Back in Kitchen Business! Almost!

OK, so still short a microwave & toaster, but guess what?? By 12:15 we have lift off!!! Who the hell ever thought that being able to do the dishes and cook a meal would blow up my skirt? Sheesh...... Its really amazing to me how attached we are to our modern tools of the trade. I say this only because I have the travel channel on babysitting Rudy, and they are in Nicaragua.. they gots NOTHING there! I dont think its on my list to travel to.. however, Costa Rica, nearby, IS. I cant wait to someday see the birds free flying there! I'm sure that Walt would love all the Tarzan human flying that they have. Now, Where was I?...oh! The tools...

They aren't state of the art, but Baby? They wont shock me anymore!!! I think I'll celebrate and go cook something...............How about some stuffed Zucchini's? Oh man! I should bake a cake to see if the temp is perfect! No wait, ZOUPA! Hmmmm I feel like split pea..... THIS is definitely going in my M & M's file for the week! While I'm cooking, I will start mentally "calling" the rest of the blow out electronics!

LYG

Happy Thursday Morning.. Keyword: HAPPY

"Become so wrapped up in something that you forget to be afraid."
– Lady Bird Johnson

Sometimes ya just wish the qoute of the day would take hold!

I pushed go too soon! lol Wake up Woman, right? I feel ditzy this morning.. I made this long list then started sweating it... so I decided to get dressed instead. I put on this top and cords, looked in the mirror and saw a frog. Yep.. a frog. My Ma in the mirror me thinks. She would always see this whilst wearing green. I quickly changed while laughing. I instead went for the GREY look.. look of the year over here... Jamie's grey sweats always make me feel "homey".. now where's he at..sigh... I suppose he lives with Christmas... in the ole` heart...CLIC

I am expecting a friend this evening! We will sew and yak and hot tub and eat. Its a plan. Notice I DID NOT SAY DRINK NUFFIN. I have a pot of Hamhocks N Beans on. I have no flippin idea if she even likes this? LOL No worries.. I have a Nummy Pasta sauce, and my tortellini zoupa too! ( indecision is my middle name these days eh?) I seriously need a FAT Costco run. Wouldnt it fun just one time to have like a Costco Visa with no limit? Wow, I just had a rush....
I decided one thing for sure. Friends are a wonderful shot in the arm ( heart). I think my next Pandora charm may be a heart.. Just a reminder:)
Time to go blast some P!NK and quilt some birds!
Love yer guts!



What Have You Done Today:::edited::::

To make you feel proud?





Yep, I hijacked it... but I was standing in the kitchen, cookie in mouth, feeling like crap.. and I heard this song, and of course, the tears began. ( because thats how I roll these days?) There isnt a soul on earth that doesnt wish to be proud of themselves each and everyday. So just like happines is a choice, so is the act of doing something to be proud of yourself. :::hmmm, hand in hand maybe?::::

It's easy enough to be proud of those that you love, not so all of the time with ones self eh? I can rattle off an entire list of those people, those triumphs in others I would beam about, but when pondering myself, not so easy these days. MY BAD.I've learned that it much easier to say, than to do. MUCH hard work.
Life's messy, clean it up. I'm on it.

ANSWER: I made this soup and packaged it up for neighbors and friends, even if they arent here. It's a feel good Zoupa, and its good for you too. I once lost a lot of freaking weight eating just this soup, Genoa french bread, and wine:) ( Leave out cheese, of course) Thinking about tomorrow.. thanks for thinking with me:)

Minestrone Rose

6 slices bacon chopped
1 tblsp crushed garlic
1 potato chopped
2 cup spinach chopped
½ head chopped cabbage
1 cup shell pasta
1 can kidney beans
½ tblsp oregano
1 bay leaf
1 onion chopped
½ c diced carrot
½ c diced celery
1 sliced zuccini
1 can green beans
½ tblsp basil
½ tblsp cumin
½ tblsp pepper
salt to taste
1 pound diced tomato
1 gallon beef stock
Fresh shredded parm cheese

In a 7 quart pot fry bacon until crisp, remove and reserve.
Fry onion and garlic in bacon fat until tender, scraping the pot. Return bacon to pot , add seasonings and stock. Heat to boiling and add all vegetables simmer 45 min, add pasta, simmer 15 min longer.

Italian Sausage and Tortellini Zoupa!

Its cold here!!! Whats going on??? Makes for good soup days, and I do love soups! (ACTUALLY, IT WAS A GOOD EXCUSE TO GET OUT OF THE SHOP FOR AWHILE U KNOW? lol
This was delicious and hearty, give it a try!



1 lb Italian sausage (sweet)(costco)·
1 TBLSP Olive Oil
1 large onion, chopped·
4 large cloves garlic, thinly sliced ·
1 cup sliced mushrooms
6 cups beef broth ·
2 cups diced Roma Tomatoes (may use canned)
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce ·
1 medium Zucchini, sliced ·
1 bag (1lb) baby spinach
1 large Carrot, thinly sliced ·
1/2 cup dry red wine · ( dont forget to drink remainder of bottle while cooking)
2 tablespoons basil ·
2 tablespoon oregano ·
1 1/2 cups (about) purchased fresh cheese tortellini ·
Parmesan cheese, freshly shaved or grated if preferred (I have a ribbon shaver, its a fun toy!)
salt and pepper to taste, altho check for salt first.


Directions Remove Casings (skin) from sausage. Sauté Italian sausage in heavy pot over medium-high heat until cooked through, breaking up, simmer about 10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer sausage to large bowl. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon fat from the pan. Add Olive oil, Add onion, mushrooms and garlic to pan and sauté until tender & aromatic, 5 minutes?Add wine and scrap down the goodies. Reduce for about 2 minutes. Return sausage to pot. Add beef broth, tomatoes, tomato sauce, zucchini, carrot, spinach, basil and oregano. Simmer until vegetables are tender, 45 minutes. Add tortellini to soup and cook until tender ,10 minutes. Season soup with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese in individual bowls and garlic bread.
MANGIA!!!!

Coffee Blogabout May Be At Wine 30

"Never apologize for showing feeling.

 When you do so, you apologize for truth."– Benjamin Disraeli

Ya never know with me these days right? Its wine and cheese time, not coffee and cottage cheese time! lol  Sorry, I was seeing Mr Wizard. Good Lord I needed it too! It helps to not beat myself up so much. Thats what they tell me anyway. Also to my Dr Appt, did you remember the fateful December meet up? Yep yep yep.. You will be pleased to read that I do not have to go on insulin yet! I lost 2 more ( Ill take it) pounds! Which has given me another month reprive. New meds too for the Neoropothy. I have no idea what it is, but that other stuff was awful!  So I seem in good spirits yes? Well, I am experianced at faking it til I'm making it!. Its what I do. Mister Wizard thinks its healthy. I'll take that too. I enjoyed leaving the frost and venturing into the sunshine today. I left all wrapped up, and returned with layers gone!

I am thinking about my Uncle Henry today. He is my biological Fathers brother. He died Sunday night. He had a long and wonderful life, and we loved each other very much.I spent a good deal of time with he and my Aunt Edith in my youth. I adore my cousins and I hope I never lose my Terranova family. I guess Im thinking of him because it is really EERY how every year in my life, someone is leaving. Like clockwork. It occurred to me that it might be my age. My generation the next to go? It all began with Uncle Smiles remmebr? Just before my James untimely death. Three more loved ones, in three more years. My Dear Mother, my young sweet neice, and now Uncle Henry. I find this quite EERY. Its no wonder that I can go nowhere without a slight panic attack wondering who may or not be MIA while I'm away. PTSD.

 I was cooking Thanksgiving dinner and when Avi played Sanja on her playlist I melted down over giblet gravy. Seems that these things happen while cooking... It hit me about this loss, and loss of other kinds. At that very moment I was overwhelmed with a sense of loss, grief, sadness. While hugging it out with KareBear, I felt peaceful too. Peaceful in the knowledge that all be be well, no matter what. I haven proven that I am a survivor. Whatever it takes.

The gravy was saved, and delicious as always. ( so they told me)

No idea why I am rambling away. Only one sippa wine, swear!

Here is a sweet photo of Ma and Uncle Henry a few years ago. I think I'll go finish my new Russian Zoupa! See me Friday for the outcome!
PS: Have you ANY idea how hard it is to fake it till you make it???

Kansas City here I come! (singing!)

I'm offcially outa here! Today I have ................

Filled the house with groceries, made a pot of 15 Bean Zoupa for the sicky, with cornbread, a tri tip, some cookies, and an assortment of his favorite deli meats n cheeses.. and his comfort food for when he misses me (and he will) Tomato soup and ritz. CHECK

Successfully loaded new software and old for the laptop to schlep with me, (I can feel the shoulder pain already) CHECK

Caught up on as many quilts as I possibly can. (save 6, and a tee shirt quilt, and the infamous Dresden) CHECK

Prepared foods for Rudy and Ginger. Gave Rudy the old "Be nice to your sister while I'm gone" speech. Left care notes all over the house ( thank u 3M for my stickies) CHECK

It is now time for me... phew... I'm going to go pack, unpack, repack, and then run to marshalls for a new suitcase, come home, unpack and repack again. ( cause this is my M. O.) I never got any red shoes, so Ginger and I may venture out for just that! Oh yeh, and then Mop the Rudy floor...grunt. And.........call my Mama!

I'll check in when I can.. I'm VERY excited about MQS, classes and colleagues, and my Sensi:)

Adios!

Tired and Loved

Walt came home last evening to find 2 tired women and a dog in need of a beauty parlor (Ginger, not me, although I pondered that while typing) and went right to work. I was exasperated having fought with a wonky Ebay King all day only to find several puckers up the right side. Mom stuck with me binding the velvet quilt most of the day, breaking only for lunch. What a trooper!! When I announced that the only thing going on for dinner would be a frogging party, he laid out all kinds of snacks for me & Mom, and a nice handy dandy OTT lamp too.... while we frogged and watched THE GODFATHER. Around 7 he brought wine and warm Sausage Tortellini zoupa in:) What a great guy eh? Mom couldnt stop singing his praises for spoiling her, and Thats what he ate up for dinner:) I was so relieved that I had made the soup a few days ago! Phew!

I'll reload this morning and try to have my way with that darned quilt. I dont think that Mom or Walt will go for another frogging party tonight!

::::Frogging= Stitches being ripped out making the sound of a frog; RIP IT.. RIP IT::::::

*Note to Moomp Photography:

A: I need help with a way to hang quilts to shoot, can you come over?

B: Everyone agrees that Walt, true to life size, is peeking at us coming up the stairwell! LOL

C: U asked for pics! LOL

Butternut Squash Soup (creamless)

I was in a zoupa mood?

My Friend Blima finally found a butternut squash soup I love!

I just cant stop making it! I love cream, it doesnt love me, I have now a happy medium! Wait til you try my Seafood Chowder! (It has all the cream) When I grow up, I think I'll be the Beach Soup Nazi!

Enjoy!

CREAMY CREAMLESS BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

1 celery rib, chopped

1 medium carrot, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped ( I use sweet Maui Wowie's)

2 tablespoons fine-quality extra-virgin olive oil

1 lb winter squash such as butternut, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

Tip: Do not be tempted by those peeled for you bags of squash, the flavor is lost, gone, dead, and the soup will reflect this. ( ask me how I know) FRESH is always best!

1/2 lb Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes (Walt likes more)

4 cups or 1 box of chicken broth ( heated)

1 Teaspoon Salt

Cook celery, carrot, and onion in 2 tablespoons oil in a 3-quart heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, until tender but not browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Add squash, potatoes, pepper flakes and salt. Stir in 4 cups heated broth and simmer, covered, until vegetables are very tender, about 20 minutes.

Purée soup in batches in a blender or food processor...(use caution when blending hot liquids).

Compass

"Morality, like art, means drawing a line someplace."
Oscar Wilde

Not to be confused with a Mariners compass, Mr. Wizard introduced a Moral compass. A way to answer many questions and slow down the racing thoughts. Now I have tried it out on simple things and it worked. The tougher things, not so well yet. But then again, It may be because I am stubborn.

Hypothetical Question: ( has absolutely no bearing on my case...lol)

Your Mother in law wishes to host Christmas this year, taking the torch from you. What is your reply?

Compass:

APPLY Reason/logic

She is getting old, needs to feel needed. She hasn't many more years to do this with her children/grandchildren. but it makes no sense at all when you and your family have established your own traditions and are comfortable with them.

APPLY Intuition/Instinct:

Red Flag! The kids will be confused and out of sync. Bad idea.She may be trying to get back what it took awhile to establish for your own family.

APPLY Emotion/Feeling:

 I understand her need however I too have the need to be Ms Santa in our own home. I would be amiss without the exhilaration routine of the holiday. (Like she did with her young family)

The Answer should now come easily? PHISHAW!!! In my mind, this only brings on MORE questions!

What would husband think of me if I said NO? What if we lost her and I couldn't live with guilt? What if the kids think I'm a Scrooge? Mr Wizards answer to this is of course to make a WHAT IF question and answer page. Well.. Like I dont do that night and day right?

What If?

Pro Con

do, not do

I mean I am an experienced brain stormer! Analyzer! Feed back seeker!

This is so not easy. Grunt. Especially when I am a sun depraved, displaced emotional train wreck remember??? An interesting concept... Imma go pick up my ball, find a few spoons, do 5 minutes of mindfullness,  and do my homework. (Then make some Zoupa while Quilting) GRUNT.