Author Archives: The Jewish Lady

Deluxe Potato Soup

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What do you do on a chilly, rain day with 10-lbs of potatoes in the kitchen? Make potato soup, of course! I have tried both meat and dairy recipes for this soup and I find that a creamy, dairy soup is better than one made with chicken broth (for me, anyway). My version is thick and rich—more like a chowder—which is why I call it deluxe.

A blender is used, but don’t let that scare you. If you don’t want to use one, a hand masher works, too. I do think it’s worth the extra step because the soup comes out so well. Totally up to you!

To make Deluxe Potato Soup, you will need:

3 cups water
1 cup onion, finely minced
4 cups potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup flour
salt/pepper to taste
1 tsp parsley
2 cups milk
 

Bring water, onions, and potatoes to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer approximately 10 minutes. Cool until safe to blend, then process half of the mixture until smooth in a blender. (If you want a smooth soup, puree it all; I keep mine chunky). Set aside.

Melt the butter and mix with the flour into a roux, then add milk all at once. Cook and stir over medium heat until thick and bubbly. Stir in reserved potato mixture and stir well to combine everything. I add the spices last.

For the topping:

This is what takes a good soup and makes it great. We like to use shredded cheese and croutons (kind of like French onion soup). So yummy. It’s the best lunch when served with fresh, soft bread or rolls and a green salad.

Reader Input Wanted: Help me Pick a New Laptop

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Since I have the smartest and most generous readers in the world, I want to ask you guys for some advice. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I’m in the market for a new laptop. After a lot of searching I still can’t make up my mind. I know that I want something at least 15 inches, reasonably fast, with a super-quiet fan. Currently, I use a Dell, but I’m open to anything.

If you use a laptop and love it, send me a recommendation. If you hate a certain model/brand, tell me that, too, so I can stay away from it. Thanks, all!

Dr. Mercola Supplements Review & Giveaway

Living a healthy lifestyle is important to me. I try to get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and eat right. Yet even with the best of intentions, I still battle frequent illness, exhaustion, and digestive issues. After a lot of research, I stumbled onto the topic of probiotics.

Did you know that 80% of your immune system lives in your gut? It’s true, and if that delicate microflora balance is disturbed, all kinds of health issues can result. Taking a high quality probiotic can have a profound effect on creating the right amount of “good” bacteria.

There are so many supplement companies and I’ve tried many different brands; most offered disappointing results. I have since discovered that all probiotics are not created equally. Products need to contain lots of different strains to be effective.

A great one is made by Dr. Mercola Premium Products.

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Complete Probotic
 
2 pills are taken daily, ideally in the morning. The vegetable-based capsules are non-dairy and free from soy, corn, wheat, and gluten. They are acid and bile-resistant for intestinal survival and contain high potency 70 Billion CFU. 10 different strands are included, like the extraordinary acidophilus.
 

In addition to the Complete Probotics, I tried 2 other products:

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Silver Solution

This is an unflavored liquid that boosts immunity. It contains these great features:

  • Provides low concentrations of colloidal silver (10 PPM)
  • Packaged in glass, not plastic
  • No salt or protein impurities

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Joint Support Gummies

These gummies are great for anyone who prefers chewables. They are cherry flavored but have no sugar. An alternative to chondroitin and glucosamine-based products, they contain 4 proven ingredients:

  • BiovaFlex
  • Zanthin
  • Boswellia
  • Hyaluronic acid

Want to try a one-month supply of Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics? I have a FREE bottle available to give away!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Super Savings Saturday – 10/24/15

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Welcome to another edition of Super Savings Saturday!

This week was full of great deals on random food items like spices and snacks. I was hoping to pick up some cheap Schick razors that were advertised at Rite Aid, but my store was cleaned out. In addition to the freebies and cheapies, I shopped at Market Basket for some staples (noting worth posting about). Because CVS and Walgreens had nothing exciting, I skipped them entirely.

Shaw’s:

2 McCormick Grill Mates, BOGO sale price $1.29. I used a $0.50/2 manufacturer’s coupon. (doubled). Total: $0.29!  (I bought Peppercorn Garlic and Island Spice. They are wonderful marinades for steak or chicken.)

2 McCormick vanilla extract, BOGO sale price $3.99. I used 2 $1.00 manufacturer’s coupons. Total: $1.99!

2 Taster’s Choice instant coffee, regular price $1.19. I used 2 $0.50 manufacturer’s coupons. (doubled). Total: $0.19 each! (Good to keep on hand for emergencies or travel, but not an item I’d use daily.)

2 Newman’s Own salad dressings, on sale $1.99. I used 2 $0.75 manufacturer’s coupons. (doubled). Total: $0.49 each!

Rite Aid:

6 bags of combos, on sale $1.00. I used 3 $2.00/2 manufacturer’s coupons. Total: $0.50 each!

 

Share your deals and links in the comments so we can encourage each other!