Category: Recipes

How to make Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Get ready for a rich and creamy, delicious baked potato soup with all the fixings. It’s fully loaded with bacon, sour cream, cheddar cheese and chives. You get the full loaded baked potato experience in a soup that you can’t stop eating.

Ingredients:
6 Yukon Gold Potato’s
1 yellow onion
3 minced garlic cloves
1/3 cup flower
4 tbsp. butter
8 slices bacon
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
2/3 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
4 green onions
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp paprika

Directions:

  1. Dice bacon into pieces and place in a large soup pot on medium heat and cook until bacon is brown and slightly crispy.
  2. Remove bacon pieces with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving the bacon fat in the pot.
  3. Add butter and chopped onion and cook over medium heat until onions are tender (3-5 minutes).
  4. Sprinkle the flour over the ingredients in the pot to create a rue and stir until smooth.
  5. Add garlic and cook in the rue cook for 30 seconds, just enough to release flavor and keep it sweet.  Overcooking the garlic will make it bitter.
  6. Combine chicken broth, milk, heavy cream, salt, pepper, and paprika to the pot. Stir well.
  7. Add potatoes and bring pot to a boil.   Let pot boil for about 15 minutes.
  8. Reduce heat to simmer and using an immersion blender puree half of the soup until smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender you can remove half the soup and place in a blender. Blend that soup and return to the pot.
  9. Add sour cream, bacon pieces, and green onions, stir well.  Reserving ¼ of bacon and green onions for garnishment.
  10. Simmer for 15 minutes.
  11. Serve and garnish the top with additional sour cream, bacon, cheddar cheese, and chives. Enjoy!
Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Better than Starbucks! DIY Pumpkin Spice Latte

It’s Pumpkin Spice Season! That means it’s time for everyone’s favorite Starbucks treat…Pumpkin Spice Latte. A lot of us like to buy this daily at Starbucks but that can be expensive and the Starbuck’s drink is packed with sugar. You will love this recipe for Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe. It’s a lot cheaper than Starbuck’s and we have cut back on the sugar by using maple syrup as a natural sweetener instead.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup coffee
1 cup almond milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp pumpkin puree
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Directions:

  1. In a small pot or saucepan mix the almond milk, vanilla extract, maple syrup, pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice.
  2. Heat on low until the pan begins to simmer.
  3. Remove from heat and add the coffee.
  4. To create a froth either blend with an immersion blender or put into your regular blender. If you put this into a regular blender make sure you vent the top of the blender so that the steam doesn’t build up and “explode” on you.
  5. Pour into a coffee mug and top with optional nutmeg.
  6. Enjoy.
Better than Starbucks! DYI – Pumpkin Spice Latte

Click here for recipe for vanilla extract.

Click here for recipe for almond milk.

Click here for recipe for pumpkin puree.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

It’s that time of the year when we carve pumpkins or make pumpkin puree and one of the by products of this is pumpkin seeds! Pumpkin seeds make a delicious and nutritious snack and are easy to roast. Follow along and I will show you how to do this.

This recipe is for the amount of seeds from one pie pumpkin (1/2 cup) but you can easily increase this recipe for larger amounts of seeds. If you are more daring you can substitute the salt for any flavoring you want to try.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

1/2 tsp olive oil

pinch of kosher salt

Directions:

  1. Rinse seeds and remove all pumpkin from the seeds.
  2. Let the seeds thoroughly dry out. I dried mine overnight on a kitchen towel.
  3. Put dried out seeds into a bowl.
  4. Add olive oil to seeds and mix.
  5. Add salt or other flavored seasoning to seeds and mix.
  6. Place seeds on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
  7. Cook in a preheated 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 12 minutes or until golden brown.
  8. Enjoy!
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Hand held pumpkin pies also known as pumpkin empanadas

Hand held pumpkin pies, also known as pumpkin empanadas are a great treat any time of year, but especially in the fall when we crave pumpkin flavored desserts. You can make them in the traditional half moon shape, or to get more into the season you can use a pumpkin shaped cookie cutter to make pumpkin shaped hand held pies. These delicious little pies are super simple to make. Join us to learn how.

Ingredients:

Ingredients:
dough:
2 sticks butter
1/2 package cream cheese
2 1/2 cups flour

egg wash:
white from one egg

filling:
1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions:

  1. In a mixing bowl combine the butter and cream cheese and mix together.
  2. Once butter and cream cheese are mixed add the flour and mix together. Once mixed together remove and refrigerate until ready to use.
  3. Separate the egg white and yolk from one egg. Using a fork beat the egg white until it is smooth and runny. Set aside until ready to use.
  4. In a mixing bowl combine pumpkin puree, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla extract. Mix together and then set aside until ready to use.
  5. remove dough from refrigerator and make a ball the size of a golf ball. Roll the ball flat to 1/8 of an inch thickness with a rolling pin.
  6. Using a cookie cutter or lid cut the dough into a circle, or use a cookie cutter to shape as a pumpkin. Place cut dough onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
  7. Place a table spoon of pumpkin onto the dough.
  8. Using your finger you can place egg wash around the edge of your dough. If you are using a dough cut into a circle you can fold over the dough onto itself so that it forms a 1/2 circle. If using dough cut into a pumpkin you will need to place another piece of dough cut as a pumpkin on top of the first piece.
  9. Using a fork press around the edges of the dough to seal it up.
  10. Place egg wash over the dough. Optional step is to add cinnamon sugar on top of dough.
  11. Repeat steps 5 through 10 until all the dough is used up.
  12. Place cookie sheet in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
  13. Enjoy!
Hand held pumpkin pies also known as pumpkin empanadas

Delicious Three Meat Texas Chili

I love chili and one of my favorites is three meat Texas chili. Texas chili is unique in that it doesn’t contain any beans. Instead you have a meat based chili that is made with bacon, steak and ground beef and a delicious mix of paprika, ancho chili, and chipotle chili. If you have never eaten Texas chili you need to give this recipe a try. I guarantee you will love it.

Ingredients:
3 cups beef broth
4 strips center cut bacon
1 pound ground beef
1 pound chuck steak
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp black pepper
1 medium onion
2 tbsp. tomato paste
1 can crushed tomatoes
2 large garlic cloves
2 tsp brown sugar
1 tbsp. cumin
1 tbsp. paprika
1 tbsp. ancho chili
1 tbsp. chipotle chili
2 bay leaves
1 cinnamon stick
1 1/2 tsp oregano

Directions:

  1. Cook ground beef in your pot, don’t break up the ground beef too small. It is nice to have larger chunks of ground beef. When the ground beef is done cooking remove it and place in a bowl.
  2. While the ground beef is cooking cut up your onion and set aside in a bowl.
  3. Cut up the steak into 1 inch pieces that would fit on your spoon when eating the chili.
  4. Cut up the bacon into small pieces.
  5. Cook the bacon in your pot and cook until browned, but not crisp. Remove cook bacon and place in bowl with ground beef.
  6. Cook onions in the pot with the bacon grease. Cook until translucent, but before removing the onions add in your chopped garlic and cook for 30 seconds with your onions. Remove the onions and garlic and add to your bowl of ground beef.
  7. Add your steak to the remaining bacon grease and sear your steak in the same pot that you cooked your onions in.
  8. Add the beef broth to your seared steak.
  9. Add the crushed tomatoes and tomato puree to the pot.
  10. Add your salt, pepper, brown sugar, cumin, paprika, ancho chili, and chipotle chili to the pot.
  11. Add cinnamon stick and bay leaves. Cover and let simmer on low for 2 – 2 1/2 hours.
  12. When done cooking stir in the oregano, remove bay leaves and cinnamon stick and serve.
  13. Serve with cheddar cheese, sour cream, jalapenos, and Frito chips.
  14. Enjoy.
Delicious Three Meat Texas Chili

How to make pumpkin puree

It’s that time of year when we make everything we can that is pumpkin flavored and to do that we need pumpkin puree. Unfortunately with the pandemic it seems a lot of stores have a hard time keeping enough pumpkin puree in stock. Have no fear, because we can make homemade pumpkin puree, it is super easy and you only need a pie pumpkin to make it.

Ingredients:

Pie Pumpkin also known as a sugar pumpkin

Directions:

  1. Cut pumpkin in half and remove the seeds
  2. Lay pumpkin halves on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper
  3. Cook in a 400 degree preheated oven for 35 minutes
  4. Remove from oven and let cool
  5. After pumpkin has cooled remove the skin and then slice into chunks
  6. Place chunks in a food processor and run until pumpkin is a smooth puree
  7. Remove and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to use.
How to make pumpkin puree

How to make granola at home

You never know what is in your store bought granola. Although we think of it as a healthy snack it can be packed with excessive fats, sugars, and preservatives. When you make granola at home you control exactly what goes in it. You can make healthy, great tasting granola at home that is easily customizable made with superfoods, such as honey and coconut oil, and can include a multitude of foods such as fruits, nuts, chocolate, m&m’s, coconut and so much more. Join me as I show you how to make delicious granola at home.

Ingredients:

3 cups rolled oats (oatmeal)

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup raisins

1/4 cranberries

1/4 cup sliced almonds

1/4 cup cinnamon sugar

1/2 cup shredded cococunt

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 tsp. almond extract

pinch of salt

Directions:

  1. Pour the oats onto a baking sheet.
  2. mix the coconut oil, honey, vanilla extract, and almond extract together and stir.
  3. Mix raisins, cranberries, sliced almonds, coconut, cinnamon sugar, and pinch of salt with the oats.
  4. Pour the coconut oil/honey mixture over the oats and mix all together.
  5. Bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. Make sure you check it every 10 minutes and stir the granola during the time to allow it to brown evenly.
  6. Enjoy.

To get the recipe for homemade vanilla extract go to: https://mylowcountryliving.net/how-to-make-homemade-vanilla-extract/

How to make granola at home

Homemade Pineapple Sorbet

Sorbet’s are like ice cream, but they are dairy-free. That is important for people like me who are lactose intolerant. From time to time I will indulge in classic ice cream, but I can only have it in small quantities. However, I can eat sorbet whenever I want. Sorbet’s are very simple and traditionally they are made from just fruit and sugar (or simple syrup). My take on pineapple sorbet does contain one extra ingredient to make it smoother and more ice cream like and that is coconut milk. Follow along with me as we make a delicious creamy pineapple sorbet.

Ingredients:

1 pound frozen pineapple

1 cup simple syrup

1 cup coconut milk

1 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice

Directions:

  1. Pour pineapple into your food processor and start processing on low.
  2. Add the simple syrup, coconut milk and lemon juice to the food processor and continue to mix until you have a soft smooth mixture the consistency of soft serve ice cream.
  3. Place sorbet into a container to store and freeze for 1-2 hours before use.
  4. After 1-2 hours remove from freezer and enjoy!

Note: If you freeze your sorbet too long and it is harder than you would like you can let is sit on counter to defrost for 5-1o minutes to soften up before you scoop it.

Homemade Pineapple Sorbet

To get the recipe for simple syrup go to: https://mylowcountryliving.net/how-to-make-homemade-simple-syrup/

How to make homemade Simple Syrup

Simple Syrup is super simple to make and it is a staple in bartending. Simple Syrup can also be used when baking to keep cakes moist and also used to make sorbets. Follow along to see how easy it is.

Ingredients:

1 cup water

1 cup white granulated sugar

Directions:

Mix the sugar and water together in a saucepan and simmer over low heat for 2-3 minutes until all the sugar granules are dissolved. When the sugar is dissolved and the simple syrup is clear without any cloudiness from the sugar it is done and you can pour it into a container to store. A mason jar works well for storage and it can be stored in the refrigerator up to one month.

Note: The ingredients are in a 1:1 ratio and 1 cup water mixed with 1 cup sugar will yield 2 cups of simple syrup. You can increase the recipe to make any amount of simple syrup you need, just keep your ingredients at a 1:1 ratio.

How to make Simple Syrup

How to make home made Philly Cheesesteaks

My favorite sandwich is are Philly Cheesesteaks, I order them at any restaurant that I go to that serves them. In Charleston my favorite places to eat Philly Cheesesteaks are at the Southside 17 Bar & Grill, and also YE OLE FASHIONED CAFE & ICE CREAM in West Ashley.

They are a classic sandwich and loved by so many people. Follow along to make an amazing Philly Cheesesteak with chopped steak, gooey cheese, onions, and peppers.

Ingredients:

2 pounds steak
2 onions
4 cloves garlic
1 red bell pepper
1 green bell pepper
3 tbsp butter
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
Sliced Mushrooms (Optional)
Hoagie Rolls
slices of provolone cheese

Directions:

  1. Slice the onions so that you have long slices of onion. Place in a bowl.
  2. Slice the red and green peppers into long strips and place in a bowl.
  3. Dice up the garlic and place in the bowl with the onions and peppers.
  4. Chop steak into small pieces. You can do this by slicing the steak into slices and then rotate the cut slices and cut again into smaller pieces. Rotate the cut slices again, and cut again. Keep repeating until the steak is cut into tiny pieces about 1/4 inch in size or smaller. Set aside the cut meat.
  5. Melt 2 tbsp of onion into your pre-heated pan. Pour the sliced vegetables into a preheated pan and cook until the vegetables are soft and cooked through.
  6. Add chopped meat to the pan of vegetables and continue cooking.
  7. Add the salt and pepper to the meat and vegetables.
  8. When the meat is about 2/3 cooked you can add mushrooms if you want. This is optional since not everyone likes mushrooms.
  9. Cook until all liquid from the vegetables has evaporated form the pan and the meat is cooked through.
  10. Once meat is cooked through remove the meat and place in a bowl and set aside.
  11. Rinse the pan and add melt 1 1/2 tbsp butter in the pan. Once butter is melted add your hoagie buns and cook on both sides until lightly toasted. Then remove hoagie buns and set aside.
  12. In the same pan, add enough meat and vegetables back into the pan to fill one hoagie bun. (Approximately 1 to 1 1/2 cups of the meat and vegetable mixture). Then add slices of provolone cheese on top of the mix mixture and cook until the cheese is melted.
  13. Once the cheese is melted you can remove the meat mixture from the plan and place on top of the hogie buns.
  14. Enjoy your philly cheesesteak!
How to make home made Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches