• a winter pumpkin treat that no one will expect

    OK, OK I know pumpkin season is officially over…but just hear me out for a bit. Pumpkin is not just for sweets I am sure you already know this but pumpkin is packed full of protein and I don’t know about you but I don’t only want protein in the fall.  I am always looking for great ways to add protein to dishes without a lot of added fat and calories and pumpkin is a great way to do that.  But don’t worry, it won’t taste like fall in a bowl…I promise. OK, so what does the pumpkin do? It not only adds protein but it also adds a ton…

  • Soup for the gang

    I don’t know about y’all but we are all about watching all the college football games that are happening this week.  For us football and food go hand in hand, and I love dishes that can sit on the stove and people can get when they want it…and this taco soup is that kinda meal for sure! Taco Soup?  Yes, Please Ok, I know you may be looking at this post a little side ways and asking taco soup?  And I understand, I was not sold on it either, until I made it.  This soup brings together everything I love about traditional tacos into a soup, perfect for this winter.…

  • it’s time for soup (i.e. chowder)

    Thanksgiving is over.  I don’t know about you but I still can’t believe that is almost December and Christmas is coming. As much as I loved Thanksgiving, I am over turkey and ready to move onto something delicious, comforting and perfect for cooler weather…IT IS SOUP TIME!! Bring on some soup (i.e. chowder) What is your favorite fall/winter soup?  Do you love creamy soups?  Brothy soups?  Soups loaded with noodles or rice?  Maybe veggie soups?  Or stews?  Well today it is all about chowder…corn chowder. Ok, Ok I know some you may say chowder is not soup, but trust me this is a must make soup/chowder this winter.  It is…

  • Orzo in the making…

    Soup is a comfort food for The Hubby and I try to have it for him as often as possible…but in Half Baked Land it is already getting warm outside so I am not in much of a soup mood, until I remembered a recipe I have been waiting to make all winter…Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup. When I first came across this recipe it was late summer/early fall so I decided to put it on the back burner until spring rolled back around and finally it is here…and it is finally time for this soup!!  It is a very hearty soup, while still being light with a perfect hint of lemon…

  • chicken chili? yes, please

    The Hubby LOVES chili.  He loves it so much the very first party we ever had as a married couple (over 10 years ago) he made chili for 30 people with all the toppings…and everyone loved it.  Ever since then we have been making chili for lots of get togethers or for a weekend treat…and this chicken chili is a favorite.  Most of the time we make a traditional chili but every once in a while we change it up a bit, like this steak chili or this lightened-up chili that has quinoa in it…but last week I wanted to change it up even more and make chicken chili.  There is…

  • all day beans…pinto beans

    I don’t know about you but this weekend is going to be all about finishing up some around the house projects and enjoying the nice weather we are going to be having…nice like in weather in the low 80’s with a nice breeze.  This is one of the many reason I love living in SE Texas in February…now of course ask me how I feel about it in the summer and I might be singing a different song then…but for now I will take this crazy nice weekend and enjoy a nice pot of beans when all the work is done.   So you might be asking why would would…

  • Lightened-up enchilada soup? Yes, its good

    Enchilada soup is one of my most favorite soups of all time.  There is just something about the chicken with the spices and the broth with the cheese that makes my life oh so happy! So one of my favorite enchilada soups of all time is at the restaurant Chili’s.  It is rich, creamy, cheesy with the perfect amount of spice and I have made that recipe several times, but lately I have been obsessed with green chilies so I decided it was time to change up my favorite soup a bit…and voila here we have the Green Chile Enchilada Soup.   [mpprecipe-recipe:110] Since I was changing it up anyway…

  • potato soup…a must have comfort

    Are you still surrounded by all the goodness of Thanksgiving, or have you eaten all the turkey you can handle and are ready to move on and embrace all the warm comfort foods of winter…well for The Hubby and I we are ready to move on and this potato soup is a must make.   After all the craziness of Thanksgiving, the endless eating & deal shopping I found it was time to settle into some decorating and a warm bowl of soup.  Anytime I ask The Hubby what soup he would like he immediately goes to potato soup or enchilada soup and this time potato won (only because I had everything on…

  • Veggies & enchilada soup is so, so good

    Enchilada soup is definitely a favorite of mine & The Hubby’s but I have been working on how to incorporate more veggies into it without losing all the richness of a more traditional version.   There is just something so good about the chicken, enchilada infused broth, beans and of course the cheese…I would never forget the cheese and with the added veggies it is lighter than some other recipes. To start with I wanted to make sure I used veggies that The Hubby and I would both love so zucchini, squash and bell peppers were defiantly a must along with the more traditional veggies of onions and garlic.  I…