Potato and Ham Soup with Barley and Mushrooms

Makes 6 servings


1 lb red potatoes, cubed
1 lb fully cooked ham, cubed
6-8 oz mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup pearl barley (not quick cooking)
2 tsp minced garlic
1 small onion, minced
5 cups water
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried basil
2 tsp beef bouillon granules or 1 tsp Shirley J beef bouillon
Salt and pepper to taste

1.  Combine potatoes, ham, mushrooms, barley, garlic, onion, water, bay leaf, thyme, basil and bouillon in a medium to large slow cooker.
2.  Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours, until potatoes are tender and barley is cooked through.
3.  Remove bay leaf.  Salt and pepper to taste and add additional seasonings, if needed.

Review:
Talk about a loaded soup...potatoes, ham, mushrooms and barley.  This was a hearty but somewhat healthy recipe.  My family all actually really liked this and ate it until it was gone.  My husband and I looked at our kids slurping their bowls down and just had a small moment of "I'm so proud of our kids, they're eating mushrooms and barley!"  It was awesome.  If you have leftover ham lying around this is a good recipe to use it with.  4 stars.

March Madness Round 2 Results: Meaty Category

The 2nd round results from the meaty category are in!  Here's where we're at:

Beef Gyros

Recipe:	Prep time/ease of ingredients (10 points)	Likeliness of making it again (30 points)	Overall flavor (50 points)	Value $ (10 points)
Turkey Breast	10	25	40	3
Beef Gyros	10	30	50	8
Recipe 1 notes and review:  This was a very close game at our house this week!  We loved both dishes very much, but because only one must go on it is going to be the Beef Gyros.  The Turkey was very easy to put together and aroma was so wonderful all afternoon.  It was nice to put in the turkey and let it do it's thing.  I liked the overall flavor of the turkey, but not everyone in my family did.  The gravy on the other hand everyone liked off the plates!  It was very difficult for me to find turkey breast this time of year.  I had to go to three different stores before I found some.  And the price was too much to swallow!  I could have taken my family out for burgers that night and everyone would have been just as happy.  If I were to stock up at thanksgiving and have the meat on hand it would have been a better value.  I will only make this when the price of turkey drops again.
Recipe 2 notes and review:  The beef gyros were so easy to make and I was excited they used herbs that I already had on hand.  I put it in before church, and when we got home the whole house was filled with gyro aromas.  My husband wanted to dig in right then!  We did wait the whole 6 hours of cooking time to dig in and the tenderness was perfect.  I liked that I could use a cut of meat that I already had in the freezer and it didn't end up tasting like a Sunday roast.  However the meat was so flavorful and tender I could serve it as a roast and no one in my family would have minded.  If you were to purchase the meat this meal could get pricey just because meat is expensive.  I was very skeptical of the sauce that is made out of yogurt.  But it was perfect on the gyros.  My husband wanted more to slather on his gyro because it was so good and I told him to go for it because it was yogurt not sour cream!   We will definitely be making this again.

Final Score:

Turkey Breast:  78
Beef Gyros:  98

Review by Jody

Roast Beef Sliders

Recipe:	Prep time/ease of ingredients* (10 points)	Likeliness of making it again* (30 points)	Overall flavor* (50 points)	Value $* (10 points)
Dipping Roast Beef Sliders	10	27	45	8
Slow Cooker Fork Tender Ribs	9	22	40	8
Recipe 1 notes: This was a breeze to throw together in the morning before work.  It was flavorful and a hit with the whole family.  Next time I make it I will probably leave out the banana pepper rings and juice.  For I was the only one who ate the peppers and everyone did not like the tartness the pepper juice brought to the dipping sauce.  I will be making it again though!!
Recipe 2 notes:  This recipe was simple and smelled delicious. However the paprika taste was over powering the other flavors.  The ribs were tender.  I used bottled bbq sauce and my family would of prefered the homemade kind.  We had no leftovers!! I will make it again using homemade bbq sauce and less or no paprika.

Final Score:
Dipping Roast Beef Sliders:  90
Fork Tender Ribs:  79
Review by Tiffanee

Pork Salad

Recipe:	Prep time/ease of ingredients (10 points)	Likeliness of making it again (30 points)	Overall flavor (50 points)	Value $ (10 points)
Shredded Pork Salad	6	25	42	9
Shredded Beef Tostadas	10	18	35	9
Recipe 1 notes and review: The hardest part of the recipe was the ingredients list.  I couldn’t find the Shirley J seasonings (looked up closest retailer…. 3 states over), so I had to use Lipton Onion mix and regular chicken bouillon.  Also, there were no approximate amounts to use for the seasonings, but what I did use came out tasty.  While the meat was good on the salad, it was even better the next day on a roll with swiss cheese, ham, and pickle relish (modified Cuban sandwich)!
Recipe 2 notes and review: This was the easiest recipe in the world to make.  Perfect for a weekday.  I managed to get everything in the crock pot while the morning coffee was brewing.  The flavors were too mild for my taste, but that is easily fixed with hot salsa and enchilada sauce.  The only downside I see to this recipe is that it makes a lot of shredded beef, and I couldn’t think of any good leftover recipes besides repeating something Mexican.  Good thing I love Mexican food.

Final Score:
Pork Salad:  82
Beef Tostadas:  72
Review by Molly

Cafe Rio Shredded Beef

Recipe:	Prep time/ease of ingredients (10 pts)	Likeliness of making it again (30 pts)	Overall flavor (50 pts)	Value $ (10 pts)
Honey Garlic Chicken	10	30	49	10
Cafe Rio Beef	10	30	50	10
Recipe 1 notes and review: This was super easy to make. Unfortunately, my go-to taste testing husband is on a business trip this week, so I had to rely on my taste buds  alone...or so I thought! Our 1 1/2 year old ate most of my leftovers! I  guess he liked it, too! The chicken reminded me of the Bourbon Chicken that every Asian Bistro in every food court in every mall gives out as samples. It tastes JUST like  it. Also, you try it and then you have to have Bourbon Chicken for lunch.  Or in this case, you have to eat IT ALL.
Recipe 2 notes and review: I made a slight adjustment to the dressing. We had about a cup of chipotle mayo in the fridge begging to be used, so I did. It gave it a nice big kick. I could very easily eat this every single day. It’s delicious. I like pretty much anything that has tomatillos in it, so I knew this was going to be awesome before I even hit start on my crock pot. My son didn’t eat this because his lack of teeth can’t handle the beef. So...it’s up to me. I declare Cafe Rio the winner. Crocked beef will ALWAYS win in my world.  Oh, and I have to crock both recipes again so my husband can try them. :) Jessie @ borntocrock.blogspot.com.

Honey Garlic Chicken

Final Score:
Cafe Rio Shredded Beef:  100
Honey Garlic Chicken:  99

Another high scoring game!  Jessie was the volunteer chef for these two recipes.

I need 4 people

I need 4 volunteers to participate in the last round of the slow cooker tournament!  If you want to make 2 recipes (I'll tell you which one's are available) in the next week, email me (karenbellessapetersen at gmail dot com).  First come, first serve :)

Slow Cooker Honey Lime Enchiladas

Makes 6 servings

2-3 cups cooked chicken

2 Tbsp honey

2 Tbsp lime juice

1 tsp garlic

1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

2 cups salsa verde, divided

1 cup shredded cheddar, divided

6 tortillas (I use whole wheat)

1.  Make a foil collar and place it on the hot spot in your slow cooker.

2.  In a bowl, combine chicken, honey, lime juice, garlic, cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper, 1/2 cup salsa verde and 1/2 cup cheddar.  Stir until combined.

3.  Spoon 1/2 cup of chicken mixture down the middle of each tortilla and roll up.  Place rolled up tortillas in the bottom of slow cooker that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.  

4.  Spoon the rest of the salsa verde over the top of the tortillas.

5.  Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or on HIGH for 2-3.  Sprinkle rest of grated cheese on top and let melt.  Serve with sour cream and cilantro.

Review:

Yum.  I loved the filling for these enchiladas.  The slight sweetness with the honey and the lime juice combination was delish.  You could easily make these in the oven, if you prefer.  4 stars.

March Madness Round 2 Soup Results

In an effort to keep up with the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament here are the second round results from the Soup Bracket.  A surprise?  Beef and Barley continues to kill it.  Who knew that a beef and barley soup would win 2 rounds in a row?

Beef and Barley Soup

Recipe:	Prep time/ease of ingredients (10 points)	Likeliness of making it again (30 points)	Overall flavor (50 points)	Value $ (10 points)
Beef and Barley Soup 2	10	30	48	8
Tomato Basil Ravioli Soup	8	25	40	8
Recipe 1 notes and review:  I have to admit that when I first read the name of this recipe, I turned my nose up at it.  Barley?  Isn’t that an ingredient in brewing beer?  I know it is used in many other things, but that’s the first thing that came to mind!  This soup was fantastic.  I have been looking for ways to incorporate things like lentils and whole grains in our diet, and this is a great option.  The meat was very tender, and not at all chewy, and both the lentils and barley held up well, adding great texture and flavor.  And nothing is easier than dumping everything into the crockpot and walking away.  This one will make it into the monthly menu again for sure!
Recipe 2 notes and review:  I love a good tomato basil soup.   The recipe I normally make is done on the stovetop, so this was my first exposure to preparing a soup in the crockpot.  The prep was somewhat similar to the stovetop, but again, nice to be able to walk away and let it do its thing.  The flavor was pretty comparable to other tomato basil soups, but not over the top awesome for me.  I really love the idea of adding ravioli into the mix – if not everyone in the family enjoys the soup portion, they can always nosh on the pasta.  A win-win situation!

Final Score:

Beef and Barley Soup:  96

Tomato Basil Ravioli:  81

Review by Roberta

Slow Cooker Cream of Mushroom Soup

Recipe:	Prep time/ease of ingredients (10 pts)	Likeliness of making it again (30 pts)	Overall flavor (50 pts)	Value $ (10 pts)
Busy Day Chicken Taco Soup	10	30	48	10
Cream of Mushroom Soup	10	30	50	10
Recipe 1 notes and review: Sooooo easy to do; truly a "dump" recipe! Except for trimming the fat off of the chicken thighs, there is nothing to do. I was really surprised at how great this tasted--it was light, but had a great depth of flavor! Although I made it exactly as written, I love how easy this is to tweak, based on the type of salsa, tomatoes, &/or chiles used! I think that many people have these ingredients in their pantries; as long as you have the protein, can be made spur of the moment. Very affordable. I brought it to work for my lunch, and several colleagues asked for the recipe, based on the aroma alone! This is definitely a "make again"--my husband says "the sooner, the better"!
Recipe 2 notes and review: Love the step of sweating the onions w/ butter in the microwave--so effective and so easy! I chose to sauté a few of the mushrooms and use for garnish instead of leaving them raw--I just prefer the flavor in this rich soup. Quick to make, especially on "High" setting. The cost is very affordable, especially since I purchased the 'shrooms on sale. Overall flavor, this is the winner. I loved BOTH soups, and the Taco Soup is more "figure friendly" with the fiber of the bean, etc. However, the depth of flavor and creamy texture of the Mushroom Soup was amazing! I am a sucker for creamy soups! I would definitely consider preparing this as a first course for a holiday dinner like Christmas or Easter.

Final Score:

Busy Day Taco Soup:  98

Cream of Mushroom Soup:  100

Holy high scoring game!  Both winners in my book.  Review by Beth.

Cordon Bleu Soup

Recipe:	Prep time/ease of ingredients (10 pts)	Likeliness of making it again (30 pts)	Overall flavor (50 pts)	Value $ (10 pts)
Cordon Bleu Soup	10	30	50	10
Dried Pinto Bean Chili	10	20	40	10
Recipe 1 notes and review: This recipe is a new family favorite! YUMMY! Easy to put together, includes ingredients I almost always have on hand, sooo good!
Recipe 2 notes and review: This was very good, just seemed to be missing something. We all enjoyed it for sure and it was a great value!

Final Score:
Cordon Bleu Soup:  100
Pinto Bean Chili:  80
Another perfect score!  Review by Jessica.

Coconut Thai Soup

Recipe:	Prep time/ease of ingredients (10 pts)	Likeliness of making it again (30 pts)	Overall flavor (50 pts)	Value $ (10 pts)
Red Beans & Wild Rice Stew	6	10	40	8
Coconut Thai Soup	8	30	45	6
Recipe 1 notes and review: This looked SO gross.  I cooked it the minimum amount of time the recipe said but when I mixed in the sausage at the end it just made it kinda mush together. It looked pretty unappetizing. That being said it tasted really good! It has a good flavor and I loved the wild rice. It made a lot so I felt it was a good value. I bought the wild rice in the bin section at Smiths and that was kinda a lot but I couldn't find plain wild rice any where else so I marked it down a little for that. Remembering to soak the beans the night before made me have to put off making this because I'd forget. I have another recipe that makes beans in the crockpot and you don't soak them the night before.  I didn't try that because I wanted to follow the recipe exactly.
Recipe 2 notes and review: this was SO good.  Oh man! SO good. I did have a hard time finding the lemon grass but other than that everything else was easy.  It cooked up easy and the only problem was that there wasn't enough.  This is a recipe that should be doubled because it's just so yummy. It was yummy as it is but I also cooked rice and we served this soup over the rice just to make it more of a meal.  I preferred it without the rice but it tasted good with it too. This is a keeper for sure.

Final Score:
Red Beans and Wild Rice Stew:  64
Coconut Thai Soup:  89
I like her honesty, "this looked SO gross!"  Review by Becca.