Creamy Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Who loves potato soup? This girl! I've always loved ordering it for lunch and never thought about how easy it would be to make at home. It's now one of our favorite winter soups because I can make it in about an hour and it is sooo deliciously creamy!

You will need:

• 5 russet potatoes, peeled and chopped (or at least 4 cups of left over mashed potatoes - seasoned or not)
• 1/2 lb of thick cut bacon
• About 3 cups + 1/2 cup (reserve) of chicken stock (make your own)
• 1/4 c flour
• 2 large carrots (peeled and chopped to whatever size you like in your soup)
• 1/2 sweet yellow onion (peeled and chopped to whatever size you like in your soup)
• About 1 cup of heavy cream

You will do:
1. Boil the potatoes until they are done. Allow them to drain and mash briefly. Skip this step if you're using left over mashed potatoes.  

2. While the potatoes are boiling, begin cooking your bacon. Low and slow is the key for perfect bacon. Start with a cold pan, lay several pieces down and turn on to med-low heat. Cooking it slowly will allow the grease to release but not burn away any of the meat. Set aside on a paper towel - do not dump that grease from the pan!! Chop the bacon into medium sized bacon bits.
3. Using that delicious grease, cook the carrots and onions on med-low until the onions are translucent. 

4. Transfer the grease and cooked veggies to the pot you plan on cooking your soup in and add half of your bacon bits.

5. Dump in your mashed potatoes and add a little bit of flour at a time, continually stirring to thicken it up.

6. Pour in 3 cups of of chicken broth, bring to a boil and turn down to medium. Reserve extra broth just in case you need additional liquid.The soup will look very runny at first, but allow it to keep heating and the potatoes to soak up the broth and pretty soon you'll have a slightly thicker concoction but it still should be loose. If it gets too thick, add more broth and turn down the heat a little. If you feel it is still way too runny, add a little bit more flour at a time, making sure you stir constantly so that you don't get any clumps. Allow to cook for abut 10-15 minutes, until it gets to that perfect balance between the broth being fully incorporated and the soup not being too runny.

7. Add 1/2 a cup of cream at a time, stirring constantly, until you get the consistency of the soup you desire.
8. Top with the remainder of your bacon bits, some sour cream, chives, shredded cheese or whatever else you like on your baked potatoes!

I promise - you'll totally overlook the bacon grease and cream additions to this recipe. And getting good quality bacon (from a local butcher, if you can) really makes the difference. Drool.

Monthly Its December

Seriously, November and December have flown by. Pretty soon it will be January and I'll be approximately 8 weeks (pleaaaaaaaaaase no longer than 10 weeks!) away from delivering my sweet little Ruby. Yowza!

I'm sure you've noticed that there has been an increased number of "sponsored" posts on the blog this past month. I've been very blessed with the amazing growth of the blog (thanks to YOU!) and many doors have been opened for me recently. "Sponsored" posts mean that I work with a business in exchange for compensation (sometimes it's monetary, other times it comes in the form of gift cards). You'll also notice that further down on my sidebar that I've got a couple affiliate programs that I'm a part of - Amazon, Pretty Mommies and Diaper Safari are a few that I'm currently trying out. When you click on these links, I get a little kickback (because I'm providing ad space on my blog) but the costs are no different to you. I'd love it if you considered that when making future purchases from these companies :)

With all that being said, I do my best to ensure that every connection that I take part in is relevant to the blog and not 'spammy.' A couple have opened up new ideas for me to write about, so I'm thankful for the fresh content. The point that I'm getting at is that I am always working on the balance between writing personal content with sharing about deals or products that I think you might enjoy. If you feel like The Pierogie Mama has gone in a direction where you aren't finding a connection with anymore, please please please send me an email. I write for me and for you! 

Sadly my busyness has kept me from really keeping track of all my favorite posts throughout the month! So this time around I'm going to focus on my wonderful December sponsors. Please check them out as they are not only really great businesses to work with but also are a big part of why I'm able to keep The Pierogie Mama going.

Monique of Fantastique Designs is the lovely gal who's re-done my blog in the last month or so. I'm still so absolutely in love and was excited to share her talent with the two bloggers who won my giveaway last month! If you haven't checked her work out yet (besides what you see here), you really need to.

Not a blogger or business owner? No worries. She'll craft a new cover image for your personal social media accounts too. Check out her a la carte.

If you're a homeschooling parent (or hey, a parent of any kind!) be sure to check out her blog Living Life and Learning.  Check out her post on the importance of physical activity while homeschooling.  Keep up with Monique on Facebook.

Now truth be told, Nicole from StarGazer Soaps is one busy gal. Between homeschooling 3 girls and continually coming out with soaps - I don't know how she finds time to email back and forth with me ;) Her soaps are natural, handmade and beautifully crafted. I always like to check out her pre-orders page to see what she's got in store as well as her youtube channel to see her big reveals when she cuts into her soap bars for the first time.  Be sure to look to the right sidebar for a StarGazer Soaps discount (think "stocking stuffer") and I'll be hosting a giveaway in January!

Maggie from Chalk Treatment is another artsy gal who's work I've fallen in love with. This past week I just ended a giveaway for a custom ornament and I hope I get to see what the winner chooses to do in the end. When you look through her shoppe you can see that the world is your oyster when it comes to designing an ornament or chalk board. I asked her what has been a really unique project that she's recently worked on and she told me about a family chalkboard that she made for a cattle ranching family. The mom gave her a list of words that represent their family and Maggie took this as an "adventure" to gather all the info (like find out what a steer head looked like) as well as incorporate their family brand. There's still time to get a 10% discount (info on right sidebar), and get some inspiration from creations this season on facebook!

A new diaper that I'm trying out over the next couple weeks comes from Sankofa Diapers, based out of Utah. Winnie's story on starting her own diaper brand is so interesting - born and raised in Ghana, she was shocked at the difference in diapering mentality between her home and America. Cloth diapering isn't a lifestyle choice - it's the only option. She also found that cloth diapering is way easier over here, as modern cloth is in many ways designed similarly to disposable ones, and she wanted to put her own spin on it. Check out her December special on the right sidebar and stay tuned for a review and giveaway of Sankofa Diapers in the new year too!

Are you a business or blog looking for some additional exposure?

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Try Buttons #clothdiapers, wipes & bamboo liners!

This giveaway was originally published as a part of the 

Pink and Blue Babies Due giveaway hop.

_____________________________________

Have you tried Buttons Diapers yet? These are by far my favorite covers and AI2 diaper solution out there. Why? Because their covers have double gussets, are double layered, elastic on the tummy and back and have snaps to easily snap in their inserts (but fit other inserts really well too!). Oh, and the kicker - their new shell design includes an absolutely adorable embroidered button on the back. I can go on, really.

In addition to the addition of the cute button and new colors for their shells, Buttons Diapers has come out with a couple new products in the last few months.

Flannel Wipes
We made the switch to cloth wipes about 14 months ago and I've noticed a decrease irritation associated with wipes. Rashes come few and far between for cloth diapered children, but most wipes usually left Penny a little red. Plus, being a green minded single income family gave me the incentive of finding any way that will cut down our trash costs and save us money too. Cloth wipes were a simple answer and gave me no extra work because I just throw them in with the dirty diaper in the laundry.

Buttons Diapers now has super soft flannel wipes available. They are single ply, 100% cotton with professional serging. I've washed them over two dozen times without any thread coming loose. Because they are single ply they dry very quickly.

Bamboo Liners
The second new product from Buttons are Bamboo liners. I've never used a liner prior to trying these out, so I was a little curious how I would like it. If your child is very regular (if you get what I mean), these are perfect for quick and easy clean up for diaper changes. Also, certain creams can cause build up in diapers so if you are battling a really bad rash these will help keep the creams from getting into your Buttons inserts. They are perforated to the right size for Buttons inserts (and frankly, most inserts) so it's easy to prep ahead of time and have them ready to go in your diaper change station. 


And simply because I just can't resist sharing cute baby rolls, here is a new little lady in my life showing off her Buttons Diapers fit.

You can buy Buttons Diapers through Amazon or online.

This time around you'll have the chance to win a great prize pack from Buttons Diapers and The Pierogie Mama - 3 covers, 6 day inserts and 1 pack of wipes (a $61 ARV).

This giveaway is over - thanks to all for entering! 

Keep an eye out for more Pierogie Mama Giveaways.

Disclosure: I received product in exchange for an honest review. 

RadioShack Makeover Update #mc

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for RadioShack. I received a gift card to facilitate a shopping trip and promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Did you see my post about the awesome deals you were able to find at RadioShack's "Name your Deal" Black Friday extravaganza?

This weekend I unburied myself from all the blankets I've wrapped myself in (I'm a WA gal - anything under 40 and over 70 is just too crazy for me) and took to my local RadioShack store to see for myself all the awesome deals they have.

Now I live in a small town where changes are sometimes slow going, but what I hear is that by the end of this year (2013) RadioShack will made improvements to nearly all 4,300 stores throughout the nation. Most of these stores will a get a full makeover to make them look more visually appealing and easier to find what you're looking for, as well as updating product categories.

When I visited my store I picked up something that I've been partly dreaming of / partly not sure if I wanted to open this can of worms. I'm talking about portable DVD players - specifically for the car. We're a very mobile family and the holidays are a 3 month marathon of trips between both sides of the family. Penny has gone through phases where she tolerates car rides, but as she grows older (and when Ruby is born), peace of mind and sanity for these several hour long car rides is kind of becoming a must. But then on the other hand.. is this a world I really want to dive into? 

Well, I decided to give it a shot anyways and picked up a snazzy portable dvd player to keep in my Duraburb when it's complete.

Check out the RadioShack Holiday Hub to see how you can complete your Christmas shopping list (or just pick up something 'just because') to find more great deals.

Do you use a dvd player in your car for road trips? 

Thanks, Mommy Hot Spot!

I'm incredibly honored to be featured as this month's Mommy Blogger of the Month on Mommy Hot Spot! If you're relatively new here, check out my intro on their site and be sure to take a look around - you can find articles on DIY projects, parenting tips, deals and product reviews.

Do you enjoy reading my posts here? Be sure to give me a quick little vote so that I can get more writing opportunities!