RIP

RIP

In loving memory

of my brand new mustard suede boots

Only worn 20 minutes

before they were taken out

by a reckless serving

of Taco Beef Soup

on Christmas Eve

(photo above taken prior to attack)

Perpetrator Still at large

Has been described as incredibly tasty and delicious

Detailed description below:

Taco Beef Soup

1lb ground beef

1/2 cup chopped onion

3 cups water

2 16 ounce cans stewed tomatoes cut up

2 16 ounce cans dark red kidney beans

2 8 ounce cans of tomato sauce

1 envelope of taco seasoning mix

2 small avocados, peeled, seeded and chopped

Shredded Cheese, Sour Cream and Frito Chips for individual garnishing

In large saucepan cook ground beef and onion until meat is browned, drain off excess fat, add water, undrained tomatoes, undrained kidney beans, tomato sauce and taco seasoning mix. Simmer covered 15 minutes. Then add avocado. Pass cheese , corn chips and sour cream to top each serving....

Beware known to attack random footwear!

Enjoy!

Apple Cider and Tortellini Soup

Time is getting short.....list has been made, remade and checked twice....just a few last minute things to wrap up before it is time to put it all away and enjoy the labors of the season. Spent today at the mall, missed out on a few days and had to do some quick catch up. Then home for some of this delicious and SIMPLE Italian Tortellini Soup. Now curled up on the couch with my peeps enjoying some hot apple cider, fire, Christmas lights and great company......
Italian Tortellini Soup
4 uncooked Italian Sausage Links
(I used Sweet, but can use Mild or Hot depending on taste)
4 Cups water
2 cans (14 1/2 oz each) Italian Stewed Tomatoes
1 can condensed French Onion Soup (undiluted)
2 Cups Broccoli Coleslaw mix (found in the produce section of any grocery store...I found it easily at Super Wal-Mart)
1 Cup Frozen Cut Green Beans
1 (9 ounce) package of Buitoni three cheese tortellini (in the refrigerated section) or substitute any refrigerated or frozen tortellini (or other pasta of your choice)
Fresh grated parmesan cheese
Cut sausage into 1/2 to 3/4 inch pieces; brown in dutch oven. Drain, add water, tomatos, soup, coleslaw mix and beans. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer approx. 20 minutes (until veggies are tender). Uncover; add tortellini and cook for 4-5 minutes until tortellini is tender. Garnish with shredded parmesan cheese.
YUM!!

To make you smile....

Crazy week for Mamastress....not one that I want to repeat .

In the chaos of this week I managed to find some things that made me smile...

One of my favorite blogs http://milk-moon.blogspot.com/2009/12/i-wish-i-had-river.html (which always makes me happy) had a great link that I would like to share with all of those with children.....it is a very personalized video message from Santa. Check it out I think you will agree it is unlike anything you've ever seen. Very well done, unlike some others...your kids will love it. Even has options for teens. Here is the link http://portablenorthpole.tv/home kids of all age will be delighted...I also pulled out one of my favorite recipes. It is for "Best Ever Peanut Butter Cookies" I got this recipe many years ago from one of the best cooks I have ever met....(so if she says they are the best I was SURE they would be...). Not only was she one of the best cooks she was also one of the most pleasant people you could ever meet. So when I made this yummy cookie recipe this week I smiled and thought of her....here's hoping that no matter what is going on with you this crazy time of year you can find something that makes you step back and smile....and Carleen where ever you are ...these truly ARE the best Peanut Butter Cookies Ever....

CARLEEN'S BEST EVER PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

1 CUP SHORTENING

1 CUP PEANUT BUTTER

1 CUP BROWN SUGAR

1 CUP WHITE SUGAR

2 EGGS

2 & 1/2 CUPS FLOUR

1 & 1/2 TEASPOON BAKING SODA

1/2 TEASPOON SALT

1 TEASPOON BAKING POWDER

Mix well. Roll into balls and press with back of sugared fork to make criss cross.

Bake at 350 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes.

TWAS 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS......

Twas 12 days before Christmas and all through the house...

Not a light was hung....

so I looked at my spouse....

What have you done...

while I've been working all day....

Was it HGTV or do you have something to say?

"My Sunday was spent working as well

helped our dear Sydney ...her project was hell

Went to the office... did computer repair...

just rushed right home to see you...dear"

We pulled it together and got out the lights

Only half of them worked....(will be one of those nights)...

Jumped in the car ..to Target we go...

To battle the crowds ....my energy was low...

We got lucky this time and they had what we needed....

Things weren't all that bad... I finally conceded...

We got home and went straight to work...

Hubby hung all the lights (I shouldn't have called him a jerk)...

Our Christmas is bright the lights are aglow..

Thrilled to have one more chore completed...I am sure you all know....

Now I'll relax.....it is a beautiful sight....

SO MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT!!!

Candy Tree

I love candy....chocolates, gummy candy, sours, hard candy.....you name it I love it. I always have...ever since I was little and you could go to the corner store and buy a bag of 1 cent candy....I love chocolate covered gummy bears, See's candy, swedish fish, swedish berries, mint leaves, charm pops, non pareils.....when I was young my parents were sure I wouldn't have a tooth left in my head...(thanks to the wonders of modern dentistry and a good cash investment I made it through with my teeth...had my share of pain in the process though).... A few years ago I told my family that I wanted to have a Christmas tree devoted to candy...I love the way it looks ..I love the way it tastes...especially at Christmas....brings me back to the wonderment of the holiday as a child...the ribbon candy and beautiful candied treats...candy was even prettier during the holidays. Hubby and kids thought I had lost it (so...what else is new). So with that I started my candy tree tradition...we have a white tree that can only be adorned with candy ...real and ornamental... in our front room, we usually put it up on Thanksgiving but if you have seen my Facebook updates you are aware that I am painfully behind this year!!! In our family room we have our traditional family Christmas tree but the front room is for our new tradition......for penny candy and cornerstores....for Christmases gone by.....

NNECMN92TG2G

Anticipation

December....wow that came quick. Craziest month of the year...so much to do.... house must be Christmatized, cookies to bake, lists to make, gifts to buy and mail, cards to send...yes, I promise they will make it to the mailbox this year ...and still can't forget work, pay bills and keep the family engine running....As much work as December tends to be there is something magical about pulling the boxes of Christmas treasures out of the attic, each box containing carefully wrapped glass santas and priceless family heirlooms created by little hands for Christmases gone by...each ornament, picture, Santa plate and wreath has it's own story and they all come together to create the backdrop of our family Christmas..


Here's a great recipe to try as you color your Christmas this month....it is so tasty, easy to make and is one of my favorite soup recipes.

Enjoy!

Kielbasa Bean Soup

2 medium potatos peeled and diced
4 carrots sliced
2 medium onions chopped
2/3 cups chopped celery
6 cups water
16 oz Keilbasa thinly sliced
2 10 oz cans of Campbells Bean with Bacon Soup


In a large saucepan or dutch oven bring vegetables and water to boiling; reduce heat and simmer about 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add kielbasa and bean soup. Heat thoroughly! YUMMY!!


Happy Christmatizing!!!!