COLD DAY, WARM SOUPS

I made two delicious and simple soups tonight.  Normally I make a huge pot of soup and we have tons of leftovers.  Tonight I resisted the urge to make a huge pot and it worked for the butternut squash soup, but not for the creamy potato soup!  Even so, I'm only left with one bowl of butternut squash in the fridge.  I can't believe how my kids devoured that much potato soup.  I'm tempted to make it again....like, tomorrow!  Here are the recipes:

(Butternut Squash Soup with a little cream.....HEAVEN!)

Butternut Squash Soup (revised a bit from Allrecipes)
1/2 of a 2-3 lb butternut squash 
2 Tbsp butter
med. onion, chopped
1/4 c. flour
4 c. chicken stock
nutmeg/salt/pepper to taste

First, I preheated my oven to 350 degrees.  I cut my squash in half and seeded it.  Then I placed it face down on a cookie sheet sprayed with cooking spray or oil and baked it for 45 min. to 1 hour.  I just check for it to be fork tender through the peel.  I cooked my squash earlier in the day, then you start by melting the butter in your stock pot then add the chopped onion.  Cook until translucent.  Then add your flour and stir it into the onions and butter.  Whisk in your chicken stock and let simmer.  While that's simmering away, I put 1/2 of my roasted squash in the blender with a little bit of the broth from the stock pot.  Once it's pureed, pour it carefully into the broth and stir.  Then season with nutmeg and pepper, taste.  Add salt if needed.
Delicious!

Creamy Potato Soup
2 Tbsp butter
1 onion, chopped
1/4 c. flour
6 c. chicken broth
Diced potatoes (I didn't count how many....maybe 2-2 1/2 lbs)
1 c. cream (or half & half, or any milk)
1 cup of grated cheese
season to taste with salt/pepper/oregano/thyme


Heat your stockpot with the butter, when melted add the chopped onions and cook until translucent.  When the onions are done add the flour (you may need a bit more) and stir.  Whisk in the chicken broth and add the diced potatoes.  Keep at a low boil until the potatoes are very tender, then mash with a potato masher.  Stir again and add the cream, seasonings, and cheese.  Stir to combine, taste.  Adjust seasonings if needed.  So delicious!

We had rolls and cornbread with our two soups and it was such a feast!  Enjoy!

4 THANKSGIVING CRAFTS AND A "BOO" BANNER

I know, I know.....I've neglected this blog.  There's a great reason for this.....I've totally neglected crafting!  I'm recommitted to taking some time for me to create and post what I finish.  I have stored up lots of ideas and supplies lately and hope banish procrastination!  Here are 4 crafts that I actually accomplish recently for Thanksgiving.  First, Turkey Flowers as seen here.  I really love how mine turned out!

 Second, my burlap placemats.  I've seen these on several blogs.  My mom made the placemats for me, just a zigzag stitch around the edges and then she frayed the four sides.  I took 3 different foam alphabet stamps, 6 words and black paint and started stamping.  I love all three designs.

 Third, my framed pumpkin in the bronze glittered frame.  It's not exactly what I pictured, but I like it enough.

 A closer shot of the frame.

 Fourth, a glittered dollar store pumpkin.  It was hard to get every little bit covered.  I'm glad I used a coupon to buy the glitter spray paint.  It wasn't worth the money to me.  The can was pretty small and only finished an 8x10 frame and this little pumpkin.  Oh well, I'm glad I tried it!

 Finally, here's my "boo" banner.  I started this last year and then quickly put it away.  I was proud of myself for finishing it up before Halloween this year.  Sadly, it's still on my piano.  I'm pretty sure I'll take it down when the Christmas decorations go up....I hope!

 Closer shot.

 And even closer!

I used chipboard to cut out the banner, lots of gemstones, ribbon, stickers, paper and embellishments in my stash.  The owl was a die cut from the dollar store.

Here's to a great month of crafting!

BACK TO COOKING!

It's been a hot week here.....VERY HOT!!!!  We've seen 113 - 118 degree weather all week and to make matters worse....our van's a/c broke!!!!!  The last thing you'd think I would be doing is cooking, but I am.  I never have enough time to cook in the afternoons during the school week.  I always think "I can't wait for the weekend when I can have time to cook/bake" but it never materializes.  I get excited to not have a normal schedule and I ditch the kitchen.  I guess without a way to leave the house (remember the van without a/c) I'm stuck indoors and decided to cook.  I'm currently baking chicken drumsticks that were covered in seasoned breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese.  I also threw 6 drumsticks in a stockpot and covered with water. 

       

It's boiling on my stove top and is the beginning of a chicken noodle soup to be enjoyed this evening and maybe tomorrow.  I even browned up some pork country style spare ribs and placed them in a baking dish.  They're in the fridge waiting for their sauce and to be placed in a low heat oven tomorrow morning.  Can't wait to come home and enjoy them for lunch over some rice.

Presenting today's lunch:
Baked Drumsticks with Mashed Potato Pancakes or just mashed potatoes (ok...maybe I'm the only one who will enjoy the pancakes since the boys made faces.)
                                                                                                  
Sorry I didn't take a photo of the beautifully browned potato pancakes...they were so good!  Tony and I were the only ones who ate them.  The chicken turned out nice and moist....delish!!!!!  Now if I could just find my air pop popper I could make some cinnamon bun popcorn or some peanut butter and honey popcorn.

AUDRA'S BRIDAL SHOWER RECIPES

Here was the menu:

Veggies with dip

Fruit

Hot Corn Dip with Tortilla Chips

Hummus and Pita Chips

Sliced Apples and Toffee Apple Dip

Cinnamon Sugar Chips and Pumpkin Dip

It was all so yummy that I had to come home with recipes! I've already made the Toffee Apple Dip for my friends....YUM!

TOFFEE APPLE DIP (Anna Jensen)

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/4 c. granulated sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 (8 oz) package Heath toffee bits (I found these at Walmart, but I don't think it was 8 oz. Use what you can find)

Beat cream cheese, sugars and vanilla together until fluffy. Stir in toffee bits and serve with sliced apples.

Next up....

PUMPKIN DIP WITH CINNAMON SUGAR CHIPS (Anna Jensen)

16 oz. light cool whip, thawed

1 (5 oz) packet instant vanilla pudding

1 (15 oz) can Libby's pumpkin

1 1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1/2 tsp. vanilla

In a large bowl mix together pudding, pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla. Gently stir in cool whip. Mix about 5 minutes for smooth mixture. Refrigerate until serving.

CINNAMON SUGAR TORTILLA STRIPS

about 7 large tortillas sliced with a pizza cutter

1 Tbsp. cinnamon

1/2 c. sugar

butter flavored cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix cinnamon and sugar in bowl. Place strips on foil-lined baking sheet. Spray pam on top side facing you. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar on top. Lightly spray pam again. Bake 10 minutes or until brown - cool. Then serve with pumpkin dip.

And finally...

HOT CORN DIP WITH TORTILLA CHIPS (Anna Jensen)

2 Tbsp. butter - divided

3 1/2 c. corn (fresh or frozen)

1/2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. pepper

1/2 c. finely chopped roasted red bell peppers (from a jar)

1 c. finely chopped yellow onion

1/4 c. chopped green onions

1 jalapeno, seeded and minced

2 tsp. minced garlic

1/2 c. mayo

1/4 tsp. cayenne

4 oz. monterey jack, shredded - divided

4 oz. sharp cheddar, shredded - divided

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt 1 Tbsp. butter in pan, then add the corn, salt and pepper. Cook about 5 minutes until deep golden brown, put aside in bowl. Then melt another 1 Tbsp. butter in pan and add the red peppers and yellow onion. When the onion is wilted, add the green onions, jalapeno and garlic. Cook for at least 2 minutes, then transfer to the bowl with the corn. Next, add the mayo, cayenne and 1/2 of the cheeses. Mix well and pour into an 8" baking dish. Top with the other 1/2 of the cheeses and bake for 10-12 minutes - until golden.

I can't wait to make the other two recipes soon! I'll post other recipes that Audra received at the shower soon. Here's what you can look forward too:

Party Cheese Ball

Crockpot Pesto Lasagna (we've had this and the boys LOVED it!)

Broiled Tilapia Parmesan (Colton, Tony and I LOVE this one too!)

Black Bottom Cupcakes

UPDATE

I know I've neglected this site.....I feel like I've neglecting anything creative for a while. I went to my photos to see if I could find ANYTHING somewhat creative to post and help jump start my creative juices. Here's what I found. The DELICIOUS chocolate cake I made for Asher's 12th birthday!

My first attempt at roasting pumpkin seeds. Here they are all rinsed and ready for the oven. I have to say they were fabulous and we couldn't stop eating them! It will be a tradition in this house!

Thanksgiving! This year we had two of them. First, the Saturday before the holiday. My brother and his wife came into town to be with his six kids and we couldn't pass up an opportunity to celebrate with all of them. I then turned right around on Thanksgiving day and made my 2nd turkey! It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without my chocolate pecan pie!!!

Here's my find from the farmers market this past month - swiss chard! I love swiss chard and it always reminds me of Papa's garden. He and Mita loved it too and I have to say that this batch was definitely Mita and Papa worthy!

Baked zucchini!!!! I used to love getting fried zucchini when we ate out. I've wanted to try baking it for quite some time and finally took a recipe and did just that. My kids ate it up so quick I could barely get a photo! We will be making these again soon!

I've slowed down on photography lately, but decided to start capturing more of our everyday life. This tree is behind our home and I thought it was so pretty to look at our gorgeous sunset through it. I think I should take more opportunities photographing beauty like this.

Finally.....my third turkey dinner in as many months. We celebrated Presidents Day with a full turkey dinner. It gave me an excuse to make stuffing and sweet potato gratin with our mashed potatoes. A very yummy meal and yummy leftovers!

When I started grabbing photos it was inspiration enough

that my life hasn't been without any creativity.

And now for the best creation of 2011:

My niece - Jade!

Congratulations, Sean & Catherine!