Pinterest can be cheesy...

How frustrating! I have been working on a post for about a half an hour, and all my work is gone...just the recipe remains. Aargh! So annoying!
Well, here goes again. Sorry, this is going to be the abbreviated version.

I love Pinterest, but sometimes it drives me crazy. I am trying to actually do something with some of my pins. Yesterday I tried this soup that I have had my eye on. I think it is funny when I find a recipe and check out the comments, and there are people who say things like, I loved this recipe, however...I omitted this and added this, and so on and so forth, until they no longer have the recipe. Well, I admit, I did make a few additions to this soup, but for the most part, I followed the recipe as shared. I added frozen corn and diced ham. I love the sweetness of corn and I think a chowder needs corn. Plus, who doesn't love ham? My broccoli was rather large, and after cooking, I needed to do something to it, so I fished it out of the soup, and pureed it in my blender with a little extra milk. Next time, I will steam it first and then puree it. I like most of my veggies chunky, but the broccoli was too much. It did turn the soup slightly green.
All in all, this soup is a keeper! It will be perfect during the winter months.

Life here is busy but good. I can hardly believe that summer is almost over. I want more time! I still have so much to do. I hope that you are happy & healthy. Much love & all that jazz.
Nora

 Cheesy Vegetable Chowder

2 Tablespoons butter

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 cup finely chopped carrot

1 stalk celery, finely chopped (feel free to add more celery if you like celery; I don't, so I don't add much)

1 Tablespoon minced garlic

4 cups chicken broth (I usually use a mixture of low-sodium chicken broth and broth made with chicken soup base because it gives it such nice flavor)

2 large baking potatoes, peeled and chopped

1 Tablespoon flour

1/2 cup water

2/3 cup milk

2 cups chopped broccoli

2 heaping cups shredded cheddar cheese

Melt the butter in a large soup pot. Add onions, carrots, and celery and saute over medium heat until tender. Add garlic and cook 1 or 2 additional minutes. Add chicken broth and potatoes, bring to a boil, and cook until potatoes are tender. Mix flour with water, add, and simmer until soup is slightly thickened. Add milk and broccoli and cook until broccoli is just tender and soup is heated through. Stir in cheese, allow to melt, and serve.

Originally from:
http://luluthebaker.blogspot.com/2011/09/cheesy-vegetable-chowder.html

Yes, It is ME!

Hi there! It has been a while...okay, okay! I know. It has been a LONG time. Can you forgive me? I hope so. I have missed you while I have been gone. Since it has been a while, I decided to change the look of my blog. What do you think? Is everything readable? I have a hard time when I go to read a blog and I can't because the font & background don't have enough contrast. I'd appreciate your input, and will make adjustments as needed. Summer is here in full force. I have not been making much in the oven. My crockpot and I are becoming very close. I even used my waffle iron the other day as I wanted cornbread, but did not want to heat the oven. So I made cornbread waffles and it actually worked! I was surprised! I have also been wanting salads. I made my oriental chicken salad last week, using chicken I cooked in my crockpot and a bag of coleslaw mix. Today I found a recipe for a grape salad we were served at a PTA dinner. I loved it. So, I am going to share the recipe with you. I also am sharing a recipe for Paula Deen's House Seasoning. I keep some in a salt shaker on my stove. I use it quite regularly, like when I made scrambled eggs this morning for breakfast. It makes a lot. I usually cut the recipe in half, then store the extra in a jar. However, I am giving you the full recipe. Hope all is well in your world. Love & miss you tons. Check back soon. I will post again!
Love, Nora