Smashed Potato Soup

So for my triumphant return to blogging, I bring you a RECIPE! This is a simple soup recipe that is super easy to throw together Sunday night and take for lunch the rest of the week. I just made it, had a bowl for myself and ladled the rest into 3 storage containers, currently residing in my fridge so they are ready to go when I am.

Smashed Potato Soup

½ cup coarsely chopped carrot*

½ cup coarsely chopped celery*

1 pkg. (1 lb. 4 oz.) refrigerated mashed potatoes

1 can (14 1/2 ozs.) 99% fat free chicken broth (I used the lower sodium kind)

½ cup fat free milk

1 garlic clove, pressed

¼ tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. ground black pepper

½ cup reduced fat sour cream (I used the whole 8 oz container. I don't use sour cream enough that I want it to be hanging around.)

2 tbsp. snipped fresh parsley (I usually skip this, I am lazy and don't use parsley for anything, so I don't buy it special for this)

 *As mentioned above, I am lazy. I also don't eat celery, unless it is in soup, so I don't go out of my way to buy it for this recipe. Instead, I grab the bag of diced mirepoix, which is already all set for me at the grocery store. It adds in some onion, which personally I like, and takes away some of the carrots and celery, which I could live without. Sometimes I even take it for a spin in my chopper, but be warned: this will give your soup an orange-y tint from the carrot juices.

The original instructions for this recipe ask you to coarsely chop the carrots and celery, place the mashed potatoes in a medium saucepan, gradually add in milk and broth, whisk until smooth and then add in the carrot, celery, garlic, salt and pepper. And while I think these are fine instructions, I am being lazy and using the already chopped up (and onion added) mirepoix, and so I saute this first, just to soften up the veggies and get a little additional flavor. This is supposed to be a healthy recipe, so use fats sparingly. Once the veggies look good, I stir in the garlic and let it sit another minute. THEN I add the potatoes and liquids, salt and black pepper. I think it adds a little flavor that way. But it is up to you. 

Once you have all the aforementioned ingredients combined, bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. 

Remove the pot from the heat, then stir in the sour cream and parsley. Voila!

This soup reheats wonderfully, and of course you can add a little flavor (and calories) with some shredded cheese or bacon crumbles on top, or even sliced green onions. But it is delicious as it. 

Another suggestion might be to make a baked potato, then cube that and add it in to the soup, if you would like it a little chunkier. Don't boil the potatoes, though. I made that mistake only once. Ye-uck!

Enjoy it!!

A Lovely Afternoon

This Wednesday, I had the day off and drove up to Buffalo to visit my lovely goddaughter who is here visiting from Florida. I haven't seen her since my wedding in February, so I was very glad for the opportunity to see her. 

Obviously I had to bring some presents with me. 

Dress

Shirt and leggings

Bunny from Build-a-Bear

Here she is, all dressed up in her pretties. She loooves those sunglasses and bows!

My mother

Here's my grandma (and Hayden's great-grandma)

Playing

She's a sun baby

"Banging things is fun!"

Steppin' on the doggy

Hmm, this is not a pony

Snuggling

Big smiles

Peek-a-boo!

Aww there's my big girl!

All in all, I had a great time with my family and especially seeing how big Hayden has got since February. She is 14 months now, so she is a big girl!

Enjoy it!!

In Memory

K - Theodore W. July 9, 2009, beloved husband 

of Evelyn (nee P); dear father of Marsha (David) L, 

Elizabeth (Michael) S, Anthony (Sandra) K, 

Barbara (Michael) K and Mary (Craig) K; 

grandfather of 14 grand and two great-grandchildren; 

son of the late Frank and Sophia; brother of 

Walter and the late Peter (late Bernice) 

and Florence (late Edward) W; also survived by nieces 

and nephews. Funeral from the JOS. FUNERAL HOME, 

Saturday 11:15 and Queen of Angels Church 11:30. 

Visitation Friday 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Theodore was a WW II 

veteran, recipient of the Purple Heart and Silver Star, 

member of the Matthew Glab Post #1477, a St. Joseph's 

Workers, and former Trustee of St. Michael's 

Church and Holy Name.

I've been wanting to post about this for a while, but I just couldn't figure out how to get into it. All I keep thinking is how selfish I am, because I want more time with him. He would have been 90 in September. And I got to spend the last 24 years with him. 24 years with a man who thought he'd never live to see 50. "Don't get old," he would say. "I used to say, 'I'll never make it to 50. Then 60. Then 70. And look at me, almost 90 years old!'"

He loved a lot of things, but one of his last conversations with the doctors was about us, how every Sunday we all come over to their house for dinner, even the grandkids, all 14, and we all get along. And we do. We don't have a ton of stuff in common, but we have a good time when we are together. 

This is my grandparents on their 50th Anniversary with all the grandkids 

(minus my cousin Matt who had a little too much fun the night before when 

we all went out together). There are a couple of spouses missing, but we all had a great time!

I'll miss all the old stories he would tell about work and the war and the Health Department. He wasn't always a big talker, but once he got going, he was on a roll. He recently started a conversation with my little sister about confession and sins and somehow ended up telling her about the loose women at the taverns with the low cut shirts and short skirts who would disappear with men out to their cars!

But I was so glad to hear about all the wonderful things he did with his time here. Hearing about him from others who knew him way back when was almost magical. As I've gotten older, he had become a lot more dependent - he had arthritis that slowed him down and made him less steady on his feet, and lost his sight to macular degeneration. But back in his prime, he was very active in his community, even receiving an award from the Diocese of Buffalo for all the service his did for his church. 

May the Lord bless and keep you, and may you be happy with the Lord. 

I love you, Grandpa!

My grandparents and their 5 children

(L-R: Elizabeth, Barbara, Anthony, Marsha and Mary)

Pictured L-R: (back row) Mike, Barb, Dave, Marsha, Ryan, Mike, Liz, 

Mike, Tim, Andy, Meagan, Joe, Janelle, Nick, Mark, Sandy, Craig, Tony

(middle row) Amanda, Evelyn, Paul, Theodore, Cole, Mary

(bottom row) Leslie, Emily

Fourth of July weekend, oh my!

Well, all in all it has been a pretty packed weekend! I am almost glad its Monday, I get a breather from all the hustle and bustle of the weekend... it helps that I have the day off today.

Every year, Kevin and his friends go to an outdoor country concert weekend called Jam in the Valley. Thursday is guys night, so Kevin headed down to set up camp and hang out with his friends. Although its not so much "camping" as it is a bunch of northern rednecks setting up tents in a giant muddy field and spending the weekend getting hammered drunk, setting off fireworks, and generally being rowdy. For example, while we were walking to our site on Friday, people were playing redneck games. They were throwing a tire. To see who could throw it the farthest. I would not lie to you about this. The girl who was up as we were walking by didn't even set down her beer. Beer in one hand, tire in the other. God's honest truth.

So Friday before I left to go join the fun, I was a baking machine. I made some chocolate chip cookie bars (with M&Ms, yummers!), brownies and also s'mores bars. Delish! I left my car at Kevin's friends' house because it was supposed to rain and Kevin has gotten his car stuck there before, so I knew my car would not make it out alive. We loaded everything into his dad's truck and took off. 

When we arrived, we grabbed a spot in overnight parking, loaded up with all the crap that I insist on bringing anytime we go places and walked over to the campsite. On the way, we passed people throwing tires in an apparent "redneck game" aka Exhibit A of "Why I don't belong here."

At the campsite, we split up, girls near the camper while the guys visited old buddies from high school. It was sort of annoying because Kevin's ex-girlfriend Jenna was there. Then somehow we got on the subject of chest hair and Nair and Jenna said she had done that to Kevin before and did I ever? To which I replied, "No, because you Naired his nipples and hurt him." To which she replied, "Oh yea, I still have pictures of that." SMOKE was pouring out of my ears. Why do you still have pictures of him?! So mad! 

Anyhow, she wasn't staying for the concert so she left, and we went in. It started raining so I had all my belongings in ziploc bags. The Friday night concert was Big and Rich and Gretchen Wilson. Well, I don't really care for Gretchen but B&R was AMAZING! It started pouring as they played "Holy Water" and it was magical! 

Of course, our blankets in our little tent also got wet, so sleeping that night was not so awesome, and we were up by 5:15am. No worries, we went to my fave diner for a little food!

See, Derek's excited! Are you?

Sara got the frisbee!

All the wives

Me and Kevin (adorable!)

Kevin, on the grill

After a nap at Kevin's parents, I had every intention of driving back to Rochester and resting until I had to work 8-12am at Wegmans (on 4th of July, thanks a lot). But right as I was about to leave, my grandma called and invited me down. I originally said no, but changed my mind, called her back and headed home. We had a lovely picnic with hot dogs, barbeque hamburgers, salads, fruit and blackberry pie! 

I had an uneventful ride back to Rochester and the night at work was not as bad as I had anticipated. Also, I got to duck outside for a while and watch the fireworks - there is a park right across the street and they put on an excellent show. All in all, it was a lovely weekend. 

Enjoy it!!

Getting there...

Tonight my friend Carolyn captured me and we had a good old-fashioned girls night...mall in the afternoon, dinner at Taco Bell and movie in the evening. It was a lot of fun to hang out with my girl friends, but I was glad to get home too. 

Thursday is my birthday. I will be 24 years old. I am feeling about 106. I dunno. The desire to have a baby is only making me feel older, like time is RUNNING by me and I can barely keep up. I just keep thinking, "Holy crow, I'm almost 50!" ((think that scene in "When Harry Met Sally" where he comes over to comfort her and she says "I'm going to be 40!" and he says "In 8 YEARS!"...."but its still out there."))

I know I am being silly but I want more from my life than to be working part-time for measly wages at a grocery store with a crap schedule. Being with my husband makes me so so happy but I have been unusually weepy lately and its kind of unnerving. It just seems like I should be farther already. I guess I have always been in a hurry. Call it the curse of the first child. I was 3 weeks early because I couldn't wait to get out, and I've been in a rush to grow up ever since. 

Fingers crossed, I can slow down and appreciate all that I have. Enjoy it!

Confession

Lately, I have been consumed with the desire to procreate. It seems like everywhere I look there is a little baby or a pregnant belly. I admit it - I've got babies on the brain. 

Perhaps it is because we have a friend with a baby right now. Or because we haven't had any babies around in a long while - my cousin has two little ones (Harrison and Hayden (my goddaughter!)) but since she lives in Florida and we are in NY, we see them about twice a year, max. 

Kevin's concerns are purely financial, and I agree. At the very least, I think I should get a full-time job before we have a kid. Or something with more regular hours. Since we don't live close enough that we could rely on our families as babysitters, we'd need to figure something out with a daycare and its hard to do with I work hours all over the place, and Kevin worked a different shift every week. But on the other hand, if we keep waiting, we might be waiting forever. 

I am really hearing my biological clock ticking. Which is sort of puzzling to me, because I'm not even 24 (well, I will be next week, but that will be another quarter life crisis). I think because of all my internet exposure, I've come to realize that pregnancy is a hope, not a promise. If you are lucky enough to get pregnant on your own, even this doesn't guarantee you'll have an easy pregnancy, or end up with a healthy baby. I want a baby, but what I want more is to know that I can get pregnant, that we can get pregnant together. I know it seems like a silly worry but its the one I have right now. I don't want to find out five years down the road that its not going to happen for us and then be scrambling to figure something out before we get too old. 

So if you need me, I'll be right here,  listening to the *tick tock* of my biological clock. And keeping my fingers crossed that things fall into place...

Putting on the miles

So lately I have been pretty busy traveling all over the globe for a variety of things:

-I was up in my hometown for a bridal shower. My cousin and his fiance who live in St. Louis are getting married in Connecticut in July and so we had a shower for them close to us so we could celebrate too. It was very nice to see everyone - the last couple times I had seen them, I was all busy with wedding plans and getting married, so I hardly got to spend any time with them. 

-Also while I was home that weekend, I stopped over at my best friend Kara's parents house, her mom was throwing a Pampered Chef party. I ordered a couple things, lusted after a LOT more and generally had a good time visiting with Kara. 

-That Thursday I was back up to hang out with my sister on her 21st birthday! WoohoO! My parents, Emily and I went out to dinner for hibachi (where I am also going for my birthday next week lol!) then out to a local bar for a more relaxed evening. The night before one of her friend's had thrown a surprise party and she had a few too many, so she was taking it easy. 

-Saturday was another bridal shower, this time for my future sister-in-law, Jennie. It was in a park about half-way between here and my home town, so only about 45 minute drive. It was nice to visit, this is one of the few times Kevin's family gets together. So, while there, a bug tried to eat my hand and now its all swollen and itchy, but on the mend.

-Ooh, also Kevin and I had a date night and we went to the movies and saw "The Hangover" which was HYSTERICAL! Seriously loved it. Tears were streaming we were laughing so hard. It was the goofy-funny we needed exactly. Then we came home and watched "Royal Pains", which we had DVRed. I'm really excited because we both like it and now we have a summer show. YahoO!

Enjoy it!