Slow Cooker Vegetable Beef Barley Soup

The groundhog can't count.  It has been 8 weeks since groundhog day and we are still feeling like winter.  We are not use to that here in the south.  Well, since the never ending winter is still upon us even if the calendar already says spring I made this easy soup for dinner this week.  The only thing different I would do is have some nice crusty bread to go with it.

Lots of good stuff in this soup.

Put a little olive oil in a skillet and heat it up.

Put your stew meat in the skillet.

While that is browning, add 10 cups low sodium beef broth.  That is 2 of the big cartons and 1 can.

Add the meat to the broth.

Chop up 3 stalks of celery.  Use the leaves too they add great flavor.

Slice 3 carrots

4 potatoes peeled and cubed

1/2 cup uncooked pearl barley

1 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary

1 1/2 teaspoon oregano

1 1/2 teaspoon thyme

Salt and pepper to taste. I forgot to get a picture of the 1 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley.  Cover and let cook for 6-8 hours.

About 30 minutes before you are ready to eat add 1 cup frozen peas.

Stir well and recover.

Then enjoy.

Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup Recipe

1 Tablespoon olive oil

beef stew meat

10 cups low sodium beef broth

3 large carrots sliced

3 stalks celery chopped

4 potatoes peeled and cubed

1 cup frozen peas

12 cup uncooked pearl barley

1 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary

1 1/2 teaspoon oregano

1 1/2 teaspoon thyme

1 1/2 teaspoon parsley

salt and pepper

Oven Baked Parmesan Potato Wedges

Seasoned potato wedges are very popular now.  I found this recipe that was super easy and delicious.

You probably have these ingredients in your pantry right now.  Give these potatoes a try.

Start with 4 russet potatoes.  Cut them into wedges.

Put them in a bowl and soak in water.

Add about 2 cups of ice to the water and let them soak for about 30 minutes.

While the potatoes are soaking mix up the coating.  Start with a zip lock bag and put 1/4 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt.

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Shake it well.

In a bowl place 1/4 cup parmesan cheese

The recipe calls for 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley but since it still feels like winter I used only 1 Tablespoon of dried parsley.

Mix that well.

Dry off the potato wedges.

Place in the bag with the seasoning and shake well.

It doesn't seem like much seasoning but they get coated well.

Now add 1/4 cup olive oil to the bag.

And shake it well.

Then lay the potato wedges out on a parchment lined cookie sheet.  Place in a preheated 450 oven and bake for 30-35 minutes.

Fresh from the oven.

Now toss them with the cheese mixture.

Toss well so they are coated.

Now they are ready to eat.

They were very good.

Oven Baked Parmesan Potato Wedges Recipe

4 russet potatoes

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

2 Tablespoon fresh parsley leaves

1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 450 bake for 30-35 minutes.

Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole

I have been very surprised at all the different recipes I have found that uses Sloppy Joe mix.  This one was very good and is very quick and easy to make.

I wish I had had the small flat round tatter tots.

Chop an onion.  The recipe calls for chopped red bell pepper also but I didn't have one.

Look what I found on my canned corn. Be sure and look on your cans too.

Brown the ground beef and onions. Drain well.

Cut off 2 oz of cream cheese

Drain the can of corn and then add to the meat.

Add the Sloppy Joe mix.

2 oz of cream cheese

Mix well.  Let the cream cheese melt

Pour into a greased 9x13 pan.

Top with some grated cheese.

Completely covered in cheese.

Add the tater tots on top.  Spread them out.

Sprinkle the top of the tots with cheese.

Completely cover with cheese. Place in a preheated 450 oven.  Bake for 20 minutes.

Nice and hot and bubbly from the oven.

Dig in.

Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Casserole Recipe

1 lb ground beef.

1 red bell pepper diced

1 small sweet onion diced

1 can corn drained

1 can Manwich Sloppy Joe sauce

2 oz cream cheese

8 oz cheddar cheese grated

16 oz tater tots

Preheat the oven 450.  Bake for 20 minutes.