Oatmeal Soup

1/2 cup minced celery
2-1/4 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup rolled oats

In a medium saucepan, bring milk to a boil. Add celery and salt; boil for 1 minute. Stir in oats, simmer for at least 5 minutes, or until thick. Serve hot. 2 servings.

Note: I know this is a weird recipe, but if you are sick, it's a nice hot breakfast to eat that doesn't bother a sore throat.

Roasted Squash and Fennel Soup

• 3 to 4 cups chicken stock or broth
• 4 or 5 medium summer squash
• 1 big red onion
• 1 medium fennel bulb
• Olive oil
• Red pepper flakes
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Cut the squash, fennel and onions in quarters, all vegetables will shrink while baking; so don’t cut them too small.

Place all the cut vegetables in a single layer on a sheet pan. Drizzle them with olive oil, salt, and pepper, red pepper flakes if you like a bit spicy. Toss well. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until all the vegetables are tender, turning once with a metal spatula.

In a large pan, heat 3 cups of chicken or vegetable stock. Coarsely puree the roasted vegetables and the stock using a handheld blender, season to taste. The soup should be thick but not like a vegetable puree, so add more chicken stock and/or water until it’s the consistency you like. Serve with a dollop of cream or yogurt, if you'd like.

*Found here.

Sweet Potato and Bacon Biscuits

• 2 cups flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces (or use 1 stick salted butter and leave out the above mentioned salt)
• 1 cup mashed cooked sweet potatoes, cooled
• 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
• 5 slices cooked bacon, drained and crumbled (or real bacon bits)
• 3/4 to 1 cup buttermilk

Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly grease a large baking sheet and set aside (or use parchment paper).

In a bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the butter and work in with a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

In a bowl, whip the sweet potatoes with the brown sugar until very smooth. Add to the flour mixture and mix in lightly but thoroughly with your fingers. Add 3/4 cup of the buttermilk and the bacon and gently work to make a smooth dough, slightly sticky, being careful not to overwork and adding more liquid as needed 1 teaspoon at a time.

Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and pat out into a large rectangle about 1/2-inch thick. Cut into 10 large biscuits and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until golden brown and risen, 15 to 18 minutes.

Remove from the oven and serve hot with butter.

*Found here.

Gramma Gailey's Roast Seasoning

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon marjoram

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Combine and sprinkle over meat

Gramma Gailey's Apple Impromptu - serves 6

4 cups apples, sliced and peeled

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Put apples in a well greased 9-inch pie plate. Combine 1/4 cup sugar with 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle over apples. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

In separate bowl:

Cream:

1 Tablespoon soft butter

1/2 cup sugar

Blend in:

1 slightly beaten egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

Blend in:

1/2 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Spread this dough over cooked apples. Bake for 20-25 minutes, uncovered.

Serve warm or cold, plain or with whipped cream or ice cream.

Banana Pancakes

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (or applesauce)
2 ripe bananas, mashed

Combine flour, white sugar, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together egg, milk, vegetable oil (or applesauce) and bananas.

Stir flour mixture into banana mixture; batter will be slightly lumpy.

Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Cook until pancakes are golden brown on both sides; serve hot.

Our take: delicious!! We ate way more pancakes than normal. I had them plain and the husband had half the amount of syrup (buttermilk), plus topped that with a plain one. These so, so, so hit the spot!

Note: Reviews suggested adding 1/2 teaspoon vanilla but we did not add it. They also suggest having the pancakes with syrup, peanut butter or jam.

Hearty Split Pea Soup

16 ounces dried split peas
2 cups diced fully cooked lean ham
1 cup diced carrots
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 bay leaves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
6 cups chicken broth, heated
1 cup boiling water
1 cup hot milk

Directions

    In a slow cooker, layer the first nine ingredients in order listed (do not stir). Cover and cook on high for 4-5 hours or until vegetables are tender. Stir in milk. Discard bay leaves before serving.

(modified from Deanna Waggy via allrecipes.com)