Left Overs

For my friends on Facebook you might have read that last night I made homemade Baked Potato Soup, Ruben Sandwiches, and Monte Cristo sandwiches. Everything was delicious but as usual I made lots extra so tonight we had leftovers. I will share the recipes - when I say left over sandwiches I mean leftover "fixings" for them...so here goes. Oh and if you do not have a panini maker - you should buy one- I bought mine for around $45.00 and it has been worth it:)

Baked Potato Soup
5 med sized potatoes (bake these in the morning before making the soup)
1 onion diced
1 stick of butter
2 quarts of milk
1 small package of real bacon bits (I use these because they do not have the grease that cooking bacon would)
1 1/2 cups sour cream
1 clove of garlic minced
2/3 c flour

peel potatoes and cut into chunks

melt butter and add onions - cook until tender
add milk reserving 2 cups
keep on low to keep milk from scorching
whisk flour into 2 cups of milk and stir into milk and onion mixture
stir to keep it from getting lumpy
add potatoes and bacon
cook until it starts to thicken
stir in sour cream (this will make it thick and creamy)

top with anything you would like

Sandwiches
Ruben
sauerkraut
sliced corned beef
thousand island dressing
swiss cheese
good think bread of your choice (I use the crusty ones from the bakery section)

Butter one side of bread-put on grill- top with corned beef, cheese sauerkraut, thousand island, the place the other piece of bread on top with buttered side on top
grill until browned

Monte Cristo
turkey
sourdough bread
raspberry jelly
provolone cheese
chipotle peppers in adobe sauce

Mix raspberry jelly/jam and 1 tablespoon of chipotle sauce (do not put pepper in mixture) you may want less if you do not like spicy
spread on one side of buttered sourdough bread then top with turkey and cheese
top with buttered bread and grill until browned
sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with left over raspberry chipotle sauce

this is a family favorite at my house- if you do not have a panini grill you can use a regular frying pan - like you would do grilled cheese