This delicious baked potato soup is the perfect meal on a cold rainy day, it pairs well with a hot French loaf and soft butter!

HEARTY BAKED POTATO SOUP

Serves: 6+

Ingredients:
1/2 lb. chopped bacon
2 peeled potatoes, diced
3 tbsp butter
2 cup chopped white onion
2 tbsp all purpose flour
4 cups chicken stock
1 cup half-n-half
1 cup water
1.5 cups instant mashed potato flakes
1 tsp salt & pepper
2 tsp Italian seasoning

Directions:

1.  Boil diced potatoes until tender, [about 15-20 minutes] drain and set side.

2. Brown bacon in large soup pot until crispy, set aside and discard bacon fat.

3. Melt butter in the same soup pot then add chopped white onion and flour. This mixture will create a roux; keep the mixture moving under low heat until the flour is cooked [it will turn a light brown color and smell nutty].

4.  Add drained potatoes, chicken stock and water to roux; stir until combined. Now stir in half-n-half, potato flakes, italian seasoning , salt + pepper and bacon.  Stir some more – it should be fairly thick. Simmer over low heat for 3-4 hours. *soup can be transferred to crock pot at this point – cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 3 hours *

5. Garnish with green onions + cheddar cheese, don’t forget the bread & butter!!!

Mini Sirloin Burgers

Servings: 3

“Miiinnii Siiirrllooin Buuurrggers!!!” I’ve had Jack in the Box commercial ringing in my head since it first came out, its so catchy! Sliders or Mini Burgers seem to have blown up overnight, I see them being offered at practically every burger joint, so with them being so popular and not having tasted any of them I decided to try my hand at mini burger nirvana! They turned out great + easy to make!

Ingredients:

1lb ground sirloin

1 egg

real bacon bits  [ store bought or homemade]

shredded cheddar cheese

9 dinner rolls

lettuce

red onion slices

* Spicy Mayo:

3tbs real mayo

1 tbs chili spice -or- 1 chipotle pepper minced

Directions:

1.  Combine ground sirloin, egg, and 1tsp each salt + pepper :: remember just combine the ingredients do not over handle the meat!

2.  Stuff the patties!

• Score meat into 9 even sections
• Take one piece roll into a ball
• Make an indentation in the middle and stuff with cheese and bacon
•  Then take meat and fold it over and shape into patty
• Repeat!

3. Mayo: in small prep bowl combine mayo and chili powder -or- chipotle, place in fridge.

4. Grill the patties! I used an indoor grill but these can easily be done using an outdoor BBQ! For indoor grilling first spray grill with cooking spray and heat over medium flame until grill is really hot, place patties on hot grill and cook for about 3-4 mins on each side! REMEMBER only turn burger over ONCE! or you’ll end up with a tough meatball.

5. While the burgers are grilling; toast the dinner rolls. I simply heated a flat griddle and placed my Hawaiian Rolls cut side down for a 1-2 minutes.

6. Put it all together:

• Take toasted bottom roll, spread with delicious spicy mayo
• Top with mini burger
• Add onion and lettuce
• Add more mayo on top roll and ENJOY!!! 

LENTIL SOUP 

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

8 bacon strips 

1/2 cup lentils (any variety)

1/4 cup tomato sauce 

1/4 onion 

2 garlic cloves

1 ltr. water 

1 medium cilantro bunch 

2 tbsp. oil

1 tsp. cumin 

2 tsp .  smoked paprika

salt

1. COOK BACON:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil; arrange bacon on baking sheet in a single layer with the edges touching or slightly overlapping
• Bake in preheated oven to desired degree of doneness, 10 to 15 minutes
• Remove bacon from the baking sheet with tongs or a fork, and drain on a paper towel-lined plate
• Chop bacon intp bite size pieces

2. COOK LENTILS:

• Rinse lentils in cold water several times before adding to cooking pot. 
• In a medium-size cooking pot, add lentils, onion, garlic, oil and water; boil for about 30 minutes
• Add tomato sauce, cumin, paprika, cilantro, bacon and salt to taste; simmer on low for another 15 minutes
• Take out garlic and onions before serving

3. ENJOY!