Asian Egg Drop Soup

I actually feel embarrassed at how simple this is to make and that I've paid a few dollars for a bowl here and there. Stupid American! Now I'll just make it at home! The girls even love "eggie soup" and I've decided now to only make double-batches. (Wonder if I could can this...?)

Egg Drop Soup

4 cups chicken broth

1/8 tsp ground ginger (I left this out cuz I don't love it)

2 TBS sesame oil

2 TBS chives or green onions

1 1/2 TBS cornstarch

3 eggs (more or less to your liking)

Throw in everything except the cornstarch and eggs to a large soup pot.

Take out about 1 cup of broth. Stir in the cornstarch to the cool broth. Set aside.

Heat up the broth to boiling.

Crack the eggs in a soup or cereal bowl and mix them around - or you could just slowly dump them in while stirring the broth. The eggs will fully cook since the broth is boiling.

Last, add in the cornstarch thickened cup of broth.

Shazam. Now, pay me $3.95 and I'll give you a fortune cookie!

Mexican Rice

I worked in a mexican restaurant when I was 15 and loved the rice they made. I have tried to make yummy side dish rice since, but it never turns out. And RiceARoni just doesn't cut it. This recipe is just about perfect!!

Mexican Rice

1 cup uncooked rice

1 tsp garlic salt

1/2 tsp ground cumin

1/4 cup chopped onion (or 1TBS dry onion)

1/2 cup tomato sauce

2 cups chicken broth

Stir it all together. Boil. Reduce to simmer and wait 20-25 minutes until your rice is done. (I also like adding lentils!)

Chicken Gravy Mix

Bulk Style!!

2 cups powdered milk
2 cups chicken bouillon powder
1 cup flour
1/2 cup butter powder (if you have it)
1 tsp garlic powder
2 TBS onion powder
1 tsp black pepper

To make gravy: 1/2 cup dry mix + 1 cup water

Brown Gravy Mix

Bulk Style!

2 cups flour
1 cup powdered milk
1 cup beef bouillon
1 cup cornstarch
1 TBS garlic powder
4 TBS onion powder
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 cup butter powder (if you have it, helps make it creamy)


To make it: 3 TBS mix + 1 1/2 cups of water = gravy

Onion Soup Mix

Bulk Style!

2 cups onion flakes
1 cup beef bouillon powder
1/2 cup onion powder
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 cup butter powder (if you have it, this makes it creamy and yummy)

To use:
5 TBS mix = 1 package onion soup

1 Packet of Onion Soup Mix

I hate spending money on packets of onion soup mix. So I found a recipe to make my own!!

2 1/2 tablespoons dried onion 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper 4 cubes beef bouillon, crumbled 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon onion powder Store in airtight container. This makes one envelope of soup mix.

Easy Pizza Sauce

This goes very well with the pizza dough recipe. Then all you need is cheese and some toppings.


1 can (15oz) tomato sauce
1 can (6oz) tomato paste
1 tablespoon oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika



In medium bowl, mix all ingredients together. Makes enough for 2 pizzas. Freezes well for later use too!

The Dip

Megan is a goddess. She brought this dip in once and we've needed it like crack ever since.



2 packets Hidden Valley Ranch - Buttermilk Recipe


1 small jar Best Foods Mayo


1 16oz tub sour cream



Mix it all together and it's ready to go!



It's that easy and so good.

Garlic Bread Spread

Here's a quick option for a garlic bread spread that is cheap and goes a long way. It sounds weird, but my in-laws now request that I make this whenever I'm in SLC.

Everything is approximate. Taste it and see what you need more of!

1 Cup mayonnaise (really and truly, it's good!)
1/4 Cup butter or margarine (just to flavor the spread like butter)
1/2 Cup parmesan cheese
2 tsp garlic powder (more or less depending on your love/hate of garlic)
1/2 tsp parsley (just for looks)

Combine all ingredients in bowl. Stir until well blended.
Spread over bread. Broil 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.


PS- I make this ahead of time and keep it in the fridge. Ryan loves it.
PPS - Thanks Aunt Mariann for the recipe!

Chicken Soup (Thanks Heather)

nearly identical to Cafe Rio's tortilla soup, especially if you put a little fat free sour cream or some guacamole in it.

Shredded Chicken:

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of any fat
3 cups of chicken broth or water
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tbsp sweet yellow onion, diced finely
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients and gently boil for 20 minutes. Let the
chicken breasts cool then shred with two forks.

Soup:

2 tsp olive oil
2 cups of onion, diced
1 cup of celery, diced
2 cups of carrots, diced
1-2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped (more if you want spicy)
4-5 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 1/2 quarts of chicken stock
1 28 oz can of crushed tomatoes
1 tsp of cumin (I used about 1 1/2 tsp)
1 tsp ground coriander seed (I used about 1 1/2 tsp)
Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste
1/2 a cup of fresh cilantro, chopped (divided)
6 fresh white corn tortillas

Heat the olive oil in a dutch oven over medium heat. Once hot, add
onions and sauté until tender. Add the garlic and stir constantly for
60 seconds. Add the carrots, celery, jalapeno, tomatoes, broth, cumin,
coriander, sea salt and pepper to taste and 1/4 cup of cilantro. Cut
the 6 corn tortillas in half, then cut them crosswise into 1/2 inch
strips and add to the soup. Bring the soup to a boil, then lower the
heat and simmer for 30 minutes or until the vegetables are soft and
the corn tortillas have melted away. Add the chicken, taste and re
season if needed.

Additional Toppings:

1 - 2 avocados, diced
Tortilla strips
Cotija cheese, grated
Fresh cilantro (remainder from above ingredients)

Ladle soup into large soup bowls. Add some avocado, tortilla strips, a
sprinkle of cheese and cilantro. Enjoy!

Grandma Sharich's Famous Spaghetti Sauce

Family Famous. No one likes anything else - including Ryan! I had to learn it, but it's dang tasty. Almost like a marinara sauce.

2 - 14.5 oz cans stewed tomatoes
2 - 8 oz cans tomato sauce
2 - 6 oz cans tomato paste
1 - 32 oz can tomato juice
1 cup ketchup
1 cup water
1 tsp italian seasoning
2 tsp each: salt, cumin, red chili powder, oregano
2 TBS garlic powder
4 TBS sugar
4 TBS+ vinegar ("Don't be afraid of vinegar, sweetheart.")
2 bay leaves

Mix it all in a big pot and simmer for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally.

Keep in mind, this is a double batch, but it freezes well, and it's always nice to have spaghetti sauce on hand for making casseroles and lasagna.

Taco Soup

Amazing and yummy!

1 lb ground beef, browned & drained
1 quart whole tomatoes (or a couple cans of whatever you have)
2 Cups chopped celery
2 Cups sliced carrots
2 cans cream of potato soup
1 can beef bouillon
1 pkg taco seasoning mix
1 large can chili beans
1 large can kidney beans
1 small can tomato sauce

Mix and simmer for 2 hours (can even go in a crock pot).
Serve with grated cheese and crushed chips.