So, if you are like me, you are in the thick-of-it-all…the sewing/knitting/painting of gifts; the baking of cookies (and more cookies); the caroling and school concerts; the shopping (online AND out in the stores); and the wrapping of all these treasures you have shopped for and made with love! But supper is still expected (I KNOW, right?) on our tables each evening by our loved ones. Most of us really don’t want to be going through the drive-thru and bringing home ‘less than the best’ to feed our families. However, time escapes us some days and we have not prepared for suppertime!
One great solution to this dilemma is to put together a yummy CrockPot meal early in the day. At this time of year, my CrockPot remains out on the counter…handy and ready to be filled with yummy goodness. However, I find that many recipes designed for the CrockPot call for a can of condensed soup of one variety or another. And that creates a problem in our household: 1) canned condensed soup contains wheat (we eat gluten free, remember), and 2) there is just too much sodium (and a few other not-so-good-for-you ingredients) in a can of condensed soup. Below is a recipe for a mix you can put together and keep in your pantry (OR gift to someone else in a cute little jar with a label giving directions). Here, too, is a link to a great resource for quite a few ways to use this ‘Cream of Just About Anything’ soup and sauce mix. Enjoy!
Ingredients: 
3 cups nonfat instant dry milk
1 cup cornstarch
1/3 cup chicken bouillon granules
2 tablespoons dried minced onion
1 teaspoon dried thyme
Directions:
- Mix all the above ingredients in a large bowl with a whisk.
- Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place.
On our menu for this week are two recipes using the CrockPot and a portion of this healthy but oh-so-yummy ‘cream of just about anything’ soup. One will be Chicken and Mushrooms in Wine Sauce and the other will be Beef Stroganoff. How about you? Are you already planning on utilizing your CrockPot to save you time but still feed your loved ones a yummy, healthy, satisfying meal? Please share with us about what’s on your menu this week in the comments below!
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
God loves you! ♥ (Don’t ever forget that!)
♥ coleen
