Bad Cook....Good Cook

So....I can't tell you how many times in my 11 years of marriage we had to order pizza because of my lack of ability to cook a decent meal. Burning steaks when we had the missionaries over for dinner, not to mention the chimichanga's I managed to fail at. The tasteless chicken noodle soup or the time I burnt the eggs, the rice or the water...

I have recently become obsessed with Hells Kitchen and Master Chef. 

I have learned a lot from those shows...including how to swear...J/K...I know Gordon Ramsey has a potty mouth and it is a good thing they bleep it out. But I can't help but want to learn how to cook the Beef Wellington or how to just season differently. So in my search to become a better "chef" I have learned some things and I have to say it is paying off.

I can finally look at a few recipes and get an idea and actually make something edible and not just edible but something worth eating...and you add in my Biggest Loser addiction

and I have managed to make 'most' of them healthy! So my newest recipe that I am most proud of is my Creamy Cheesy Potato Broccoli soup. It was delish...I may add/change a few things next time but the first time was good. I ate it for 3 days and shared some. That being said, my kids refused to eat it. LOL...that is just TOO bad! So I am sharing you my estimated guess at my recipe since I kind of just made it up as I went a long and if I don't write it down soon. I will forget it and next time won't be as yummy.

So here it is

4 Russet Potatoes peeled and diced

1  broccoli crown cut into small pieces

1/4 of an orange pepper,  minced

1/4 of a yellow pepper, minced

4 cloves fresh garlic, minced

1/4 of a red onion, minced

1 cup whole milk

5 cups skim milk, 1 cup reserved

1/4 cup all purpose flour

1/4 cup fat free sour cream

1 cup Colby jack cheese

1/2 cup Pepper jack cheese

1 TB butter

2 TB real Hormel bacon pieces (or you could bake your own)

salt

pepper

chives

chopped fresh parsley

Peel and cut potatoes and boil them in a pot of water just until soft. Add Broccoli in about 5 minutes into the boil. It will take potatoes about 10 minutes to boil. Once both potatoes are firm soft and broccoli as well. Empty into a colander. Using the same pan melt the butter in the pan and then add the peppers, garlic, and onion and saute for 1 minute then add 1 cup whole milk and 4 cups skim milk to the pan. Stir frequently as to not scorch the milk to badly. While milk is heat taking 1 cup cold skim milk and mix with a whisk the milk and flour and a 2 cup measuring cup. The consistency shouldn't be too thick but like a bit thicker than a heavy cream. Slowly add it in whisking it into the warm milk. Continue to whisk about 2-3 minutes and add the sour cream until combined. Slowly add cheese about 1/2 cup at a time until melted and you now have a creamy cheese sauce. Add the potatoes and broccoli and hormel bacon and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with dry/fresh chives or fresh green onions chopped and fresh parsley.

What I would do differently next time...for me it didn't have enough garlic I would up my garlic to 6 cloves. But I LOVE garlic! And probably a half of red onion. I LOVE red onion. I would also switch the measurements for Colby Jack to 1/2 cup and 1 cup for Pepper Jack. I like the extra "kick" but...I toned it down because I thought my kids would eat it but they wouldn't....so I think next time I might add some actual ham to it (with the bacon too) I just love "pig" LOL. I also used dried chives and fresh parsley next time I think I would prefer freshly chopped chives or green onion.

The next recipe to come will be my Pork Tenderloin recipe! It is SOOOOOO good that even the next door neighbor commented on the rich smell that Sunday...