Pinterest Win: Creamy Chicken Soup!

As you all know, I love soup. Like crazy love soup. It could be 110 degrees in Houston, with 100% humidity and I still want soup. Not that cold soup crap, but yummy warm soup. {Remind me one day to tell you about the one and only time I tried gazpacho, or how I like to refer to it: salsa.} 

I decided to act like I was in my twenties again on Sunday night, and today was definitely a much needed recovery day. There are few things more comforting to me than soup. I knew I had to have it today. I perused my 'Soups' Pinterest Board and found this enticing pin. This is my first cream soup to make, so I was a bit nervous. But, more importantly I was hungry. Very hungry... not quite hangry, but I could see that development. It was on the horizon.

The blog that the recipe is featured on is called The Cookie Rookie. This young woman, Becky, who writes the blog says that she loves to cook and enjoys easy recipes. I am thinking Becky and I could be friends. We seem to like the same things. It's a great blog, you should definitely check it out. Also, check out her picture of the soup.

Photo from http://www.thecookierookie.com

Looks good, huh? The recipe seems a bit overwhelming but it actually was really easy. I used Half & Half instead of heavy cream or regular milk. I had almond milk in the fridge but wasn't in the mood to experiment too much. I mean, I was hungry and I needed to be able to eat what I make. Ya know? I got priorities...

 

The flavor of this soup is amazing! I had two bowls. Yup, fatty had two bowls. I would have had three but I got full. That is right kids, Momma is no longer hungry. You can imagine me doing the Happy Lee dance. It's a fun dance. You should try it. Though, it might not be called the Happy "Lee" dance when you do it. Anyway, I digress...

 

This recipe literally makes about 10-12 servings. I have so much to eat all week, and probably another week or two after that. I am a big fan of leftovers, so this recipe works well for me. If you are cooking this for a family then you'll obviously not have as much leftovers as me. Seeing as I made the soup for one, this girl is going to be eating soup for a while. Again, cue the Happy Lee dance. Check out my version of the soup (as usual, not professionally taken...)

 

 

 Now get off the internet and go make yourself some soup!

Mmmmmm...

Pinterest Win???? Lemon Butter Chicken Breasts

We just got back from a fun trip to Lafayette and Avery Island (Louisiana), where we ate like a King & Queen. I hella ate, so figured we needed something easy to make and a little lighter for dinner. (Basically, no gumbo, jambalaya, etouffee, beignets, etc.)

I found a recipe a couple weeks ago on Pinterest that I really wanted to try. Figured tonight is the best night to do it. We stopped by the store to get fresh ingredients because I've watch too much Food Network and Cooking Channel, so I prefer the fresher ingredients rather than the pre-packaged.

These Lemon Butter Chicken Breasts can be found on my Hungry Hungry Hippo Pinterest board. The pin will link you to a Better Homes & Garden recipe. The picture looks fantastic, and yes - I am aware that BHG has people (probably paid well) to stage & take these pictures. But, still... YUM!

Photo from http://www.bhg.com

This was really an easy and quick recipe. The fresh ingredients really did help. John said he would eat it again. So, I can totally see you sitting there wondering why this was a questionable Win. Well... I failed to give the second part of John's comment. Of course there was a second part!

I wish you could have been there when John took his first bite. I was plating my dinner and looked up as he did it. I was torn... cry at another failure or laugh at his expression. It looked like he might choke if he had to swallow it.

I asked him what was wrong, and then he laughed and said that he needs to quit teasing me because I take him so seriously. Don't worry ladies, I didn't fall for it. And, men, we aren't stupid. Geesh!

I sit down next to John (we ate on the couch to watch the Bar Rescue marathon). I took my first bite, and coincidentally made the same face John did. Once I swallowed it, the taste wasn't too bad. It was actually good. Makes you wonder what was wrong with it, huh?

First, let me tell you some of the "enhancements" I made to the recipe. I added two cloves of freshly minced garlic. Totally a good idea. I also added some lemon zest to the flour. Not sure, but thinking that was the problem.

Overall, this was a good dinner. John is traveling this week, so I am eating the leftovers and I want to. I will be happy doing it. I swear!

Ok, fine... I'll get to the point (aka the problem). The lemon flavor tasted bitter. It's weird. It wasn't too lemony, but it was a bittery lemon. I can't pinpoint what went wrong, but think it is the lemon zest. Maybe I should not have put it in the flour? I don't know. If you have any ideas, let me know.

I'm definitely making it again. But might just do the one enhancement: fresh garlic. Recipes that don't ask for garlic confuse me. Not trifle, cheesecake or a garden salad... but any entrée. We need garlic in our lives. Garlic is a godsend.

I'm sorry, I totally digressed here with the garlic. Basically, this dish is good. I'd make it again and John said he wants me to. It even looked really good (proof below), I just need to figure out why it's so bitter?

You can check out the recipe here: http://www.bhg.com/recipe/poultry/lemon-butter-chicken-breasts/

Ok, bitter detectives... help me figure this out!