Tomato Soup

As promised, I am back with the tomato soup recipe.

I found this recipe from none other then the "Pioneer Woman" cookbook.

Image and recipe from Pioneer Woman

Ingredients

• 6 Tablespoons Melted Butter
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 1 whole Medium Onion, Diced
• 1 bottle (46 Oz.) Tomato Juice
• 2 cans (14 Oz. Cans) Diced Tomatoes
• 1 Tablespoon (up To 3 Tablespoons) Chicken Base
• 3 Tablespoons (up To 6 Tablespoons) Sugar
• 1 pinch Salt
• Black Pepper To Taste
• 1 cup Cooking Sherry (I did not add this and it was still AWESOME!!) Next time I will put the sherry in.
• 1-1/2 cup Heavy Cream
• Chopped Fresh Parsley
• Chopped Fresh Basil

Preparation Instructions

Sauté diced onions in butter until translucent. Then add canned tomatoes, tomato juice, chicken base, sugar, pinch of salt, black pepper and stir. Bring to a near boil, then turn off heat. Add in sherry and cream and stir. Add in parsley and basil to taste.
Adjust other seasonings and serve with yummy, crusty bread on a cold blustery, dreary, depressing, rainy, snowy day. Then close your eyes.
And give thanks for soups like this.

I made this soup two days before. The longer this soup sits the better it tastes.

I tripled this recipe.

Using Up the Food in My Pantry

In 23 days we will be heading out for vacation!! We are so excited here!!

Anyway before we leave for vacation I would like to try and use up everything in the pantry and fridge.

I still need to go to the food store for our dairy products and all of our every day necessities.

So I looked at the pantry today and decided to use up all our marshmellows, Rice Krispies, and Lentils.

I know what a great combination!!

I bet you know what I did with the marshmellows and Rice Krispies. That's right Rice Krispies Treat. However, I had a little fun with it!!! Are you ready to see my creation?

 Does it look like watermelon? The lighting is not working well for the red part.

If the red was darker it might look like a watermelon. I didn't have regular raisins so I had to use cranberry raisins.

Now the kids have a nice dessert if they finish their lentil dinner.

I cooked the lentils, carrots, and onions in boiling water for about 15-20 minutes.

While all that was cooking I made the dressing in the bottom of the serving bowl.

1tbsp Dijon Mustard

2 cloves of garlic chopped

Salt and Pepper to taste

The Juice of 1 Lemon

2 tbsp of Cider Vinegar

I whisked this up and then slowly added EVOO.

I chopped up some celery, roasted red peppers, heirloom tomatoes, and a mix of cheeses. Once the lentils cooked I added them to the bowl. I mixed everything together. Added some more salt and pepper to taste. I let it sit on the counter till ready to serve. Serve with some tasty bread.

I love making up recipes like this.

Daffodils and Sunday Tradition

Daffodil days are here!!!

I love seeing the bright yellow in the house!!! In fact my spring accent color is YELLOW!!!

That means that the house will have little pops of yellow all around!!!!

I bought four pots of daffodils last week for $5.00. I think that's a great deal to bring a little sunshine into our house!!! When the weather gets little warmer I will be able to replant the daffodils for next year!!!

This was last weeks dining table centerpiece. The flowers grew too wild so I had to remove them from the dining room table. I have a new centerpiece this week!!

Our Sunday Tradition.

I think that this tradition started back in the fall during football season.

Every week, I make up some platter for us to pick at our leisure.

I try to have a least one or two types of fruit

cheese of some sort

2-3 different types of veggies

Every one's favorite bean dip so we can dip our veggies and pita chips.

Sometimes I even put out some crackers!!!

My family LOVES this tradition!!! They are looking forward to taking it outside on the deck in the next couple of weeks!!

Do you have any family traditions?

I hope you had a great weekend!!



Soup, Dessert, and a Funny Story

Soup season is coming to a close at our house. This brought great concern to Ballerina who wanted to know what we would be eating on Thursdays. I stop making soup at the end of March, I feel that April is too warm for soup. However, I do make Matzoh Ball Soup for Passover.

This past Thursday I made Lentil soup. It was the best Lentil soup I've ever had. Ballerina even declared it her favorite soup!!! (That's a big deal.)

I got the recipe from Lucinda Scala Quinn's Mad Hungry TV Show.

 I doubled the recipe so I could freeze half of it for later this month!!

Serves 6 to 8

2 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 onion, chopped (3/4 cup)

2 carrots, peeled and chopped (3/4 cup)

2 celery stalks, peeled and chopped (2/3 cup)

3 garlic cloves, minced (1 tablespoon)

1 tablespoon coarse salt

1 small tomato, chopped (1/3 cup)

1 tablespoon tomato paste

2 cups brown or green lentils

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1 small bay leaf

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

6 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth

4 cups water, plus more if needed

2 teaspoons red wine vinegar

Garlic Croutons, optional


Directions


1.Heat a large soup pot over high heat and swirl in the olive oil. Add the onion, carrots, celery, garlic, and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Reduce the heat to low and saute until the vegetables are lightly caramelized, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another 2 minutes.


2.Add the lentils, thyme, bay leaf, pepper, and the remaining 2 teaspoons salt. Add the broth and water, and bring to a boil, skimming and discarding any foam as it rises to the surface. Reduce the heat and simmer until the lentils are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. (The cooking time depends on the age of the dried lentils.) Stir in the vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper. If needed, thin the soup with additional water or broth for the desired consistency. Serve in a bowl topped with fresh croutons, if using.

Now, this next recipe came from "The Pioneer Woman" Cookbook. In the cookbook it says that you have to make this Chocolate Cake right away because you haven't lived until you've eaten this cake.

The Best Chocolate Sheet Cake Ever!!

Image from Pioneer Woman Blog

Ingredients



•FOR THE CAKE:

•2 cups Flour

•2 cups Sugar

•¼ teaspoons Salt

•4 Tablespoons (heaping) Cocoa

•2 sticks Butter

•1 cup Boiling Water

•½ cups Buttermilk

•2 whole Beaten Eggs

•1 teaspoon Baking Soda

•1 teaspoon Vanilla


•_____


•FOR FROSTING:


•½ cups Finely Chopped Pecans

•1-¾ stick Butter

•4 Tablespoons (heaping) Cocoa

•6 Tablespoons Milk

•1 teaspoon Vanilla

•1 pound (minus 1/2 Cup) Powdered Sugar

Preparation Instructions


In a mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt.


In a saucepan, melt butter. Add cocoa. Stir together.


Add boiling water, allow mixture to boil for 30 seconds, then turn off heat. Pour over flour mixture, and stir lightly to cool.






In a measuring cup, pour the buttermilk and add beaten eggs, baking soda, and vanilla. Stir buttermilk mixture into butter/chocolate mixture. Pour into sheet cake pan and bake at 350-degrees for 20 minutes.

While cake is baking, make the icing. Chop pecans finely. Melt butter in a saucepan. Add cocoa, stir to combine, then turn off heat. Add the milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Stir together. Add the pecans, stir together, and pour over warm cake.


Cut into squares, eat, and totally wig out over the fact that you’ve just made the best chocolate sheet cake. Ever!!!!!

Ballerina helped me make the cake

Our Review of the cake....

Tommy thought it was AMAZING!!!!

I thought it was very good. I'm not a big fan of chocolate cake I prefer a chocolate bar. I also woke up around 2:00 am with some bad heart burn.
Speed Racer sang the entire time he ate the cake and then he cuddled up with me and thanked me for dessert. (I think he loved the cake)
Ballerina also loved the cake.

If you want to be a rock star then you want to make this cake!!!

As you all know I decorate for every holiday. That includes St. Patrick's Day!! We are proud Irish people here!!! (Ballerina thinks that St. Patrick's day is a day we celebrate her second cousin Patrick.) I try explaining it to her but she wants to celebrate her cousin. What's the harm?

I have this decoration that I usually put by the kitchen sink, but this year I thought that I would put it on the coffee table.

Here is the cute little leprechaun that I thought the kids would like to look at.

The other day I heard Speed Racer say to Tommy "That little man is looking at me."

Speed Racer made a big mistake by telling Tommy that piece of information, because Tommy likes to tease Speed Racer. Tommy moves the leprechaun closer to Speed Racer when he is not looking so he thinks that the leprechaun is coming to get him.

Speed Racer laughs very uncomfortably and moves the leprechaun away from him. It's something that has happened a dozen times this weekend.

We have plans to move it all around the house where Speed Racer can find it!!!

I know we're mean but it's sooooo much fun!! LOL.

Hope you had a great weekend!!!

Sandwiches

Last night, I made this incredible and easy dinner.

I wish that we had left overs because I and dreaming of this sandwich right now!!

The sandwich is very healthy and vegetarian.

Here is the sandwich and recipe.

Enjoy!!!

Image by Real Simple

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 15.5-ounce cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped, plus 1/2 cup whole parsley leaves

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

4 plum tomatoes, diced

4 pitas or pieces flat bread, warmed

1 8-ounce container hummus

1 small red onion, thinly sliced

1 teaspoon hot sauce (such as Tabasco)

1/2 cup plain yogurt

1 lemon, cut into wedges

Preparation

Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chickpeas and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly browned, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Add the lemon juice, chopped parsley, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper and toss.

In a small bowl, combine the whole parsley leaves, tomatoes, and the remaining oil, salt, and pepper.

Divide the warm pitas or flat bread among individual plates and spread with the hummus. Top with the chickpeas, onion, and hot sauce. Serve with the parsley salad, yogurt, and lemon wedges.

Tip: For a particularly rich and tangy topping, use thick, creamy Greek yogurt.



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!!!!!

=========================================================

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.

Boring and Ugly right?

So I decided to spice it up!!!

I covered with some paper that I bought for 10 cents.

I added some ribbon and lace that I had around the house.

I found Imagine in my scrap booking collection.

I liked it but I didn't love it. I felt that it needed something else.

I looked around the house and came up with this...

Now I Love it!! It gave it the little spice that it needed!!

I added some bling, because you know me I love me some bling bling!!!

Imagine is my theme this year!!!! Well at least until this book is filled!!!

I even covered the inside of the book!!!

Gonna sign off to go saddle up my horse. hahah!!!



Exercise Partner and Chicken Spaghetti

Good Morning, hopefully you are waking up to too much snow this morning.

We got about 5-6 inches. I am hoping that I will be able to use a snowman kit today!!!

Back in December I started exercising just so I feel better through out the day. I didn't join a gym, I just use DVD tapes.

As soon as I started exercising someone I know asked if she could exercise with me. I thought hey Great!!!

So here is my exercise buddy...

Ballerina exercises with me every time I exercise. We give each other positive encouragement to keep up the good work. She always asks me to exercise even though sometimes I am too tired!! She is a great exercise buddy. She really does get into it.

Not only do I have an exercise partner but I also have a cheering section!!

(If you don't have a cheering section you just think about getting one for yourself)

Don't they look like a wild cheering squad!!

I do have to say that Speed Racer did try to exercise last week but a certain dance expert told him he was doing it wrong!! LOL!!! I of course told Ballerina we can always do things our own way as long as we got moving. Then I started acting goofy!!





When we are done exercising we give each other hugs, high fives, and Girl Power!!

Boy, we both need a manicure!!

Monday night was pasta night and I still had half a rotisserie chicken in the fridge so when I saw the recipe for Chicken Spaghetti in "The Pioneer Woman" cookbook I declared this is what we will have for dinner!!!

Image from Pioneer Woman Website
Ingredients



■2 cups Cooked Chicken


■3 cups Dry Spaghetti, Broken Into Two Inch Pieces


■2 cans Cream Of Mushroom Soup


■2 cups Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese


■¼ cups Finely Diced Green Pepper


■¼ cups Finely Diced Onion


■1 jar (4 Ounce) Diced Pimentos, Drained


■2 cups Reserved Chicken Broth From Pot


■1 teaspoon Lawry's Seasoned Salt


■⅛ teaspoons (to 1/4 Teaspoon) Cayenne Pepper


■Salt And Pepper, to taste


■1 cup Additional Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese


Preparation Instructions


Cook 1 cut up fryer and pick out the meat to make two cups. Cook spaghetti in same chicken broth until al dente. Do not overcook. When spaghetti is cooked, combine with remaining ingredients except additional 1 cup sharp cheddar. I skipped this step because I had the Rotisserie Chicken leftover. I just cooked my spaghetti in water.






Place mixture in casserole pan and top with remaining sharp cheddar. Cover and freeze up to six months, cover and refrigerate up to two days, or bake immediately: 350 degrees for 45 minutes until bubbly. (If the cheese on top starts to get too cooked, cover with foil).





Our Reviews:
 
I thought it was ok. I am not really into creamy food!! I would make it again if requested.
Tommy thought it was pretty good!!
Speed Racer ate his right up!!! (He pretty much eats anything when dessert is at stake).
Ballerina she ate out all of the peppers and declared she was done!!
 
If you like creamy things then you will love this recipe!!!
 
Yesterday I took the kids on a little field trip to the East Stroudsburg Airport. I know you a like I didn't know you have an airport!! Its really for parachuting, sightseeing, and junk cars.
 
Well needless to say Speed Racer was thrilled to pieces. He requested that he be able to take two people there. Pops and Uncle Dun buggy (Tommy's brother).
 
Here is what we saw...
 
 

The Plane

I have to get a car just like this!!!

I love the trash can top!!!

The kids wanted to know if this is Daddy's plane. I love that they think Tommy has a plane!!

This reminds me of me and Tommy. We both want an old fixer upper I want an old Waggoner/Cherokee and he wants an old red pick up truck.

 
  I can't wait to go back in the spring so we can walk around!!!
 
Happy Digging!!!!
 

Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot Pie and Snow

Looks like we are going to hit with some more SNOW!!

Lately, I think that I am losing it because I want it snow!! I want a lot of snow.

Maybe I'm not losing it, maybe I am a Stay at Home Mom with 4 year old twins.

When it snows we can go outside and play!!!

The kids play while I shovel. You know me I can't sit still!!!

Once my work is done then I play too!!!

This is what our last Snow Day looked like!!!

This Fire Truck has some good snow tires!!

Making Snow Angels even though the snow isn't deep enough.

;





You've heard of brown noser here you have a snow noser!!




I always have our hot cocoa ready!!! We are freezing when we come inside!!




 



Don't you just love all the new Peeps. I got these for 9 cents!!!

For Snack I made snow flakes out of a pita (since I didn't have tortillas). I melted some butter and sprinkled cinnamon sugar on the pita and cooked then for 4 minutes. Added some apples and whipped cream.

Love reading books to the kids. Here are the books we read. I just love the "Olivia and the Snow Day"

The kids went to town with snow flake stamps!!

I am all ready for this snow storm. I bought all the ingredients to make my homemade hot cocoa and marshmallows. (Stayed tuned for that.)

I bought some Borax (I know your wondering what are you going to do with Borax. (Stay Tuned)

We went to the library and got 10 books about Snow and Shrek 1, 2, and 3!! (Since I couldn't find Spider Man 2 and 3.

We are all set. I just need to go to the store for some onions!!! Maybe some flowers too!!!

On Sunday I made Chicken Pot Pie from half of the BJ's Rotisserie Chicken.

Of course the recipe is from "The Pioneer Woman Cookbook"

I think that Tommy and Speed Racer thought I was a Rock Star for making this!!!

Tommy said this is the best Chicken Pot Pie he ever had. That's ok I've never made chicken pot pie before!! I never really cared for it.

Speed Racer ate his in four minutes.

Ballerina... well let's just say that she's not a big dinner eater.

I liked the Pot Pie and will make it again!!

Don't you just love the heart I added!!!

Leftover Chicken Pot Pie

1 pie crust (1/2 of Perfect Pie Crust recipe) I used store made crust!!!

1/2 stick butter

1/2 cup finely diced onion

1/2 cup finely diced carrot

1/2 cup finely diced celery

2 cups leftover chicken or turkey, light and dark, diced or shredded (or both!)

1/4 cup flour

2 cups low-sodium chicken or turkey broth

splash of white wine (optional) I didn't have white wine so I used beer.

1 cup heavy cream I didn't have heavy cream so I used light sour cream

Frozen peas (optional)

Fresh thyme, chopped I didn't have thyme so I used ground sage

salt and pepper to taste



Preheat oven to 400 degrees.



Melt butter in a skillet or dutch oven. Add onion, carrots, and celery, and cook until translucent (a couple of minutes.)

Add turkey and stir. Sprinkle flour over mixture and stir. Cook over medium heat for a couple of minutes, stirring constantly.

Pour in chicken or turkey broth, stirring constantly. Splash in wine (you can leave this out if you’d like.) Pour in cream. (May add frozen peas at this point if you’d like.)

Bring to a slow boil and allow mixture to cook and thicken for a few minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste (do not underseason), and fresh or dried thyme to taste. Do one final taste at the end and add what it needs.

Pour mixture into a casserole dish or deep pie pan.

Roll out crust so that it’s about 1 inch larger than the pan you’re using.

Place the crust on top of the pot pie mixture, and press crust into the sides of the dish. Cut vents in the top of the crust.

Bake for 30 minutes or until very golden and bubbly.

Allow to cool for a little bit before serving.

Serve with a large spoon.

I know that right now you are wondering what I did with the other half of the BJ's Rotisserie Chicken come back tomorrow to see what I did with it!!