Mama Bird’s Nest

Mema’s Potato/Tomato Soup

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Growing up, my memema made her “famous”
Potato/Tomato Soup
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when it snowed, when I had a cold, when she didn’t know what else to make.
Now, my Mom, Aunt, cousins we all make it, a little different.
As every time you would ask Mema how she made it she would tell you the way she had most recently made it. I think it was based on what she had in the fridge/pantry at the time.
Much like the way I cook!
So feel free to tweak the recipe based on what you have on hand, from my families kitchen to yours.
recipe
This is the original recipe card that I wrote back in the 7th grade! That was when we moved to G’boro and I was in charge of cooking dinner. Started with the family favs.
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POTATO/TOMATO SOUP
3 medium baking potatoes, diced
1 large onion, diced
3 ribs of celery, sliced
1 t salt
1/2 t pepper
1/2 t garlic
Cover with water, salt, pepper & garlic.
Simmer until fork tender.
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In sauce pan mix:
2 T butter
2 T flour
2 c milk (she always used whole I use 2%)
1 T Worcestershire sauce
1/2 c catsup
3 T mustard
2 – 28oz cans tomatoes
(I prefer whole,plum tomatoes to rough chop. you can use diced, whatever you like!)
Melt butter, mix in flour, add milk; mix well (adjust to make thick) Blend in remaining ingredients EXCEPT tomatoes and stir for 5 mins.
Add to potato mix and add tomatoes
It gets better the longer it sits! And it makes a ton!
I hope you enjoy, as it sure reminds me of my Mema,
snowy days, football games, curling up on the couch!

xoxo, Mama Bird

Best Ever Tuna Salad

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Tuna Salad, I know doesn’t seem all that special but, really this is a delish recipe. Perfect for lunch or a  quick weeknight dinner. The mix of the sweet pickles, the salty parm, the crunch of the broccoli slaw, it hits all the senses! YUM! 

tuna



BEST EVER Tuna Salad
1 lg can of white tuna
1/4 cup broccoli slaw
2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
1/8 cup chopped Bread & Butter pickles
1 t Trader Joe’s 21 seasoning salute (or your fav spice blend)
1 T shredded Parmesan cheese
3 T  mayo (more or less to your taste)

Drain, dump & flake tuna, add slaw, eggs, pickles, seasoning and mayo; stir and chill. I love this on toasted wheat bread.  ENJOY!!

xoxo, Mama Bird

Nana Cole’s Sloppy Joes

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sloppy joes

My dear friend, Pam was telling me about her grandmother’s Sloppy Joes recipe and it’s secret ingredient!  I had NEVER  heard of or ever even thought of  putting condensed Chicken Gumbo soup in really anything, much less Sloppy Joes!  But, let me tell you Pam and her friends eat well and cook well and I knew if they loved it, it had to be good!!  So, I immediately went and got the soup, I had everything else on hand. They are so YUMMY!!  You will never buy that canned stuff again!

This recipe is a keeper!! 

Nana Cole’s Sloppy Joes

1 lb. hamburger, browned ( I used ground turkey)
1 can chicken gumbo*
1 cup  ketchup
1/2 green pepper, diced
1 small onion, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
1 t Garlic minced or chopped to taste

1T  Brown sugar
1 cup tomato sauce ( I used marinara sauce) 
dash chili flakes
dash Worchestershire sauce

Brown meat and saute veggies in a Dutch oven (or any oven safe pot) drain any fat off meat add all remaining ingredients stir well and put in 350 degree preheated oven and cook uncovered for at least 45 mins and it can really go all day, it thickens and cooks down and really gets better the longer it cooks!!  YUMMY!!

the SECRET ingredient!

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*Chicken Gumbo Soup can be a little hard to find, so when you see it, I found at Target stock pile it!! You will not be sorry!!

ENJOY!! Mama Bird