Instant Pot Bacon Cheeseburger Soup

I made a DELICIOUS bacon cheeseburger soup in my instant pot the other night. I like to keep an online recipe catalog because I always lose my paper copies. I modified the original recipe to be dairy free so I'm going to re-write it here.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 c. ground beef
2 c. chopped carrots
3-4 c. cubed potatoes (I use the Japanese white sweet potatoes to keep it Paleo)
5-6 c. beef broth
1-2 c. chopped onion
2 tsp. parsley (I left this off the first time and it tasted fine)
1 tsp. salt or to taste
6-8 strips cooked bacon, chopped
1 c. canned coconut milk

Directions:

1. Brown ground beef with onion. Add in bacon pieces with meat and onion to save time.
2. Add all other ingredients besides coconut milk
3. Cook 15 min. on soup setting, quick release
4. Top with pieces of bacon and green onions if desired

Soft Sugar Cookies....sooooo yummy!

Soft Sugar Cookies

1 C. butter                                                       
1 C. sugar                                                                       

2 eggs, beaten                                                 
2 ¼ tsp cream of tartar

2 ½ C. flour                                                            
1 tsp. lemon extract            
1 tsp. baking soda                                                
pinch of salt

            Cream butter, gradually add sugar.  Add beaten eggs and extract, mixing well.  Add flour, gradually with cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. 

            Roll into desired thickness on floured board and cut with cookie cutter.

            Bake 10-12 min. @ 350 degrees. 

                        *Sometimes it is helpful to refrigerate dough before rolling out, as it                                     can be quite sticky                                                                                                           

Peanut Butter Banana Pie

2 bananas
3/4 c. powdered sugar
3/4 c. chunky peanut butter
whipped cream
vanilla instant pudding mix
Graham cracker crust

Blend peanut butter and powdered sugar. Slice bananas and line bottom of pie. Top with most of the pb/sugar mixture. Mix pudding according to package directions, let set and pour over pie. Top with whipped cream and sprinkle remaining pb mixture over the top.

Strawberry Pie

1 qt strawberries
1 pckg. (3 oz) cream cheese
baked pastry shell - 9 inch
1 1/4 c. granulated sugar
3 T. cornstarch
1 T. lemon juice
1/2 c. heavy cream
1 T. confectioners sugar

Spread cream cheese over bottom of cooked pie shell. Stand 1/2 the whole strawberries in shell with tips up. Mash remaining and press through a strainer to remove seeds. Measure the juice and if necessary add water to make 1 1/2 c. liquid.

In a saucepan, stir sugar with cornstarch, strawberry juice mixture, and lemon juice. Cook over med. heat, stirring constantly until thick and clear, about 5-7 minute.s Cool for 10 minutes then pour over strawberries in shell.  Chill for 3 hours or until firm. Beat cream with confectioner's sugar until mixture holds its shape. Spoon over edges of pie.

Smashed Potatoes with Sour Cream and Chives

1 1/4 lbs. yukon gold potatoes (about 4 med.) unpeeled and cut into 1" pieces
1/4 c. low sodium chicken broth, warmed
1/4 c. reduced-fat sour cream
1 1/2 T. chopped fresh chives
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Place the potatoes in a steamer basket fitted over a large pot of boiling water. Cover and steam until the potatoes are knife-tender, 12-15 min.

Drain the potatoes and return them to their pot. Add the warm broth and coarsely mash. Stir in the sour cream and chives, season with salt and pper and serve.

Fudgy Brownies

1/2 c. butter
3 oz unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 c all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. chopped almonds or pecans (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350. In a medium saucepan melt butter and unsweetend chocolate over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; cool.

2. Grease an 8x8x2" or 9x9x2" baking pan; set aside. Stir sugar into cooled chocolate mixture in saucepan. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating with a wooden spoon just until combined. Stir in the vanilla.

3. In a small mixing bowl stir together the flour and baking soda. Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture; stir just until combined. If desired, stir in nutes. Spread the batter into prepared pan.

4. Bake for 30 min. for 8" or 25 minutes for 9". Cool in pan on a wire rack.

Walnut Fudge Brownies (for 2)

Preaheat oven to 350. Makes 6 brownies.

1/2 c. granulated sugar
1/4 c. butter, cut up
3 T. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 c. chopped walnuts
1 recipe, cocoa glaze (optional)

1. Line a 9x5x3" loaf pan with foil, extending foil over ends. Grease foil; set pan aside. In a small saucepan stir together sugar, butter, and cocoa. Cook and stir over med. heat until butter is melted. Remove from heat; cool for 5 minutes.

2. Add egg and vanilla to cocoa mixture. Using a wooden spoon, beat lightly just unti lcombined. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in walnuts. Spread the batter in the prepared loaf pan.

3. Bake in a 350 oven for 12 to 15 min. or until a toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean. Using the ends of foil, lift brownies out of pan. If desired, frost with cocoa glaze. Cut into triangles.

Cocoa Glaze:

In a small bowl combine 1/2 c sifted powdered sugar, 1 T. unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 T. softened butter, and 1/4 tsp. vanilla. Beat in enough hot water (2 to 4 tsp) to make a glaze of spreading consistency.