(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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I love the Sing Off! I’ve been watching every week. Go Deltones! 🙂 I’m a grad student at UDel.
We are Sing-Off fans, too! Love that show. Feel free to discuss away!
Wahhoooo for UD!! I have lived in Newark my whole life 🙂
Fun fact: Ben and Jerry’s actually just joined the protest going on in new york, “Occupy wall street”.
It’s so funny you brought this up – I was about to post that I went to prom with the guy who’s on Millionaire Matchmaker this week!!! Yeah, I really messed up by letting that one get away…
no way!!! though he’s clearly bringing in the dough, those guys are usually toolbags, so you’re probaby better off. i hope he mentions you as the “one that got away” or something. 🙂
crazy! my best friend cheyenne is actually ON the bad girls club right now! talk about scary! i’m nervous every time i watch because i know her as a sweet girl! ha!! that potato soup looks DELISH. xoxo
I can honestly say that I’ve never tried B&J ice cream…but I think now I just might have to! Holy Y U M!
Actually I was in NYC today and came face to face with jacquelines husband from real housewives of new jersey.
I’ve come into contact with a few celebrities. Nothing major. It’s always exciting though.
oh. my. god. that ice cream looks insanely delicious!
My grandma always used to make Me a bowl of potato soup on dreary days! It’s Definitely a comfort food favorite of mine! 🙂
Omg..that soup looks SO good! Must. make it. tonight.
I need that ice cream! I know a bunch of people from high school and college that went on all those awful MTV dating shows (Room Raiders and Next! Really?!)
I really wish I could meet Tim Gunn from project Runway though. He’s my favorite reality star… Make it work!
ah! i remember those shows!
Last year, my bf said a guy on his men’s league team was going to be on the Bachelorette. I had never met the guy, but was SO curious about who it was!
Well, I made my bf watch the first episode with me, so he could point him out…you know, based on facial recognition. turns out.. IT WAS THE MASK…ahhhhhhhhhh hahahaha still not over that one.
oh my gosh! that is too funny.
I love the Skinny Taste website! She has some seriously amazing recipes!
That soup looks great, I make a soup very similar to this one except mine is made with Broccli. So it has the look and texture of a split pea soup except its made with Broccli and cannelini beans. Super yummy!
Iknow Amy Poehler (Saturday night live…parks and recreation) but no reality tv peeps
how cool! she’s hysterical!
That potato soup looks so good! It’s been dreary and chilly here in Utah this past week too, so it might just need to make an appearance in our house this week. 🙂
I met one of the contestants on The Biggest Loser at the gym I worked at this past December. Since it was the holidays, they gave her a week off from filming to come home. It was so awesome! I asked her a bunch of questions about what Jillian Michaels is like in real life, and found out a bunch of neat things about the show.
oh how cool! i would love to hear all about that!
I definitely remember Mallory! That’s too funny!
NEAT!!!!! I remember Mallory! I thought she was soooo beautiful. I have never met anyone on a reality tv show, but that would be super cool! ……OoOooo, the Bachelor! I can’t wait to watch- now I’ll be looking for a personal trainer from FL!
We love the Sing-Off!!!! Urban Method killed it with Estelle last week and we really like Pentatonix! Really any group that can sound that amazing with no instruments is a MUST WATCH in our house!
yes! pentatonix is really good! i love the beat boxer in the group.
that ice cream is so, so good!
my public speaking teacher during my sophomore year of college was almost a contestant on Biggest Loser. She didn’t make it after the third or fourth round, but got called back to try again.
We love The Sing Off! We usually watch it on DVR but still love it.
Kimberly Caldwell went to my high school; she was on American Idol. My high school drama teacher used to work with Patrick Swayze, and her husband directed plays on Broadway.
I will forever associate cream of potato soup with my grandmother. it seemed to be the only thing that she made especially for me 🙂
Love the sing off!
Ah I totally forgot to mention in my first comment…
YES, I have seen a reality “star.” The Gosselins (John & Kate +8) live near me & I saw Kate shopping at LOFT once!
One of the groups from my school (The Dartmouth Aires) is on tonight, my entire dorm is watching!
Oh my gosh! That ben and jerrys sounds amazing right now 😀
I always thought Mallory was sooo pretty…isn’t she a super big model now and was in Sports Illustrated Magazine? I think A&F too!
I must get that ice cream now!! Anything with graham cracker (and pumpkin of course!) is a winner in my book 😉
I love the Sing Off! I’ve been watching to support the Deltones since like Emily I’m a student (freshman undergrad!) at the University of Delaware!
Yea I think Mallory is a model now! I think she’s in the Eddie Bauer catelog =) Ace was such a big shot here in GA too…I think he owns a couple of bars down in Statesboro (college town) and now some in Atlanta. They were such an odd, but cute, couple!
I love the Sing Off!! We are a week behind, watching last week’s right now! But so far there are so many amazing groups, I haven’t found a favorite yet. And I think so far the judge’s eliminations have been spot on with my humble opinion. Enjoy the show!!
yes! i think the judges are doing a great job.
I met a few of the guys on the Bachelorette/Bachelor Pad: David Good, Ty Brown and Justin “R-Rated” Rego at an event and I actually got to interview Craig McKinnon from BP/Bachelorette for a magazine. He’s a d-bag in real life too hahah.
haha i’m not surprised!
I watch the Sing-Off too! I watched the first two seasons and loved them, as well. Sarah Bareilles is sooo much better as a judge than Nicole Sherzinger was, in my opinion.
There are so many groups in this season, it’s hard to keep track, but I was super impressed by Delilah’s performance of Grenade. All-girl groups are often kind of “eh,” but they were on FIYAH
oh sarah is 10,000x times better. totally agree!
Wow, really? This is the first time I’ve heard that Sara is a better judge! Whenever she has to say her opinion first she always just concentrates on who obviously rocked. She never seems to give a bad opinion unless Ben or Shawn does first. I think she’s getting into a groove though. The first night was the most awkward 😉
i feel like no one gives a bad opinion unless ben does. he seems like the “king judge.”
I just made Skinny Taste’s Pumpkin spiced oatmeal cookies last week and they were amazing! That soup looks pretty good also.
OMG. That was Joey Kovar haha
YES! That was exactly who it was! Thank you, that was driving me CRAZY.
Fun story: About two years ago, I was heading back to Rhode Island to visit my friends from home. I got in to the Providence airport, and this guy came up to me and asked me if he could use my phone. He explained that he was in RI on business and just found out that his dad died and needed to get home ASAP, but had no money or anything. I obviously let him use my phone and, all the while, I keep thinking how familiar he looks. Turns out he was on the Real World (cannot remember his name!) and got kicked off for being an alcoholic. He also made an appearance on that year’s season of Celebrity Rehab. Annnnd that’s my brush with reality fame.
Ahhh! I meant to comment on your post and I commented on the one above it. *That was Joey Kovar from the Real World hehe
Haha I just did the same thing—YES that’s exactly who it was!
Mmmm that soup looks really good. I need faster soups like this one! And my boyfriend and I eat ice cream the same way. In fact I have NEVER seen him put ice cream in a bowl!!
I had class with Vienna from the bachelor in undergrad, and a girl from my highschool won teenage jeopardy.
Kimora Lee Simmons went to my junior high school.
I love the Sing Off!
You’re sense of humor cracks me up. You should check out that new show Whitney on NBC. I think you’d enjoy.
Thank you for introducing me to Gina’s blog. I have a feeling I will be visiting it often for recipes.
LOL about that girl Mallory.
Mine is even worse. In high school I went to a junior achievement summer program with Madison from Million Dollar Listing. I facebooked him when I saw the show and I kinda sorta think he remembered me. I’m so cool, too.
Dave Good of Bachelorette and Bachelor Pad fame is from the town next to me and was a year older than me in school. My grandparents know his grandparents. We’re from small towns in Ohio so everyone knows everyone and you can’t keep any secrets! We knew he got the first impression rose from Jillian before the show even aired!
I am in LOVE with the sing-off. I’m a person who is not really up for keeping up with “reality” shows like that, but Sing-Off is AMAZING! It’s just so inspiring!
What’s your favorite group?
Mine fav is the Deltones! They stole my heart with their opening song the first week.
CT has to be a jerk, he’s too good looking and KNOWS it…which is unfortunate! Still a-ok eye candy for me!!
the deltones are my fav, too!
I need to make more soup – the potatoe soup sounds so delish! I’ve never heard of The Sign Off but I am a sucker for reality TV *ahem* Jersey Shore, 4 Weddings, Bachelor Pad (and all the other Bachelor-ette shows), etc. I see CT from the Real World in Boston from time to time (he’s a total jerk btw) and Chris Lambton from The Bachelorette went to my old highschool (and I know his sister-in-law who was on the show)!
I went to nursing school with the sister of a girl whose brother was on The Real World.
Holy moly, that ice cream!! I need to get my hands on that.. the closest grocery stores near me, though, are Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. I wonder if either would carry them…
Crap. I meant to write that I went to nursing school with the sister of a Real World cast member.
I’ve never met anyone but I saw Bill Rancic in my hotel last month and damn is he hot in person!!
She does look like Julianne Hough! I just now realized it when you said it!
Well I don’t know a REALITY tv star, but I did grow up dancing with Kenny Wormald who’s now the STAR of Footloose!!! So I get pretty excited about that, especially when his face appears on my TV!!
And can I say you remind me of his co-star, Julianne Hough!! Hope you take that as a compliment 🙂
best compliment ever! thank you!
that baked potato soup looks fabulous!! i’m craving these hot and comforting meals lately!! and i do remember mallory from real world paris ~ that’s crazy that you know her!! p.s. i’ve been a reader of your blog for a while now but never really commented much 😉 😉
xo ~ kristina
thanks so much for commenting, kristina!
Love the Sing-Off! My favorite group is the one from Denver with the rapper. Holla 🙂
haha noooo I don’t know anyone on a reality show. That soup looks so good! Mmmm
I just wanted to let you know that I featured your blog on mine today as one of my favorites to read! 🙂
thank you so much, amanda!