Coming Out of Retirement- Souper Sunday 2013

So, I had a bazillion (handful) of requests for Souper Sunday recipes. You kids like your soup! As a result, I am pulling the ol' blog out of retirement, because I am lazy and will probably forget to email those of you who asked for the recipe. 

Our first Souper Sunday of 2013 is my take on Olive Garden's Zuppa Toscana. I'm not an O.G. fan, but by golly I enjoy their soup and salad. You may hate my recipes, because I make up most of them and my measurements aren't exact. Just go with it, and I'm sure it will all be just fine. Happy Souper Sunday, players!

1lb ground sausage (I used Jimmy Dean reduced fat)

3 slices of bacon, coarsely chopped

1 chopped white onion

3 medium russet potatoes cubed

2 cans chicken broth

Minced garlic- I like a lot. You may not!

1 c chopped kale

Handful of sliced mushrooms

1 quart water

1 c (ish) heavy cream

Salt and pepper

Cook sausage, bacon and onion until thoroughly browned and onions are translucent. Bacon should not be crispy. Drain fat and put the meat and onion to the side. 

In a stock pot, cook potatoes in broth, garlic and water on medium heat until tender. 

Add meat, onions, mushrooms and kale. Simmer until the kale is cooked, but not mushy. About 7 minutes. Kale is gross mushy. Stir in cream before serving. Add salt and pepper to taste. I garnished with fresh Parmesan. 

Y'all. This was so good. So easy. So better than the O.G. version. 

Do it. 

He Sees You When You're Sleeping!

Sidney saw Santa!  She didn't cry, but she sure wasn't smiling.  She had her arms rigidly pressed to her sides with her fists clenched.  Her face was priceless.  I love my baby bird!

Souper Sunday- Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup

Creamy Chicken and Rice Soup

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 chopped onion (Have you tried using frozen chopped onion? Life changing easy!)
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup sliced carrots
• 1/2 lb. sliced mushrooms
• 3/4 cup flour
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup rice (use your favorite!)
• 1 lb. chicken, cooked and cubed (I like using a rotisserie chicken.)
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. mustard powder
• 1/2 tsp. dried parsley
• 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
• 1 can evaporated milk

Cook rice according to package directions. Melt butter in a dutch oven over medium heat. Stir in onion, celery and carrots and saute for 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and saute for 2 more minutes. Next add the flour and stir well. Slowly add the chicken broth, stirring constantly, until it has all been added. Bring just to a boil, reduce heat to low and let simmer.
Next add the cooked rice, chicken, salt, curry powder, mustard powder, parsley, and ground black pepper. Allow to simmer for 1 to 2 hours to blend flavor. Add milk about 15 minutes before serving, just to heat. Do not boil, just keep warm.

 

After adding flour to make a roux, stir in broth.

 

After adding rice, simmer on low heat to allow the yumminess to incorporate!

When we woke up this morning, it was 13 degrees... perfect Souper Sunday weather!

Souper Sunday- Taco Soup

Taco Soup

1 lbs. ground beef or turkey

1 large onion, chopped

1 can pinto beans with jalapenos {I used Ranch Style}

1 can red kidney beans

1 {8 0z.} can diced green chiles

1 can whole kernel corn, drained

1 can stewed tomatoes, Mexican style

1 can Rotel {I used HOT}

1 can beef broth

1 pkg. taco seasoning

1 pkg. Hidden Valley ranch dressing {dry}

Brown meat & onion together and drain.  Transfer to large pot and add beans, corn, chiles, tomatoes, Rotel, broth, seasoning, & dressing.

Let me tell you, so easy and so good!  We are still enjoying leftovers!  Yum!

I'll Have What She's Having

I wish I could bottle her joy.  I'm pretty sure that we would be monetarily set for life.  Oh, and the joy she brings... well, that is just icing on the cake.

Souper Sunday Slacker

Friends, please forgive me for not posting recipes.  Rest assured that Souper Sunday is in full swing, and is enjoyed weekly by my well fed husband!  I will get back on the blogging horse.  Pinky promise.

Shutterfly Hook Ups!

I already ordered (and let's be honest addressed and stuffed!) my Christmas cards from Shutterfly, but I didn't order enough, so this offer is perfect!  Shutterfly is offering 50 free cutie pie Christmas cards to those who blog about them.  Awesome, right?
All you do is go here: http://blog.shutterfly.com/5358/holiday2010-blog-submission-form/ 

Fill out the form, and the worker bees at Shutterfly will email you with the rest of the instructions!  I love Shutterfly, and have ordered our past Christmas cards and my gal's birth announcement from them.  Dare I even mention their photo books?! So great!

A few other things I love on Shutterfly that would make fantastic Christmas gifts for grandparents:

Calendars! http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars 
I recently looked at the sweet new calendar designs, and plan on making one showcasing my favorite pint sized gal and her pooch pal!

Canvas Wall Art: http://www.shutterfly.com/home-decor/canvas-wall-art
Choose a few of your favorite photos, upload them on to Shutterfly, convert them to black and white and have them printed on canvas.  It is an instant way to unify your photos for a snazzy wall hanging!

Christmas Cards: http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards
Surely I am not the only one who looks forward to checking the mail everyday during the holiday season?! It seems to be the only time during the year that my mailbox is spewing joy instead of bills!