Crock Pot Hamburger Soup

Weekends seem to fly by, always. I can't get enough hours in the day, and I am definitely not spending enough time in the kitchen. Crock Pot Hamburger Soup is very easy meal to prepare during the busy week.  

Weather was perfect this weekend. We planted potatoes in the garden. Over 150 starters in the ground.  The potatoes are planted about 2" in the ground.  Potatoes grow well in well-drained soils. We have sandy loam soil in Jasper County.  

We also have beautiful sunsets as well. Some would consider this a fly-over state

Crock Pot Cheeseburger Soup is a easy recipe and you will have enough for left overs.  It has all the ingredients for a hearty meal.

CROCK POT HAMBURGER SOUP

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2 lbs hamburger
1 diced onion
2 minced garlic 
1 large can tomato juice
8 oz water
2 14 oz can of beef broth
2 cups corn canned or frozen
3 cups uncooked pasta

1. Brown 2 pounds of hamburger with 1 diced onion and 2 minced garlic.  
2. Add to crock pot. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Stir in tomato juice, water and beef broth.
4. Cook in crock pot 2-3 hours.
5. Add the corn and stir and cook for another 10 minutes
6. Stir in cooked pasta and serve.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

I was with some friends, sharing my chocolate chip cookie bars. I made a comment I haven't blogged this recipe yet! They couldn't believe it.  Something so simple, and easy to make and I am not sharing with my blog readers! 

When you have a simple recipe, you take for granted how others may need a simple recipe in their life as well. Using cake mix simplifies this dessert!  I suggest using yellow. I have used white, but the yellow cake mix has the best flavor! When your kids/husband is craving cookies, you make them Chocolate Chip Bars! They are out of the oven in 20 minutes!

I am not exaggerating when I say I make this weekly.  It may not go with our diet, but the kids LOVE them! Mason requests the "Middle" only! He has also bargained, "Mom, if I eat my supper, will you make Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars?"

The family is literally digging the bars out of the pan before it cools down.  So the bars do NOT normally look as nice as they do in these photos. Especially, when a four-year-old is helping himself to the middle. 

This is such an easy recipe, you will make sure your pantry is stocked with these simple ingredients all the time. Yellow cake mix and milk chocolate chips.  You can pour the whole bag of chips in, or save some for later, or for now. 

This is so easy, keep your hand mixer in the cabinet.  Mix the chocolate chip bar mixture by hand with a spatula. Trust me on this one.  It just comes out better that way, and it is not over-mixed.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE BARS
DIRECTIONS
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INGREDIENTS FOR CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE BARS

1 box Betty Crocker Yellow Cake Mix

2 large eggs

½ c vegetable oil

2 tsp water

1 tsp Danncy Vanilla

1 bag Nestle Toll House Milk Chocolate Chips

HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE BARS

Mix together 1 box Betty Crocker Yellow Cake Mix, 2 large eggs, ½ c vegetable oil, and 2 tsp water in glass bowl.  Use spatula to mix, not hand mixer.  When mixed, add 1 tsp Danncy Vanilla and mix.  Then add 1 bag Nestle Toll House Milk Chocolate Chips.  Pour into greased  9x13 pan.   

Bake 20-22 minutes, 350 degrees.

NOTES ON CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE BARS
* Mix with hand, not mixer
* Batter will be very thick
* Turn Cookies bars half way through baking in the oven
* Cut and Cover pan for fresh cookie bars for up to 5 days