Chili's Enchilada Soup

**this recipe is actually easy and you can make it in 30 min!
**got this recipe from my cousin Lisa....she is an awesome cook...this soup really does taste like Chili's....She was on KSL in SLC for this recipe so if you want to watch her make it than check out this link:
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=204&sid=13301248

1st STEP:
•3 carrots chopped
•2 ribs celery chopped
•1 onion chopped
**(These dont have to be chopped small because you will blend them anyways)
•8 c. chicken broth
•1 can Rotel tomatoes (a must! Regular tomatoes don't cut it...dont use cheap brand.)
•1 pkg. taco seasoning
•10 small corn tortillas just put in whole
Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 min...the tortillas will disolve quickly so dont hesitate to put them in whole...it looks funny but it works.

Use a wand blender (immersion blender) if you have one and if not use your regular blender to puree all the ingredients together

2nd STEP:
•2 T. corn starch stirred into 1 c. cold water
and bring to a boil and than simmer

3rd StEP: (make sure you never bring to a boil after this..keep it on low so it doesnt burn)
ADD these into the soup in the this order!
•2 c. cream or half and half (I used fat free 1/2 and 1/2 and it turned out great!)
•1 lb. Velveeta Cheese (has to be the name brand. The other stuff doesn't melt well.)

4th STEP: add these after cheese has melted
•3 c. chopped chicken ( I love using a rotisserie chicken)
•1 can black beans rinsed (optional)
•1 can corn rinsed (optional)

5th STEP:
Top with tortilla strips, fresh salsa or tomatoes, sour cream, avocado, and chopped cilantro!

IDAHO Nacho's!

** so going to Minico High School in Rupert, Idaho...we had an open campus so you could leave for lunch, but having the school in the middle of frickin no where & only 30 min, it really left you to only going to a few places....so I usually stayed @ school, but when I started dating Eric we would leave every day & eat @ zipfers with all his buddies..Now the food @ this gas station was made by Eric's mom's best friend...(ya still with me???) anyways she made the best food ever. She just recently passed away & I couldnt be sadder that I didnt beg for her recipes before hand...(RIP)! But one of the things that she used to make was good ole Idaho Nachos....so pretty much it is just nachos but instead of chips you use CRISPY tator tots..try it!

Tator tots

grated cheddar cheese

roma tomatoes (chopped)

green onions or chopped onions

black olives

jalepenos

nacho cheese

ground beef (optional)

sour cream

salsa

Taco Soup

1 lb hambuger

1 onion

1 pkg taco seasoning

Kidney beans (drain juice and rinse)

1 can corn (leave juice in)

1-28 oz crushed tomatoes

1 can tomatoe sauce

1 can water (corn can)

**optional can olives

Saute hamburger and onion with garlic salt & onion powder, drain grease...combine taco seasoning, add kidney beans, corn, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, water and simmer for 20 min..

Top with shredded cheese, chips and sour cream

** this soup freezes well

Shepherd's Pie

**I did not grow up eating Shephers Pie...but when Eric and I got married I searched for easy recipes and came across this easy casserole...Eric LOVES shepherds pie so I make it just for him!this is a meal for left overs and for some reason it really keeps my man happy!

1 lb ground beef

1 onion chopped

*saute drain grease

** I always add in garlic salt and onion powder & pepper to all of my hamburger meat**

Add 1 can tomato soup Stir. Put into casserole.

Add layered with 1 can drained string beans

1 can drained corn

Top with mashed potatoes and cheese (I like to mix cheese in with the mashed potatoes and top with it.)

** I also add green onions to my mashed potatoes

Bake @ 350 for 30 min...

**this meal freezes and heats up well....probably just cook it for an hr..instead of 3o min if frozen

Sausage Stars

**Got this recipe from my friend Whitney Larsen....we ate them on the Superbowl..I think I had like 6...ok maybe 7

1 package WON TON WRAPPERS (you can use round or square..round is easier 2 work with)
1 lb Jimmy Dean Sausage (1 pkg is about 2 cups)
1 cup homemade ranch dressing (hidden valley ranch packet (use buttermilk)
1 cup shredded cheese (I like cheddar)
**Using a mini muffin tin. lightly grease mini muffin pan. Place won ton wrappers in muffin tin. Warm until crispy (aprox 5 min). Brown sausage and drain grease, Add 1 cup ranch, 1 cup cheese (save some to spinkle on top). Spoon into crisp won tons. Place back into oven to melt cheese (aprox another 5 min). should make about 4 or 5 dozen

Bake @350 carefully!

Piggy Nachos.....aka...Memphis BBQ Nachos

** Thanks to Makray we now call BBQ nachos..."PIGGY Nachos"... Are you wondering how Kray gave it that name...Well our favorite BBQ restaraunt is CENTRAL BBQ...IT is DIVINE....
anyways heres the equation: Nachos + the place has pigs painted all over the windows= "Piggy Nachos" ....Smart little Kid~

1 pork roast ( I either use a pork shoulder or you can do pork tenderloin)
BBQ sauce: here is the link to Homemade BBQ sauce...it is good for pork roast or RIBS...mmmmm... http://waymentrecipes.blogspot.com/2009/09/bbq-ribs.html

Nacho Cheese ( I love costco's..taste just like the ball park nachos & freezes well)
Grated Cheese
Jalepenos
Cayenne Pepper

So you cook the roast in crockpot for several hours...adding homemade Bbq sauce after it has cooked for 3 or so hours...draining any juices during that time and than add bbq sauce...
Then Get your plate.....load it with chips...place the Nacho Cheese, a little grated cheese, some BBQ pork, jalepenos, and top with cayenne pepper