Saturday, 4 December 2021

Cheeseburger Soup

<

This delicious rich cream cheesy soup brings out the best that cheeseburgers have to offer with savory ground beef, smoked bacon, onions, garlic and cheddar cheese.  Make a big pot of hearty wholesome goodness for your family today.

Ingredients

4 slices smoked bacon
1 lb ground beef
4 tablespoons butter
1 onion chopped
2 stalks celery chopped
2 carrots grated
2 potatoes diced
⅛ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano 
1 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
2 cloves garlic minced
3 tablespoons flour
3 cups beef broth
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

Brown bacon in a Dutch oven or heavy stockpot over medium heat.  Halfway through the browning process add the ground beef.  Cook until browned breaking it up as it browns.  Drain any excess grease. Move the browned meat to a mixing bowl.

Add butter.  Add onions, celery, carrots and potatoes, cook until the onions and celery start to soften.  Add dried thyme, onion powder, basil, oregano, parsley and garlic.  Continue cooking and stirring constantly.

Sprinkle in flour and stir to coat, stirring constantly. Add chicken broth and milk. Simmer until potatoes are tender (see notes below).  

Add cooked beef and bacon back to the pot warming for 2-3 minutes.  

Remove from the heat and slowly stir in shredded cheddar and stir until the cheese is melted.

Notes

If you really like a super thick chunky soup then use 1 1/2 cups of broth. 
Use a good quality cheddar as it will add such great flavor and depth.
This soup is best reheated in the microwave on a reduced power.
I like to make sure my potatoes are cooked.  I steam them before adding to the soup.
I added a can of diced tomatoes...  who doesn't like tomatoes on their bacon cheeseburger?

Diced Air Fryer Potatoes



My step son recently purchases an Air Fryer.  He said these are the best potatoes he has ever had.

Ingredients

2 cups diced potatoes
1/2 tsp olive oil
1/2 tbsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp chili powder

Directions

Toss your diced potatoes in a large bowl with olive oil. Season with salt, pepper, chili powder, and dried parsley. Use your hands or a spoon to move the potatoes around so each piece is evenly coated. Place them in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes. 

If your air fryer has a basket you’ll want to stop cooking after 10 minutes and shake the potatoes. This keeps the potatoes at the bottom from becoming underdone. Place the basket back in the air fryer and cook for another 10 to 15 minutes.

Potatoes should be crispy and fully cooked.

Air Fryer Garlic Steak Bites



Air Fryer Garlic Steak Bites are tender morsels of steak perfection. Bite sized heaven in less than 15 minutes!
1 pound steak cut into one inch cubes
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
3 cloves garlic minced
Herb Butter
1/4 cup butter melted
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon rosemary minced
1 teaspoon parsley minced
Instructions
In medium sized bowl add the steak bites, olive oil, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and garlic. Add to the basket of the air fryer.
Cook at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Once cooked toss to coat with the garlic herb butter.