Before I forget, thank you for taking the 1 question survey from last week. It looks like almost 5 times as many people would love to see some Russian recipes here on Healthy and Sane. Very exciting! You can expect to see the very first post soon.
Now onto more relevant things…
How was your Thanksgiving? Did you host this year or traveled to see family or friends? Did you make anything delicious? I stuck to my plan and made an apple pie and roasted brussels sprouts with pomegranates and vanilla-pecan butter. I popped the pie out of the oven right before heading on a drive to my sister-in-law’s for dinner… the hot pie smelled SO incredible the whole way there. I looked pretty ridiculous sitting there with oven mitts and hugging a pie but I’d do it all over again just for the smell.
The pie recipe came from the Joy of Cooking
Looks better than my first pie, right? I’m happy to say I’m pretty comfortable making a pie now… and just like the recipe said – the dough was nice and flaky. Very exciting! The recipe happens to pre-cook the apples as well so you can make the dough and apples the day before and then assemble and bake the whole thing the day of your party. Nice and easy!
Bobby Flay’s brussels sprouts recipe was also a hit with everyone, including brussels sprouts haters. Yay! Although Adam and I preferred the more savory version with capers and anchovies.
Ok, ok, so this post actually has a point (more Thanksgiving pictures of all the fair and puppies and kids will go up today on the Healthy and Sane Facebook page, so check it out if you want more!). I wanted to share a quick and cheap recipe with you that may utilize ingredients you already have at home. Maybe you’re too tired to cook anything elaborate after last week’s feast. Maybe you just got home from your travels and haven’t gone grocery shopping yet…or maybe – like me- you try to avoid all stores at all cost during this holiday weekend so now that your Thanksgiving leftovers are gone, your fridge is looking a little bare. This recipe from Cooking Light for loaded potato soup is for you then! It’s creamy, hearty, healthy; it comes together in a cinch… and it’s delicious. Very delicious!
I made this soup a few weeks ago. It was supposed to be a quick dinner. I had no plans of blogging about it… until I had the first sip. I knew it was a winner and I just had to share. The potatoes are “baked” in the microwave while the bacon is fried. I of course omitted the onions but instead of adding oil, I left a little bacon grease in the pan before adding the broth, milk and the rest of the ingredients. I think this is what gave it that extra smoky flavor that provided a lot of depth to an otherwise simple dish. Seriously, make this soup this winter. I promise you’ll love it! 
What other healthy, quick, cheap and delicious recipes would you recommend? I’d like to make it a regular feature on Healthy and Sane. 
I will be making that soup this week! Thanks for the tip. And that pie looks gorg… I could never do that!!
Let me know how it goes
I would prefer the savory brussels sprouts dish too! Your pie looks so pretty with the lattice crust!
That pie looks gorgeous! I don’t know if I could wait to eat if it I had it on my lap on the way to dinner smelling that good:-)
Hehe, it was about 400* so it was easy to stay away… but it smelled incredible (and tasted incredible too… once it was dessert time!)
Your pie is beautiful! I just saw a new (to me) technique that takes tiny strands of pie crust and braids them into one long braid that you put on the edge of the pie crust all the way around (you seal it with fork tines, but then only see the pretty braid on top). I love the lattice though, and great lighting in those photographs.
That sounds very pretty. I may try it next time
The apple pie looks gorgeous! Glad to hear that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
That recipe is one of my favorites. That soup tastes so much more sinful than it really is and the pie looks gorgeous!
I know! Very surprising.
Agree with you on shortening. The crust looks fabulous
The lattice looks absolutely amazing! And I would do the same thing… oven mitts and all.
what is in that brussel sprout dish? is that tempeh? nice call if so. yummm
It’s actually the vanilla pecan butter chunks
Oh wow your pie looks fantastic!
I’d love to learn how to make a pie, pastry and all.
The soup looks delicious too
It just takes practice (and a good recipe!). Give it a go sometime
What a beautiful pie- it looks outstanding. Beautiful photography, as usual.
I usually make baked potato soup in the crock pot – but this version looks delicious! I will need to give it a try
Ooh, that sounds pretty awesome. Do you have the recipe?
This looks like one of my favorite soups! I’m happy to hear your Thanksgiving went well and your pie turned out!
MMmmm, that pie. The one you made on sunday was stellar, so I’m sure this didn’t disappoint! I made that brussels sprouts recipe, too, but kind of thought the same thing! soup sounds awesome
Your pie looks gorgeous! I’ve yet to make a lattice top.