Potato Soup......Soup for a Great Fall ....#SCRUMPTIOUS

 POTATO SOUP

Serves 4 Ingredients:

5 slices bacon

2 cups potatoes, diced

½ cup celery

½ cup onion, chopped

¾ to 1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

½ cup mile

½ cup flour

3 cups milk Directions:

In large saucepan, cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon from saucepan. Set aside.

Add potatoes, celery, onion, salt, pepper and ½ cup milk. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat;

cover and simmer ten minutes or until vegetables are tender. In a 1-quart jar with a

tight-fitting lid, add flour to remaining 3 cups milk, shake well. Gradually stir into

vegetable mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, tor 15 minutes or until

thickened (do not boil). Garnish each serving with crumbled bacon.

Thursday!

Last night, for an entree, I made a Potato Leek soup that I got off the Internet. It was such a great hit, that by the time I thought about taking a picture it was all gone. So if you are wanting to make a very easy soup, that is soooo good and comforting, try this recipe:)
(Photo and recipe is courtesy of SimplyRecipes )


Potato Leek Soup Recipe
Ingredients
3 large leeks, cut lengthwise, separate, clean. Use only the white and pale green parts, chop.
2 Tbsp butter
2 cups water
2 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian option)*
2 lbs potatoes, peeled, diced into 1/2 inch pieces
Marjoram - dash
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme, or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
Tabasco sauce or other red chili sauce
Salt & Pepper
*If cooking gluten-free, be sure to use gluten-free broth.

Method
1 Cook leeks in butter with salt and pepper in a medium sized sauce pan. Cover pan, cook on low heat for 10 minutes. Check often. Do not brown leeks! Browning will give leeks a burnt taste.

2 Add water, broth, and potatoes. Bring to a low simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Scoop about half of the soup mixture into a blender, puree and return to pan. Add marjoram, parsley, and thyme. Add a few dashes of chili sauce to taste. Add some freshly ground pepper, 1-2 teaspoons salt or more to taste.

Serves 4-6.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's a busy day here, in my household, all the kidlets are still sick~~~This cold just hangs on.
Tonight's dinner is going to be chicken. Last night, I made pork chops and peas and carrots. Stuffed mushrooms as an appetizer, salad served first, Potato Leek soup served second and then the meat and veggies. It was a good dinner. Now tonight, I am going to try a new dish, I bought some penne pasta, and I am going to add a can of spicy tomatoes that I got at the store, served next to the chicken:)

Well, I am just trying to keep my household picked up, and taking care of the littles. Happy Thursday!

Happy Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday! I went grocery store shopping yesterday and I bought some onions for this recipe--I am going to use my deep fryer for these--> Click on recipe to enlarge-->
It is out of the Taste Of Home Magazine --August/September 2003 issue.
Last night I made the Golden Potato Casserole--Best potato side dish I have ever had--it was scrumptious! I forgot to take a picture of the casserole out of the oven, this is the casserole after dinner in a container ready to go in the fridge:)
Golden Potato Casserole:
6 large potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
4 cups of cheddar cheese (16 ounces)
1 can condensed cream of chicken soup--undiluted
1 cup of sour cream 1/4 cup of melted butter
8 green onions chopped--(I used 4)
Dash of salt and pepper

Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 12- 15 minutes until tender. Drain.
In a large bowl combine remaining ingredients; gently stir in potatoes. Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish (dish will be full). Bake, uncovered at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.


Here is a picture of my happy fridge after I went shopping---I went to Walmart and the Grocery store. I still have to go to the Farmers Market--

I am one of those people that just loves to stay home and putter--I love to clean, organize, cook, bake and just play house.

I am not a big fan of the park--but I go, because my kids love it there----on days that I don't feel like the park--I let the baby run in the back yard--it is a pretty big back yard---but at the park, it has the sand and the fun toys. At my last house, we had this wonderful swing set--but because of the angle of my yard, it would not fit here---I would like to get some sort of play thing for the yard though--it is not always warm enough for the pool---okay, anyway---my daughter is supposed to go to gymnastics today or tomorrow--which ever day my sister decides she wants to take Emma--the girls are going to do it together--so whatever day, we are ready--Alexis is excited, and I think it will be fun for the girls to do it together.

Tonight's dinner:
South western Onion Rings
Pork Chops
Peas
Fresh Green Salad
(and leftover Potato Casserole)

I took all the trash out of the house, today is trash day--Kevin wheels the big cans to the curb, and I just fill them up..LOL. I have a load of laundry going, I watered the grass already and now I need to empty the dishwasher from last night. I also have this project I am going to do, I have these two built in shelves in my house upstairs and I loaded them with pictures, but it looks cluttered so I am going to straighten that out. .....and of course outside time--I am going to get the kids to the park and let them RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

Happy Wednesday!

Happy Day!

An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

That Irish Blessing, hangs on my Grandmother's wall--it was given to her by a dear friend, so it has a nice meaning to me:)

I made the sugar cookie cake over the weekend, and I have to say, it is my favorite cake EVER!!! I loved it. The recipe is in the post below, just click on the link.
Today we are having a St. Patrick's Day Dinner:
Corned Beef and Cabbage
*Potato Soup---Change to Mashed potatoes instead
Green Salad
Vanilla pudding with added green food coloring...LOL
My table will be set all green with my place mats and doilies.

I also add green food coloring in the toilets--Alexis thinks a leprechaun has visited...
Have a HAPPY DAY!

St. Patrick's Day, Friday Fun Day and Chores

Today is Friday--and I am feeling so much better then I was yesterday--thank you all for your well wishes. I slept really good too, and was up bright and early. Yesterday, I was talking to Alexis's teacher and telling her I might not make it in today, because I was feeling so icky--and she said, don't worry--well, God is good--I feel great and I will be in Alexis's class today--it is her art day, and they call it *Meet the Masters* My husband teases Alexis and says, *I am the Master*--okay it is funny when he says it--it is one of those things that I guess you have to be there. Have you ever made cubed steak? Well, it can be so tough and chewy--my husband just loves cubed steak--so what I did was fry it like Chicken fried steak, and then after that, I put it in a casserole dish and covered it with foil and baked it in the oven for an hour, it came out very tender--YAY!!!

Tonight's dinner, I am going to make Nachos---my husband's favorite, and a very easy kitchen friendly dish --gotta love that.

Tomorrows Dinner:
Saint Patrick's Day
Potato Soup
Corned beef<----I have been asked how to cook it, I just cook it on the stove like a pot roast--it comes with the flavor packet with all the spices and such--so it is really easy---I got mine for 5.77, but now they are in the stores for 2.00 woohoo:)
Steamed Cabbage
Carrots

Irish Soda Bread

Green salad--Romaine, iceberg, carrots, green onions, tomatoes, celery, cucumbers, and cheese--with oil and vinegar dressing
Green jello with whip cream

Chocolate cake with green frosting
Green Kool-aid for the kids<---I am not a fan of Kool-aid, but once in awhile it is a fun drink for the kids--and my motto is, anything in moderation is okay.

Friday's are called Friday Fun days----after I pick up my children from school--I take them to get Slurpee's and a treat---I would say candy--but they usually pick out a piece of beef jerky (LOL). Then we come home and I start in on the weekend chores. I really want to deep clean/organize my daughter's room--my Mother in Law, is going to stay with us for week when the baby comes, so I want that room sparkling!!! She is flying out from Georgia--it will be so nice to have her here--she is such a wonderful Mother in Law--I am truly blessed with Kevin's side of the family.

Friday/weekend to do's and chores
Bake bread
Rolls and bagels
Buy pink Tupperware storage box I saw at walmart for some of Alexis's toys
Laundry
Take training wheels off Alexis's bike and take her to the park
Empty and clean pool
Plant Tomato plants
Clean all showers
Mop floors
Vacuum
Swish toilets
Clean Mirrors
Wash all bedding
You get the idea..LOL

Have a wonderful weekend filled with love and happiness--I will be back to post this weekend, but just in case we don't chat until Monday, I leave you all with ((Gentle Hugs))

Monday's Chatter

I Hope everyone is well rested and had a very nice Sunday. I did not have a chance to post yesterday. How did everyone survive the time change? It did not bother me, I love it when it stays light and warm til late---(Winter time, I will say, I love the how it gets dark early and cold..LOL) I set my alarm just in case, I over slept this morning---but I actually woke up before it went off. I warned my son last night, that morning is going to come a lot quicker, so be prepared, he actually did fine. We took him out to the restaurant of his choice last night for his birthday dinner--he chose the Claim Jumper--which happens to be a family favorite of everyone. A bit pricey, but for a birthday dinner, it is worth it--and the servings are incredible.

I also ended up doing my grocery shopping--I am glad I did--because I have another plan for this week, that I will post about in just a minute. Yesterday it was 85 degrees and it is suppossed to be in the 80's all week--it is so pretty outside. So what did I do? I went back to Wal-Mart and picked up this pool for my daughter---it was $11.88. Kevin and I sat out side, while Alexis played in the water. Well, I got lots of sun---but now, how in the world am I suppossed to get the back of me tan? OOps, I didn't think about that when I was soaking up all the sun yesterday..LOL.

This is what it looks like outside right now--not a cloud in the sky. It is hard for me to believe it is snowing in some places, when it is so warm here--but it isn't icky hot---there is no humidity in California. I think the reason I want a tan so bad is last summer, I was not able to to sit out side, in Georgia, the mosquitos ate me up--no matter what kind of bug repellent I used:( There aren't any mosquitos here--I think it has something to do with the ocean.
I hope everyone has gotten there Corned Beef--All the stores have them right now, and at really great prices. This is the one I bought--->
I am going to make it with Cabbage and carrots and potatoes---and I am thinking for an appetizer some potato soup:) I bought the green koolaid mix--and I bought vanilla icing and I am going to add green food coloring to it to put on my chocolate cake.

Okay, so now, I want to explain something about me----I am an odd ball with my friends and family, A sweet oddball--but still an oddball all the same. There is nothing I enjoy more, then cleaning and cooking and making my home a lovely place for my family. So, I know I post a lot about cooking and cleaning--but that is what I really enjoy doing. I also think I am nesting a bit too, because I keep thinking how I want this clean and that clean before the baby, so I don't have to worry, etc. I have one girlfriend, that is the total opposite---her house is the last thing on her mind----but that is her, not me. I love to take advantage of when my children are at school and my honey is at work to do all this, so when they come home, I can do other things, like take them to the park, beach, play, help with homework, etc. Am I making any sense..??? Anyway, a lot of the blogs that attract me are the ones that have a lot of homemaking posts, cooking posts, cleaning and pictures. I adore every one's blog who comes and visits--it seems we all are interested in all the same things pretty much--Family, being a good person, our relationship with God and so on.

So that is why this morning, I opened all the windows in my home and did a search on the Internet on spring cleaning --and can you believe I found a list I like that I don't have in my notebook.

This is the part on the Kitchen, that I am going to do today, and if I don't finish, I will continue it another day:

Kitchen

*Pull out the refrigerator, clean behind it, and check your manual to see if there is maintenance to do on the coils or other parts of the appliance. (Kevin will have to help me pull it out)
*Clean the inside of your dishwasher. Add 1/2 Cup of Vinegar and run it though a cycle.
*Clean the drip pans under your stove burners.
*Empty the crumbs out of the bottom of your toaster.
*Clean the can opener, paying particular attention to the blade area.
*Clean tiles and grout.
*Sterilize all your phones. These are big breeders of germs- should be done often.

I was not able to make Dinner Rolls or bagels this weekend--and what do you think Alexis asked for this morning, she wanted a bagel--so I promised her I would make her some more bagels. So that is also on my list of things to do today.

Since it is so nice today, I am going to grill chicken tonight--with a wonderful green salad.

To all who visit me here--have a wonderful Monday ((HUGS))

Happy Wednesday.

I know I said I was going to post my menu plan for this week--but sometimes things just happen, and I can not get here to do all the things I would like. My blog is in desperate need of a house cleaning----

Monday's Dinner: Baked Chicken

Tuesday's Dinner: Breaded pork strips

Wednesday's Dinner: Kids night---hubby will be eating dinner at his meeting---he has not missed dinner at home in ages.

Thursday Dinner: Hamburger's with onion soup mix and some sort of potato side

Friday's Dinner: I am thinking of homemade pizza---I will let you know!

Just a little side note about my dinners---my husband's favorite part of dinner is a salad before, so even if I don't type it, a salad is 99.5% always made--and two side dishes--a starch and a cooked veggie--and bread is served a lot too.

As a craft, my daughter painted some more of my pine cones with glue and then glittered them--and we have also been doing that with ornaments for the tree.

My Grandmother has been sick--she had to go to the emergency room for her asthma last night----she is in bed resting now, so hopefully by this weekend she will be all better.

It is very cold here in the mornings---so we have to bundle up. I love the cold so very much.

Happy Wednesday!!

Wednesday's Picture Post

First day of spring--this is what it looked outside my window this morning---I was hoping you could see my bird feeder hanging and there is a little bird on it eating, even in the rain, bless his little heart--we all need to eat even when it rains. It is in the 60's today, not too bad. When I first married my husband, he loved that I made him breakfast every morning--and I would also pack him a lunch--well after a while, he said he felt that he was gaining weight, and did not want me making him lunches anymore--then he asked that I only make breakfast on the weekends. Well, I did what he asked, even though I disagreed, I think it is very unhealthy to go all day with out food and then come home and eat a large dinner. Yesterday, Alexis and I were at the Grocery store and they had these french rolls on sale---> I am going to learn to make these homemade, but they are pretty big, so I know it will take a lot of work and these were priced really good--1.99. So we picked those up--and I went to the deli and bought roast beef and roasted turkey. After my husband went to bed last night--he goes to sleep very early----I made him a roast beef and turkey sandwich---with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, and some cheese--I wrapped all that up seperate and then squirted a little mustard in a tiny tupperware and wrapped the bread up seperate. My husband is very picky--he does not like soggy sandwiches. So when he gets to the office, he will put the mustard on the bread and then stuff all the goodies in the bread---
I also bought little snack bags--and put some trail mix in oneand I put some dried apricots in another---I wrote a little note on the bag--and placed it all in the fridge for him to take with him. I woke up this morning to wish him my love and to have a good day at work and not to forget his lunch--he leaves for work between 4 and 4:30. He later called me and said his lunch was very good--he wasn't too thrilled with the apricots..oops----BUT, he didn't even try them (LOL) So I told him he has to at least try them----My kids just love them and they are so good for you! If you see them in the store, you have to try these dried apricots. I would love to be able to this in my dehyderator.

Over the weekend, I had picked up this package of bran muffin mix--yes, I do buy boxed goods on occasion:)
Since I am pregnant, I need all the fiber I can get--and I just love bran muffins with honey--so I made these over the weekend--I have to say these were the best bran muffins I have ever made. This is what they looked like before being cooked--->
Right out of the oven--->
..and on to a plate. The funny thing is---my kids devoured them----They loved them---hey, I think that is great--I am glad when they like such healthy snacks--so I will be buying this mix again--it was about 3.00 for a box and it made 9 . So I am doing good here--they are eating the trail mix, dried apricots and now the bran muffins--I just need to get my husband to at least taste an apricot--(LOL)

Now, on to something fun. This is the cake I made for St.Patrick's Day--it is a chocolate cake with vanilla frosting--that I added green food coloring too--yummy:)

I also made *The Best Ever Potato Onion Soup* Oh my--it was the best ever!!!!
Here is the recipe card--and if you click on the picture it should enlarge to get the recipe--->
This is what mine looked like when I made it--and it went fast. It was a nice beginning to my special St. Patrick's day dinner. I used my emersion blender to make it creamy smooth.Here is a tip I want to share: Whether you make your own cleaner or buy it--I bought spray bottles at the .99 cents store--and I filled them with glass cleaner, all purpose cleaner and each bathroom has those bottles--I also have in my kitchen a bottle with bleach and water, a bottle with Vinegar and water--and I have one with just plane water to spritz my birds or my plants--(They are all Labeled)-It is so nice to have glass cleaner in every bathroom for quick cleans of spots on the mirror or fixtures.
Last night for dinner, I made pizza with a green salad--it was very good. Tonight, I am going to make meatball subs and I am going to use those french rolls I have pictured above--and top them with lots of cheese--I will take pictures of them when they are done--I will serve those with a green salad. I am sure it will be a nice fun dinner. Well, I hope you all have a very nice First day of spring---I will be by to visit you soon xoxox