Cheesy Potato Soup

My daughter came to visit for the weekend (with my three adorable grandchildren) and she was hungry when she arrived. She asked if I had any potato soup. You'd think I would have, but I didn't. GASP! I had every other kind of soup, but no potato soup. I did have a couple of potatoes, so in a jiffy we had potato soup!

Cheesy Potato Soup (an original recipe!)
2-3 large potatoes, peeled
water for boiling
1 tsp salt
2 T butter
1/4 cup flour
1 cup water
2 1/2 cups milk (I used 1%)
2T chicken base, or 2 cubes of bouillon
1/4 cup dried onion (or 1/2 cup fresh, chopped)
1/4 cup dried carrots (or 1/2 cup fresh, diced)
2 celery stalks, chopped
1/4 tsp seasoned salt (or to taste)
1/2 cup shredded cheese (I used mild cheddar)
Boil potatoes in enough water to cover, until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork. Drain potatoes and set aside. In the same pot, add the butter until melted. Add the flour and whisk it together. Slowly add the water, whisking continually until there are no lumps. Add the milk and chicken base. Add the potatoes, vegetables and salt. Use your potato masher to break the potatoes up a little bit. Simmer until the vegetables are tender. Add the cheese and stir until melted.

Let It Shine

After shining up the appliances, I looked at the floor and realized it was in bad shape. I won't disgust you with a before picture.

But this is an after picture! I almost don't want to bring the table and chairs back in here. 

Minwax hardwood floor reviver- high gloss. My new best friend (unpaid endorsement...unfortunately). 

My Mom Knows Stuff

 I was in Target a few minutes ago and was talking to my mom on the phone while I looked for the things I needed wanted. New throw pillows at $25 wasn't going to happen, so I moved on to the next item on my list. My lunch group ladies had been talking about stainless steel wipes and I knew my appliances were difficult to clean so I thought I'd try out the wipes. The only problem was that I couldn't find them in the store. I mentioned it to my mom and when she found out why I wanted them she gave me brilliant advice.

Dirty refrigerator. 

Half clean, half still dirty. 

All clean (and so is the oven and dishwasher and microwave) and I've never seen it so amazingly streak-free! What did my mom tell me to use? 

Yep. She said when she was the custodian for our church building (back in the day when that was a paid position, not volunteer duty like today) she'd use WD-40 to shine the drinking fountains. 

Thanks, Mom! You sure know a lot about a lot! I love you! 

Food Storage Soup

Even though it is officially Spring, but since this is what my backyard looked like yesterday morning, (and it's even whiter today) and since I found a super simple recipe yesterday from 320 Sycamore, I knew what we were having for dinner last night.

After Bud finished his soup he said, "Thank you, that was really very good soup."

It's official name is Quick and Easy Chicken Wild Rice Soup. Since I used everything from my food storage (except the celery- that was fresh), I thought a better name for it was Food Storage Soup.
Melissa says it's her most requested recipe in her recipe arsenal.

Food Storage Soup (adapted from Melissa who adapted it from Taste of Home)
Makes about 6 cups of soup
5 2/3 cups water
1 (4.3-oz) box of Rice a Roni long grain and wild rice mix
1 envelope chicken noodle soup mix (I used Lipton)
2-3 ribs of celery, sliced
1/4 cup dried carrots (or 1 medium carrot, chopped)
1/4 cup dried onions (or 1 small onion, chopped)
1 (10 3/4-oz) can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 (13-oz) can cooked chicken (or 1 cup cooked chicken, chopped)
1/4-1/2 tsp garlic powder
In a medium pot combine water, rice with seasoning packet and the soup mix. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for ten minutes. Stir in the celery, carrot and onion. Cover and simmer ten minutes. Stir in condensed chicken soup, chicken and garlic powder. Cook eight minutes or until the rice and vegetables are tender. Stir the soup occasionally or it may stick to the bottom of the pot.
This soup made enough for Bud and me to each have a large bowlful, with one bowlful leftover, so if you need to feed a larger family, I would suggest doubling the recipe.

My First Missed Day

March 21, 2007

March 21, 2008

March 21, 2009

March 21, 2010

March 21, 2011

March 21, 2012

Today is Caleb's birthday and it is the first time I have not been with him on this day in his life. I'm very sad about that fact. I think he's sad about it too. I will see him in a couple of weeks, but that still doesn't make up for missing him today. 

Happy Birthday, Caleb! I love you to the moon and back, to infinity and beyond! 

Rice Krispies Treats With A Twist

Last month we had an Empty Nester's party. My assignment was the desserts. Of course.

Eliot is counting...something. 

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I had a few helpers with me to decorate. 

Just because Fun Dip is on sale for 50¢ for 24 packages, doesn't mean you should buy it. That's what is all over Olive's face. At least it matches her shirt. 

She loved wearing her "glasses" all day. 

Here's the dessert table all set up. 

Peppermint Krispies Treats

Strawberry Krispies Treats

Cherry Pies

Cherry Chip cupcakes

More baby pies

And a super cute baby helping with the decorations (that love jelly decoration was a mistake to put on the wall. It left a red residue on the wall that couldn't be scrubbed off). 

Strawberry Rice Krispies Treats (by Our Best Bites)

1 8-ounce bag Strawberry flavored marshmallows (or 5 cups regular mini marshmallows plus strawberry or raspberry flavoring to taste)

2 1/2 tablespoons butter, chopped in small pieces
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
3 cups Rice Krispie cereal
1/2 cup dried strawberries or mixed berries, roughly chopped
1/3-1/4 chocolate chips (I prefer semi-sweet or dark)

Lightly butter an 8×8 or slightly larger pan with butter (or line with lightly buttered waxed paper).  Place marshmallows and butter in a large microwave-safe bowl.  Heat in 30 second intervals, stirring in-between until melted and smooth.  Stir in almond extract and immediately add cereal and dried fruit.  Press mixture into prepared pan.

Place chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and heat until melted and smooth.  Drizzle over treats and refrigerate until set.  Cut into squares.

Alternately, cut bars with cookie cutters into shapes and dip in chocolate.

Thanks to Kate and Sara, the Berry Krispies Treats were a big hit!