Creamy Herb Chicken Soup

Creamy Herb Chicken Soup

2 TB Olive Oil
4 TB Butter

1/8 cup Roux
3-4 prepared Chicken Breast - chopped (Boiled, Grilled, or Baked)
2-3 slices Bacon (crumbled)
1 medium sized Onion (chopped) - could use Green Onion
1 TB Fresh Garlic (chopped) - I used 2 cloves
1 qt Whipping Cream (Heavy Cream)

1 qt Milk -Less to make thicker

1 can low sodium Chicken Broth
1/8 tsp Coarse Ground Black Pepper
Pinch of Sea Salt
1/8 cup of Chives (reserve for garnish)

3 Sage Leaves
1/8 cup Fresh Grated Parmesan Cheese (reserve 1/2 for Garnish)
Fresh Parsley (for Garnish) can use vivid green freeze dried

Using a heavy bottomed Stock Pot, melt butter and add Olive Oil, heat til oil is hot. Saute' onion, stirring frequently about 3-4 minutes until almost translucent. Add chicken and continue saute' another 2-3 minutes to heat through then add garlic. Make a roux by adding about an 3 TB flour to pan, then slowly add Cream or Milk and can of Chicken Broth. Add seasonings, bring to a low boil, if you bring it to a full boil you risk the chance of curdling the milk & creeam, reduce heat to a simmer. Stir in 1/2 of Parmesan Cheese and continue simmering for 10 minutes until thickened.

Serve in large bowls and garnish with Parmesan Cheese, Chives, and Parsley and a side of Garlic Cheese Bread.

What do you like on your Baked Potato?

What do you want on your baked potato?

When we go out to eat at a nicer style place to eat, there is usually a choice of potato. Sometimes chips, fries, wedges, seasoned fries, waffle fries, and then there is the glorious baked potato. The server usually ask, would you like butter and sour cream with that?

Yes please, is my usual response. Sometimes you can even get bacon on it, chives, or parsley. But in the restuarant you are not going to get much more of an option. I think it was a fast food place that offered baked potatos with cheese, brocolli, chili, and anything else, I am not sure. I go to one restuarant here in town that has a loaded baked potato. They claim it is a one pound monstrosity and comes loaded with cheddar cheese and Applewood-smoked bacon for an extra fee. I usually eat it when I go there because it is still less expensive than most things and filling as well! It is pure comfort, add a cup of soup and it is a very fulfilling meal. (By itself it is a meal also) The cost of a potato makes it an economical choice for any household.

When I managed the steakhouse in IL, we had baked potatos and also a special option of a baked sweet potato. Loaded with butter and brown sugar and dusted with cinnamon, I have even seen them offered with a bit of whipped cream to top them off. (HEAVENLY) I am not sure which I prefer? Leftover potatos were the reincarnated in other dishes: Cow Chips, Fried Tators, Potato Soup, stew, etc.

But the simplicity of the baked potato wins out more days than not. I can microwave one in about 5 minutes: wash it, wrap it in wax paper, and then put it in the microwave for 5 minutes, turning halfway thru cooking. My daughter aptly pointed out the other night that her mother does not wrap her potatos. I told her it was not neccesary but I prefered to wrap mine to keep the skin moister. If you have to do several for a large group you can always place them in a 400 degree oven for 40-50 minutes or so depending on their size. Wash them and then I will rub them in oil to make them shine and dust them with sea salt for added flavor. You can wrap them in foil and even cook them on the Grill outside while grilling other foods.

Now they are ready to eat, so I return to the question, What do you want on your baked potato?

Keep in mind the potential is unlimited: Butter, sour cream, chives, cheese (shredded or sauce),alfredo sauce, garlic, mushrooms, spinach, feta, tomatoes, green peppers, pizza sauce, onions (fresh or saute'd), bacon, brocolli (any veggie you like), chili, pulled pork, steak, shrimp, chicken, sausage, chopped pepperoni, ham, philly cheese steak toppings??? If you like it, you can try it!

A baked potato is the ultimate in comfort food, it can be like life at the core, simple. Simple you say! Come on do not laugh, we all are born and we all must die, how can it get any simpler than that? Sure in between birth and death, there is life to be lived, when we are younger we attend school, as we age, we have to find jobs, pay taxes and other bills, but what we add to our lives adds flavor and makes it what we enjoy! So again I ask, "What do you like on your Baked Potato?"

Responses to question:

surfergirl from California: These 3 toppings make it ideally delish for me.. Butter, sour cream, & chives RT @skipsrecipebox

CookingAsshole from Portland OR: @skipsrecipebox sour cream, cheddar cheese, chives/garlic spears, and bacon....

LJ from IL: i like...bacon..real bacon..not bacos...cheese...sour cream...and butter...salt...pepper... I like chili n cheese sometimes too… and broccoli n cheese.

joykeepin from TX: @skipsrecipebox chives, and butter :)

Add your topping choices to the comments, thanks!