Creamy Cheeseburger Soup

If you make nothing else this year from all my recipes, you have to 

make this soup.  It is my all-time favorite of the soups I make and 

I could live off this stuff.  It is so rich and hearty and absolutely 

delicious.   This is a keeper my friends.

Creamy Cheeseburger Soup

1 pound ground chuck
1 teaspoon seasoned salt

5 tablespoons butter, divided

1 (15-ounce) can corn, drained

1 onion, diced

1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes

3 cloves garlic, minced

4 cups chicken stock

4 potatoes, peeled and diced into bite sized chunks

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

2 cups whole milk

8 ounces sharp cheddar, diced into small cubes or shredded

In a large stock pot, brown the ground beef over medium heat until 

cooked through. Drain the fat, stir in the seasoned salt to coat the 

beef, and set the beef aside.

Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the bottom of the stock pot set over 

medium heat. Once melted, add the onions and cook for 5 minutes 

or until translucent. Stir in the garlic and parsley and cook 1 more 

minute. Add the corn, potatoes, cooked ground beef, and chicken 

stock to the pan.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low, and cover. Cook for 10-15 

minutes or until the potatoes are tender.

In a small saucepan, melt the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter. 

Whisk in the flour and cook for 2 minutes, whisking constantly. 

Whisk in the milk and cook until thickened to consistency of a thin 

gravy. Add the flour mixture to the pot of soup, along with the 

cheddar. 

Stir to combine and continue cooking over medium-low heat until 

the cheese has melted and the soup has thickened, stirring 

occasionally.

Serve with croutons or extra shredded cheese or both!

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Cherry Topped Brownie Bites with Cream Cheese Frosting

I love these little brownie bites because you can change them to just about anything you can think of. Sometimes I sneak a Rolo Candy in the center and then frost them with caramel icing. I've also put a Kraft caramel candy or a miniature peanut butter cup in the center.  But no matter what you fill them with, make sure you put that special sweet cherry on top!   

Cherry Topped Brownie Bites with Cream Cheese Frosting

1 box Ghirardelli fudge style brownie mix, plus whatever ingredients are called for on the box.
4 tablespoons butter, softened at room temperature
4 oz. cream cheese, softened at room temperature
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 Star Fine Foods Dessert Cherries for topping

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.

Prepare brownies according to package directions. Grease a 24 cup mini muffin tin with cooking spray and fill each cup 3/4 full with batter.  Bake for 15-20 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool for a couple of minutes then carefully remove the brownie bites from the pan to a cooking rack. Allow to cool completely.

To make the frosting, whip the butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add the confectioners sugar and whip until creamy. Add frosting to piping bag or a plastic bag with the corner snipped out and squeeze a dab of frosting on each brownie.

Need a mini cupcake or brownie pan? I got mine at Amazon for a great price. Click on the link below to see the one I use: 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00091PNE8/ref=as_li_ss_sm_fb_us_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=213733&creative=399837&creativeASIN=B00091PNE8&linkCode=shr&tag=welchome08-20&qid=1392256683&sr=8-2&keywords=mini+cupcake+pan

Photography is copyrighted and the property of ©Welcome Home.