Double Thick Baked Potato-Cheese Soup

2 lbs. baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

2 cans (10 1/2 oz each) condensed cream of mushroom (or chicken) soup

1 1/2 c. finely chopped green onions, divided

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/8 tsp. ground red pepper

1 1/2 c. (6 oz) shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 c. (8 oz) sour cream

1 c. milk

black pepper

1. Combine potatoes, soup, 1 c. green onions, garlic powder and red pepper in slow cooker. Cover; cook on LOW 8 hours or HIGH 4 hours.

2. Add cheese, sour cream, and milk; stir until cheese has completely melted. Cover; cook on HIGH 10 minutes. Season to taste with black pepper. Garnish with remaining green onions. Makes 7 servings.

I have also added bacon to add a bit more flavor. This soup works great with some bread to scoop it up in.

M&M Kit Kat Cake

Ok, so this isn't at all related to dinner but it's cute and fun to make and I thought I would share my take on the M&M Kit Kat Cake! 

What you need:

2 Cake Mixes

Frosting (I will add the recipe I used) 

12 Kit Kat Bars

1 Large bag of M&Ms (medium might work if you don't snack on them)

1 piece of ribbon for bow, whatever color you would like

(I wanted a very chocolately cake so I make devil's food cake and used chocolate frosting but you could use any type of cake and frosting. For Leata's 7th birthday, she wants a pink, red and white one with white chocolate kit kats and a strawberry cake with vanilla frosting.)

Make the 4-9 inch cakes with the 2 cake mixes. 

While those are baking make the frosting if you are not using store bought. Homemade frosting works so much better though

The frosting I used:

(Double this recipe)

2 3/4 cups powdered sugar

8 TBSP unsweetened Cocoa Powder

5 TBSP Evaporated Milk

8 TBSP Butter

1 tsp Vanilla

Sift powdered Sugar and cocoa powder together in one bowl. 

Mix all other ingredients and then slowly add in the dry mixture. Beating until fluffy and airy. 

This is a rich frosting that spreads easily.

After the cakes cool completely, use three of the cakes with frosting between each layer and frost the sides and top. It doesn't need to look perfect. 

You will have a leftover cake that you won't use. Make it a smash cake or use the extra batter to make cupcakes or just have an extra layer in case one falls apart.

After the cake is frosted add the kit kats one at at time around the edges.

Separate the M&M and start on the outside with the color that you have the most of. In the case of the one pictured, I had  a lot of oranges. Then just go in to the center with another color and repeat colors when you have used all the colors you like. 

I piled icing with a large star tip in the empty space between the Kit Kats and the M&Ms and I also did around the bottom. After that is done, tie the ribbon around the Kit Kats. I added M&Ms around the bottom for the finishing touch!