(Gina is standing to the right of me in the above photo.)
Gina is a master at revamping recipes and making them healthier. Her blog is full of delicious recipes and gorgeous photos of food that only looks indulgent.
Back in February when she first posted the recipe for her baked potato soup, I printed it out and added it to my recipe binder.
The dreary weather in Ocala this evening simply called for warm, savory food and I pulled out the recipe, figuring that baked potato soup would be the perfect rainy day dinner.
I only made one change to Gina’s recipe, substituting plain Greek yogurt for the sour cream.
I love how Gina’s recipe called for a lot of cauliflower in addition to potatoes in the soup. I honestly couldn’t even taste the pureed cauliflower but liked knowing that the vegetable added a nutritious punch to the soup.
Ryan was quite a fan of this meal as well, especially the bacon on top!
Another thing I liked about this recipe? It was ready in no time.
I always feel like homemade soups take forever to make because they have to simmer on the stovetop for such a long time, but this one was done within 30 minutes.
Dessert
Dessert tonight was also pretty darn special.
Check out this little gem that Ryan spotted at the grocery store yesterday.
One pint. Two spoons. That’s how we roll.
We were basically fighting each other for the bites that were saturated with the graham cracker swirl. So delicious!
It’s Monday night and that means it’s time for The Sing Off. I feel like Ryan and I are the only two people watching this show right now. Are there any other Sing Off fans out there? I miss discussing shows with you guys!
Oh! Random fun reality t.v. show fact: Ryan’s mom met with a personal trainer at her gym a few weeks ago and the girl was about to leave to be on the next season of The Bachelor! Crazy, huh?
Question of the Evening
- Do you know/have you ever met someone who was/is on a reality television show?
Do you guys remember Mallory from The Real World Paris? The girl who loved on Ace? She was a year older than me and went to my high school, though we never hung out or anything. I just remember her being really tall and thinking that she had really pretty hair. I’m so cool.
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Ace went to college with me and we all would go up to his bar and they would have TRW playing there and offered the best drink specials during that time :o)
I met a bunch of past Bachelor and Bachelorette contestants this month in NYC! It was so much fun… I did a blog post on it with pictures here: http://jensrealityobsession.blogspot.com/2011/09/46nyc-lemonade-stand.html
such a cool post! i actually tried to comment, but it wouldn’t let me! :/
My friend had her own reality show on a Canadian network called Slice. I don’t think I’d ever do it…your entire personal life is out for everyone to see! I also met last season’s biggest loser competitors while I was living in New Zealand last year…they were working out down by the harbor and had calorie counters on their wrists and I remember Hannah telling her sister she had 1200 calories left to burn for that day (and it was already 4pm) so after that I pretty much figured my suspicions of BL being super unhealthy was true! They were all SUPER nice people though and took time to talk to me and my friend 🙂
Stop it. I haven’t seen that pumpkin cheesecake flavored ice cream yet. I’m a HUGE fan of 1. seasonally released items 2. pumpkin cheesecake and 3. Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. I’ve actually blogged out my thoughts on all 3 over the past few weeks – and this might just roll all my favorites into one…I’m going to Publix on my lunchbreak. Thanks for sharing!
P.S. is it sad that I’m this excited about a pint of limited edition ice cream?
not at all. you’re in good company. 🙂
I have been watching the sing-off! Actually, my brother’s high school prom date is on the show! haha
so cool! who is she!?
Did the personal trainer’s name happen to be Elyse? 🙂
ah i can’t remember! she was working at a gym in the sarasota area, though!
OMG pumpkin cheesecake ice cream!??!?! i must be on the lookout for this!
I met Randy from Real World San Diego (from a longggg time ago) when he was DJing at the bar I worked at in college. That was one of the seasons I actually watched, so it was cool to meet him 🙂
That ice cream looks delicious!!! Actually, Emily Maynard from Brad’s season of The Bachelor is in my bible study! I see her every Tuesday! I’ve never talked to her, but my best friend is in her small group, and says she barely talks. She’s beautiful though, and I give her credit for going! Pretty crazy seeing her, though. I definitely feel like she’s oh so famous…haha!
Pumpkin ice cream? What a winner :)! Unfortunately no I’ve never met any reality star …All of this talk makes me wish the bachelorette/bachelor went on all year round 🙂
I went to high school with Brooke Smith from “The Bachelor” (maybe the Aaron season). She’s just as sweet in person!
I actually am interested in The Sing Off, however, the bf and I have to compromise on shows and that one didn’t win the battle. I’m a fan of The Voice though and know someone who will be on the next season!
I have never known anyone on a reality TV show, although that would be cool!
I have been watching The Sing Off! Although I’m sorta bummed that this season hasn’t been as good as the last two. I miss Nicole and it seems like they added a ton of “filler” groups. Groups that are like “yeah we’ve been singing together for like a month” and so many groups have been “pitchy.” Hopefully they can get it together!
Oh, and my husband used to play high school sports against Tony Romo. Said he’s a tool. 🙂
Dangit, this was meant for the comment below! Sorry!
My high school was basically a breeding ground for future reality stars….A girl on my sister’s cheerleading squad was on Joe Millionaire, a girl in my class was on that MTV dating show Dismissed, where one girl would go on dates with 2 or 3 guys then pick the best (or vice versa, guy picking girls), and then another guy we knew was on Blind Date, if you remember that old show… There were probably more, but I stopped paying attention!
i totally remember blind date!
I’m about ready to put on my shoes and head out to find B & J’s Pumpkin Cheesecake, sersiously sounds great! Being from South Dakota it is rare to meet anyone famous but my husband and I have one friend who built a motorcycle on the Discovery Channel Biker Buildoff show. We have another friend from our town who currently has his own show on the Versus channel called Gun It with Benny Spies. It’s pretty awesome to see people you know on TV and see them succeed. Take care! 🙂
~Kari
My school (UD) is on the Sing-Off!
But I actually started watching last winter, they’re so talented.
I think next time that pint of ice cream makes an appearance in the Fagan household, there needs to be some crunched up graham crackers added to it so you guys don’t have to fight over it! 😀
I hate sharing ice cream – usually something like the Camp David peace accord needs to be signed before I’m able to share fairly.
Where did you find that flavor of Ben and Jerry’s? I absolutely love anything pumpkin!
publix!
The pumpkin cheesecake ice cream sounds soooo good but I follow a gluten free diet….boo!!
I went to college with Ian McKee, chosen by Meredith on the Bachelorette. I also went to high school with Kim Zolciak from the Real Housewives of Atlanta.
Crazy small world! I met Mallory (very briefly) when I was in college. A girl, who you probably know then, in my sorority went to high school with her and Mallory was staying in our sorority house for the weekend.
I love the Sing off!! you are not alone! This is actually the first season I’ve watched but I definitely sing along and might even bust a few moves while I’m watching it. Don’t tell anyone haha!
I am so behind on my blogs….
Jeannie Mai, fashion stylist from How Do I Look. http://iheartjeanniemai.com/
I went to high school with her. She is as cool as she appears on tv.
Hey Julie, I just noticed you posted this! Looking at the photo of us at Pom Wonderful just brought back memories!!
So glad you liked the soup!
Funny you should post that question, I’m on the plane on my way to Foodbuzz and Andy Cohen is on the plane (from the Housewives Reality Show)
Okay I know this post is ridiculously old but I just clicked on it and wanted to answer the question. Tenley from the Bachelor was my dance teacher growing up and her younger sister Karley was one of my best friends in high school 🙂