CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP AND CHICKEN SALAD

      OK, I admit that I am way behind. My Gators took on Vandy, then were off last Saturday. I took advantage of some time to get some things done around the house.

     So, it's 'catch up' time.

     For the Vanderbilt game, we did some soup and a salad.

      I do like soup and a salad always goes well with any kind of soup.

      Today we are modifying our 'Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup' and making the real thing.

      Then as it simmers, we are putting together some nice Chicken Salad to go with the soup.

Let's grab a beer and get to work.

Ingredients for Cream of Mushroom Soup

• 1/2 cup Salted Butter (ONE STICK)
• 24 ounces, weight Mushrooms, Finely Chopped
• 1/2 cup Finely Diced Onion
• Salt And Pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup All-purpose Flour
• 1/2 cup Heavy Cream
• 1/2 cup Chicken Broth
  
• 1/3 CUP MARSALA WINE
  
• 1 TSP Taragon
  
• 1 Cup Celery
  

Preparation

      Melt butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add onions & celery. Sauté until tender. 

     Add Mushrooms, Wine & Tarragon

     Season to taste with salt and pepper.

     Cook for 2 minutes. Add flour and cook for an additional 2 minutes.

     Quickly whisk in chicken broth until smooth. Add the cream. 

     Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute.

     Remove from heat. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

     Are you serious?? That's it ?? And you keep buying that crap in a can? What is wrong with you?

     That was so easy, we have time for a cute doggie picture.

 My name is Magoo. And this is my spot when I come to visit.

      
     OK, let's move on. Time to make some salad. 

      To go with our Home Made Mushroom Soup, we are whipping up some simple Chicken Salad.

     I love chicken salad, as you can eat it on a bun or all by itself. Without the bun, it is a low carb feast.

Let's get started. 

       First you will need a Pre-Cooked chicken from your local store or deli.

      I know it's a shortcut, but what the hell? Sometimes it's nice to save some time. Gives me more time to watch football and drink a beer. Or two.

      Now, strip all the meat form the bones. (Don't forget to SAVE the bones so you can make broth later. Just chuck them in the freezer for now. 

      Chop up the meat and put it in a bowl.

 

 Did we talk about knife safety ????

      Chop some celery. (Amount to your liking) And add it to the chicken

      Now add ¼ tsp of Celery Salt and ¼ tsp Pepper

      Then add ½ Cup of MAYO and STIR 

      After the mixture is good and stirred, ADD 1 TBL of Relish then stir again.

 

      If you think it needs more MAYO, go ahead.

     That's all there is to it. Simple as can be. And all your friends buy that processed deli crap.

      Jeez, I hate lazy people.

      I served mine with some Egg and Tuna Salad. With the Mushroom soup, it was a real taste treat !!!!

      The Gators spotted Vandy a 21-3 lead, then came soaring back to win 37-27

      And Ball State edged Central Michigan 24-13.

      The Gators are off to prepare for the Georgia game. Gators are now rated # 9 while Georgia spots in at # 7. I am also off the cooking next week. Got a bunch of 'honey do's' to do.

      Live long and prosper.

LOW CARB BEEF VEGGIE SOUP

Today we are having a great halftime meal as my Gators are at home for a 3:30 CBS game with L.S.U.

For our feast today, we're gonna whip up some low card Veggie Soup.

I am starting this around 11 AM so it has plenty of time to cook. Then when half time comes, we'll do a low carb club sandwich to go with the soup.

We are big soup fans here as casa de agua dulce and love that we can make a huge vat of it and either eat on it all week, or throw it in the freezer fur use later. If you work all week, it's a great alternative to EATING OUT !!

So, as Pink says, “Let's get the party started”

Start with the beef

2 ½ LB CHUCK ROAST (SLIGHTLY THAWED)

 CUBE IT (WHAT'S A CUBIT?)

 (yeah I know he's a sleaze bag, but this was funny.)

We had a helper

 

PUT IT IN THE FRIDGE (The beef, not the dog)

OPEN 2 BAGS OF MIRACLE RICE 

DRAIN AND RINSE WELL !!)

SET ASIDE

CHOP 1 LARGE ONION

SET ASIDE

2 CANS OF DICED TOMATOES

 

PUT IN BLENDER OR FOOD PROCESSOR & BLEND

SET ASIDE

CHOP 4 LARGE CELERY STALKS

CHOP ½ CUP OF CARROTS

CHOP 2 SMALL SUMMER SQUASH 

CHOP 2 SMALL ZUCCHINIS

CHOP 12 OZ OF GREEN BEANS

 CHOP 4 CLOVES OF GARLIC …. SET ASIDE

CHOP 1 SMALL HEAD OF SAVOY CABBAGE (CUT IN ¼ AND REMOVE CORE)

CHOP 16 OZ OF MUSHROOMS 

IN A SEPARATE BOWLS

1 TSP SALT & PEPPER

½ TSP THYME

½ TSP MARJORAM

½ CUP OF FRESH PARSLEY (DRIED IF YOU MUST)

IN SEPARATE BOWL, ADD 1 CUP FROZEN LIMA BEANS AND 1 CUP FROZEN CORN AND ONE CUP OF PEAS

(I know it's not super Low Carb, but what the hell?) 

LET'S MAKE IT

¼ CUP EVOO IN A BIG POT (MEDIUM HEAT)

WHEN EVOO SHIMMERS, ADD ONIONS AND STIR

WHEN ONIONS ARE TRANSPARENT, ADD THE MUSHROOMS 

SAUTE

ADD THE GARLIC AND COOK FOR ONE MORE MINUTE

ADD THE SALT & PEPPER TO THE BEEF BOWL

ADD THE BEEF TO THE SAUTED MUSHROOMS AND ONIONS AND COOK UNTIL MOST OF THE RED IS GONE

ADD ALL THE VEGGIES , TOMATOES 

ADD 1 CUP OF BEEF BROTH AND ONE CUP OF CHICKEN BROTH

ADD THE SPICES , PARSLEY

STIR STIR STIR

ADD A LID

WHEN THE SOUP COMES TO A SLIGHT BOIL, TURN DOWN TO SIMMER AND ADD THE MIRACLE RICE

COOK ON SIMMER FOR 3 – 4 HOURS.

OK, Lets get a beer and watch the game !!!!!

OK, it's halftime and time to throw together a club sandwich.

No, NOT that kind of sandwich

 

Earlier in the day, I fried up some bacon and put that in the cold box.

I am using a low carb sub for the bread, but you can toast up three slices of your favorite bread.

Now you really don't need a recipe for this, do you ?????

Just put on a bunch of stuff you like and enjoy !!!

Doesn't that look good. The game was better as the Gators beat the Number 5 Tigers 27-19 in a thriller that wasn't decided until late in the fourth.

Oh, and Ball State you ask? Lost another one to Northern Illinois 24-16

Next week it's Vanderbilt for a Noon-er... See you then.