Butternut Squash Soup

Okay, so this is the second time I have tried to make this soup.  The first recipe I got from my husbands Grandma Parry.  It was a comfort soup for my mother-in-law Kristine as she was battling the last few months of cancer.  I am very sad to say... we didn't like it.  Sorry Grandma.  But, I was given an different recipe and since I still had a squash, I thought I would give it another try.  This one was much better.  A little rich but very good.

You will need:
1 butternut squash
For the squash preparation: salt, pepper, olive oil
1 15oz can petite diced tomatoes
2 to 4 slices of bacon (preferably peppered bacon)
1 yellow onion, diced
1/2 head garlic, minced
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 cups chicken stock
1/2 cup heavy cream
salt

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350*.  Quarter squash; remove seeds; brush meat with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Place squash skin side down in a large baking pan; add enough water to the pan so that it is 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch high.  (I forgot to do this and it really made the squash have a darker look and a richer flavor.  I won't be forgetting this step next time.)  Roast squash until fork tender, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours.  Remove tender meat from squash and puree.

In stock pot, cook bacon and remove once crisp.  You'll use this to crumble on top of the soup.  Saute onions on medium heat in grease from the bacon.  Once the onion is tender, add tomatoes and garlic.  I used 5 cloves of garlic.  4 would have been fine.  Allow tomatoes to cook for a few minutes before adding the balsamic vinegar.  Once the tomatoes have started to break down, add the pureed squash and chicken stock.  I pureed all of this again so that it was smooth.  If you don't want to do that I'm sure it would be fine.  Stir to combine.  Stir in heavy cream.  I used half and half and if you wanted to, milk will work too.  Salt to taste.

I ended up making baked potatoes to go with mine because I knew that my kids wouldn't enjoy the soup as much as I would.  We also dipped crackers in it.  The bacon on top really made the soup.  I would have liked it not as thick but it was very tasty.

Lily of the Valley

 
 First off I have to say that I am so glad that I found this link!

I have had this book for years.  It was my mothers and I just love to read it.  When I want a nice little romance I pull this out. 

I'm pretty sure this book is what made me love hardback books.  I love the feel of it in my hands and the size and everything.

When I was in High School I was excited because I was in French class and could finally understand the few French phrases in the book.

This is a great little love story.  All about how communication is key in any relationship.  I love the description of the flowers and the Chateau's rooms.  I just love this whole book. 

The whole reason I pulled out a "real" book is because my husband took my IPod to go replace our windshield.  I was in need of a book!

Lemon Herb Chicken Ring and a Cocoa Add-In

So when my friend came over to craft, we made this for lunch.  It is a Pampered Chef recipe and I love it!

You need:

2 cups coarsely chopped cooked chicken
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
3 TBS chopped fresh parsley, divided
1 lemon
2 garlic cloves, pressed
1 cup (4 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp Italian Seasoning
1/2 cup (2 oz) grated fresh Parmesan cheese, divided
2 packages (8 oz each) refrigerated crescent rolls

Preheat oven to 375*.  Zest lemon to measure 1 tsp zest.  Add 2 TBS of the parsley, lemon zest, garlic, mozzarella cheese, mayonnaise and Italian seasoning to the chicken and bell pepper and mix. Set aside 2 TBS or Parmesan cheese and add the rest to chicken mixture. 
Unroll crescent dough; separate into 16 triangles.  Arrange triangles, slightly overlapping, in a circle on a pizza pan.  (I use the Large Round Stone from Pampered Chef.) with wide ends 4 inches from edge of pan.  (Points will extend off the edge of pan.)  Roll wide ends of dough toward center to create a 5-inch opening.
Spoon chicken mixture evenly over dough in a circle.  Bring points of triangles up over filling and tuck under dough at center to form a ring.  (Filling will show.)  Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese over ring.  Bake 28-30 min.

So good!

I had some for breakfast this morning with my new favorite breakfast drink.  I usually add milk to my cocoa to cool it down to drinkable temperature but I had some Egg Nog in the fridge and used that.  OH MY GOSH!!  Never will I drink plain Egg Nog again or Egg Nog with Sprite.  It was so good!  You really need to try it. 

The other think you can try to dress up your plain cocoa, add pumpkin pie spice.  Plain cocoa is just to over-rated and Stevens is pricy.  So just dress up the cheap stuff and you've got your own gourmet cocoa.

Mod Podge

I had my sister over for the weekend and on Friday, I had a friend come over with her kids to play with my kids while we crafted.

I bought all this stuff last year and never got around to doing it.  I have never crafted with Mod Podge and now I find myself looking for new things to craft with it. ;0)

We made these count-down til Christmas blocks.  And of course I don't have the blog that I got the idea off of to post here.  So sorry.

We just cut paper to fit the block, mod podged them on and put a little vinyl on them.  Are they not awesome!

I need to get some more vinyl numbers to finish the other blocks and I'll be giving them away to friends for Christmas so if you want to be on that list, let me know. :0)

I also had these down in a box.  Who knows how long I have had these but I got them at a Super Saturday that I had signed up for too many things to do and never did these.  I had the paper and the blocks and pulled them out to mod podge.

I was very happy to see that the blocks had what was what written on the backs.  That made things a little easier.  I wanted a nativity that the baby's that come to my house can play with.  I love the manger that I have for under my tree and come Christmas time I'll post pictures of it.  But this is perfect for baby's.  They can't break them and they get to play with them.

Now what else can I mod podge?  ;0)

*Totally found the site I used!!!  You can go here!  And I talk about this website here!   I have made so many things from here!  From just the one link alone.  LOVE IT!!!

Pumpkin Patch Pictures

I saw this link for the Pumpkin Point Farms on a friends blog and then I really waned to take my family up there for pictures.  If you would like to see them you can go my my family blog here.  :0)

Trick-or-Treat Bags

My good friend posted these last year.  I had the craft bug and wanted to make some for my kids so I asked her for her pattern.  She didn't use one but took the time to make one up just for me. :0)

You can go here to see her bags.

Here is one of mine.

They are HUGE!!!  I had to take a picture of my baby in one so you can see how big it really is!

She's 18 months old and small for her age. ;0)

My husband said that my kids are going to be highly disappointed because they are going to think they are filling up these bags and will be lucky to fill the bottom of them. 

I can not wait to make the rest of them.  They were so much fun.  I have never pieced before and I may have found a new love.  It makes it even nicer that there is a setting on my sewing machine just for piecing.   That was nice.  I think I may have to make a quilt after I get these and the Christmas dresses for my girls done.  Now if only my machine would work better.  I'm having trouble with the tension and any advice is very welcome. ;0)

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