Hearty Chicken Chowder Soup

This soup is SO good! That is why I am posting it on here because I encourage all of you to make it. It is absolutely fabulous and isn't hard at all!

I found this recipe from watching a video on www.foodnetwork.com. I couldn't actually find a typed out recipe so I just watched it several times and wrote it out. But here it is...

Hearty Chicken Chowder Soup

2 strips of bacon

1 white onion, diced

1 jalapeno, diced

1 large russet potato, cubed

1 red pepper, diced

1 16 oz pkg. frozen corn, thawed

Salt and pepper

3 cups chicken stock

2 cups milk

2 cups chicken, cooked and cut into cubes

Cook 2 strips of bacon in soup pot. Remove bacon and drain off all but 1 tablespoon of fat from pan. Add onion, jalapeno, potato, red pepper, and corn into pot. Add salt and pepper for seasoning.  Cook vegetables down for a couple minutes then add chicken stock. Bring to boil then simmer until vegetables are tender. Test potato with fork to make sure it is tender. Puree 1/2 of soup in blender, adding 1 ladle-full at a time. Pour pureed soup back into the pot, stir until combined. Add 2 cups milk, stir until combined. Add 2 cups chicken and stir. Cook further until desired thickness is achieved. Garnish with squeezed lime, chopped cilantro, and chopped bacon. Serve with crusty bread.

Enjoy

Visitors!

The Friday after thanksgiving we had visitors! Brett and Ashley Beynon came and stayed with us! It was so much fun to have them.

We first went down to Union Square but decided to get away from there when there were way too many people. So we went over to the mission and ate at a mexican restaurant.

On Saturday morning, we went to the Haight - Ashbury area and ate at this cute little cafe called Squat and Gobble. It was such a good breakfast.

Haight Ashbury used to be the hippie mecca of American back in the 60's. Now it is pretty much full of a bunch of hipsters. Haight Street is lined with unique little shops and so we decided to walk around and explore. 

How about this store... Pipe Dreams? We didn't go in there.

But we did go into this old record/music store. There were so many records. It was really cool to look around.

We also went to the beach and explored after we discovered that tickets were sold out for the new Academy of Sciences Museum. It was a beautiful day, perfect for walking around at the beach.

So thanks Brett and Ashley! We sure had a blast with you guys! Can't wait to see you again soon.

Thanksgiving!

For Thanksgiving, I decided to take on the challenge myself! I studied all of the Food Network shows, and searched online to try and do it the very best I could. I was most nervous about my turkey. I personally think the worst thing ever is a dry turkey. So from what I learned, I just tried to apply. I put the turkey on some carrots, celery, and onion. I took the giblet bag out of the turkey (several people reminded me to do that) and filled it with onion, garlic, lemon, salt and pepper, and fresh thyme. Then I put on the outside this melted butter, lemon, and thyme mixture.

I really don't think I could have stuffed it more.

All my studying paid off! It was such a moist tender turkey! It was fabulous! I also made some side items that were also tasty. It totally paid off.

I think Dan liked it too.

I also decided to try something new and make a coconut cake for dessert in place of pumpkin pie. It turned out really good as well.

Gotta love Thanksgiving!