Monday, November 21, 2011

Thanks again!

I have had a few requests for a fabulous soup I make and thought I'd give it a share:

German Potato Soup (GF of course!)


1 pound potatoes (washed and diced)
2 leeks (trimmed and diced)
2 carrots (peeled and diced)
1 cup chopped cabbage
4 cups Beef Broth (I like Pacific Natural Food's version)
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce (Lea and Perrin's)
1/2 cup sour cream
6-8 slices bacon (cooked and crumbled)

Combine leek, carrots, cabbage, broth and potatoes into Crock-Pot. Stir in seasonings. Cover and cook on low 8 to10 hours or High 4 to 5 hours. Remove bay leaf. Using slotted spoon remove potatoes and mash, Combine potatoes with sour cream. Return to Crock-Pot and stir. Stir in bacon pieces. Serves 6 to 8.

This soup is a huge hit at my house and it's so simple too! Yum, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!

I also wanted to take the opportunity to write my thoughts on Thanksgiving. Now, don't get me wrong, I love the fact that there is an entire holiday dedicated to giving thanks...I just wish more of an emphasis was put on this for everyday. Use this time to teach your children about gratitude and what it really means to be thankful for the things we have. I know that times are rough everywhere, we are not excluded from this at my house either. Before you become bitter about the things you are doing without, remember the things you have. I would be doing myself a great injustice if I didn't take the time to be thankful for what I have and here goes (in no particular order):

My children. They have given me more opportunity to learn and grow in this life than any other person or experience could. We don't always have much, but there is no doubt how much I love them and that is all that matters, right? Thank you, thank you for letting my be your mother.

My family. I'm not sure what I did right on the other side, but I got the very best parents, siblings, in-laws (ex does not do them justice), cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles a girl could ever ask for. Thank you, thank you for being mine!

My Man. My love, my best friend, my cohort, my warmth. You love my children as your own and for that I am so very, very lucky. You constantly amaze me with your strength and that smile is unmatched, thank you.

This is just a drop in the bucket and I could go on like this forever! Have you taken a moment to say thanks? Maybe it's about time for you too. ;0)

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

How I love you "sew"

"Littlest Pet Shop" Dress for my little niece

and the back

"Littlest Pet Shop" Dress 2 for my older niece

and the back
As you can see, I HAVE been busy with a few more extra-curricular activities (other than work!) and all of which have included making things for people in my life. I love to receive hand-made things and I think it is so fun to make things specifically for people, that you know they can't just go out and buy.

The first two dresses I made were for my nieces (who are obsessed with "Little Pet Shop" toys). The only thing I didn't have in my stash were the t-shirts and I picked those up at Target in clearance for a couple of bucks each! I happened to have picked up a remnant of "Littlest Pet Shop" material sometime ago and knew that a couple of custom dresses would be the perfect birthday presents for my nieces! I paired them with some great pink gingham fabric and the bright turquoise that had the same colors as the "Littlest Pet Shop" material and made each dress a little different. I am a Mom after all and I understand how alike things look when they are lumped together in the laundry! (yipes!) They turned out so pretty too!

"Cars" vest for my nephew

and the back
Well, you can't really make dresses for the sisters and not make something for the brother too, right? Haha, my nephew had a birthday too and I had a plan! This boy loves anything cars related and I thought this "Cars" material paired with a great gingham would do the trick. I actually made this from a "Simplicity" pattern, replacing the back panel with gingham fabric and lining the entire thing in the gingham as well. I think I've mentioned that my machine makes terrible button holes and I wanted his mom to be able to fasten it up, so I recycled a button placket from a .50 cent find from the thrift store and put it to good use! The snaps in the back to cinch it tight were recycled from the same piece and honestly, I don't think I could have done it cheaper! I mean, how cute is this? ;0D

Pretty pillow for my co-worker

and the back too.
Grandma, let me know if the material on the front of this looks familiar...(and thanks!)

I have a wonderful co-worker that turned 35 the other day (I'm not far behind...yipes!) and I wanted to make a little something for her (mostly because I'm flat broke...again). I kind of asked her out of the blue what colors her bedroom were. She told me they were mostly neutrals and that her accent color was a red/orange. Turns out I had something pretty in my stash that would do! I had some quilted material and some fuzzy material that were neutral and paired with this gorgeous print was...well, awesome! I know she and her husband have dogs and so, I made a slip cover that was easily removable and tied it up in the back with a pretty bow. She loved it! My other co-workers couldn't believe I had made it. I guess it looked pretty good! ;0)

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

What I love about Fall!



It's simple really. Well, beyond the cooler temperatures (I live in an area of the southwest that sees fairly extreme temps in the summer and the cooler weather is such a relief!) and the shorter days and the opportunities for some fantastic family activities (think Halloween and Thanksgiving and all the busy stuff that includes), it really is simple. I love fall for the opportunity for all that great cooler-weather cooking I get to do!

You see, when your house is about 80 degrees already and it's 100+ outside, turning on the oven or the stove-top to heat stuff up is incredibly unappealing. We eat a lot of simple meals in the summertime. The cooler weather, therefore, gives me opportunity to be creative in the kitchen once again! Yes! This evening was no exception with this delicious (and GF of course ) soup.

Bean with Bacon Soup

1 tbsp olive oil (or canola)
1/2 onion (coarsely chopped)
2 cloves garlic (chopped)
1/2 tsp black pepper
3 celery stalks (coarsely chopped)
8 oz sliced baby carrots (about half a medium bag)
1 can S&W 50% reduced sodium white beans
1 can S&W 50% reduced sodium kidney beans
2 cups vegetable broth (I use Pacific Natural Food's version)
1 tbsp (more or less to taste) worcestershire sauce (I use Lea and Perrin's )
10 slices of heat and serve bacon (cooked and crumbled and I like the stuff from Great Value)


Heat your oil over medium heat in your large soup pot adding your onion and garlic and cooking until the onion is clear. Next add your celery, carrots, and black pepper and saute over medium-low heat for about 5-7 minutes and then add both cans of beans, liquid and all. Then add vegetable broth and worcestershire sauce and simmer covered for a bout 15 minutes. Heat and crumble bacon and add to soup. Serve hot. Makes about 6 servings.

Doesn't that just sound divine?! It is soooo good too! My non-gluten free eaters add cheese crackers to their soup, but it is fantastic on it's own. I have to apologize for not sharing more often (it really wasn't my intention to fall of the planet), I really do love this blog and I'm hoping the time fairies will be a little more generous with me! Fingers crossed and happy Fall! ;0D