Friday, January 28, 2011

Baked Potato Leek Soup

Crock pot soups are a great winter treat. One of my favorites is potato leek soup. (Or baked potato soup depending on who you ask and how you dress it up).

Ingredients

  • 1 head of fresh cauliflower
  • 1-2 baking potatoes
  • 3-4 leeks
  • 1 pint heavy whipping cream
  • 2 cups low sodium chicken broth

Directions

Chop leeks, cauliflower and potatoes and place in crock pot in the same order. Add chicken broth and cook on high 6-8 hrs. After cooking blend with a stick blender. After blended, add whipping cream and continue mixing. Salt and pepper to taste.

When serving, top with sour cream, shredded cheese, bacon bits and chopped green onions for a great baked potato flavor.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

The New Dave 2011

The earth has successfully rotated around the sun yet again. In celebration of that feat of astrophysics I've spent some time contemplating how I'm going to spend the next planetary orbit. I've reviewed my unfinished projects of 2010 and projects already slated for 2011. I've captured the ones that never made it out of my head and floating about on slips of papers and my task manager. After reviewing all the projects I've come up with a new set of great intentions. In an effort to make sure those intentions don't become empty promises, and eventually regret, I'd like to share some of my goals for 2011:

1. Regular blog posts.

I not only hate the blog format but the sound of the word is like nails on a chalkboard to me. On the other hand I have a ton of articles "In Draft" that need to make it to my adoring public. And the blog tools are the simplest to execute; for now.

2. Redesign and/or launch all my sites.

I currently have 8 sites on my plate as personal projects (this site being one). And not including professional and freelance work. Four are already up: WhereDidIMeetDave.com, DaveJansen.net, DaveJansenPhotography.com and TechForSmallBusinessOwners.com. Not my best work, I like to consider these alpha releases.

3. Better master social media sites to help promote my projects. Ok, this one's pretty self explanatory.

4. Publish my open source project.

I have a large code base for one piece of software I wrote while working for Clermont County. Over the years I've taken the concept of the software and have been slowly re-working it to apply to a broader base. I'm near completion and would like to make it available to the public.

5. Sell photography prints online.

Aside from working on my own personal sites for fun and personal satisfaction I wouldn't mind making some extra scratch. Plus, I've had several people over the years ask for prints so there must be some kind of demand.

This is by no means a comprehensive list of goals. I have plenty of other, more boring personal goals on the list. (Exercise more, lose weight, books to read, get in touch with old friends, travel, etc). But in an effort to keep my public projects going I'd like to use this blog to chart my progress.