Our life and stuff

'Make-me-Better' soup

Even if it may not cure me  I still think that soup is the best medicine.  It began with a quick trip to Mother's... because- they are Finally Open:

 

They have such a large colorful selection of fresh organic produce:

 

I planned on making a large batch of beef & barley soup.  So I picked up what vegetables to add and grabbed a big bulb of garlic.  While getting a few other groceries we notice they carry the very best pancakes:

  ... but disappointed they do not carry Vegemite. 

 

Now to make soup:

 

I brown the meat in a separate pan with the garlic. 

Then I add it to the stock pot with the celery/onion/carrot mix, also known as the trinity or Mirapois.  Whatever you call it, I do believe it creates one of the best smells from the kitchen.  Sprinkle it with Course Kosher salt and cracked pepper.

Marry the two and then de-glaze the meat pan to create a stock.

Pour in your stock & add your root veggies (I used turnips which look and taste just like potato).  Later include all your other veggies and about 1 cup of barley.  Let it simmer on low for about 2 hours: 

 

Luke mentioned that he 'could eat this everyday'. 

I think I've learned the magic behind a Large Stock Pot of Homemade Soup.  Sure it has lots of healthy ingredients but that's not it.  It is the fact that there is a bountiful supply of hot, delicious ready-to-eat, help-yourself homemade food on hand.  Which frees up time for the real cure... sleep

 

 

ages 3 and up

I am a sucker when it comes to crafty kits.  I also love that they will occupy a certain 3 year old in order that I can get a few things done.

She LOVES to help and be included... she will push every pin I own into our cushions, unwind all my bobbins, arrange my scraps and rearranged the buttons:  

 

That is why I was so excited to find this:

(( Complete with her very own needles, patterns, thread and little embellishments.  Just perfect for her little size (ages 3 and up) so she can do it 'all by myself'))

 

 

I was briefly tempted to purchase all these goodies too:

 

 

and of course...

Then I read the 8 and up in the description and wised up-  

Case in point - the Easy Bake Cupcake Maker

It was a thoughtful gift, really (thank you Grandma Darcy and Madison).  She LOVES it and wants to bake them all the time.  The problem isn't that she can't make the cupcakes, she does it all by herself in fact.  

It's just that she makes a 3 year old mess with that thing.  I'm used to messes- but sticky icing mess down the counters, within the gadget, her hair and somehow in the silverware drawer is just a bit annoying.   

      

When 5 minutes of play = 20 minutes of clean-up... that is just not right. 

She'll have her very own cute and adorable little sewing machine someday.  She'll  embroidery a book of ABC's and bake up dozens of iced cupcakes someday.  Just when I'm she's ready.  

For now we will stick with the Rainy Day Art Kit  (even though the clouds and promise of beautiful rain have left us). 

The sunshine is back...

  

(If you are interested in any of the craft kits - head on over to The Land of Nod)

   

FF.18

 

Flashback Friday #18

(Can you tell someone's been playing with graphics today?)

 

Snapshot of the Day

 

 

 

 

Thursday the 27th of November

::  The boys are busy with Play Station 3  ::

::  The girl is the Cheerleader... for both teams  ::

::  The Mom is busy Cooking up a storm  :: 

 

( It was a cozy and relaxing day at our house )

 

Appropriate

anyone for Enchiladas?

 

I suppose technically speaking it's more of an 'enchilada casserole' but whatever.

You can add what you'd like for the filling. 

Here is what we happened to have on hand:

 

My mix included:  Red onion, garlic, sour cream, black olives, shredded cheese, rinsed and drained pinto beans, green chilies and some diced rotisserie chicken + Salt & Pepper

(saute your onions and garlic FIRST - if you don't want them crunchy like they were in ours.  I usually do this, but rushing I skipped it -  lesson learned)

• Fold the ingredients together and divide it in half in the bowl for 2 layers of filling.

(If you don't like all that kind of stuff - you can just mix equal parts sour cream, cheese and chicken.  Or use what you prefer- like black beans instead.)

• Preheat oven to 350*

• Soften about a dozen corn tortillas.  I put them in hot oil for a few second on each side.  It's just enough time soften them up and fast enough to not absorb too much oil.  

• NOW... In a casserole dish :  Put down a thin layer of the enchilada sauce of your choice.  Just enough to cover the bottom. 

• THEN... you layer, like this...

4 Soft tortillas -thin bit of sauce -filling -hand full of cheese (do this twice)

 

 

• Top with the last 4 tortilla, sauce and a handful of cheese.  My hands are smallish, I would say it's about 1/2 a cup.

• Cover with foil and bake 40 min. 

 

• Turn oven up to 400* and uncover - bake for 10 more minutes.

• Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 min.

 

Delicious and appropriate sides include:  sliced avocado, tossed green salad, tortilla chips, grilled zucchini etc. 

 

Tonight we served it up with:  Jasmine rice and Jicama sticks...

 

~ We barely made a dent in this pan, it's delicious but very filling... 

Tomorrow morning we'll have it with scrambled eggs - YUM! ~  

 

 

Last night

I desperately wanted to curl up and stay cozy at home last night. 

My husband had other plans... he calls me at 5 - 

'Get ready babe, I'll be there at 6:30.  My Mom will be there to watch the kids... aren't' you excited!  I'll see you soon.'

Can I really turn that down?  I run to Fed-ex, drop Luke off at practice and rush in by 6.  Quick, Quick... pick up the house- change out of my cozy clothes- pin back my hair- and put on some earrings. 

As we enjoyed dinner at the Cheesecake Factory with friends I made a discovery.  My husband, of 15+ years by the way, was eating mushrooms.  

'You like mushrooms?'

'Ya, they're good too, the sauce is really good with them.'

You see.... I don't like mushrooms AT ALL.  I think they are a gross fungus.  I do not make them EVER and NEVER serve them.  (In my defense, I like pretty much every other vegetable, Lima beans and Brussel sprouts even, so I think it's ok to not like one).  

Anyway- I felt kind of bad...  withholding those mushrooms from him all these years. 

As we order dessert we notice the rain.  My heart beats and eyes light up... the rain - my all time favorite.  Now I'm really wishing I was home in my cozies sitting by an open window. 

 

We get home and Sydney curls up on my lap.  Before she falls asleep she looks at me and whispers - 'you know what Momma... Daddy is Grandma's son!  I never knowed that'.  Apparently, she had her own little moment of discover tonight too.

it rained hard all night  ~  I slept like never before 

 

 

at the tender age of 3

Did you know...  ?

...  she has mastered the iphone

 

our Weekend in Words

~ with pictures and even video... in no particular order ~

Well Surprise, Surprise... on Saturday and Sunday we were at the West Covina Big Leagues Dreams.  It went something like this- 

 

[  Luke: on-deck circle  ]

 

[ Luke: at bat  ]

 

[  Mavericks:  Stealing home for the winning run  ]

 

We returned on Sunday, it was freezing.  I felt horrible.  My throat is so sore.  I think it has something to do with those fires last week. 

Anyhow... the boys won their morning game and we had a lovely two hour break- so we decided to go feed these crazy hungry boys ~

 

A group of Pomona Firefighters - Company 185 were at the restaurant picking up some lunch as well.  They do things old school apparently, wooden ladders and all...

 

We played a familiar team the next game.  This time, in a reverse of fortune, they beat us with a steal at home.  It was kinda- in your face. 

Let me tell ya, not so fun to be on the other side.  And no, there is no video of defeat.  Oh well.. you win some you... _{you know}

 

 

On a personal note:  I got a haircut finally and replaced all this over the weekend.

 

Ironically I have no desire to style my new hair or make up my face with my fresh supply of MAC.

Instead, I'm off to make soup today...  chock'full of veggies, barley and garlic to help soothe everyone's sore, scratchy throat.

 

We capped off the weekend with the Mother-load of all Costco runs: 

    -the kind that require 2 carts; the back seat of the Suburban put down to hold the goods and approximately 75 minutes to haul in and put away. 

 

 

Beautiful Sky

As the sun was setting tonight the sky was magical

 

It held a moment of twilight - between light and darkness

{ they say rain is coming... oh please let it be true }  

The air is cool & the clouds are luminous

 

{ taken straight from the camera }

 

I love the rain and we don't get much of it here in Southern California.  So, please let those forecasters be right for a change and...

 Bring on that Liquid Sunshine