Loaded Baked Potato Soup (Skinnytaste.com)

March 2, 2015: As you grow up, you learn that each of your friends is a part of your life for a very unique reason. For example, my friend Holly who I met through work will always listen to my crazy anxious thoughts as they pop into my head. My cousin, Ashlea, is my prayer warrior. Any time I need prayers going out, I shoot her a text. My friend Whitney and I will always be able to pick up where we left off, no matter how long it's been since we've seen each other. And my friend Keri, who I call "History" because she's my oldest friend, Keri was my baked potato peeler. 

Keri & Kate at Keri's wedding- November 17, 2012 

Okay, okay, let me explain. When we were little, Keri and I used to collect pop tabs to turn into the Ronald McDonald House for donations. The tabs are recycled for money, and they money go to buy toys for the children who are staying at the residence. Read more about it by clicking this link. For as long as I remember, Keri has been my friend, and also for as long as I can remember, I have loved baked potatoes. They're still one of my favorite foods- hence this recipe. In Lower School, we could get baked potatoes in the cafeteria, but the problem was that they were wrapped in foil and still had the skin on them. Being the high maintenance child that I was, it was quite the problem for me that my baked potato came with skin on it. "But at home, my mom peels them for me!" So Keri, being the smart, selfless friend that she is, offered to peel my potatoes for me for a small fee- pop tabs. Ten pop tabs got me a peeled potato, and we were both happy campers- we were in business. So when making my Loaded Baked Potato Soup, who better to tell readers about than my sweet friend, Keri, who you will soon learn is much more to me than my baked potato peeler. Below is my toast that I gave at Keri's wedding in November of 2012.

Whitney, Kate, and Keri at Kate's engagement party- October 26, 2013

"Hi, I’m Kate, one of Keri’s bridesmaids, and I have known Keri since we were four years old. Back in 1990, my parents and I were boarding our sailboat, Cracker Jack, in her slip at the Fort Worth Boat Club, when along came another little curly-haired girl and her parents.  Mrs. DeVos gave us a friendly, “Hi there!,” and the little girl waved and said, “Hello!”  The rest is history.

In fact, Keri and I call each other “History,” because, outside of family, we are each other’s oldest friend.  A year after meeting Keri on our boats, we found ourselves in Country Day’s Butler Kindergarten building, not only trying to pick whether to take French or Spanish for the next 13 years, but more importantly, what outfit to wear to the Kindergarten rodeo. 

Kate & Keri at Kate's Wedding- November 15, 2014
The Omni Fort Worth Hotel

Keri, I cannot imagine my past 22 years of history without you.  At sailing camp, there were many long summer days with no wind. At all. We were sweating in the blazing sun on Eagle Mountain Lake in our little Optimist sailboats, not going anywhere whatsoever- so what did we do? We “accidently” capsized the boats so we could fall into the lake, cool off, and laugh at how sneaky we thought we were.  But let’s be honest- we WERE kind of sneaky at times… 

My mom’s first memory of us was when she heard us in the Boat Club Ballroom, laughing hysterically. 

She opened the doors to find that we had tied cloth napkins to our feet and were pretending to ice skate around the room.  To make matters worse, we then blamed it on your dad, saying “Well, Mr. DeVos said it was ok!” Between shimmying up and down your laundry chute and ordering too many Shirley Temples & fried cheese sticks at the club- we were quite the pair.

Frances, Whitney, Kate, Keri, Samantha, and Kate- Kindergarten friends at Kate's wedding-
November 15, 2041 at The Omni Fort Worth Hotel

We’ve been through a lot together.  In fact, seven of us women here to celebrate have been friends for 21 years.  Being friends for so long means we have been through the good times and the bad, the wins and the losses.  We’ve lost adored pets, loved family members, and irreplaceable friends.  But what we haven’t lost across time and across the country, is our ever-lasting, unconditional support for one another.

Keri, you and I have shared almost everything.  We shared Camp Fire, lake days, and even the chicken pox.  We shared our singing debut in the Lower School Talent Show- a performance that was so memorable, in fact, that the song we wrote is performed annually at the Country Day Lower School graduation ceremony.  

Ziplining in Costa Rica- October 2013

In fifth grade, we spent countless hours sharing a pan of paper mache- carefully placing newpaper strips over chicken wire in order to make our Mr. & Mrs. Planters Peanut costumes for Halloween- time well spent, though, seeing as we won the costume contest.  We’ve really done it all.

Fossils & Footprints assembly (1st grade)
Mr. & Mrs. Peanut (5th grade)
Easter Egg Hunt at the Fort Worth Boat Club
Camp El Tesoro

In January 2005, we shared in our excitement for a football game.  The University of Texas Longhorns met the University of Michigan Wolverines on a football field for the first time in the programs’ histories.  In case you Wolverines have forgotten, the Longhorns were victorious that year in the Rose Bowl, scoring a 37-yard field goal as time ran out, winning the game 38:37. 

Kate, Keri, and Whitney at Keri's Bridal Lunch
The City Club, Fort Worth
November 16, 2012

Now once again, a Wolverine and a Longhorn are meeting, but this time, instead of at the 50 yard line, y’all are meeting at the altar.  Your fans probably won’t be chanting “Hail to the victors, Texas fight, or go big blue,” but we will, undoubtedly be cheering for your victory.

So raise your glasses to Keri & Bradley’s newly formed team- may your pep-talks to each other always be encouraging, your cheers for one another always be loud, and your victories always be celebrated with a touchdown dance."

Watching the sunset in Los Angeles, 2011

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Servings: 6; Adapted from SkinnyTaste.com

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

• 4 russet potatoes, peeled (but don't ask Keri to do it. She's peeled enough potatoes in her life :) )
• 3 c chicken broth
• 3 c fat-free skim milk
• salt & pepper as needed
• 1 c light or fat-free sour cream
• 1 c reduced-fat cheddar cheese
• 12 tbsp chives
• 6 slices bacon

1. On medium heat, add chicken broth, milk, and potatoes- bring to a boil
2. Once potatoes are softened (appr 10-20 mins), use an immersion blender to puree until smooth
3. Add sour cream, 1/2 the chives, salt, and pepper
4. Cook on low for additional 10 mins
5. Ladle soup into bowls, and use cheese, bacon, and remaining chives for garnishing

Keep on cookin'!

-Katherine

Carly's Chicken Tortilla Soup

March 2, 2015: In February of 2015, I posted a picture on Instagram of a hodge podge soup that I had made. I called it Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Chicken Chili- cause that's what it was, plus black beans & corn. Andy and I were iced in with little in our pantry, so we threw it all together in the crockpot and eight hours later had a delicious soup without ever having to leave our warm little house. My sister-in-law, Carly, posted a comment on my picture on Instagram. She said, "Sounds good! I made tortilla soup tonight." Of course I asked her for her recipe, and once the ice thawed, I adventured to the store and bought the ingredients. Out came Carly's Chicken Tortilla Soup, and I'm pretty sure it was the best damn soup I've ever had. And with new tastes comes old memories. 

Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Chicken Chili

I remembered one cold day, taking my cousin (who on all accounts is my "pseudo-sister") Central Market's Chicken Tortilla Soup when she was sick in college. I'm beginning to think tortilla soup is a cure-all dish for head colds and cold hands. Below is my Maid of Honor toast from Ashlea's wedding in December of 2012. It's not about soup or being cold or even having a cold, but it is about being sisters, so I found it quite fitting for this recipe. And a huge thanks to my new sister for the meal that's sure to be on our go-to recipe list from now on.

Andy, Kate, and Carly at Andy & Kate's wedding
at The Omni Fort Worth Hotel- November 15, 2014

"Hi, for those of you who don’t know me, I’m Kate or “Katherine” to most of my family, and I’m Ashlea’s Maid of Honor.  When I got my note in the mail asking me to fill the role of Maid of Honor, I was immediately overwhelmed with pride, excitement, and a major dose of reality. We are growing up. We were no longer playing dress up in our mom’s clothes, but instead, my Lil Cuz was going to dress up in white lace.  We were no longer decorating our rooms with Tweety Bird & Jonathan Taylor Thomas posters, but, instead, we were decorating for a wedding reception.  Standing in my kitchen, holding your letter, I wasn’t sure I was ready to grow up.

Kate (18 mos) and Ashlea (1 month) with Granny at Kate's parents' house for Christmas 1987
in Fort Worth, TX

When we were little, Ashlea and I both had older brothers, but neither of us had a sister.  I used to ask Santa Claus for a little sister, but apparently it doesn’t work that way.  I didn’t quite understand why I never found a little pink bundle of joy under the tree until I came across this quote, “God made us cousins because he knew our moms couldn’t handle us as sisters.”  Probably true, considering the adventures and mischief we got into.

Kate & Carly at Kate's wedding- November 15, 2014
The Omni Fort Worth Hotel

I think Ashlea would agree with me in saying that our best adventures were at our Granny & Papa’s house.  Their house was home to a garage full of cardboard boxes that were perfect for making forts that went from one end of the house to another.  It was home to a moth-ball smelling, blanket filled closet that made for the best hide and go seek hiding spot.  We spent Christmases in the den, helping Papa scratch off Lottery Tickets and Easters in the backyard having Easter egg hunts.  Then there was the kitchen that made me fall in love with cooking- where we had pizza for breakfast and s’mores & hotdogs for midnight snack, with frozen apple juice & frozen peaches in between.  We made all kinds of messes- dying Easter eggs, making sticky Rice Krispie treats, and mixing every ingredient in the kitchen into what we called a “Portion Potion.”  Despite our messes and adventures, Granny & Papa never told us “No.”

Ashlea & Kate before Kate's wedding- November 15, 2014
The Omni Fort Worth Hotel

We sat on Papa’s lap eating chocolate ice cream while he watched his programs, and we sat on Granny’s lap while she rocked us until we were in our twenties.  We crawled into bed with them in the mornings to read the funny papers and we snuggled up at night to watch Johnny Carson- Ashlea & I were inseparable, and Granny & Papa were our heroes.

Kate & Ashlea at Kate's wedding- November 15, 2014
The Omni Fort Worth Hotel

When I moved to Austin to start at UT, I thought Ashlea and my’s sisterly moments would come to a halt, but luckily I was wrong.  Being the intelligent woman she is, and against her brother’s crimson-colored wishes, Ashlea called me in 2006 and told me she, too, was going to be a Longhorn.  And, to make this proud sister even more proud, Ashlea chose to go through recruitment and pledge my same sorority, Delta Gamma.  I remember calling Granny on bid day, and tearfully telling her, “Ashlea is really going to be my sister!”  Granny, in her calm, sensible, and wise tone simply said, “Well Katherine, I thought she already was.” 

Katherine & Ashlea building a snowman at our Granny & Papa's house
in Wichita Falls, TX

Granny was right- she always was right.  Lee Lee, you have always been my sister.  As little girls, every Christmas at Midwestern’s Fantasy of Lights, every one of your bounce house birthday parties, every lake day ending with a fabulous sunset- you made them all complete.  To this day, I brag to everyone about you- my cousin, my Delta Gamma Grand Little Sis, my UT cheerleader, my Physical Therapist, and my very first friend. 

Kate giving her Maid of Honor toast at Ashlea's Wedding
December 15, 2012

Your courage, patience, faith, hope, and love have been a pillar of strength for your family, through the good times and the hard.  I know Granny, Papa, and your Bubba are watching down on you and Mark today, beaming at their handiwork and crazy proud of the woman you have become, just as I am.  Let’s raise our glasses to Ashlea & Mark- You two have found a love so great and unconditional- a love that lasted across high school halls and across the state.  Y’all have cared for one another, supported one another, and cheered for one another for 7 years thus far, so here’s to 77 more.  As our Granny would say, “Keep on making memories.”  Cheers.

Carly's Chicken Tortilla Soup

Servings: 8; Adapted from The Food Network

Carly's Chicken Tortilla Soup

• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 med onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 chipotle in adobo sauce, minced
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 2 tsp salt
• 6 c chicken broth (we use unsalted)
• 1 c corn kernels (fresh or frozen, thawed)
• 1 tomato, chopped
• 3 chicken breasts
• 1/2 c cilantro leaves
• 1/4 c lime juice
• 1 doz tortilla chips, crumbled (for garnishing)
• 1/2 c cheddar cheese (for garnishing)
• 1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and sliced

1. Heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat
2. Add onion, garlic, chipotle, chili powder, and salt and cook until onion softens
3. Add chicken broth, bring to a boil
4. After this has been boiling for appr 10 mins, add chicken breasts. Allow to boil for 20 mins.
5. Reduce to simmer and add corn. Cook for 5 mins more.
6. Stir in tomato, cilantro, and lime juice
7. Ladle into bowls. Top with chips, cheese, and avocado as desired. 

Keep on cookin'!

-Carly & Katherine

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

January 4, 2014: On our quest to start eating healthier this year, we have been trying new vegetables. I have known I've always loved sweet potato fries, but Andy has never been a big fan of them. That's fine- more for me! 

Holly and Me at Woody's after cheering on the Saints at the Omni

During January, we went to meet our friends, Holly and Jason, at Whiskey and Rye, the sports bar located inside of the Omni Fort Worth Hotel (which is where we're getting MARRIED! That's a whole 'nother blog entry though!). We went to watch the New Orleans Saints take on the Philadelphia Eagles. Since the Cowboys played so horribly this year, I decided I was going to be a Saints fan instead. The Saints pulled out a win, 26-24, and I was excited that my new favorite team was rocking it. 

Andy and me at Woody's

Andy ordered grilled sweet potatoes, and I reminded him he didn't like them but he said he was wanting to try them anyway. He ended up really liking them, so I tried to find a recipe that was similar to the ones at Whiskey and Rye. This recipe was as close as I could get but seeing as it was January and freezing outside, we opted to bake them instead of grill them. 

Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Servings: 6; Weight Watchers PointsPlus: 7
www.weightwatchers.com

• 60 oz Potato(es), sweet, raw, 6 medium 
• 2 Tbsp Butter, unsalted
• ½ tsp Chili powder, Ancho variety
• ¼ tsp Dried oregano, crumbled
• ⅛ tsp Cumin, ground
• ⅛ tsp Cayenne pepper, or to taste
• ⅛ tsp Salt, table, or to taste

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

1. Preheat oven to 450
2. Slice the potatoes in long, fry-shaped pieces of medium to thin thickness
3. Combine the butter, chili powder, dried oregano, cumin, cayenne pepper, and salt in a large ziplock baggie
4. Add the potatoes and shake well, covering potatoes
5. Scatter the potatoes onto a cookie sheet, making an even layer
6. Bake on 450 for 15mins, flip potatoes, and bake another 15 minutes *this baking time may differ depending on the thickness of your fry

Keep on cookin'!

-Katherine