Friday, January 20, 2012

Today I am HAPPY... WHY NANCY you ask? WHY ARE YOU SO HAPPY TODAY? Well I am glad you did I am going to tell you hehe. Have had a lot going on. Bella is growing like a pasture weed she is getting sooo tall. Dunno what I am gonna do with that kid. Put a brick on her head? This growin' up stuff? I don't like it. Nope not one bit. Doesn't matter she will always be MY BABY even when she is 60. The weather here has been so strange. Kinda freakish here for January to say the least. I mean 70's come on really? I am not complaining. I just won't be shocked when in March it is 20 and we are all sick and saying "Boy, this sure is unusual weather for March, usually it is in the 70's" I will have to refer back to this post then. Hard to even pretend anymore I just gave up today and put on t shirt and my flip flops and said whatever. If you live down here.. you may as well. So we have had some good news in our family. I will post her post so I don't mess it up: Britney::"The doctor finally called me!! And it is good news, not the BEST ever, but still good!! My blood work came back lower than it was in October which is a good thing!! So she wants to look at it again in 6 weeks and see if the growth gets any bigger and if the blood work changes.. So I go back at the end of February! I strongly believe in the power of prayer!! Thank you all so very much!! :)" WONDERFUL NEWS. We STILL NEED to keep praying for her over the next 6 weeks and the dr's PLEASE. Thank you all so very much. For the ones that do not remember or aren't familiar Britney is my cousin Steve and Jan's youngest daughter. Jan is the very talented one that scrapbooked and sews all those amazing things you see on facebook all the time. YAAAA herrr now you remember. Wanted to remind you guys that L.O.A.D. Starts up FEB the 1. so there is still time to sign up! If you are unfamiliar that is LAYOUT A DAY where you make a scrapbook page a day and we are doing it for FEB. Hopefully I will get to do it this time without fail. I will get you the link to sign up for that. My insurance is finally paying for my meds again (YAHOOOO) so I am back on my REBIF interferon for MS so let the good times roll (not) actually it makes you feel pretty crappy but that outweighs not being able to swallow or breathe or walk or stand without balance. The other downfall .. the stinkin shingles. I immediately started breakin out. So on the list tomorrow call about refill of those meds geesh. more meds more meds more medsssss AHHHHHH!! Bella bug has been fighting a battle of sickies this week. she has croupy cough sinus drainage and yucky tummy (upchucks)I know sorry for sharing. She made it through school yesterday when I just knew we would get a call. She is a trooper. She said her throat felt like yuck but she didn't want to miss because they were out Monday. (what logic for an 8 year old?) She said they had a lot of school to cover ha ha. Other good news (least she thought so and I have to agree!) WE HAD THIS FOR SUPPER!!!
(this is not MY PICTURE IT IS THIS PINNERS PICTURE THAT I LOVINGLY BORROWED ALONG WITH THE RECIPE THAT I AM SHARING WITH FULL CREDIT TO THEMMMM WITH YOU) THis recipe is sooooo gooooood. Only thing we did not do is use the fresh basil or the olive oil we just cooked it in our pan without oil. I added 2 more cans of diced red tomatoes and used more chicken stock (it wasn't very soupy) also we used crushed up lasagna noodles instead of these noodles and it was FANTASTIC!!!! HERE IS THE LINK (click on the word link) or just follow this recipe with the alterations above) Lasagna Soup INGREDIENTS for the soup: 2 tsp. olive oil 1-1/2 lbs. Italian sausage 3 c. chopped onions 4 garlic cloves, minced 2 tsp. dried oregano 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes 2 T. tomato paste 1 28-oz. can fire roasted diced tomatoes 2 bay leaves 6 c. chicken stock 8 oz. mafalda or fusilli pasta 1/2 c. finely chopped fresh basil leaves salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste for the cheesy yum: 8 oz. ricotta 1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese 1/4 tsp. salt pinch of freshly ground pepper 2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese PREPARATION Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add sausage, breaking up into bite sized pieces, and brown for about 5 minutes. Add onions and cook until softened, about 6 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute. Add tomato paste and stir well to incorporate. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the tomato paste turns a rusty brown color. Add diced tomatoes, bay leaves, and chicken stock. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Add uncooked pasta and cook until al dente. Do not over cook or let soup simmer for a long period of time at this point, as the pasta will get mushy and absorb all the soup broth. You may even want to consider cooking the noodles separately, and then adding some to individual bowls before ladling the soup over them. This would be an especially smart move if you are anticipating any leftovers. Right before serving, stir in the basil and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. While the pasta is cooking, prepare the cheesy yum. In a small bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmesan, salt, and pepper. To serve, place a dollop of the cheesy yum in each soup bowl, sprinkle some of the mozzarella on top and ladle the hot soup over the cheese. Servings: 8 Source: adapted from 300 Sensational Soups by Carla Snyder and Meredith Deeds, as seen in the February-April 2011 edition of At Home with Kowalski's magazine Printed from: a farmgirl's dabbles (www.afarmgirlsdabbles.com) It got the SEAL OF APPROVAL from all of the Jones family. So anyway hope you all have had a wonderful week. Talk sooooon....