It is getting colder....

You need to make soup and crackers. 

Crock Pot Potato soup--- the Cheaters way....

Ingredients:
1 bag of frozen country style  hash browns
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 box chicken stock
 1/2 cup dried onion (or cut some fresh ones if you like)
1 pkg. (8 oz) cream cheese
Salt and pepper
                   
Directions:
Put the potatoes, stock, soup, and onion in a crockpot.  Salt and pepper to taste (I always use fresh ground pepper and sea salt).

 Cook on low for 5-6 hours.  Go do something else (like make the crackers below)

 Set out the cream cheese to soften and add it 30 minutes before serving.  Stir it in well and let cook the last 30 minutes.  Check salt and pepper levels and adjust. 
Curl up with a blanket in front of the fireplace and enjoy with the Dilly Ranch Crackers below.







 Dilly Ranch Crackers











Ingredients:
1 pkg. oyster crackers
3 T. Ranch dressing powder (or use a 1 oz. package of Ranch Dressing Mix)
1 (scant) teaspoon dill weed (or to taste.  This is a pretty strong dill flavor.)
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 c. canola oil (or use vegetable oil--  I like the flavor of the canola)
Salt if you want it.  I did not.




Preheat oven to 275 degrees. 
In a large mixing bowl, combine dry Ranch, dill weed, garlic powder, salt if you want it, and oil.  Mix well.  Toss  crackers in and coat well.  Spread onto cookie sheet in one layer.

Bake for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.  Cool.  Store in Zip lock baggie when completely cool.