Baked Potato Soup and Grilled Cheese

What's on the menu tonight?  It was going to be leftover Hideaway Pizza that we ordered WAY too much of last night....but then Kenwood and I ate it for lunch instead :)  Since I have a sick little boy today, my grocery shopping will have to get done tonight when Dillon gets home from work to watch my munchkin! So, an easy dinner tonight is definitely what needs to happen!  I got this Baked Potato Soup recipe from one of the mom's in my Bible Study--Thanks Alli Black!  I am soooo looking forward to this comfort food tonight--its rainy and cold out!  We'll be having this along side some good 'ol classic grilled cheeses :)

- 1 bag Ore Ida Steam and Mash Potatoes (Regular Flavor- Cut Russet Potatoes--In freezer section near fries)

- 1/4 cup real bacon bits or crumbled bacon (I am going to use microwave bacon...not feeling very "Martha Stewart" tonight)

- 2 to 3 cups milk (more or less milk depending on how thick or thin you like it)

- 3 tablespoons light butter or margerine

- Shredded cheese

- sliced green onions (about 5) --I'll also be leaving these out due to a few "no onions" tastebuds in my house

- salt and pepper

1. Cook potatoes for 10 minutes in microwave as directed on bag

2. Dump cooked potatoes into a large bowl and add bacon bits, milk and butter, salt and pepper to taste. Mash with a potato masher or fork and stir thoroughly. 

3. Cook another 3-4 minutes in microwave adding more milk if necessary to thin out soup, stirring when necessary.

4. Top with shredded cheese and green onions. (a little sour cream is good too)

Adventures in Cooking-"DUMP soup"....hahahaha

What's on the menu tonight?!  Yummy, easy stew with cornbread!  Perfect for a November night indoors with my boys!

"Dump Soup"--not the most appetizing, but it's called this b/c you LITERALLY just dump everything in together

1 can Rotel
2 cans Minestrone
2 cans Ranch Style Beans (I only use 1 can b/c my hubby doesn't really like beans)
1 8oz jar Cheez Whiz
1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
1 bag shell pasta (optional)


Brown ground beef and drain.  (Also, cook and drain pasta if you opt for this addition) Dump all ingredients into pot (or you can use a crock pot and slow cook) until melted and hot.  READY TO SERVE!!!!

We are having this tonight with cornbread! The minestrone and rotel give you plenty of good veggies, and the beans and ground beef (or turkey) give you a good healthy protein!