While Wearing Pearls: What's For Dinner, New Obsession, and My Calendar

Thursday, January 13, 2011

What's For Dinner, New Obsession, and My Calendar

Today is Thursday and that means it's soup night. Don't you just love soup when it's cold?

I saved my chicken caucus and made my own chicken stock. That's right I got three meals from my 4.99 rotisserie chicken. WoooHooo

I know you are wondering what I put into my stock.

Here is what I do:

Place Chicken Caucus in the pot

Cut the following into big chunks: carrots, celery, garlic

Onions cut in half with their skin on. (This helps give the stock it's nice color.

If I have broccoli or cauliflower on hand I will cut up the stems into big pieces and throw into the pot

Couple Peppercorns

Some salt

Any fresh herbs that I have on hand I throw into the pot.

1 Bay Leaf

Cover everything in the pot with water.

Bring to a boil

Turn down the flame to low and cook for another hour.

I took all the vegetables out of the stock and let the stock cook down for 30 minutes.

I strained the stock to get everything that might have been left behind.

Today I decided to make some super simple Tuscan White Bean Soup.

Image from Food Network

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon olive oil

2 shallots, chopped

1 sage leaf

2 (15-ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained and rinsed

4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

4 cloves garlic, cut in 1/2

1/2 cup cream I didn't have so I used Light Sour Cream

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Place a medium, heavy soup pot over medium heat. Add the butter, olive oil, and shallot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the sage and beans and stir to combine. Add the stock and bring the mixture to a simmer. Add the garlic and simmer until the garlic is softened, about 10 minutes. Pour the soup into a large bowl. Carefully ladle 1/3 to 1/2 of the soup into a blender and puree until smooth. Be careful to hold the top of the blender tightly, as hot liquids expand when they are blended. Pour the blended soup back into the soup pan. Puree the remaining soup. Once all the soup is blended and back in the soup pan, add the cream and the pepper Keep warm, covered, over very low heat.

I will be serving this with my homemade Oatmeal Bread.

Since the fall I have had this sudden obsession with Western/Country.

I am not just talking about some stuff. I have started decorating some of the house with the theme. I have been cooking with Country/Western flair (Pioneer Woman Cookbook).

I recently saw this magazine so I had to buy it.

I just love the magazine and I already think that I might be close to becoming a cowgirl...I mean look at that dog he is the spitting image of Bing!!

Now today I made it official, I am a real cowgirl!! (No, I didn't buy land in Texas or a horse).

That's right BOOTS!!! These boots are made for walking and that's what I'm gonna do...

Today the kids and I stopped at a Thrift shop for woman's clothing. Once I am inside there I forget that it's a thrift shop.

I don't EVER buy shoes from a thrift store but I saw these and thought I really would love these. Plus cowboy boots can be pretty expensive and hard to break in.

I have already put in my shoes pads and I am set.

These babies were $20.00 with 15% off so I paid $17.00. Can I get an Amen?!!?

I love the detail and can't wait to wear them tomorrow!!!

Next I have to get myself a cowboy hat. Just kidding.. Maybe I'll buy Tommy some chaps!!! LOL!!!!!

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When 2011 rolled in I had to figure out what kind of calendar I wanted to use for my everyday purpose.

I wanted a calendar that gives me a lot of space for my daily list, thoughts, and ideas.

I couldn't find anything that I liked so I thought hey how about just a notebook.

I decided that I could add in my own dates, but it had to be durable.

Here is what I came up with.