Sausage Tortellini Soup

Earlier this fall I began posting my favorite soup recipes. During the cooler months I like to make a homemade soup a week. It doesn't always happen. For example, last week my family ate lots of soups, but they were all from a can. (A friend recently introduced me to the Progresso brand. I've tried the tomato, chicken noodle, vegetarian lentil, and vegetarian vegetable and they are all delicious!) Here's the one I made last evening. I got it from a coworker about 6 years ago. This time I used 2 c. beef broth from our cow's beef bones so there were actually some little pieces of beef in it as well. I think it just added to the intensity and richness of flavor.

P.S. Learned something new yesterday. When there's no tomato sauce on hand, mix 3/4 c. tomato paste with 1 c. water and you get 2 c. tomato sauce!!

Sausage Tortellini Soup

1 lb. italian sausage
1 c. coarsely chopped onion
2 garlic cloves, sliced
5 cups beef broth
1 cup water
2 c. chopped tomatoes
1 c. chopped carrots
1/2 t. basil
1/2 t. oregano
8 oz. tomato sauce
1 1/2 c. chopped zucchini
8 oz. cheese-filled tortellini
3 T. parsley

Brown sausage with onion and garlic. Drain well. Combine in large pot everything EXCEPT: zucchini, tortellini, and parsley. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Cover and simmer another 30 minutes. Add zucchini and cook only until crisp tender (I did this about 5-10 minutes.) Do not overcook. Add parsley. Finally, add tortellini right before you serve soup - it needs no longer than 3-5 minutes to cook. Serve immediately!

"You're really good at wiping me, Mom"

I really struggled when I first became a mother. There was the whole hormonal, postpartum depression thing. And then of course I was sleep deprived and struggling with the whole nursing relationship and worried that Emma wasn't eating and gaining enough. But on top of all of that, I had decided to stay home and quit my profession, and that hit me like a freight train. I missed my adult coworkers. I didn't know what the heck I was doing as a mom and lacked confidence. I wasn't sure how to juggle the whole parenting/housework duties. And I really missed those measurable forms of knowing my job was being well done. The verbal affirmations, the good evaluations, the paycheck. This was the start of a whole new kind of job in which satisfaction was to be reached via alternate ways... with smiles, hugs, poops.

Almost four years later I have adjusted to a whole new career. Like any job, it has its perks and its drawbacks. There are great days and lousy days. Verbal affirmations are something I hear quite frequently these days from my oldest (and I'm holding on to every minute because I know this won't last!) As I was helping Emma wipe after going potty today, she made the title comment. There are just some affirmations you will never hear from your boss!

Bunco

I played Bunco for the first time tonight. For those of you unfamiliar with the game, it's a dice game - a game of chance. I had heard of it several years ago and was under the impression that it was more about socializing than game-playing. It's true... I did a lot of gabbing this evening, but you actually have to be on the ball when the game is on. My friend, Sarah, has gone to a couple of Bunco nights in her neighborhood and decided to start a Bunco group. A couple of months ago she put out an open invitation on her blog and some of us bit. We invited some more people and thus our Bunco gang was formed. There's always need for subs so if any locals are reading and think this sounds fun, let me know!

Not only did I have fun, but I won $20!! My first earnings (if you can call it that) of 2007!!

Rest

You haven't heard from me lately because I've been trying to do more of something I don't do enough of... resting. I came down with something a week ago Monday evening- fever, chills, aches, nausea. I thought it was a stomach virus or a mild case of the flu, but I never did figure out exactly what it was since all of that only lasted for about 24 hours. It turned out to be a miserable cold and it majorly slowed me down. The house was a wreck and my family ate a lot of last-minute thrown-together meals. This past weeked I made resting my number one priority in hopes that by yesterday I would feel wonderful again. I was rather successful at resting, even though I haven't been sleeping well lately. And while I wouldn't describe myself as "wonderful" yesterday, I certainly feel 100% better than I did a week ago!! I really take my health for granted when I'm feeling fine. A big thanks to Pete who did more than his fair share of the parenting and household tasks this weekend when I was lounging.

I recently came across this quote. I think it's a good reminder for all of us.

Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop. - OVID

Soccer Girl

I took Emma to her first soccer programs this morning. It was a decision we just made last week. I had planned to sign her up for some sort of physical activity this winter when it's a bit more work to get outside (especially with a young toddler in hand.) I had gone back and forth between gymnastics and dance but just didn't feel 100% about either for a few factors. So I researched the soccer programs offered at our local Soccer Zone, only 12 minutes away. They have a co-ed Tiny Tots program for 3 and 4 year-olds that focuses on movement, self-esteem, and having fun. Perfect, I thought. Pete was in agreement.

So today Emma participated in her first 45 minute class, with Coach Dan at the lead. He is a wonderfully, friendly and fun grandpa-type guy (okay, well he is a grandpa too, but you know the jolly, fun type.) He's got a great way of getting the kids involved and excited. They did little exercises like Simon Says and lots of chants like "I am great!" and "Peace! Love! Power to the kids!" Okay, so it probably was cuter in person. Emma was the only splash of pink and purple on the field of 8 but it didn't phase her in the least. They ran around the gym, did some kicking and dribbling with the ball, and even got to score a goal. But all was done a fun, very low pressure environment. I had to laugh some at Emma and her excitement. She really did a very good job.

Emma loved her first day of soccer and is excited to go back next week. When I asked her what her favorite part was, she responded, "all of it."

3 Year-Old Joy

I'm trying to think happy thoughts while the baby cries and refuses to nap...

I just can't get enough of Emma these days. It's interesting as I reflect on the different stages so far of her fairly short life. The infant stage was pretty tough for me. I dealt with postpartum depression, among other adjustment issues for the first 12-15 months. That was compounded by the fact that Emma and I had a difficult time establishing the nursing relationship in the beginning. I remember turning that corner around 5 months, and by 7 months, I was starting to say, "This parenting thing is kind of fun!" Not that I didn't adore her and feel extreme gratitude for her... it just became less exhausting and mysterious, and more fun. At 15 months I began getting wonderful chunks of sleep at night and wow, did that make a difference. Around 18 months, she began to get difficult taking into public. Prior to that, she would soak up restaurant and store experiences, saying "hi" and waving to anyone who would look her way. She would giggle and sit fairly still. From about 18 months to 2 1/2, that completely changed. We decided it was no longer fun to go out to eat because it wasn't worth the stress of entertaining her, trying to keep her in her seat, etc, etc. And 2 1/2 came then with a whole new set of challenges. Days of flat out defiance, tantrums, you know, normal toddler stuff. We just had to wade through the waters of toddlerhood. Fortunately difficult times were interspersed with her sweet personality. But I won't lie, it was a tough year.

I feel we've turned another corner this fall/winter. Emma has demonstrated a new sense of maturity, can verbalize her thoughts and feelings better with each day, and is just downright fun (usually) to be around. I'm sure the fact that I'm in a better place emotionally than I have been at certain points in the last 3 1/2 years is significant as well.

Some of my favorite regular phrases or questions these days:

"Mommy, did you take a shower today?" (asked when I lay down with her for a few minutes before nap and she wants to play with my hair)

"Do you have to go anywhere tonight?" (her response if I said I did take a shower... she knows she has no chance of playing with the top of my hair if this is the case :))

"Mommy, is anyone coming over today? Are we going anywhere?" (every morning)

"Having Daddy home all day" (her response 95% of the time when I ask her at the end of a weekend day what her favorite part of the day was)

"How can I help you?" (what she's learned to say when I'm making lunch or dinner and she's really hungry and ready to eat NOW)

"Mommy, I love you. You're a good mommy." (I need all the reinforcing now because I'm guessing I'll be hearing little, if any of this in about 10 years or so.)

Reinspired

I thought I was ready to be done with this blog. I was going to just delete the whole thing, but Pete thought I should write a "farewell" post. So I decided to just wait a while to see if it turned out to be something I'd like to continue after taking a break.

After a good conversation with fellow blogger, Sarah, last evening, I decided to hold on for just a little longer. Originally, I entitled my blog "Pura Vida" because it's a phrase that stuck with me when I spent three months in Costa Rica during college. I liked the contentment and freedom that seemed to accompany the phrase. It was fun to say and brought a smile to my face. So perhaps I will return to blogging about things that do that for me. Despite the many challenges and gray areas of life, there are many things that make me happy.

We'll see how this goes for now. I still probably won't be real regular, but I have a renewed focus and that makes me happy. :)

p.s. I used to hate the color pink. Then I started to tolerate it when I had a little girl. Now I kind of like the color. This template color doesn't feel quite like me, but I thought I'd try it out for a while for the sake of something new.

Thought for the Day

My mom sent this to me a while back and I've kept it on my computer for inspiration. I do not know the source.


In each of us there exists a lake, where peace lives, and strength is born. Begin each day with a drink from its waters and go there often to refill your cup. The lake is never dry, but the path to it is sometimes hidden. The music of water, the beauty of a flower, or the depth of prayer will show you the way.

I need a Pick-me-up

Ever have one of those days? It's not that it's going badly. I'm just really, really tired. I've had a sick baby since Thursday (Emma was sick the three days prior to that) and I've had one too many sleepless nights. It's getting better, and it's actually quite manageable in the whole scope of things. But I need a pick-me-up today.

What I'd really like to be doing right now is taking a nap while the kids sleep. I'm grateful that they nap together and I have some down time in the afternoons. I rarely nap anymore because, but there are times like today when my body is screaming for it. We leave on Thursday for TN so there's lots of laundry to be done, stuff to pack, a few more presents to wrap, and Christmas letters to be addressed. Emma's preschool Christmas program is also early this evening so I need to be sure everyone is fed, dressed properly, and out of the house by 6.

So I'm charging on, despite that intense urge to curl up on my sofa. I made myself some Irish Cream flavored hot chocolate and I'll get done what I can. And maybe tomorrow I'll be able to justify that little nap. I salute all of you who don't have the luxury to take that afternoon nap... whether it's because you work outside the home, or one of your kids doesn't nap, or because you, too, have other responsibilities calling your name. Drink your caffeine, take a brisk walk in the cool air, put on some upbeat music, chat with a coworker or friend, and then crash when you can. Because we all deserve it!!!

Chicken Enchiladas

One of my readers requested this recipe for here it is. This was discovered by a friend in college. There were 7 of us women who lived together for two years in a row. Oh, the fun we had and the growing up we all did together!!! We all did anywhere from a little to a lot of cooking those two years. Some were experienced and gifted in the kitchen. Others (okay, me) had wonderful training from our mothers but didn't put much effort into the whole thing until we had to... which happened to be junior/senior years of college. This was one of those recipes that was prepared several times during those two years, if I recall correctly. In fact, we put together a cookbook at the end of our senior year with contributions from each of us. It's one of the special momentos I have of college life and friendships... and I use it quite often!!

Chicken/Turkey Enchiladas

1/2 c. chopped onion
3 T. butter
1 c. sour cream
2 1/2 c. cooked, cubed chicken or turkey
2 c. shredded cheese (cheddar or whatever you like)
10 flour tortillas
1 c. turkey or chicken broth
1-4 oz. green peppers
1/3 c. taco sauce
1/8 t. chili powder
2 T. flour
1/2 c. chopped tomatoes

In a glass bowl, combine the onions, peppers, and 1 T. butter. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Add taco sauce, 1/4 c. sour cream and chili powder. Stir in meat and 1/2 c. cheese. Divide mixture among the tortillas. Roll and place seam side down in 9x13 dish. Microwave remaining 2 T. butter until melted. Blend in flour, then add broth. Microwave 3-4 minutes or until thickened (my microwave does this much faster, by the way.) Stir in remaining sour cream. Pour over enchiladas. Microwave 6-8 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and microwave until cheese is melted. Serve topped with chopped tomatoes, fresh avocado, and fresh cilantro.


I found a very ripe platano (plantain) the other day in the store and decided to fry it up with this meal. So then I made some rice and beans as well ( I cheated with a box mix.) It was all so delicious together!!

Free Meds

Ha. This isn't your typical blog entry today, no. There are some perks (or rather, inconveniences) to moving into a house previously owned by an MD. For example, sometimes we get free samples in the mail. A couple of years ago it was for something, I can't even remember what. I called in to say that Robert McElhaney no longer lived here. They said to "dispose" of the meds. I passed them off to a friend of someone. I can't really remember. But I haven't received any since.

I am, however, on my third box of Prilosec. You may have heard of it... it's a popular over-the-counter medication for heartburn these days. Perhaps you know someone who uses it, or maybe you even take it yourself. I need to hear from you!! I've been told again to "dispose" of it when I call. Well, I'm not going to waste it, and I've already given the first two boxes to my friend's aunt. I think she's set for a couple of years. :) I will add that it's quite disappointing when UPS visits my house and this is what they drop off. Bummer. They could at least be sending me some Advil or children's medication... something we actually use around here. Anyway, please let me know if you or someone you know could use some free Prilosec. My sister also suggested donating it to a clinic which I think is a very good idea. So if I have any left, I'll check with a couple of doctors/nurses I know who volunteer their time at a local clinic. (If you fit in this category, speak out please.)

p.s. You'll probably want to email me if you'd like to partake in this freebie. I will do my best to get it to you. I wish you and yours a heartburn-free holiday!

Thought for the Day

"I can be changed by what happens to me.
But I refuse to be reduced by it."

- Maya Angelou

Morning Surprise

Pete woke up to a surprise this morning. The Corolla wouldn't start. One might think the battery was dead on a cold morning like this. So he opened the hood and found "a wad of paper and stuffing." He called over to our neighbor, Don, who is a car salesman and just a knowledgable guy when it comes to stuff like this. He suggested a mouse probably climbed in there and made a nest... maybe ate through a wire or something. Nice. Fortuantely Pete was able to get the car started after a few more minutes.

Simple Joys

This is a fun year with Emma. She has such excitement for both Christmas and the snow. She has two Advent calendars - one my mom made of felt years ago for my sister and me, and one she made at school. She goes to the felt one first each morning and reaches into the pocket after she figures out what day it is. Afterward she heads to her handmade tree where she puts a sticker on the right day. Along with these traditions, she has been requesting to "enjoy the lights" each evening before bed. We turn off all of the lights except for the ones on the tree and the mantle. The three of us (Andrew's in bed) snuggle on the couch and sing Christmas songs. Yesterday morning Emma and I went to the grocery store with a list of items for the food pantry. We bought for pantries in both Elkhart and St. Joe County since we border the two, and both our church and her preschool do collections. Emma and I had a long conversation about who might need food and why they might not have enough money to buy their own, etc. I think/hope it made an impression on her. She was very enthusiastic about buying certain items for "the pantry." I hope we can make this an annual tradition. These all have been special ways to prepare for and celebrate Jesus's birth. I look forward to more ways we can do this as a family as the children get older.

Friday evening, Pete, Emma, and I cuddled on the couch and watched "Polar Express" while we ate popcorn and drank Sprite. Emma's disappointed whenever she smells us making popcorn after she has gone to bed, so this was extra special for her!! On Saturday, she and Pete made a snow person. You can see he/she is very unique. She is very proud of her work with daddy!!

Chunky Vegetable Chili

As promised earlier this fall, I'm sharing my favorite soup recipes occasionally on this blog. This is one is delicious. It's quick to assemble and quite healthy too. The bonus is that you can put it in the crockpot and forget about it until dinner!!

Chunky Vegetable Chili

1 medium zucchini, cut into 1/2 in. pieces
1 medium green sweet pepper, coarsely chopped
1/2 c. coarsely chopped onion
1/2 c. coarsely chopped celery
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 -3 t. chili powder (we usually do 2)
1 t. dried oregano, crushed
1/2 t. ground cumin
2 - 14 1/2 oz. cans Mexican-style stewed tomatoes, undrained
17 oz. can whole kernal corn, undrained
15 oz. can black beans, rinsed & drained
8 oz. salsa

Combine everything in crockpot. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5 hours. Serve with dollop of sour cream on top and/or shredded cheese.

Andrew is ONE!

How this year has flown by!! Today our little Andrew Jacob turned one year old. We had celebrated in PA over Thanksgiving with a little party, but I couldn't resist celebrating again this evening. I know he wouldn't have known the difference and certainly he (nor did any of us) didn't need more sugar, but I couldn't let the day go without something special. So Emma and I made cupcakes this afternoon and frosted them.

His reaction with both treats was just priceless. During the party, he looked very intently at the piece of cake, studied it, slowly stuck his finger in the cool whip (we used this in place of frosting), then studied it some more and eventually licked his finger. It was then time to dig in. I thought he'd be less hesitant today since he had already experienced the taste of sugar. But this time, he stuck several fingers in the frosting (it was cream cheese frosting) and just moved them around for a while... feeling the texture. He did all this with a content smile on his face, of course. After a good minute (I mean it), he tasted it. He must have approved.

It's been such a joy to watch Andrew's personality develop over the past year. He really is a content child in so many ways. He loves to explore and study things. He's happy just waddling around the house checking things out. But he's also happy sitting and playing with different toys and objects. He loves to manipulate things, read books, and listen to music. He dances, "sings", and plays the drum. Last evening I was putting lotion on my hands and he started to imitate the motion. He adores his big sister and our cat, Elly, saying "yyooowwww" whenever he sees her. And he loves when Daddy comes home in the evenings. This is so sweet to see since Emma was still pretty attached to mom at this age. Can you tell I'm in love?! :)

Thought for the Day

"I wouldn't worry so much about what people thought of me if I knew how seldom they did."

- Dr. Phil's dad

Boxers or Briefs?

One household chore I have a difficult time keeping up with is cleaning floors. I think it's because a) I have several of them (kitchen, mud room, 2 bathrooms, and three small tiled areas) b) The high-traffic areas get dirty so easily and frequently... and hairy (although this has improved with just a cat and no longer a dog) c) This is one chore I cannot successfully accomplish when my children are present and awake in the house and d) I hate using a mop. I've had little success with them. They seem to just push around the hair and the dirt.

I like to clean my floors the old fashioned way. I like to get down on my hands and knees and scrub. The water and the rag gets changed at least once. My theory is if I'm taking the time to clean, it might as well get really clean. My goal is to scrub floors once a week. It's been more like 1-2 times a month in the last year.

So here's my tip for other hands-and-knees scrubbers. I use Pete's old boxers. The ones that rip after years of wear and get turned into rags. I like the flannel cotton ones best because the fabric is soft for washing and the elastric trim on the waist is perfect for scrubbing. So if you haven't discovered this yet and you or a male in your household wears boxers, I recommend you try it!!

Just call me Heloise today. :)

Meals for the Week

My goal this month is to plan my menu as much as possible around the food already in my fridge, freezer, and cupboards. I still need to hit the grocery store to get fresh produce, other necessities, and items to complete my meals. It's been fun, though, to see what I have and attempt to work with it. Plus it saves money! I'd love to take some of the money I'm saving and do a grocery trip just to buy items for a food pantry. Perhaps Emma and I will make a special trip in the next week or so. I'll let you know.

Here are my meals for this week:

Sunday - Grilled steaks, baked sweet potatoes, broccoli and cheese, oatmeal bread
Monday - dhal over rice, cucumber yogurt salad
Tuesday - leftovers
Wednesday - lasagna (I froze an extra one when I made this last month!), cheesy bread, salad
Thursday - Pete's work Christmas party
Friday - Vegetable Chili, Cornbread, cheese
Saturday or Sunday - Chicken Enchiladas, spanish rice, corn

Beef, Anyone?

Last February we purchased a half of a cow with friends of ours. We thought it a good decision... we knew where the cow was coming from, what it was fed, what is was not injected with, and it filled our freezer with a variety of cuts of beef that could be used throughout the year. It's been really nice to have roasts, steaks, and ground beef on hand.

One thing I would do different.y next time is to ask them to ground certain cuts of meat into ground beef instead. First of all, we told them to just give us cuts as they were since this was our first time and we wanted to see how it would all work out. Secondly, we were given about half as much ground beef as the original information had stated. So... we ended up with lots of beef bones, some shanks, and some other cuts I just plain had never heard of.

So I'm looking for some recipes. Do you have any good ones out there for shanks or short ribs? And what I'd really like is a yummy recipe for beef and noodles (I'd like to use my beef bones for this one.) I could (and have) look through cookbooks but it's always nice when someone shares a recipe he/she has made before and knows is tasty. Those are the ones I'm looking for!! Bring on the recipes!