Dinner last night

Ok, so I admit, I had planned on making a crock pot lasagna, and had pulled the meat out the thaw the night before, but it was still mostly frozen, and I kept forgetting to put it in the crock pot (it only takes 5 hours to cook, so I could put it in as late as noon). So I just made something up last night. I had meant to make a big pot of brown rice anyways (I'm trying to get more whole grains into our diet--I mean we already eat a lot--but rice is so easy and goes with everything), because it freezes so well. And, it takes so LONG to cook (brown rice takes 45-60 minutes!). So I boiled 4 cups chicken stock and 1 cup of water (usually I use all stock, but didn't want to open another can for only half of it) and a pinch of salt, and then added 2 cups of brown rice and let it cook for 50 minutes. It made a LOT. We ate it under the following recipe....probably a cups worth between Eric, Cara and I. Then I froze a 2 cup portion for the future, and left about 3 cups worth in the fridge for meals this week. I like to heat up a tortilla with some cheese, rice and veggies or leftover chicken for lunches, so now I have it readily available.

For the 'main' course (although it has no meat in it--some of my friends husbands just won't go for meatless dinners, but I've gotten Eric to eat them once or twice a week--sometimes--as long as it's hearty like tonights was) (oh, and he doesn't have to cook them) I made Cheesy Potato soup. I got the recipe off someone's blog...man I wish I had that link still. Here's the recipe:
Cheesy Potato Soup
· 5 cups diced potatoes (I used about 4 cups--4 small red potatoes)
· water (to cover veggies)
· 3/4 cup diced celery -I didn't measure this or the carrots..just diced some up
· 3/4 cup diced carrots
· 1/2 chopped medium onion
· 1 t. parsley flakes -- again, didn't mean, sure dumped some in
· salt and pepper to taste
· 1 can cream of chicken soup
· 3 (or more if you like it thinner) cups milk -- I didn't measure this, I KNOW I didn't use 3 cups because we were almost out
· 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese -- or any cheese will do, we used Mild cheddar
Cook potatoes, water, celery, carrots, onion, salt and pepper until done (I let mine cook long because I got on the phone and forgot about them! probably abou 25-30 minutes). Drain off water. Add chicken soup, milk and cheese. Cook until cheese is melted.
Optional: (and by optional, I mean you really should try one or more of these!) garlic, ham or bacon may be added.

So we spooned some rice in a bowl, added the soup and ATE IT UP! It was so yummy!