Today, we’re diving into a classic comfort food that warms the soul and is perfect for any time or year. My homemade potato soup is a creamy and hearty dish that is perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a chilly winter night, a simple family dinner, or luncheon.

Disclaimer: This post does include affiliate links for your convenience. This is at NO additional cost to you but earns me a small commission. To read more, check out our disclosure policy.

Homemade Potato Soup Recipe

Potato soup is a timeless recipe that has been passed down through generations. It’s a dish that can be customized to suit your taste and preferences, and it’s also a fantastic way to use up those extra potatoes in your pantry. With just a handful of simple ingredients, you can create a delicious and satisfying bowl of homemade goodness.

 Here’s a link to my favorite chopper! I can’t live without this amazing kitchen gadget!

 Now For the Recipe

Homemade Potato Soup Recipe

Print

Homemade Potato Soup

This homemade classic potato soup recipe is so creamy and delicious. It's the perfect comfort food for any time of the year, I love making this for a potluck or luncheon and when the cooler temperatures in fall arrive.

Course Appetizer, brunch, dinner, lunch, Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword comfort food, fall recipes, potato recipe, potatoes, soup, soup recipes

Ingredients

• 4 large potatoes peeled and diced
• 1 small white onion finely chopped
• 3 stalks celery, diced into small pieces
• 1 package bacon, chopped into ¼ inch pieces
• ½ cup butter (one cube)
• ⅔ cup flour
• 5 cups chicken or vegetable broth
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 cups milk (Whole Milk or 2%)
• 2 tsp salt to taste (may need more)
• 1 tsp pepper (to taste)
• 1 tsp onion salt
• 1 tsp Johnnys Seasoning Salt (or any seasoning salt)
• 1-2 cups grated cheddar cheese (to your liking)
• 1 bunch green onions for garnish. (optional)

Instructions

• Peel and dice 4 large potatoes into one inch pieces and set aside in cold water. I like to use Yukon Gold potatoes but any potato will do! Grab the largest ones you can find. Then, chop up the onions, celery, and bacon.
  
• In a large pot or enameled cast iron pan, melt the butter on medium heat and add in the onions and celery. Stir frequently and sauté for about 3-4 minutes. Then add in half of the chopped up bacon. Sauté for another 5-6 minutes until the onions and celery start to get a little soft. Add in the salt and pepper.
  
• Add in the flour and cook for about 1-2 minutes until the flour is well combined with the bacon, onions, and celery, cook until it starts to bubble up. This allows the flour to cook a bit and gets rid of the flour taste.
  
• Add in the chicken or vegetable stock and stir until all the flour mixture and vegetables are well combined. Add in the diced potatoes and the onion salt and seasoning salt. Bring to a simmer and let cook for 5-10 minutes until the potatoes become almost fork tender.
• While the soup is coming to a simmer, add the remaining bacon to a small frying pan and cook the rest of the bacon pieces until crispy to use as a topping and grate the cheddar cheese if you are not using already shredded cheese.
• Add in the milk and heavy cream and stir frequently over medium heat until the soup starts to thicken up. Be sure to use a spatula to stir gently and scrape the bottom after adding the milk and cream. Once this is added you want to make sure that the milk and cream do not scorch on the bottom of the pan. Keep the temp around medium to medium low.
• Give the soup a taste to see if you need to add more salt or pepper. The chicken or vegetable stock has salt in it as well as the bacon so add more to your preferred taste if needed.
• If for some reason, the soup is too thick once it's done, add in a little more heavy cream or milk to thin it out to your liking. If it is too runny and not thick enough, take 1/4 cup of butter and melt it in a small sauce pan then add in 1/4 cup of flour and stir until the the lumps are gone and and starts to bubble. Once this is done, add it into the soup and gently stir until it's mixed into the soup well and continue to cook over medium to medium low until it thickens further. This should help it to thicken up a bit.
• Serve in bowls and garnish with the cheese, crispy bacon pieces, and green onions.

Now, sit back and savor the comforting aroma that fills your kitchen. Each spoonful of this homemade potato soup will wrap you in a warm embrace of flavors and memories. This recipe is comfort food at it’s finest!

Remember, cooking is an art, and each dish is a reflection of the love and care we put into it. So, take the time to enjoy the process, experiment with flavors, and make this potato soup your own. From my kitchen to yours, happy cooking!

Enjoy!

Unforgettable Bridal Shower Ideas: I made this soup recipe and my Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup and Homemade Rolls for this Bridal Shower. Click to see each post!

Homemade Chicken and Noodles

Rustic Homemade Bread Recipe

Pin this Post for Later

The post Homemade Potato Soup Recipe That Hits the Spot appeared first on Home With Holly J.

Brown Sugar and Butter Carrots

Carrots, with their vibrant orange hue and natural sweetness, are a versatile root vegetable that can be transformed into a delightful side dish with just a few simple ingredients. In this recipe, I take the humble carrot and elevate it to new heights with the irresistible combination of brown sugar and butter. The sweetness of the brown sugar perfectly complements the earthy flavor of the carrots, while the butter adds a salty and luscious richness. This recipe is incredibly easy to make and will surely become a favorite at your dinner table.

Disclaimer: This post does include affiliate links for your convenience. This is at NO additional cost to you but earns me a small commission. To read more, check out our disclosure policy.

I like to pair the carrots with my homemade roast beef, brown gravy, and mashed potatoes. This is a family favorite recipe from my husband’s Grandma Jolley. She was an amazing cook and my husband and I both have fond memories of eating this traditional Sunday meal prepared by Grandma Jolley.

Now for the Recipe

Print

Brown Sugar and Butter Carrots Recipe

Indulge in the sweet and savory flavors of brown sugar and butter carrots. Try this delicious recipe for a perfect side dish! It's a family favorite recipe that never disappoints.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword carrot recipe, carrots, root vegetables, savory and sweet recipes, Side Dish

Prep Time 1 hour hour

Servings 6

Ingredients

• 6-8 large carrots
• ½ cup butter
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp salt
• ½ tsp pepper
• water for boiling the carrots

Instructions

• Peel the carrots, cut them in half, then cut into quarters.
• Add the carrots to a sauce pan. Add enough water to cover the carrots, then add the salt to the water.
• Bring water and carrots to a low boil and cook for 15-20 minutes or until the carrots are fork tender and cooked through.
• Once carrots are done, drain off any excess water in a strainer and add the carrots back to the pan.
• Add the butter and brown sugar and stir. Cook over medium heat for about five minutes or so until the butter and brown sugar have all mixed together. Let simmer for a few more minutes and stir every so often.
• Dump the carrots into a serving bowl. The glaze will be a little bit runny so use a serving spoon that allows you to get some of the glaze and drizzle it over the carrots when dishing up.

Savory and Sweet – The Perfect Combination

These carrots offer a simple yet delightful way to enjoy this nutritious root vegetable. The sweetness from the brown sugar and the salty richness from the butter creates a heavenly glaze that enhances the natural flavors of the carrots. This recipe is quick to prepare and adds a touch of elegance to any meal. So, next time you’re looking to jazz up your side dish, give this easy side dish recipe a try!

 Enjoy!

If you like this recipe, you’ll want to check out these:

Classic Roast Beef Recipe

Delicious Mashed Potatoes Recipe

Pin this Post for Later

The post Sweet and Savory: Brown Sugar and Butter Carrots Recipe appeared first on Home With Holly J.

Easy Homemade Salsa

Every time I make this recipe, everyone loves it and asks for the recipe! With Cinco De Mayo coming up, I thought this would be the perfect time to share this easy homemade salsa recipe with you.

This salsa is so easy to make and can be ready in around ten minutes. The ingredients are simple and most of them are things you might already have on your shelf or in the refrigerator. The only equipment you will need is a cutting board and blender.

There are only 7 ingredients in this easy homemade salsa recipe. There is minimal prep time and the cleanup is easy.

I usually make my salsa a few hours ahead so it has time to chill in the refrigerator. It’s even better if you make it the day ahead or earlier in the day before serving it. It can be served with dinner, before dinner, or as an appetizer. It’s also a great homemade condiment to have in the fridge! This recipe also makes a big batch but, don’t be surprised if it doesn’t last long! It disappears quickly because it’s so good!

Now for the Recipe

Tap this link here for a video on Instagram showing how I make this! Easy Homemade Salsa Recipe

Print

Easy Homemade Salsa Recipe

This quick and easy homemade salsa recipe is a family favorite and only takes about ten minutes to make. It uses a handful of simple ingredients and is the perfect appetizer or condiment for any type of Mexican food you're serving. I always make this on Cinco de Mayo and it's always a hit.

Course Appetizer, salsa, Side Dish

Cuisine Mexican, Texmex

Keyword appetizer, chips & salsa, mexican recipes, salsa

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Equipment

• 1 blender
• 1 cutting board

Ingredients

• 2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes
• 1 10 oz can Ro-Tel original diced tomatoes and green chiles
• 1 bunch green onions
• 1 small lime
• 1 bunch cilantro
• ½ tsp salt (to taste)
• ½ tsp pepper (to taste)

Instructions

• Add the 2 14.5 oz cans diced tomatoes and 1 10 oz can Ro-Tel original diced tomatoes and green chiles to a blender.
• Wash the 1 bunch green onions and cut off the ends. Then chop them into 1" pieces and add to the blender.
• Wash the 1 bunch cilantro in a bowl of water to remove any dirt. Shake the water off and pat dry with a paper towel. Take about half of the bunch of cilantro and put it in the blender.
• Cut the 1 small lime in half and squeeze the juice into the blender.
• Add the ½ tsp salt (to taste) and ½ tsp pepper (to taste).
• Put the lid on the blender and blend until everything is blended into small pieces. Each blender will vary so try to get the consistency of what is shown in the images I've put into this post.
• Grab a couple of tortilla chips and taste the salsa. You may want to add more salt and pepper. I like mine salty but I always add a little at a time so it doesn't get over-salted. If you love the lime flavor, you may want to add a little more lime juice too. Some limes are juicier than others so add a little more if you like.
• The Ro-Tel canned tomatoes are what add the heat. I don't like things too spicy so I use the original Ro-Tel but you can use the medium or spicy Ro-Tel if you want to add more heat. Another variation is to add a little fresh jalapeño.
• Pour into a bowl or container and store in the fridge. This can be served immediately after making or you can make it ahead and store in the refrigerator for up to a week. If you want to make it and use it throughout the week, store it in a mason jar with the lid on it. It helps to make it last longer.

 

I hope you give this quick & easy homemade salsa recipe a try! I’m going to make it for Cinco de Mayo later this week! Please comment and tell me what you think if you give this recipe a try! I love to hear what you think!

 

Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog so you never miss a post! 

You can also follow along with me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest! 

Enjoy!

If you like this recipe, you’ll want to check out these:

Old Fashioned Enchiladas

Strawberry Cream Cheese Pie

Grandmas Homemade Pie Crust

Pin this Easy Homemade Salsa Post for Later

 

Sources Linked:

The post Quick and Easy Homemade Salsa Recipe for Cinco de Mayo appeared first on Home With Holly J.

Picnic Potato Salad Recipe

One of my favorite recipes to make for a picnic is my homemade potato salad. I love going on picnics, especially when we are in Montana spending time at our cabin. We were there a few weeks ago and my picnic plans kept getting derailed with all the thunderstorms we had there at the time so I decided I was tired waiting for the rain to stop and we had the picnic on the front porch of the cabin.

I made my homemade potato salad recipe, a strawberry pudding cake, fried chicken, corn, corn on the cob and cut up some fresh watermelon. Everything was perfect and even though it wasn’t the picnic I had planned, the view from our cabin’s porch is nothing to complain about!

This easy picnic potato salad is easy to make and you can adjust the ingredients to your liking. It’s one of the recipes where you can do that. I like a small amount of mayo in mine but feel free to add more! (and that goes for the mustard too) I also like food with a little salt so that is also adjustable to your own liking. The one thing to remember though, is that you always want to salt your potato water when boiling the potatoes.

Oh, and can you get over these blue eggs? One of our friends and our handy man that helps us fix things at our cabin has chickens and he shared a bunch of his beautiful eggs with me! I love how pretty they are and the color of the egg yolks was amazing! Definitely not your grocery store eggs.

Picnic Potato Salad Recipe

Alright, time for this yummy potato salad recipe!

Print

Picnic Potato Salad Recipe

This potato salad recipe is simple and easy to make and is the perfect side dish for a picnic, summertime gathering, or a barbecue.

Course lunch, Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword picnic recipe, potato recipe, potato salad, Side Dish, summer recipe

Prep Time 1 hour hour

Ingredients

• 8-10 small potatoes (I like Yukon gold's but any potato is fine)
• 10-12 large eggs
• ¾ cup mayonaise
• ¼ cup mustard
• 4 tbsp salt (for the potato water)
• 2 tsp salt (to season)
• 2 tsp pepper
• ¾ cup finely chopped dill pickles
• ¾ cup finely chopped white onions

Instructions

• Add the potatoes to a pot and cover with water. Add the 4 TBSP of salt to the water. Boil on medium until the potatoes are fork tender. When done, drain and set aside to cool.
• At the same time as the potatoes are boiling, boil the eggs for five minutes. Drain and cover with cold water in the same pan to help them cool faster.
• After the eggs and potatoes are cooled off, use a pairing knife to removed the skin from the potatoes and peel the eggs. When done peeling the eggs, make sure to rinse them off to make sure there are no egg shells left on them. Dry with a paper towel.
• Chop up the eggs and potatoes and put in a large mixing bowl.
• Chop up the pickles and onions and put in the bowl with the eggs and the potatoes.
• In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise, mustard, salt and pepper, and mix well. Add that mixture to the bowl and combine with the rest of the ingredients. Mix gently until well combined. If you like your potato salad with more mayo or mustard, add more! I like mine with less so make it to your liking. You can also add more salt and pepper if you like! Make sure to taste it as you go though if you add more.
• When everything is combined and seasoned to your liking, transfer to a serving bowl or some type of container with a lid if you're going on a picnic and refrigerate for at least an hour or two if possible.

I hope you give this picinic potato salad recipe a try! It’s so easy to make and always a hit at any gathering or picnic.

Enjoy! 

xoxo,

The post Picnic Potato Salad Recipe appeared first on Home With Holly J.

Easy Trail Mix Recipe

Disclaimer: This post does include affiliate links for your convenience. This is at NO additional cost to you but earns me a small commission. To read more, check out our disclosure policy.

Today I’m sharing this yummy trail mix recipe I came up with a few years ago. I went on a girl’s weekend retreat with some of my friends and one of the activities we planned was a hike in the Cascade Mountains of Washington. I wanted to make a treat for everyone so I made this Easy Trail Mix Recipe. It turned out this simple trail mix that I made came in pretty handy! We underestimated the distance of the hike and how cold it was in the eastern part of the mountains during winter and it took us a lot longer to make our way back to the trailhead. We ended up hiking in the dark and in freezing temperatures. Thankfully we didn’t end up lost in the mountains. None of us told any of our husbands where we were going exactly and no one had cell service. We all live on the west side of the Cascade Mountains where it’s not as cold during the winter and we didn’t plan very well.

I’m an experienced hiker and I’m an over-preparer so thank goodness we had some trail mix and phones with flashlights. Not my brightest hiking moment but the good news is, we made it back safe and everyone loved my trail mix!

You can use any type of nuts that you like to make this recipe, but my favorite place to get everything for this recipe is Trader Joe’s. They have a great selection of nuts and chocolate-covered treats that make this trail mix next level. Here are my favorites!

I prefer roasted and salted nuts but you can mix and match any type of nut, roasted, salted, unsalted, raw, or whatever you prefer, the items listed here are my favorites and create the best trail mix.

Chocolate Coconut Covered Almonds

Mini Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Roasted & Salted Pecan Halves

Raw California Walnut Halves & Pieces

Roasted & Salted Whole Cashews

Dry Toasted Pignolies – Pine Nuts

Dry Roasted & Salted Almonds

Pistachios Roasted and Salted

Roasted & Salted Pumpkin Seeds

Roasted & Salted Sunflower Seeds

You can also add peanuts or any other type of nut you like to. I typically double the recipe and it makes a very large amount. I store it in an airtight container and it makes the perfect snack any time of day and satisfies your salty and sweet cravings at the same time.

It’s also great with oatmeal for breakfast or you can add it to some yogurt. You can also leave it out on the counter in a pretty bowl for all the enjoy.

It’s also the perfect treat to share with your hiking friends.

You can put some of the trail mix into a clear treat bag and tie some ribbon around it as a sweet treat to give to your friends and neighbors. They will love you forever if you decide to share! This is also a great Christmas treat to share!

Easy Trail Mix Recipe

Print

Easy Trail Mix Recipe

This Trail Mix Recipe is super easy to make and has the perfect balance of Salty and Sweet!

Course Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword easy snack recipe, snacks, trail mix

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 2 8 oz bags Roasted & Salted Pecans (Whole or Halves)
• 1 12 oz tub Chocolate Coconut Almonds
• 1 12 oz tub Mini Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups
• 1 16 oz bag Raw Walnuts (Halves & Pieces if you prefer)
• 1 16 0z bag Roasted & Salted Cashews (Whole or Halves)
• 2 8 oz bags Dry Toasted Pignolies (Pine Nuts)
• 1 16 oz bag Roasted and Salted Almonds
• 1 16 oz bag Dry Roasted & Salted Pistachios
• 1 16 oz bag Roasted & Salted Pumpkin Seeds
• 1 16 oz bag Roasted & Salted or Unsalted Sunflower Seeds

Instructions

• In an extra large mixing bowl, add all the ingredients in any order.
  2 8 oz bags Roasted & Salted Pecans, 1 12 oz tub Chocolate Coconut Almonds, 1 12 oz tub Mini Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, 1 16 oz bag Raw Walnuts, 1 16 0z bag Roasted & Salted Cashews, 2 8 oz bags Dry Toasted Pignolies (Pine Nuts), 1 16 oz bag Roasted and Salted Almonds, 1 16 oz bag Dry Roasted & Salted Pistachios , 1 16 oz bag Roasted & Salted Pumpkin Seeds, 1 16 oz bag Roasted & Salted or Unsalted Sunflower Seeds
  
• Use a large spoon and gently stir everything together until everything is mixed together well.
  
• Store in an airtight container or you can package them individually for snacks or treats to give away.
  

Notes

I usually double the recipe and it makes a lot! If you store it in an airtight container, it will last for at least three months.

I prefer using Trader Joes products in this recipe but you can use any type of nut or chocolate covered treat. There really is no right or wrong. Trader Joes has a lot of yummy chocolate covered nuts and other goodies that you can mix in as well.

The amounts and types of each item I added is just a guesstimate. If you like more of one kind of nut or like more chocolate covered coconut almonds, feel free to change up the quantities. This is just how I make it and it seems to be a good balance of salty and sweet. I like pecans and pine nuts so I doubled that and my family loves the chocolate coconut almonds so I usually add more of those in. Everyone picks out the things they like first and the chocolate covered items usually go first!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you give this Easy Trail Mix Recipe a try! It’s so yummy and a somewhat healthy treat that covers all the salty and sweet bases! Enjoy!

Here are some of the sources for the metal bowl, milk glass pedestal dish, and napkins.

PIN THIS FOR LATER

The post Easy Trail Mix Recipe appeared first on Home With Holly J.

This post is sponsored by Walmart. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Disclaimer: This post does include affiliate links for your convenience. This is at NO additional cost to you but earns me a small commission. To read more, check out our disclosure policy.

Mello Holiday Jello Recipe

This Mello Jello Recipe is a tradition in our house for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner and New Years Eve. Mello Jello is super easy to make and is the perfect side dish or can be served for dessert.

It’s the perfect treat for any of your holiday gatherings or any time of year. It’s so yummy and tastes like a creamsicle. Mixing orange jello and lemon pudding is the secret to this jello recipe and then it’s topped with a lemony-whip cream and mandarin oranges.

This is not your grandma’s potluck Jello that has weird things in it!

This is the best jello recipe out there and once you start eating it, you can’t stop! This Mello Jello Recipe was given to us by my sister-in-law Cheryl and has been a family favorite ever since! 

With the holiday season upon us, I wanted to share this yummy Mello Jello recipe and some tips for making holiday cooking and baking easier. My go-to, especially this time of year for last-minute groceries is Walmart, and using my Walmart+ Membership. I’m able to have fresh, high-quality groceries delivered right to my door as well as any last-minute gifts and other items I need to get ready for our holiday celebrations.

With unlimited free delivery, the Walmart+ Membership can help make planning and prepping easier so that you can focus on spending quality time with your family and celebrating the holiday season. I love baking Christmas cookies and other treats the week leading up to Christmas and then delivering boxes of homemade goodies to my friends and neighbors. Walmart+ helps me so much by making shopping faster and easier!

Another benefit of the Walmart+ Membership is you can order all your gifts, home decor, and hosting and entertaining items at Walmart’s everyday low prices.

Visit Walmart+ to start your free trial. Unlimited free delivery from your store* – $35 order minimum. Restrictions apply.

Here are some of my favorite items to use for this recipe and for my holiday meal prep, cooking, and baking. Sources are linked below and at the bottom of the post.

Now, it’s time for the amazing Mello Holiday Jello Recipe:

Tip:

You can make the Mello Jello in a large 9×13 baking or casserole-type dish or if you want to get fancy, you can make them in individual dessert cups. I recycled these little glass ones from some store-bought desserts a few years ago. They work perfectly for Mello Jello shooters. I’ve linked some similar ones here:

Print

Mello Jello

This is the best jello recipe and is made with orange jello, lemon pudding, whipped cream, and mandarin oranges. This is not your grandma's potluck jello!

Course Dessert, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword dessert, dessert recipe, holiday recipes, jello, party recipe, Side Dish, summertime recipe

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 12

Ingredients

• 1 large box of orange flavored jello (Make jello as directed – the recipe calls for 4 cups of water)
• 1 large box of Jello Brand lemon cooked pudding (Make cooked pudding as directed: The recipe calls for 3 egg yolks, 3/4 cup sugar, and 3 cups water)
• 1 small box of Jello Brand instant lemon pudding
• 2 cups cool whip
• 1 cup milk
• 2 small cans of mandarin oranges, drained (or one large can)

Instructions

• Make 1 large box of orange flavored jello according to the directions and pour it into a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
  
• Next, make the 1 large box of Jello Brand lemon cooked pudding as directed with the sugar, egg yolks, and water. When it thickens let stand for about 2-3 minutes. Stir it a few times and then pour the lemon pudding into the prepared orange jello in a large bowl. Stir them together until well blended.
  
• Pour the pudding and jello mixture into a 9×13 baking dish or you can do individual servings in mini dessert dishes, shooter cups, or ramekins. Just fill your serving containers 3/4's of the way to the top with the jello/pudding mixuture leaving a little room at the top for the topping and orange.
  
• Put in the refrigerator and chill for at least 6 hours or until it sets up.
• Once the jello/pudding mixture has set up and is firm, take it out of the refrigerator. Then in a separate mixing bowl, mix together the 1 cup milk, 1 small box of Jello Brand instant lemon pudding, and 2 cups cool whip. Whisk or stir it together until everything is combined well and it's nice and creamy. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl to ensure it's all mixed well.
  
• Then, spread the Cool Whip mixture evenly on the top of the jello and then top with the 2 small cans of mandarin oranges, drained. If you don't like the oranges, you can leave them off. If you want to do them individually in dessert cups, put a dollop of topping onto each one or, you can use a piping bag or a ziplock bag to pipe the Cool Whip mixture on top. Add a mandarin orange to the top of each one.
  
• Chill until ready to serve.

Here’s the Ingredients:

Mixing the orange jello mixture with the cooked lemon pudding mixture.

Here’s where I made them individually. This takes a little more time but they look so cute served this way.

After the jello has set up and chilled, make the topping and spread evenly on top of the jello.

Then top with the mandarin oranges.

I hope you give this yummy Mello Jello Recipe a try! It’s so good!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

PIN THIS FOR LATER:

The post The Perfect, Most Delicious Mello Holiday Jello Recipe appeared first on Home With Holly J.

Rustic Homemade Bread Recipe

I’m excited to share this simple and easy, four-ingredient homemade rustic bread recipe. This recipe comes from one of my husband’s favorite patients. We call this recipe Jeff’s Bread. Every evening, Jeff mixes up two batches of this rustic homemade bread recipe and then lets it rise overnight. The next morning, he bakes it up and delivers two of these delicious loaves to wherever he goes that day. He always brings some into my husband’s office and he and his staff love this bread so much!

It’s simple to make and tastes so good! I asked Jeff if I could share his recipe and he said yes! I hope you love it as much as we do!

For these photos, I doubled the batch and baked it in a rectangular Dutch oven baker but I usually do it in a single batch and shape it into dough balls, as some of the other photos show. It can be baked in any type of Dutch oven but for the round loaves, I find that the 7-10 quart enameled Dutch ovens work the best.

Ingredients

I prefer to use a kitchen aid stand mixer.

I raise the dough in a parchment paper-lined bowl.

I use a damp dish towel to cover it. This keeps the dough from drying out.

Let rise for about 6-12 hours.

Heat up the oven with the pot inside and then place the dough into the pot, drizzle with olive oil and sea salt. Cover and bake as directed below.

Print

Rustic Homemade Bread Recipe

This four-ingredient bread is simple and easy to make. The hint of sea salt on top is what makes this bread so good!

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine American, French

Keyword baking, bread, bread recipe, easy bread recipe, french bread recipe, homemade bread

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Equipment

• Stand Mixer
• Cast Iron or Cast Iron Enameled Dutch Oven with Lid (7-10 quart is best)

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour (I use bread flour but any kind is fine)
• 2 tsp fine sea salt
• ½ tsp yeast
• 1⅓ cup water (does not need to be warm)

Instructions

• Add 3 cups flour, 2 tsp fine sea salt, and ½ tsp yeast into the bowl of a stand mixer or a bowl if you're making without a mixer.
• Stir in 1⅓ cup water gradually until the dough is just wet enough to stay together in a ball. Cover with a damp dish towel and let sit for a minimum of six hours or longer to a maximum of twelve hours.
• Place the cast iron pot and lid into the oven and preheat to 475°.
• Dust a clean countertop with flour, pour the dough ball onto the floured surface, and fold it into the center about four times, forming a round ball. Cover with a towel again while oven and pan continue to heat up to 475°.
• Once the oven is up to temperature, take the lid off and put the dough ball into the very hot cast iron pot. Sprinkle or brush with olive oil and sea salt and replace the lid onto the pot.
• Set a timer for twenty minutes to bake the bread, then remove the lid and bake for another ten minutes or so until golden brown.
• Remove bread carefully and let cool on a wire cooking rack.

PIN THIS FOR LATER:

The post Rustic Homemade Bread Recipe appeared first on Home With Holly J.

Disclaimer: This post does include affiliate links for your convenience. This is at NO additional cost to you but earns me a small commission. To read more, check out our disclosure policy.

Summertime Barbecue Recipes and Entertaining Ideas

One of my favorite things about summertime is having a family barbecue so today I’m sharing some of my favorite Summertime Barbecue Recipes and Entertaining Ideas for hosting your own backyard barbecue. Summertime is all about good food and good times with family and friends!

Planning the Menu

I have so many great recipes that are perfect for a summertime backyard barbecue and I’m sharing some of my favorites here. I like using the freshest, high-quality, organic ingredients when possible as I think that makes everything taste better! For this barbecue, I made my famous baby back ribs, baked beans, fresh peach pie with cream cheese filling, my caramel cream cheese fruit dip and fresh fruit, corn on the cob, chopped green salad with a lemon and olive oil vinaigrette, sugar cookies, and limeade for the drink.

On the morning of the barbecue, I went to my favorite store Fred Meyer to get everything I needed for the barbecue. I love Fred Meyer because it’s a one-stop shop. Not only can I get high-quality produce, meat, and organic ingredients, but I was able to get everything else I needed there too, including flowers!

I always like to have flowers on my table when I’m hosting a party or gathering and Fred Meyer has a great selection of flowers. On this particular visit to the store, the lady working in the floral department helped me find the perfect flowers for my summer table.

I also needed a new basting brush for the ribs and found the perfect one in the kitchen section of the store. Some of my favorite sets of dishes and entertaining items are also from Fred Meyer. I always find myself taking a stroll through the dish section! (See these posts for some of my Fred Meyer dish sets here and here)

I am a very busy person (aren’t we all!?) and hosting a gathering can be a little overwhelming so when I can get everything I need in one store, it’s a win-win!

The Private Selection brand is my favorite line of products in Fred Meyer and I use them all the time. They also have their in-house Kroger brand which is also high quality and affordable.

You can find almost everything you need in the Kroger brand family. Fred Meyer promises freshness and quality in all their products. Whether it’s meat or produce, Fred Meyer has everything you need for your summer grilling and entertaining.

Another thing that I really like is how Fred Meyer makes it so easy to shop. They offer easy pickup and delivery options for you to get all your groceries and supplies in one place. This makes hosting at home so much easier. Man oh man do I wish this had been an option when I had little kids!

I often order my groceries online and do the pickup option. I don’t even have to get out of my car! When it’s raining in Seattle, which it is often, this is the best thing ever!

Summertime Entertaining Ideas

When it’s really hot outside, I like to set up my serving table inside the house where it’s cool during the summer months. We don’t have a lot of shade in our backyard at our home in Utah and it gets quite warm in our backyard. When I do a barbecue at our home in Washington, we have a fully shaded backyard so it’s much easier to set up outdoors. Either way is great, so do whatever is best for your circumstances.

Even though many of our summer plans have been put on hold, we can still gather at home with those closest to us and enjoy the delicious food that is in season. Making home-cooked meals and gathering as a family is the perfect way to pass the time and make some great family memories.

As I mentioned above, I like to add flowers in matching vases onto the serving table and create different heights. In this photo here you can see that I used an old wooden crate riser to set the flowers and serving utensils higher on the table.

I like to use a decorative utensil caddy for the silverware, matching serving bowls and platters. Another fun way to serve the drinks is in a decorative drink dispenser. Get creative by adding a table runner or tablecloth to match.

For this set up I used a navy blue table runner down the middle of the table and went with all-white and blue serving dishes. The yellow sunflowers added a pop of color.

My Favorite Summertime Recipes – Pin These for Later

Best Barbecue Ribs Recipe

Fresh Peach Pie with Cream Cheese Filling Recipe

Cream Cheese Caramel Fruit Dip Recipe

Baked Beans Recipe

I hope you’ve enjoyed these summertime barbecue recipes and ideas for how to host a successful barbecue with your friends and family. Most importantly, it’s the good times we share over a delicious meal that matters and what we end up remembering. Start some of your own family traditions and get creative! There’s nothing more fun than gathering together and celebrating this great time of year.

XOXO,

To see more of the online ordering, pick up and other information, go to www.fredmeyer.com

Sources linked below:

*Similar sources linked for unavailable items.

https://evolutionhomedecor.com/products/copy-of-wooden-serving-trays-on-turned-legs-2-sizes-available

https://evolutionhomedecor.com/products/scalloped-tray-of-rustic-wood-with-iron-handles

https://evolutionhomedecor.com/products/acacia-wood-pedestal-w-fluted-glass-cloche

https://evolutionhomedecor.com/products/wood-serving-tray

https://evolutionhomedecor.com/products/vintage-blue-white-ceramic-vases-4-sizes?_pos=12&_sid=c9264eece&_ss=r&variant=48333471482145

https://evolutionhomedecor.com/products/sunflower-stem?_pos=2&_sid=827a118ec&_ss=r

https://evolutionhomedecor.com/products/large-28-yellow-sunflower?_pos=1&_sid=827a118ec&_ss=r

https://evolutionhomedecor.com/products/gypsophila-stem?_pos=1&_sid=5075821fa&_ss=r

The post Summertime Barbecue Recipes and Entertaining Ideas appeared first on Home With Holly J.

Caramel Cream Cheese Fruit Dip

This is the easiest fruit dip recipe ever!

This recipe is a favorite that came about by accident! Who doesn’t love when that happens?! One day I was hosting a baby shower and had bought all the fresh fruit for my favorite fruit dip which was made with cream cheese and marshmallow creme. I had all the fruit prepped and was ready to make my dip, however, when I went to my pantry to find the marshmallow creme, I discovered I did not have any! I hadn’t checked in the pantry to make sure I had some before I went to the store and I didn’t have time to go to the store again.

As I sat there and tried to figure out what I was going to do, I thought, what else goes good with cream cheese……something sweet always goes good with cream cheese right?! I quickly started looking around my pantry for something sweet to supplement my cream cheese. I saw my container of caramel apple dip and decided to throw it into the mixer with the cream cheese and BAM! My own version of fruit dip was born, and I now have the Easiest Fruit Dip Recipe!

Some of my best recipes have come from situations just like this! Whenever you’re cooking or baking and realize you’re missing an ingredient, brainstorm and find what might work as a replacement. You might end up with some interesting mixtures, but occasionally you’ll find a gem like this!

This fruit dip turned out amazing and everyone loved it! Most of the guests asked for seconds. That was ten or more years ago and it has been a hit ever since! I love how easy and delicious it is!

This dip is perfect for your summer BBQs and entertaining, you can simply buy whatever seasonal fruit is available and serve it on a platter with this dip, and your guests will all be impressed!

Print

Caramel Cream Cheese Fruit Dip

This is the easiest fruit dip recipe and it tastes amazing!

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword appetizer, baby back rib recipes, caramel, cream cheese, easy recipes, fruit dip, Side Dish, summer recipes

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 16 oz regular cream cheese (2 8oz packages) softened
• 1 container caramel apple fruit dip

Instructions

• In a stand mixer or a bowl using a hand mixer, add 16 oz regular cream cheese (2 8oz packages) and 1 container caramel apple fruit dip
  16 oz regular cream cheese (2 8oz packages), 1 container caramel apple fruit dip
• Mix cream cheese and caramel dip until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the mixer and mix for another minute or so. You don't want lumps of cream cheese. It should be smooth.
• Do not use a lower fat or lower sugar version of either ingredient or it won't turn out right.
• Serve with cut-up fresh fruit. My personal favorites are strawberries, apples, grapes, and bananas. To keep bananas and apples from turning brown, you can toss them in lemon juice.

Enjoy!

Holly

The post Caramel Cream Cheese Fruit Dip appeared first on Home With Holly J.

Disclaimer: This post does include affiliate links for your convenience. This is at NO additional cost to you but earns me a small commission. To read more, check out our disclosure policy.

The Best Braided French Bread Recipe

This is The Best Braided French Bread Recipe ever and it’s not only delicious, it looks a little fancier than a regular loaf of homemade bread. It’s much easier to make than it looks and it has six ingredients! You’ll wow everyone with this amazing recipe!

If you’ve been following along for a while you’ll probably know that there’s almost always a story behind most of my recipes. If you’re new here, welcome! I’ll try to keep it short so you can get to the good stuff–the recipe!

The Story Behind This Recipe

Many years ago we moved to Portland, Oregon, for my husband to attend dental school. We started attending a new church and were fortunate enough to be befriended by a wonderful family named the Myers. I became fast friends with Debra, the wife, and even though she was a little older than me, we had so much in common. I looked up to her as she had seven children, five boys and two girls! My two oldest boys were toddlers then and she always gave me great advice. She was also an amazing cook and I loved learning from her in the kitchen!

Debra’s braided French bread was legendary in our church circles! She taught a class one night at the women’s group meeting and we all learned to make this amazing bread. I promise this is easier than it looks! I’ve shared many photos and step-by-step instructions on how to pull this off below in the recipe section. Don’t worry if it’s not perfect! Mine are never the same exact size and shape. What really matters is how good this bread recipe tastes!

It’s the perfect recipe to deliver to the neighbors because it makes 3-4 loaves. I often double the recipe (as I did here in these photos) so I could have plenty to share. With my double batch, I usually end up with seven loaves but you can make them smaller or shape them into smaller braided rolls or small, round rolls. How you shape them is your choice, but the braided loaf has a bit of a WOW factor!

The Recipe: Debra’s Braided French Bread

Print

Debra’s Braided French Bread

The most delicious braided French bread is the best recipe! You'll want to make this bread recipe often!

Course Appetizer, Side Dish

Cuisine American, French

Keyword bread, bread recipe, breadrecipe, french bread, french bread recipe, homemade bread, rolls, rolls, bread, homemade, potato rolls, potato,

Prep Time 40 minutes minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes minutes

Equipment

• Stand Mixer with a dough hook or attachment (I use my bosch mixer for this recipe since I usually double it.) A kitchen aid mixer is what I use when I don't double it.
• Baking Sheet Pan
• Dough Scraper
• Flour sifter (optional)
• Flour sack towel or tea towel
• Squirt bottle filled with water

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp yeast
• 3 1/2 cups water
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup butter *can substitute oil if you don't have butter
• 4 tsp salt
• 8 cups flour
• non-stick cooking spray
• extra flour for rolling out the dough

Instructions

• In a large mixing bowl, stir 3 tbsp yeast into a warmed 3 1/2 cups water.
  
• Stir until yeast is dissolved. Let stand for a few minutes.
  
• When the yeast starts to froth on the top, dump it into a stand mixer. Then add 3/4 cup sugar, 1/3 cup butter (softened), and 4 tsp salt. Mix on low speed for about a minute or so.
  
• Start adding flour to the mixture 2 cups at a time. Allow it to mix in for about 20-30 seconds before adding the next 2 cups.
  
• After adding all 8 cups flour, you should have a soft, elastic dough. If the dough is super sticky, add another 1/2 cup-1 cup of flour. Let mix for a few minutes until all the flour is worked in.
  
• Spray a large bowl with a non-stick cooking spray and place the dough in the bowl.
  
• Cover the bowl with a damp towel. I run hot water on a clean flour sack towel to get it wet. You can use any tea or dish towel, just make sure it's clean and not a heavy towel. You don't want the top of the dough to dry out.
  
• Place the bowl of dough covered with the damp towel in a warm place. I use the proofing setting on my oven or the proofing mode on my bread warming drawer to speed it up. You can turn on your oven for a few minutes to get it warm, then turn it off and set it inside the oven. Be careful to not get it over 100 degrees or so. You want it warm, not hot.
  
• Let the dough rise until double in size. If the towel sticks to the top of the dough, gently remove the towel. You can always remove the towel towards the end and use the squirt bottle with water to keep the top of the dough moist. You don't want it to dry out.
  
• Sprinkle some flour onto a clean surface. I use a flour sifter to sprinkle the flour out more evenly.
  
• Dump the dough onto the floured surface.
  
• Try to get the dough into somewhat of a misshapen rectangular shape.
  
• Then start pulling and stretching sections from the side, and pull it over on top of the dough towards the middle, and press lightly down.
  
• This helps give the dough a more uniform look.
  
• When you've got it looking more uniform in shape, turn it over onto the flat, smooth side.
  
• Pat the ends to make it more flat and a long rectangle. This doesn't have to be perfect, just get it as close to this shape as you can.
  
• I do this process to make it easier to cut equal amounts of dough for each of the sections you are going to braid. I make little lines on the top of the dough with my dough scraper to section it into 9 or 12 sections. If you want 4 smaller loaves, do 12 sections. If you want 3 larger loaves, do 9 sections.
  
• Use the squirt bottle with water to lightly mist the top of the dough every so often so that it doesn't dry out while you're sectioning and braiding. I also keep the dough covered with a damp tea towel to keep it from drying out.
  
• Cut 3 sections at a time, then cover up the dough while you braid each loaf. Use your hands to stretch and roll each piece into about a 10"-12" piece.
  
• Pinch the three pieces together with the middle piece on top.
  
• Tuck the three pieces under themselves. You may need to hold them down with one hand while you start the braid with the other.
  
• You can tuck the end under more once the whole loaf has been braided so don't worry if it's not perfect.
  
• Take the right section over the middle section to start the braid.
  
• Then take the left section and continue the braid.
  
• The dough will keep stretching and getting longer as you braid.
  
• Keep the braid going and don't worry if it's not perfect. The dough will rise and hide all your imperfections.
  
• When you get to the end, pinch the 3 pieces of dough together and tuck under. Check the end you began with and make sure it's tucked under too. Get your baking sheets out (you'll need two) and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
  
• Now that the braid is done, use your dough scraper and your hand and gently lift the dough and set it on the baking sheet.
  
• You can get two braids on a standard baking sheet pan. I alternate the braided loaves so that they are opposite to each other. Cover with the damp towel again and let rise another 20-30 minutes.
  
• Bake for 15-20 minutes depending on your oven. When the top is dark golden brown, it's done.
  
• Remove from the oven and brush the tops with butter.
  
• Variations: Brush the dough with an egg wash or milk and sprinkle with sesame seeds or poppy seeds before baking.

  You can make it into individual French rolls, small braided rolls, or just round-shaped rolls.

You’re going to love this recipe! I promise! Each time I make it, I get a little better at shaping the dough. If it’s not perfect, just remember that when the braids start to rise again, then bake, they get a lot bigger and fill in any spots that didn’t look as good when it was in the shaping stage.

I took some of these loaves to each of my neighbors this past week. They were all so grateful and wanted the recipe! I hope you love Debra’s braided French bread as much as we do. The best part about this recipe is that whenever I make it, I think about my sweet friend and all the fun times we had together in Portland. We both moved away from Oregon many years ago but we still stay in touch and she graciously allowed me to share this special recipe with you all!

You may also like my Homemade Rolls Recipe!  Click here!

For the Bosch Stand Mixer click here.

Enjoy!

xoxo,

Shop The Post:

Pin This Post for Later

The post The Best Braided French Bread Recipe appeared first on Home With Holly J.