A Man's Heart

The way to a man's heart...

You know the saying.

Well, that's the way to my William's heart too.

A love language?

If so, then one of his favorite dialects is "Potato Soup."

A couple of years ago, we got this recipe from our friend, Bethany, at church.

We tweaked it just a tiny bit, and this is what we got.

Potato Soup

2 bags frozen Ore Ida Potatoes

(I use Kroger brand...just as good and less expensive.)

1 can cheddar cheese Soup

1 can cream of chicken soup

2 8-ounce packages of cream cheese

2 32-ounce containers of chicken broth

Bacon slices cut into small pieces

(Use as many slices as you like.  We like!)

Mix softened cream cheese and soup together, and pour into crock pot.  Add all other ingredients.  Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours.  I find that I need to go more toward 8 hours so that the potatoes aren't crunchy.

I served the soup with saltine crackers and slices of 

Colby Jack and Sharp Cheddar Cheese.

I had hoped to make some super-simple homemade bread to go with it, but I just didn't get to it.

Here is the recipe for the super-simple homemade bread.

We got this recipe from Kitty in our homeschool group.  She cooked with the high school kids several times, and this is one of the things that she introduced to us.

We really, really, really like this!

Simple Bread

1 1/2 cups water

Scant T yeast

Scant T salt (Kosher)

3 1/4 cups flour (bread flour preferred)

Corn Meal optional (for use in the pan if you like)

Water can be warmed to 100 degrees, but it is not required.  Cold water will need an initial rise of 3-4 hours.  Warm water only 2 hours.

In a 4-6 quart lidded bowl, place water.  Stir in yeast and salt.  Stir in flour. Measure by scooping and leveling.  Mix until there are no dry patches.  Don't knead.  Dough should be wet and loose enough to conform to bowl.  

Rise 2-4 hours, loosely covered.

Now, you can bake or refrigerate up to 5 days.  

Cover with lid.

To shape, divide in half.  You will need flour because the dough is sticky.  Turn inside out and place in a 

well-greased loaf pan.

Rise about 40 minutes.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

If your dough has been in the refrigerator, the rise time will be about 1 1/2 hours.

This is a really forgiving bread.  One that really isn't as hard as it might sound.

Just mix it together, and you get bread!  

This is an awesome meal for autumn days...

or days in August that are in the 70's.

When does that happen?!

Enjoying soup and family,