image from cooking-questions.com
Is a simple recipe for Roast Chicken the key to an engagement? According to Glamour magazine it is … More here. The magazine editors had an experience whereby the sharing of a favorite recipe prompted one woman’s boyfriend to propose – it was that good. The magazine has since put together a cookbook to help women navigate their kitchen — called “100 Recipes Every Woman Should Know” (available through Hyperion). In addition to Engagement Chicken, the book covers breakfast (“He Stayed Over Omelette”), entrees (“Let’s Make a Baby Pasta”) and drinks (“Forget the Mistake You Made at Work Margarita”), all tried-and-true recipes perfected by the team at Glamour.
I have to admit that the chicken recipe does look delicious and I will definitely give it a try.
This prompted me to think about the following: which one of my signature dishes hooked the hubbs?
Answer: My made-from-scratch baked potato soup. I didn’t know it at the time, but well after we were married he admitted that watching me whip up soup from scratch put him at ease in my little apartment kitchen. He confided that witnessing this meant I was someone he – and his stomach – could relate to. What he didn’t know is that I had little money and that this soup is not just super easy to make but cost-effective, too!
Here’s the recipe that still elicits “mmmms” of delight to this day:
MJ’s Baked Potato Soup
- 4 large potatoes, peeled and cut into bite sized pieces
- 2 stalks of celery, chopped
- 1 small onion, quartered
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into bite sized pieces (or about 10 baby carrots, chopped)
- 1 14 oz can of chicken broth (I use low sodium)
- 3 tablespoons of butter
- 3 tablespoons of flour
- 3 cups milk (any kind but skim)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar
- Bacon bits & extra cheese for topping
In a large saucepan, steam all vegetables on high steam for about 8 -10 min (they will still be slightly crunchy). Set aside.
While veggies are steaming, cook up your cream base: in a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in the flour, stirring constantly, until the mixture is smooth (it will be thick) and bubbling. Slowly pour in the chicken broth; continue to stir. Next, add the milk, keep stirring and bring mixture to a gentle boil; it will thicken as it cooks. Once the desired consistency, turn heat to low and stir in cheese until melted. Drain steamed vegetables and gently fold them into the cream sauce. Season with Mrs. Dash® regular or Mrs. Dash® onion seasonings and a pinch of garlic powder (not salt).
Ladle into soup bowls and top with bacon bits & a bit of shredded cheddar. This is his favorite Saturday soup served with an oven roasted chicken sandwich.
How about you? Do you have a signature dish that defined your relationship?
That sounds so amazing! I’ll definitely try your recipe. Thanks MJ 🙂
It’s easy and delicious, Jaclyn Rae. It’s a great recipe to have on hand for a rainy, cool spring day .. like today! My other tip is to test the veggie with a fork – if you like them more well done, cook longer. We like them with a teeny bit of crunch still there. Also – you can add corn, chopped broccoli etc. It’s all good. Thanks for visiting & let me know how your soup turns out, MJ
I don’t think we have a signature dish, although we definitely enjoyed eating together when we were both significantly fatter! LOL Your soup recipe looks amazing.
I love to cook and he loves to eat … it’s a great fit for us. This dish can be made healthier by using less butter and lower fat (not skim) milk. But – I will admit – it’s not as good that way. You can cut the butter in 1/2 and still get great taste but the soup won’t be as thick. And no, margarine just does not work the same. I’d rather have a little butter than a lot of margarine – that’s just me though!! Cheers! MJ
Hmmm…well, if the food is really great, maybe! I didn’t know how to cook when we got engaged, or when we got married…acquired a few skills along the way and with much studying of cookbooks! But alas, it was not a skill that came with me at the beginning!
We have had dishes that were meaningful to us through the years: favorite desserts for birthdays or “You are special” days. But we don’t have one dish that is signature to the relationship. I think our favorite food ritual is sharing morning coffee in the quiet early hours, or late afternoon/early evening appetizers and wine. These times seem to slow us down and help us connect at a different level.
Thanks for sharing the soup recipe. Looks amazing. Fun post!
Sheila
Hi Sheila .. like you, we’ve done the favorite desserts for birthdays or special holiday dishes but I had forgotten the significance of that soup; in talking with the hubbs about this post, he emphatically stated, “I’m a soup guy; the fact that you could make soup like that was a big deal to me.”
Fun post & fun responses; thank you for weighing in. P.S. the soup makes enough for about 4-5 servings. Cheers! MJ
My beloved was talking to a friend about our relationship and how happy he is right now. He ended with, “She bakes me pies.” His friend shot back, “Why haven’t you married her yet?!”
“She bakes me pies.” It doesn’t get better than that. His friend is right! 🙂 Cheers, MJ
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