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Friday Gratitude- A New Experience & Antibiotics 2.23.18

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After a week of 78 ice storms, 4 days of no school, and a round of strep that could be described as the image you DON’T want to see when you google “strep”, I am grateful that we all survived!

The week may have been crazy, but there were some really sweet and wonderful moments mixed in! Here are my moments of gratitude for the week:

Saturday Morning

A normal morning for me looks like this…

As I wake up to the sound of my alarm I can feel that half of my body is teetering on the edge of the bed because the other half is being warmed by the little person that has scooted too close. As I try to open my eyes I am off to wake up Maddie and start our day. For the next hour it is a whirlwind of making breakfast, cleaning up breakfast, attempting to wake Kyle without inducing tears, making beds, picking out clothes, re-picking out clothes, styling hair without inducing tears, yelling “we have to leave in two minutes” – for 10 minutes, and then searching to find everyones shoes. Sound familiar? I’m guessing a lot of Moms go thru this same routine every morning.

Even on Saturdays I usually wake up with anxiety-producing thoughts of everything that needs to get done running thru my head.

Not this past Saturday! I had the most peaceful morning. I got to wake up 100% naturally. No alarm, no children in my bed, no sun glaring in my window.

It was a bit of a rainy morning making the light in my room a cozy haze of dull gray. I drifted in and out of sleep for about 30 minutes. My bed was the perfect temperature, not too warm, not too cold. As I finally woke I snuggled under our new blanket that still has that new soft feel and let my body sink into the softness of my mattress. I enjoyed every minute of laying there in peace. I actually had a smile come across my face.

I was so grateful for a chance to wake up in pure peace and bliss on Saturday morning.

Birthday Party & A New Experience

About two weeks ago my daughter, Maddie, turned 10. Usually for her birthday we will have a family dinner with all the aunts and uncles and cousins and then a small family celebration with just mom, dad and brother. This year we decided that she could finally have a (small) friend birthday party.

Where we live it is pretty common for people to have big birthday parties at places like painting studios, waterparks, gymnastic gyms, or pottery cafes. Growing up in small town Iowa I was used to birthdays being  cake at a friends house and a few games in the back yard. Things have definitely changed.

Maddie Birthday Party [Read more…]

Creamy Cauliflower Potato Soup

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Cauliflower Potato Soup is made with russet potatoes and fresh cauliflower florets simmered in a chicken broth with onions and garlic. It is pureed smooth and then mixed with plain Greek yogurt and heavy cream. It is spiced with dried basil, black pepper and Lawry’s season salt. It is a creamy and hearty soup that you will love!

a large pot of cauliflower potato soup with bread and green onions to the side

 If you love a creamy soup then definitely also check out my Potato Leek Soup, Instant Pot Creamy Potato Soup and Ham and Potato Chowder.

Ingredients

The flavor of this Cauliflower and Potato Chowder has a simple deliciousness that is uncomplicated and straight forward. The potatoes add the starchiness that you want from a chowder. Cauliflower adds it’s own unique flavor, that is not overwhelming. The Tabasco leaves the perfect subtle warmth on your tongue, not too spicy! Chopped green onions add a fresh note to the soup. And finally the yogurt and cream bring a tartness and buttery silkiness to the flavor.

Onions and Garlic: A yellow onion and plump garlic cloves add a ton of flavor to the base of this soup.

Cauliflower: About ½ head of cauliflower is all you need for this Cauliflower Potato Soup. Cut the florets into small bite size pieces that will soften in the soup.

Potatoes: Russet potatoes peeled and cut into ½-1 inch pieces.

Chicken Base: You will find chicken base in the soup aisle of the grocery store near the other bouillon. It will be in a jar, we like the Better Than Bouillon brand.

Chicken base, Better Than Bouillon brand

Potato Flakes: Stick with me!!! Potato Flakes definitely have a time and place in the kitchen, like for Potato Soup! Just need about 4 tablespoon of potato flakes, so you can just buy a small packet of instant potato flakes.

Greek Yogurt: A plain 2% Greek yogurt is perfect for this soup. You can also use sour cream in it’s place.

Heavy Cream: Perfectly thickens this Cauliflower and Potato Soup and makes it silky and delicious!

Step by Step

  1. Chop Veggies.

    2. Start by chopping the cauliflower, potatoes, onion and garlic. That way the soup can come together really quickly!

  2. Onions and Garlic

    3. Add oil to a large pot, once hot add the onions and garlic and sauté for about 5 minutes.

  3. Cauliflower and Potatoes

    4. Add the cut cauliflower and potato. Then add the season salt, basil, pepper. Stir to combine.

    cauliflower, potatoes, and spices in a pot
  4. Boil the Soup

    5. Measure in the chicken base and water. Scrape up any bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.

    Bring the pot to a boil and then turn the heat down and simmer for 15-20 minutes.

    making cauliflower potato soup in a large pot
  5. Puree

    6. Remove from the heat and puree the soup with a blender or hand held immersion blender. Or for a semi-chunky soup, puree half the soup and smash some of the veggies into smaller bites.

    pureeing cauliflower potato soup with an immersion blender
  6. Add Yogurt and Cream

    7. Finally spice all this up with a few shots of Tabasco. Then finish the soup by stirring or whisking in a little Greek yogurt and a touch of cream.

    Serve bowls topped with chopped green onions.

    Or you can garnish your soup “loaded” style: bacon, cheese, parsley, and a little extra sour cream or Greek yogurt.

Storing and Reheating

Store leftover Cauliflower Potato Soup in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

When you are reheating you may need to add some broth or milk to reconstitute the soup, it will thicken as it cools!

Cauliflower Potato Soup for Dinner

I say this all the time, but when we have soup for dinner I keep it pretty casual.

Think raw veggie plate with dip or a side salad. Sometimes dinner is just soup and warm crusty bread, it really depends how crazy the day has been.

This would also be great with grilled ham and cheese sandwiches, a grilled club sandwich, or blt’s.

More Potato Soup Recipes

a large pot of cauliflower potato soup that is pureed

Creamy Cauliflower Potato Soup

Cauliflower Potato Soup is made with russet potatoes and fresh cauliflower florets simmered in a chicken broth with onions and garlic. It is pureed smooth and then mixed with plain Greek yogurt and heavy cream.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 209kcal
Author: Susie Weinrich

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 medium sized yellow onion - chopped
  • 3 plump garlic cloves - minced
  • 2½ cups cauliflower - about ½ head of cauliflower, chopped into smaller florets and pieces
  • 2 cups russet potatoes - peeled and cut into ½ to 1 inch dice
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon Lawry’s seasoning salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 ½ tablespoon chicken base
  • 6 cups water
  • 4 tablespoon dried potato flakes
  • 5-6 dashes of Tabasco
  • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 3 green onions - white and light green parts, chopped

Instructions
 

  • In a large pot over medium low heat saute the onions and garlic in the oil, stirring often, for 5 minutes.
    1 medium sized yellow onion, 1 tablespoon oil, 3 plump garlic cloves
  • Add in the potatoes and cauliflower.
    2½ cups cauliflower, 2 cups russet potatoes
  • Measure in the season salt, basil, and pepper and sauté for an additional minute.
    1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon Lawry’s seasoning salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
    cauliflower, potatoes, and spices in a pot
  • Increase the heat to medium – medium high heat and add the chicken base and water. Scrape up any bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.
    Simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes and cauliflower are tender.
    1 ½ tablespoon chicken base, 6 cups water
  • Turn the heat to low.
  • Choose your soup texture by smashing or pureeing the potatoes and cauliflower:
    Creamy: Transfer to a blender or puree with an immersion blender.
    Semi Chunky: Using the back of a wooden spoon chop up ½-3/4 of the potatoes and cauliflower. I find smashing them between the spoon and the side of the pot works best.
    Or transfer half of the soup to a blender and puree half, add back to the soup and then slightly smash the remaining veggies.
    pureeing cauliflower potato soup with an immersion blender
  • Sprinkle in the potato flakes and stir to incorporate them into the soup.
    4 tablespoon dried potato flakes
  • Add the tabasco, Greek yogurt and cream. Stir or whisk until the yogurt is completely dissolved into the soup.
    5-6 dashes of Tabasco, ½ cup plain Greek yogurt, ½ cup heavy cream
  • Garnish with chopped green onions.
    Or serve it loaded style with bacon bits, cheese, green onions and a dollop of Greek yogurt of sour cream.
    3 green onions

Storing and Reheating

  • This soup stores very well in the fridge for 4-5 days. It can definitely be made ahead and reheated on the stove or in the microwave.
  • It will thicken as it cools, you may need to add some broth or milk to reconstitute when reheating.

Recipe Tips and Notes:

This soup stores very well in the fridge for 4-5 days. It can definitely be made ahead and reheated on the stove or in the microwave.
It will thicken as it cools, you may need to add some broth or milk to reconstitute when reheating.
Did you make this recipe?Connect with me and let me know by commenting below!
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Serving: 1serving | Calories: 209kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 929mg | Potassium: 601mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 305IU | Vitamin C: 41mg | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 1mg

Friday Gratitude – My Valentine & My Jam 2.16.18

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Wow what a week! This is always one of the busiest weeks of the year for me. We have a birthday, Valentines Day, crafts abound, parties, multiple parties, family dinners and volunteering at school. Not to mention all the regular old life stuff!! Even though it was busy I had a lot to be grateful for. Especially all the LOVE during this week ♥

Here are 5 4 of my happiest moments: (Oh man…I didn’t get around to writing the 5th. It was a BUSY week to say the least!)

My Tribe

In college it was so easy to make friends. It was like you had an automatic tribe. I had an amazing group of friends. We lived together, played together, and stood beside each other no matter what! Most of those ladies are still in my life today and I am so thankful for them. As time has past we have all ended up in different parts of the country. Now our time together is over text, phone, social media and the occasional visit. Which I always cherish!

Golden Girls [Read more…]

Friday Gratitude- Love Letters & Snow 2.9.18

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I’m struggling a little bit to write my intro this week, it’s been a long day of parenting. So instead of sweating it out I’m going to keep it short and sweet.

It was a great week- I got to spend time with my friends and I posted some really good recipes! Here are 5 more things that made me grateful this week:

Love Letters

The other day I stopped at our mailbox to get the mail for the day (read week). When I hopped back in the car Kyle said “do I have any cards in the mail?”. Of course he didn’t. Writing letters and sending cards is definitely a lost art. Not to mention when this happened it was the end of January when NOTHING is happening and there was no reason for him to receive any mail. I said “Well, no buddy, the best way to receive mail is to send mail.”. So we decided he would send a card to his little friend in Arizona, we’ll call her P.

Kyle Sledding [Read more…]

Friday Gratitude- Snapchat & Apps 2.2.18

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Well hello there February!!!! Long time, no see.

We did it, we made it thru January. In my opinion it is one of the worst months of the year. You have the let down from the past two months of holiday excitement. It is ridiculously cold and everything is brown. At least in February we have Valentines Day, the Daddy Daughter dance, and Maddie’s birthday.

I am definitely looking forward to March. That is when I feel like we have really made it thru the winter and we are staring Spring in the face! We’ll finally have a few warmer days, which means friday afternoon happy hours and time with friends. The flowers begin to peek thru the dirt and the trees start to show a haze of green. I will welcome those days with open arms!

I am going to fill this post with summer flowers to give us all a little winter boost!

Yellow flower with a black center, Black Eyed Susan

Here are a few things that got me thru this last week in January, gratefully: [Read more…]

Friday Gratitude- Humidity & Joy 1.26.18

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Wow, this past week was busy but great! Full of birthday parties, family activities, school, extracurricular activities, and doctors appointments. As I am writing this I have to say that I am thankful I did not have anyone home sick this week. Since Christmas break I have not had the kids back in school for a full week. We have either had someone sick, recovering from surgery (tonsillectomy), or at home for a snow day. I think we are finally on the upswing!

River Rocks

I am loving my gratitude journal project. It really makes me take the time to stop and be thankful for ALL the things in my life, not just the big exciting things. I hope you are able to “stop and smell the roses” with me, or in the case of this week “stop and smell the humidity”…. read on : ) [Read more…]

Effortless Instant Pot Shredded Chicken

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Instant Pot Shredded Chicken is the perfect start to just about any chicken recipe! It is flavorful, tender and juicy and cooks in only minutes with very little effort, thanks to your Instant Pot or Electric Pressure Cooker.

Shredded Chicken in a bowl with a napkin to the side

This chicken can be turned into Chicken Enchiladas, Chicken Noodle Soup, BBQ Chicken Sandwiches or Chicken Tetrazzini… 100 ways to have chicken for dinner!!

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Just 6 Ingredients Added

Of course you are going to start with chicken, then to make really great flavor you will add some seasonings and cooking liquid:

Chicken – We like to use boneless skinless chicken breasts for shredded chicken, but you can absolutely throw some boneless skinless chicken thighs in there too! If you want guaranteed flavorful chicken that has great texture and never turns out “weird” IFYKYK, opt of an air chilled chicken!! It will be a tad more expensive, but trust me it is worth it. The air chilled method for cooling the chicken after processing creates WAY better flavor and WAY better texture.

Chicken Broth – This is the cooking liquid that makes your Instant Pot or Electric Pressure Cooker work! You can save this liquid after cooking if you want to use it in another recipe.

Worcestershire Sauce – Adds that extra something-something to the cooking liquid that will infuse the chicken.

Kosher Salt, Black Pepper, Garlic Powder & Onion Powder – seasonings for the chicken.

No Instant Pot, No Problem

If you don’t have an Instant Pot but still want yummy shredded chicken, pop over to this post for Making Shredded Chicken. It includes a few different methods for cooking and shredding the chicken.

Shredded chicken meat in a bowl

Shredded Chicken…

without an Instant Pot!

Get the recipe

How To make Shredded Chicken in Instant Pot

This “recipe” comes together really quick so you can get dinner made!

Instant Pot

Step 1

Cut the chicken breasts in half place in the Instant Pot with all the liquid and seasonings.

chicken in the instant pot

Step 2

Set to cook on normal heat high pressure for 7 minutes, do a 6 minute natural release.

cooked chicken breast on a tray being shredded with two forks

Step 3

Shred and serve or store in the fridge/freezer.

Shredding Tips

There are several ways to shred cooked, warm chicken. Everything from using a shredding plate to shredding claws. But some traditional ways that don’t require new equipment are:

Stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or whisk attachment: Turn the mixer on to low speed and let it run for 20-30 seconds, or until the chicken is shredded to your desired consistency. (the chicken must be warm for this to work)

Using a hand mixer is another easy method for shredding chicken. Just like the stand mixer, make sure the chicken is warm or hot.

Using two forks to shred chicken is the most common method.

Storing & Freezing

You can keep the shredded chicken in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 4 days. Use it in any and all recipes that call for cooked chicken.

To keep the cooked shredded chicken for longer you can let it cool completely and then pop it in a freezer safe container for 3 months.

Recipes for your Cooked Chicken!

a large white bowl full of shredded chicken that was cooked in the Instant Pot

Instant Pot Shredded Chicken Recipe

Juicy shredded chicken cooked in an instant pot in minutes. This is an all-purpose chicken recipe, it is a great start to your dinner plans, especially during a busy week.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
natural release: 6 minutes
Total Time: 9 minutes
Servings: 4 chicken breasts
Author: Susie Weinrich

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions
 

  • Cut the chicken breasts in half, widthwise.
  • Place the chicken breasts in the Instant Pot. Pour the chicken broth and Worcestershire over the chicken.
    3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, 1 ½ cups chicken broth, 2 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
  • Then sprinkle with remaining seasonings.
    1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon pepper
  • Close the lid and turn the pressure valve to seal. Cook on Pressure mode, normal heat – high pressure, for 7 minutes.
  • At the end of 7 minutes let the pot do a natural pressure release for 6 minutes. To finish turn the pressure valve to vent to quick release the remaining pressure.
  • Take the chicken out of the pot and let it rest for 5 minutes.
  • Shred the chicken using 2 forks, clean hands OR the quickest method is with a hand mixer or stand mixer!
    If using a hand mixer, place the chicken in a large mixing bowl, and blend the chicken until it is to the shred that you like (it will go quick, 20-30 seconds!).
  • Pour 1 cup of the juice from the bottom of the Instant Pot over the chicken before storing in the fridge.
  • Keep in the fridge for up to 4 days or according to your chicken expiration date.
  • To keep for longer pop in a freezer safe container and keep frozen for up to 3 months.
Did you make this recipe?Connect with me and let me know by commenting below!
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Friday Gratitude- Ice Cream & Hand Holding 1.19.18

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I’m super excited to be starting this new experiment in 2018. A gratitude journal!!! I have heard about gratitude journaling and the 5 minute journal for a while now. The idea is to take a few minutes, at least once a week, and write down 5 things for which you are grateful. I started to do this in December, only in my head, a few times a week and have loved it! It really makes me aware of how little things can make a big impact, things I would normally miss when I’m not being mindfully grateful. Sometimes my gratitude can be something as small as “Im thankful for the birds chirping while I walk outside” or “Im grateful for my car seat heaters on this chilly winter morning” or sometimes larger things like “I’m thankful that I love my husband and he loves me”.

A close up of a dry grass field

So my plan is to reflect on my week and journal here, every friday, 5 things for which I am grateful. All this to hopefully gain a little perspective on what is important to me so I can cut out the junk and allow more time to focus on my family and friends and all the wonderful little things in my life. Here we go… my first Friday Gratitude.

Ice Cream Experiment

On Saturday Kyle, my son, and I had an hour or two home alone together. I wanted to do something fun and not just sit down in front of the tv together or each go our own way. So I decided we would make homemade ice cream together! It was a great 10-20 minute easy activity that we both enjoyed. It kept Kyles interest and we got to eat really yummy ice cream at the end!

I am grateful that we had this Ice Cream Experiment to do because it allowed me to connect with Kyle one-on-one.

ice cream

5 minute Homemade Ice Cream Experiment

Homemade Ice Cream is a fun, edible craft to do with your kids. Easy to make and delicious to eat.
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Print Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 1 serving
Author: Susie Weinrich

Ingredients

Supplies

  • 1 pint sized zipper top bag
  • 1 gallon sized zipper top bag
  • Ice
  • 6 tablespoons salt

Ice Cream

Instructions
 

  • Fill the gallon size bag half full with ice. Add the salt to the ice and seal the bag.
  • Put the pint size bag into a glass, folding it over the top, so it will sit upright while you fill it.
  • Add the milk, sugar and vanilla to the pint size bag and seal the top completely.
  • Place the pint size bag into the larger one and seal again.
  • Shake the bag until the milk mixture becomes ice cream, about 5 minutes.
  • Take the smaller bag out of the larger bag and wipe the ice and salt from the outside.
  • Open the bag and enjoy the ice cream with a spoon

Recipe Tips and Notes:

Try adding some flavorings: pureed strawberry, mint extract, mini chocolate chips or chocolate syrup.
Did you make this recipe?Connect with me and let me know by commenting below!
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Holding Hands With My Daughter

This past Sunday I took the kids to a birthday party at the roller skating rink. I cannot tell you how much I love roller skating (not joking). It was my everything when I was a little girl. Me and my friends would spend hours coming up with roller skating dance routines in the driveway to then perform for any parents willing to watch! Well, I don’t think my daughter got the roller skating gene or maybe it’s just not as popular an activity as it once was. But as we took to the wooden floor her skates would slip and slide from underneath her and she would grab for my hand. We would skate around the rink holding hands lap after lap.

As my daughter gets older the times to be present and connected with her are becoming fewer and fewer. I am grateful for these moments when my daughter still needs me, holds my hand, and wants me by her side (even if it’s only because she doesn’t want to bite it in her skates!).

My Headphones

Cell Phone and Headphones

As I write this I am sitting in the middle of Urban Air Trampoline Park on a Tuesday afternoon. School is out and it is -3 degrees outside. Needless to say this building is bumpin’ with music and busting at the seams with kids. Obviously I am not participating in the jumping and instead trying to get a little work done. (At a certain point in your life jumping wildly on a trampoline is just a bad idea… especially after carrying two babies- It makes my organs feel like scrambled eggs! No thanks!)

I am having mucho grande gratitude for my lovely little headphones right now. They are currently piping the sweet voices of the ladies from Bitch Sesh into my brain. Love that podcast!

A Reminder

This week my younger sister came for a visit. She is the only sister that doesn’t live in the KC area so it was great to have her here. We got to hang out, relax, eat, play games, and talk. When all four sisters get together there is a lot of laughter and a lot of talking. It’s wonderful!

On her last night here we stayed up late and talked about our lives, our goals, our worries, and anxieties. It came at a really good time for me. Right now I am a blogger/recipe developer/photographer/mom when you mix that with a titch of winter blues and a couple failed recipes you get a particularly low moment. I was second guessing my goals and feeling like I hadn’t made any progress on Mom’s Dinner. What I had forgotten is where I had been and how far I have come. A year ago all I wanted was to be able to create content and post on my very own website. Instead I was stuck trying to figure out code and how to build a website (insert blood, sweat, and TEARS here). Now my website is up and running and I am able to post whenever the mood strikes! I had completely forgotten all the steps I had taken to get where I am today. A year ago, if I could have looked into the future at myself today, I would be SO PROUD!

My sister reminded me “If you can’t be happy in the here and now, you will never be happy”! How true! I was putting a goal on my happiness…. If I accomplish this, THEN I will be happy and feel successful. The problem with that is you will always move that goal to something bigger and grander… so you are never reaching that happiness/success goal!

I am so grateful for the convo with my sister and the reminder to be happy and grateful in the moment you are in RIGHT NOW.

Winter Berries

A Warm(er) Day

I feel like this winter might just swallow me whole! It has been colder than any winter I can remember in the past 10 years. I am very much looking forward to spring. But, we finally had a day over 20 degrees here in KC. I think it hit 40 today! Woo Hoo!

Even though there was still a bite in the air and the wind whirled I took advantage of the sun and the warmer temps. Around 3:30 my son and I bundled up and took a 20 minute stroll around our neighborhood. It was short and sweet and I enjoyed every minute of the sun on my face. Kyle enjoyed stomping in the melting snow and picking up fallen leaves and something we call “sticky balls”- see the photo below.

Today I was grateful for the warmer temps and the chance to get outside and feel the sunshine on my face!

Sticky Balls in Snow

 

Instant Pot Steak Soup

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Instant Pot Steak Soup is a hearty soup full of steak, potatoes, and veggies that should take hours to cook! But, in the Instant Pot you set it for 20 minutes and walk away. The potatoes come out cooked, the steak comes out tender and it is infused with “cooked all day flavor”, in 20 minutes!

Instant Pot Steak Soup in a brown mug with a stack of saltine crackers to the side

So my obsession with the Instant Pot continues. Everything cooks so dang fast and the recipes are so easy – it has changed everything. No more standing over the stove, stirring, and watching, and waiting (except for when I do).

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Dinner in a Flash

This is the perfect recipe to plan during the week. If it’s an especially busy week you can make it ahead, over the weekend, and keep it in the fridge to eat later in the week.

A spoon full of Instant Pot Steak Soup with beef, carrots, corn, potatoes, and peas

Or it cooks so fast  you can throw all the ingredients in the IP when you get home from work, unwind for 20 minutes, and then curl up to a perfectly cooked bowl of Steak Soup.

My Favorite Instant Pot

If you do not have an Instant Pot but are interested in buying one, I would highly recommend the 6 qt Duo Plus 9-in-1 or the 6 qt Duo Plus 7-in-1.

I personally have the 6 quart 9-in-1, to be honest I am not sure I will ever use all 9 features (like the sterilize or yogurt), but I guess they are there if I want them. The main features I use are the saute, meat/stew, soup/broth, rice, and pressure cook.

Instant Pot

The main reason that I recommend these two Instant Pots is the size, 6 quarts. This gives you the space you need inside the pot to make just about any recipe, for two people or ten people!

Did you know that your Instant Pot can also double as a Slow Cooker!!! I plan to take advantage of that feature more this winter.

The Secret is in the Sauce

One of  the “secret” ingredients in this Steak Soup recipe is the beef base. It gives the broth that rich cooked-all-day deep flavor. You will not get the same flavor from beef broth or beef bouillon alone. Beef base is like beef bouillons older, wiser, big brother. It packs a punch of flavor, even in small amounts.

A jar of Better Than Bouillon Beef Base

Unlike bouillon, which comes in crumbly cubes, beef base comes in a jar, has a thick paste consistency, and is a deep dark brown color. You can see the flavor in the color alone!  We love the Better Than Bouillon brand. You will find it near the soup and the bouillon in your grocery store.

Variations on This INSTANT POT Steak Soup Recipe

Most of the time I give you ideas to change up the recipe at hand. On this one I recommend keeping most of the ingredients pretty much the same. But, here are a few little things you could change to suit your taste buds:

  • Not a fan of rosemary? Try adding dried or fresh thyme or oregano in its place.
  • The peas and corn are negotiable. If you like corn more than peas, double up the corn and leave the peas out – and vice versa.
  • If you prefer a thicker stew-like consistency, add a little cornstarch slurry to thicken the broth AFTER the soup has completed cooking: Mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch with 1 tablespoon cool water, stir it well so there are no clumps remaining. Add the cornstarch slurry to the soup, stir, and wait 5 minutes. If you still want the soup a little thicker repeat the process again until it reaches your desired consistency.

More Instant Pot Soup Recipes

Susie leaning on the kitchen counter

💛💛💛💛💛

Did you make this recipe?

I would love to hear your review, especially if you have tips and tricks to add! Pop down to the comment section and connect with me

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A bowl of steak soup with crackers to the side

Instant Pot Steak Soup Recipe

A delicious recipe for Instant Pot Steak Soup! It will be ready for dinner in just over 30 minutes. Full of veggies, tender steak, and flavorful beef broth. 
4.88 from 8 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 5 people
Author: Susie Weinrich

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. Top Round Steak, - cut into 1" cube
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 yellow onion - chopped, about 1 cup
  • 1½ cup carrots - sliced
  • 1 cup celery - chopped
  • 2 cups russet potatoes - peeled, cut into 1" cubes
  • 4 garlic cloves - minced
  • 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary - finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • pepper to taste
  • 5 cups beef broth
  • 2 teaspoon beef base (heaping) - **see note
  • 1½ teaspoon worcestershire sauce
  • ½ cup frozen peas (heaping)
  • ½ cup frozen corn (heaping)

Instructions
 

  • Turn the Instant Pot to saute mode. Add the oil and steak, brown the beef, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
    1 tablespoon oil, 1 lb. Top Round Steak,
  • Add the next 11 ingredients. Stir to combine, until the beef base has dissolved.
    Turn the sauté mode off.
    1 yellow onion, 1½ cup carrots, 1 cup celery, 2 cups russet potatoes, 4 garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, pepper to taste, 5 cups beef broth, 2 teaspoon beef base (heaping), 1½ teaspoon worcestershire sauce
  • Lock the lid in place. Turn the venting valve to seal. Set the Instant Pot to Stew/Meat OR Pressure mode, on high, for 20 minutes.
  • After the 20 minute timer goes off, carefully turn the top pressure valve to vent and do a quick release of the pressure.
  • Stir in the frozen corn, and frozen peas. The heat from the soup will cook the frozen veggies.
    ½ cup frozen peas (heaping), ½ cup frozen corn (heaping)
  • Serve immediately or keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Recipe Tips and Notes:

You can find beef base in the soup aisle of your grocery store. It will be near the bouillon. However beef base will be in a jar or a tub and comes in a paste form. 
It has quite a bit more flavor than a bouillon, stock, or broth. It is worth the purchase, especially if you like to make my soup recipes!
Did you make this recipe?Connect with me and let me know by commenting below!
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Classic Midwest Homemade Sloppy Joes

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There's no need to buy that can of sloppy joe sauce at the store to have Sloppy Joe Sandwiches for dinner. You can make your own Homemade Sauce with a few condiments from your fridge door and pantry. Then mix it up with 1 ½ lbs. ground beef, onion and garlic for an amazing weeknight dinner. This is a fast 20 minute recipe and you will have delicious sloppy sandwiches that are the perfect balance of saucy (but not too saucy), tangy, sweet and savory! 

Ground Beef Sloppy Joe's being spooned onto a bun

I grew up in Iowa where Sloppy Joes are not only a common weeknight dinner, I believe they were also invented there, somewhere in Sioux City (where I was born!). 

You may have also heard of a Sloppy Joe referred to as a Maid Rite, Tavern or Loose Meat Sandwich. They are all basically the same thing.

How Much Sloppy Joe Filling Per Person

If you are feeding your family or you are trying to feed a whole picnic then you may need to calculate how much Sloppy Joe Filling to make.

Since this is a sandwich that gets HEAPED with the ground beef filling you want to make sure you have enough for everyone.

If you plan about ½ cup of filling for each sandwich you will have more than enough.

Calculation

Plan on ½ cup (approx. 4 oz) of Sloppy Joe filling per person. That is equal to about ¼ lb. of ground beef. So 1 lb. of ground beef will serve around 4 people (I would plan on 5 people if you are feeding kids).

10 people = 2.5 lbs. of ground beef

25 people = 6.25 lbs. of ground beef

50 people = 12.5 lbs. of ground beef

Obviously the sauce ingredients will also need to be adjusted.

Recipe card tip: The nice thing about the Mom’s Dinner recipe card is that you can hover over the “serving” portion and then move the slider that appears to increase the amount of people you plan on serving!

Ingredients

You only need really simple ingredients to make Sloppy Joe Sauce and Sandwiches for dinner. You probably have most of the ingredients in the door of your fridge and your pantry!

Pictured below are the ingredients to grab, plus some tips on a few items:

Ingredients for sloppy joes
Clockwise: Ground beef, brown sugar, ketchup, mustard, oil, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, garlic, onion

Ground Beef: I recommend using an 85/15 or 90/10 ground beef. It will have enough fat to be flavorful, but not so much that it is greasy. Save the 80/20 ground beef for Amazing Grilled Burgers. You can also use ground turkey but make sure you buy 93/7.

Mustard: This is not the time for fancy Dijon or stone ground mustard. Just a straight yellow mustard is exactly what you want to use.

Brown Sugar: don't be nervous about the amount of brown sugar. It is just enough to balance the tart/savory flavors in the ketchup, mustard and Worcestershire. I always use light brown sugar, but dark brown sugar should work too.

Onion: We recommend using either yellow or white onion.

Homemade Sloppy Joe Sauce

You absolutely DO NOT need a can of Manwich or store bought sloppy joe sauce for these sandwiches. In fact they will be SO much better if you make your own sauce. 

You just need:

  • 2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 3 tablespoon brown sugar
  • ½ heaping cup ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • pepper to taste

Stir or whisk all that together in a bowl or liquid measuring cup. 

Then when you are ready to use, mix it in with cooked/crumbled ground beef or ground turkey, onion and garlic. Let it all simmer for a few minutes and it's time to eat.

Step by Step Instructions

Super simple dinner to make. Follow these easy steps:

  1. In a large skillet over med heat add oil. Sauté onion for about 5 minutes.
  2. Add the garlic and ground beef, crumble and brown until it is cooked through.
  3. Drain any excess oil/grease.
  4. Add in the Worcestershire, ketchup, mustard, brown sugar, kosher salt, and black pepper. 
  5. Simmer for a few minutes. 
  6. Taste for seasoning.
a skillet full of ground beef and onions with sloppy joe's sauce
Perfect Sloppy Joe mixture… not too saucy!!!

Serve heaped onto buns, we love to use a brioche bun or sesame seed bun. Sliced pickles also make an excellent addition.

How Long to Simmer Sloppy Joes

The answer to “how long to simmer sloppy joe’s?”, is it depends….

The time you let the ground beef and sauce simmer together will vary from recipe to recipe.

If you find that your ground beef is overly saucy and will make your buns soggy you will want to simmer for longer to reduce the sauce, maybe around 15-20 minutes. 

However, with this Sloppy Joe recipe below you do not need a long simmer time because these are not OVERLY sauced. Once the whole dish comes together you will just simmer for about 4-5 minutes to warm everything together and then it’s time to eat. 

Flavor Troubleshooting 

Maybe you remember eating Sloppy Joe's when you were little and you want it to be exactly the same. Here are some ideas for troubleshooting the flavor… if you find that your Sloppy joes are:

  • Too Saucy – simmer for a bit longer and it should thicken up.
  • Too Dry – add a little water, a small squirt of ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire. Taste for seasoning.
  • Too Salty – add a little more brown sugar and maybe a tablespoon of water.
  • Too Sweet – pour in a dash or two of Worcestershire, but note that will add a little saltiness too.
  • Too tangy – add a little more brown sugar and ketchup.

Side Dishes

Sloppy Joe's are a super casual weeknight dinner that does not need to be paired with anything fancy. We like to just think about side dishes as adding a starch and veggie. 

Tater Tots, Crispy Skillet Potatoes, or French Fries are a great addition with some raw veggies and ranch dip! These Parmesan Truffle Fries are also a favorite!

a pickle slice being placed on a sloppy joe sandwich
Pickles go great on Sloppy Joes!

In the summer Sloppy Joes go great with chips, a cold pasta salad and corn on the cob,

Whatever you serve on the side just make sure to have A LOT of napkins!

Storing & Reheating

Your Sloppy Joe mixture will be good in the fridge in an airtight for up to 4-5 days. 

To reheat add a little water to a skillet over medium/low heat. Add the beef mixture and stir to combine with the water. It will help reconstitute the sauce.

Freezing Sloppy Joe Meat/Sauce

This Sloppy Joe recipe is PERFECT for keeping in the freezer. Make the recipe completely and then let it cool. 

Place in a freezer safe baggie or container, label it with the date, and keep it frozen for up to 4 months. 

To reheat, thaw in the fridge overnight and then add a little water to a skillet and sauté/stir over medium-low heat.

Variations

  • Lighten things up by using ground turkey instead of ground beef.
  • Want just a hint of BBQ flavor? Reduce the ketchup to ¼ cup and add a ¼ cup of your favorite barbecue sauce.
  • If you like spice you could add a few pinches of red pepper flakes with the onion.
  • Melt a slice of provolone or American cheese over the top.

Other Ways to Eat Sloppy Joes

Eating your Sloppy Joe's as a sandwich is not the only option! You can think of it as a sweet/tangy/savory meat filling. Here are some other options:

  • Heap into a Baked Potato then top with cheese or sour cream.
  • Stuff into bell peppers and bake.
  • Instead of using a Hot Dog Chili you can use this Sloppy Joe recipe over hot dogs!
  • Serve over nachos with cheese melted on top.
  • Make some killer chili cheese fries.

More Ground Beef Recipes

If you landed on this recipe because you have some ground beef to use up, here are some more traditional dinner recipes to check out:

Susie leaning on the kitchen counter

💛💛💛💛💛

Did you make this recipe?

I would love to hear your review, especially if you have tips and tricks to add! Pop down to the comment section and connect with me

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homemade sloppy joe's being heaped on a bun

Homemade Sloppy Joes Recipe

This is a classic Midwestern recipe for Sloppy Joe's sandwiches that is made with a simple homemade sloppy joe sauce, mixed with ground beef, onion and garlic. Makes a super quick and casual dinner.
AKA: maid rite, tavern, manwich, or loose meat sandwich
LISTEN TO THE AUDIO RECIPE WITH THE PLAYER BELOW.
4.88 from 8 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 370kcal
Author: Susie Weinrich

Equipment

Ingredients

Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joe's Sauce

Instructions
 

Ground Beef

  • Add the oil to a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the onions until they start to soften, about 5 minutes.
    1 tablespoon oil, 1 cup yellow or white onion
  • Add the ground beef and garlic. Brown and crumble until the beef is cooked through and no longer pink.
    1½ lb ground beef, 3 garlic cloves
  • Drain any excess fat before moving forward.

Sauce

  • In a bowl or large glass measuring cup add the sloppy joe sauce ingredients and whisk together.
    2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 3 tablespoon packed brown sugar, ½ cup (heaping) ketchup, 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon yellow mustard, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, pepper to taste
  • Pour over the ground beef mixture and stir to coat.
  • Simmer everything together over low heat for a few minutes to warm through.
  • Taste for seasoning, if you want it:
    saucier: add a little water, a small squirt of ketchup, mustard, and Worcestershire.
    saltier: add a dash or two of Worcestershire and some more kosher salt.
    sweeter: add a little more brown sugar and maybe a tablespoon of water.
    tangier: add a little more mustard and or ketchup.

Serving

  • Pile about a ½ cup of Sloppy Joe mixture onto buns and serve. It is also great with dill pickle slices on top!
    (we like brioche buns or sesame seed buns the best)

Storing

  • Make ahead or store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  • To reheat add a couple tablespoon of water and the sloppy joe mixture to a skillet over medium heat. Simmer and stir for about 4-5 minutes.

Freezing

  • Place in freezer safe container for up to 4 months.
  • To serve, thaw in the fridge overnight.
  • Then to reheat add a couple tablespoon of water and the sloppy joe mixture to a skillet over medium heat. Simmer and stir for about 4-5 minutes.

Recipe Tips and Notes:

Ground Turkey: you can absolutely use ground turkey instead of ground beef. Just make sure you purchase 1.5 lbs. of 93/7 ground turkey.
Side Dish Ideas: this is a super casual dinner, so tater tots, fries or chips and a side of raw veggies with ranch dip is great! 
In the summer Sloppy Joe’s are great with chips, a veggie pasta salad and corn on the cob.
Did you make this recipe?Connect with me and let me know by commenting below!
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Serving: 1serving | Calories: 370kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 749mg | Potassium: 464mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 110IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 3mg

Aldi Holiday Shopping Guide

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It’s Here, It’s Here…Aldi Holiday…..Hurry! Run to your nearest Aldi and stock up on all the amazing specialty products they have for the holidays! Only available during November & December or while supplies last!

Aldi Holiday Shopping Guide

This is one of my favorite times of year to go to Aldi. The store is full of new and exciting items that are not available any other time of the year. Somewhere in mid-November you start to see hints of all the amazing Aldi holiday products- specialty cheeses, crackers, popcorn, spices, nuts, dips…… By mid-December the store is completely stocked and aisles are fully devoted to these products. You will find a mix of black and red packaging, the black packaging are the Specialty Select items, and the red packaging are the German holiday items.

I went to my local store recently and it is bursting with new exciting items. Here are a few that you will want to check out to make your holiday entertaining easier and cheaper!!

((Maybe consider getting in your car and driving to the store IMMEDIATELY… before they are gone!))

Aldi Holidays- Crackers & Chips

Mini Rosemary Artisan Crackers

ALDI rosemary crackers

The perfect addition to a cheese board. These are thin and crispy with a hint of rosemary. Perfect to go with a vintage white cheddar or goat cheese.

Lattice Cut, Aged Cheddar & Black Pepper Kettle Chips

Lattice Cut Aged Cheddar Chips from Aldi

The flavor of Aged Cheddar and Black Pepper Kettle Chips is wonderful. They are slightly cheesey mixed with a hint of black pepper. However the real standout quality is the lattice cut. They are crispy because they are a kettle chip yet they are delicate because of the unique cut. Moms- think Chick-fil-a french fry in a chip with cheese and pepper! YES

Baked Cheese Bites

Baked Cheese Bites from Aldi

These little nuggets are flavored with green olive, cheese, and rosemary. If you are entertaining for the holidays they would make the perfect addition to a meat, olive and pickle tray or they would be a great item to put on a bar where cocktails are mixed. If you are having one cocktail with friends before going out to dinner they are the perfect little savory bite to put in a bowl for munching. At $2.99 per bag they will not break the bank.

Black Truffle & Olive Oil Kettle Chips

Black truffle Kettle Chips from Aldi

THIS IS IT- if you buy nothing else on this list buy the Black Truffle & Olive Oil Kettle Chip!!!!!! This is the product I wait for all year. Come November I put people on alert to look for these chips so I can run to the store the minute they are in. I always buy 4-5 bags, and at $1.99 per bag it’s no big deal! If I thought they would stay fresh a year I would buy an entire box- or 2.

Black Truffle & Olive Oil Kettle Chips have the most amazing garlicky, truffle, salty, earthy flavor mixed with the crunch of a kettle chip. Last year at Christmas we quickly went thru 2 bags in one night. Our guests could not believe they were from Aldi. They for sure thought it was a specialty item from somewhere like Dean & Deluca.

They make the perfect crunchy addition to a cheese tray or as a side dish to burgers, or just to munch on with cocktails… really they go anywhere, they are PERFECTION!!!!!!!

Bagel Chips

Bagel Chips everything seasoning from Aldi

We love these little bagel chips. They come in three flavors: everything, sea salt and I think cinnamon sugar. They make a great snack as is or topped with cream cheese, or the perfect addition to an appetizer tray that has dips or sauces. They are usually only available this time of year so I stock up when I see them.

Aldi Holidays- Dips & Sauces

Olive Tapenade

Olive tapenade in a jar from Aldi

I love including a few dips and sauces on a cheese and meat board. This Olive Tapenade is the perfect addition when paired with a bagel chip or crostini. This dip also comes in a Red Pepper Tapenade if olives are not your thing.

Pepper Jellies

pepper jellies in jars from aldi

If you have not had cream cheese topped with a sweet & hot jelly you are missing out! It is the most delicious and easy appetizer you can make. If you do not feel confidant in the kitchen this is your product! Just leave a block of cream cheese on the countertop to come to room temp, just a couple hours. Next, top it with one of these pepper jellies and serve surrounded by Ritz Crackers. Perfectly Easy!

Caramel Dip

caramel dip from Aldi

The hand in this picture is my 5 year old son saying “This stuff is the business!”. We love this Creamy Caramel Dip. No heating required, open the tub and it is ready to go. Last time we had a friday-after-school-mom-and-kid-happy-hour we put this out with some sliced apples and pretzels… it was gone in a flash and the kids LOVED it! It is not a sticky caramel dip, it’s more creamy – like the name indicates. At $1.99 per tub it is something you want to stock up on when you spot it in the store!

Aldi Holidays- Beverages

*** Quick Note: Unfortunately my local Aldi stores do not carry wine, beer, or liquor. I know, it’s terrible : (  Otherwise this section would be 3 times as long. Heck, I would probably have a completely separate article for Aldi Wines!

Nespresso

Nespresso pods from aldi

I do not have a Nespresso machine so I am not totally familiar with this product. But, I thought it was good to let those of you that do have one know this product is available at Aldi! I believe the Nespresso pods can be pretty expensive. However at Aldi you can get these three flavors, 10 count each, for $3.49 per box. Ristretto High Intensity Level 10, Apulia High Intensity Level 9, and Lombardy High Intensity Level 8.

Mulling Spices

Mulling Spices from Aldi

Obviously this is not a beverage but it most definitely belongs in the beverage category. It makes the most delicious drinks AND whole house potpourri!

To use as a potpourri: Simmer a few tablespoons of mulling spices in water over low heat in a small pot. If you have a small crockpot it does the trick too. It provides the most delicious scents of apple, cinnamon, orange, and clove. What could be more festive!? And it perfumes the WHOLE house- delicious!

To use in drinks: There is a great recipe for Apple Cider and Mulled Wine on the side of the tin. But if you want a “MOM’S DINNER” drink treat try using these mulling spice in my Winter Sangria.

Chai Tea

Chai Tea bags from alid

Do you love a Chai Latte from Starbucks? I do! But it definitely tastes like a “treat” because it is so sweet. With these easy Chai tea bags you still get those strong Chai flavors without the sugar. Sometimes I will add a little milk to make it more latte-like. If I want that sweet-treat flavor I will add a little sweetened coffee creamer.

Aldi Holidays-Nuts & Popcorn

Marcona Almonds

Marcona Almonds from Aldi

This is another “if you buy nothing else from this list, GET THIS ITEM!!”. Marcona Almonds are the delicate, sweet, and buttery cousin to a traditional almond. Aldi carries three flavors during the holidays- Rosemary, Truffle and Sea Salt. AND THEY ARE ONLY $4.99 PER BAG. This is a huge treat and a great item to include on a cheese and meat board or in a holiday gift basket with some red wine and cheese.

Nut Trio Tins

Nut Trio tins for the holidays from Aldi

These nut trios come in the cutest silver tins and definitely seem gift worthy- think Sunday school teacher, preschool teacher, mailman, neighbor. At $9.99 each it makes the perfect $10.00 gift. For a little larger gift they can be added to a gift basket:

  • Savory Nut Trio, Bottle of Red Wine, a Holiday Kitchen Towel, and a Fancy Kitchen Hand Soap
  • Sweet Nut Trio, Bottle of Red Wine, Tin of Mulling Spices, Box of Assorted Crepe Cookies (see below)

You can choose the Savory Tin (rosemary almonds, chai spiced almonds, and roasted/salted deluxe nuts) or the Sweet Tin (cookies and cream almonds, cinnamon creme almonds, and honey glazed pecans).

Aged White Cheddar Popcorn

Aged Cheddar Popcorn from Aldi

If you know me then you know that I LOVE popcorn!! When we go to the movies I will always get popcorn, even if I am busting full from dinner. This aged white cheddar popcorn does not disappoint. Make some hot chocolate, open a bag of this Aldi popcorn, and curl up to watch a little Polar Express. Perfect Friday Night!

Aldi Holiday- Cheeses

Assorted Cheese

Vintage Cheddar cheese and Truffle Cheese from aldi

When I am entertaining one thing you will always find in my kitchen is a board full of assorted cheese, crackers, dips, olives, nuts, and meats. I think that is the same for most people. It is an easy appetizer to put together and usually satisfies everyone.

During the Holiday season Aldi has a wonderful assortment of cheese- gruyere, cheddar, goat cheese, brie, blue, camembert. A couple of my favorites are the goat cheese – they usually have different flavors or toppings, vintage english cheddar, and the truffle cheddar. They all run from $2.99-$3.99 each.

Aldi Holidays- Sweets & Treat

***Quick Note- This is a SMALL sampling of the sweets that they have during the holidays! You can find an abundance of cookies, chocolates, german sweet treats and a plethora of unique candies that make amazing stocking stuffers and Christmas treats.

Gingerbread House Kit

gingerbread house
It is tradition at our house to put together and decorate gingerbread houses during December. I LOVE IT!!!!!!! Everyone gets so excited to decorate the houses. We buy extra decorations, assemble the houses, make hot chocolate, and organize all the candies into their own little bowls. It’s beautiful! Half way thru I am the only one left decorating, there is candy all over the table and the floor and the kids have turned to eating the candy. Now that’s real life… but I look forward to it every year!

These houses at Aldi are great! They are big kits, come with candy and frosting, and run $6.99 per kit.

Muddy Mix

Muddy Mix chocolate peanut butter snack mix from Aldi

At our house this is called “Puppy Chow”. It is a delicious sweet snack to have out during the holidays. At a traditional grocery store the name brand product can be pricey and comes in a  SUPER small bag. This is a good sized bag (I don’t know the exact weight) and is only $2.29 per bag.

Double Chocolate Cookies

Double Chocolate Cookies - similar to a milano - from Aldi

We love these cookies! They are similar to a Milano that you would find in a traditional grocery store. They have a creamy chocolate center sandwiched between two sweet butter cookies. They make a great addition to a dessert tray.

Florentine Cookies

Florentine Cookie Tin for the holidays from aldi

Another item that would make a great addition to a dessert tray. There is an assortment of almond and nut clusters coated with milk chocolate, white chocolate and dark chocolate. A great treat at only $2.99 per box.

Assorted Crepe Cookies

Assorted Crepe cookies from Aldi

Another item for a perfect dessert tray. These crepe cookies are delicate wafer rolls with assorted chocolate toppings. They would be perfect with an after dinner coffee.

Vanilla Creme Brioche Rolls

Vanilla Cream Brioche Rolls from Aldi

Will you have a house full of guests for the holidays? Don’t forget to plan breakfast! You can make it super easy with these Vanilla Creme Brioche Rolls. Add a fresh fruit bowl and my Make Ahead Sausage Egg Cups put on a pot of coffee and you are done!

North Pole Express Chocolate Bars

North Pole Chocolate bars from Aldi they look like a santa, an elf, and reindeer

OK! Are these not the cutest chocolate bars EVER! OMG.. I couldn’t resist. They would make the greatest gift topper or stocking stuffer. Some of the flavors are super unique: Crispy Caramel Popcorn, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Peanut Butter Filled, and 2 Milk Chocolate. They are a little pricey at $6.99 for 5 bars but they are so dang cute.

Aldi Holidays- Paper

Wrapping Paper

wrapping paper from Aldi

I just happened upon this last time I was at Aldi and I’m guessing it will not last long because it is too good of a deal! They have HUGE rolls of QUALITY wrapping paper for $1.99 per roll, yup you read that right! And the prints are cute to boot.

Parchment Paper

parchment paper from Aldi

This is a stock up item!! Aldi only carries parchment paper during the holiday months. That is when I buy at least 4 rolls to keep in the pantry for the year. Of course you can get this in a traditional grocery store, but it is super expensive!

I like to use parchment when I bake sweets, especially cookies. It guarantees that your cookies will not stick to the pan and helps from them over browning in the oven. I also have a recipe for BBQ chicken in parchment. ((I haven’t transferred the recipe from my You Tube channel to my web site so if you are interested here is the link for that recipe. BBQ Chicken in Parchment with Sweet Potatoes, Peppers, and Onions))