister-in-law to cook 3-4 min. each side on 350 on your griddle. This syrup is rich and not super-healthy but sure tastes good and is a nice change from maple!

Teriyaki

Teriyaki Sauce
(adapted from recipezaar.com)

1/2 cup soy sauce

1 1/2 cups water

sprinkle of ginger (to taste- I just like a hint)

4 1/2 T. brown sugar

1 minced garlic clove (or 1 t. garlic powder)

3 T. cornstarch

1/3 c. water

1. Combine 1 1/2 c. water, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic and ginger in a saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
2. Dissolve corn starch in 1/3 cup of cold water and add to sauce. Will thicken immediately.
3. Remove from heat.
4. If the sauce is too thick add a little water or soy sauce to thin.

This is a good teriyaki sauce that thickens up nicely. This recipe makes enough for a main dish (stir fry example) that feeds 4 adults.

Angela's Hot Fudge Sauce

Hot Fudge Sauce
6 T. butter
2 C. powdered sugar
1/3 C. cocoa
1 C. evaporated milk
1 tsp vanilla

Melt butter. Add powdered sugar and cocoa, mix. Add milk. Bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Serve warm. Or it is easy to reheat in microwave as well.

I used a can of evaporated milk that had its best by date 2005 and it still tasted good. I think it was a can I got from Mom's clean out pantry fiesta 18 months ago. This fudge is great. I like a little ice cream with my lots of fudge. Nice consistency too. Sorry my ice cream looks like an animal instead of two perfect round scoops.

Simple Ingredients Hot Fudge Sauce

• 2 cups sugar
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 2/3 cup cocoa powder
• 2 cups milk
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

Preparation:

In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Over medium heat, combine milk, butter and vanilla until the butter has melted. Add dry ingredients to the milk mixture, constantly whisking. Boil, stirring constantly until thick and smooth, about 5 minutes. Cool and refrigerate unused portion.

Note: Can be reheated in a double-boiler, or microwave, as needed.