6 Can Soup

 6 Can Soup ( or 3 can, or 9 can depending on how big your crowd is) comes from my mom's recipe box. It is the quickest easiest, yummiest not quite from scratch soup ever!  Mom would make this on family ski trips because it was hot, satisfying and simple to pull together even after a day on the slopes.   Everyone loved the soup, except me.  You see I am a Ntomataphobe.  I looked this up, it is a real phobia.  I DETEST tomatoes!  The orginal recipe calls for 2 cans of Rotel, so I have always had to pick through the soup for uncontaminated bites.   I know, I'm and adult and should get over it, but well, I just can't!  Tomato sauce, salsa, ketchup, all fine, so when I saw a can of Rotel Zesty Tomato and Green Chili Sauce on the shelf at Target, I had to try it.   I like this pureed version of Rotel so well I can't wait to try it in other recipes like chili, queso, and Santa Fe Chicken.  Any other suggestions?   Give this recipe a try next time you need a quick easy meal.  It is simple but will garner yums and seconds please!

6 Can Soup (recipe is easily halved or doubled as needed)

Ingredients:
2 cans Minestrone Soup
2 cans Ranch Style Beans
2 cans Rotel or Rotel sauce
1 lbs ground beef (could use ground turkey or ground chicken or you can go meatless)
1 small onion, diced (optional)


Here's what you do:

• Brown the ground beef in a large pot (a 5 quart dutch oven would work great).
• Drain fat from the pan.
• Open all 6 cans and pour into the pot.  Do not drain the beans.  
• Heat and Serve! 

I linked this recipe to: 

Sundae Scoop Link Party at I Heart Nap Time


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Bountiful Baskets

This past Saturday, I did the neatest thing!  I picked up my first box of produce through Bountiful Baskets.  This has to be one of the 8th wonders of the world as it is an all volunteer food co-op based in Arizona and run by 2 ladies.

All I did was place an order online at  http://bountifulbaskets.org/ and then show up at 12:15.  Despite the long line, the process took less than 20 minutes and I was off with my organic box of produce.

Volunteers organize the fruits and veggies into laundry baskets for distribution, you just bring bags or a box to load up your order.  In addition to the weekly basket, Bountiful Baskets offers breads, olive oil, and add-on boxes of produce.

So, what's in my box?

• 5 tomatoes
• 1 large head green leaf lettuce
• 1 bunch rainbow chard-the stalks are bright red and yellow!
• 1 bunch spinach
• 1 bunch broccoli rabe
• 1 cauliflower
• 20 or so small white potatoes
• 1 bag apples
• 4 oranges
• 1 pint blueberries
• 1 bunch bananas
• 9 grain bread (this was an add-on)

I chose the 100% certified organic box for $25, but they also offer regular produce baskets for $15.  This is a deal!  To make sure we would be able to finish all the produce before it spoiled, I split my order with a friend.  I think, though, that I will buy the regular box next time and see if we can eat it all in a couple of weeks.  We will definitely be ordering again, a least until we start getting veggies from the garden.  Check Bountiful Baskets out at http://bountifulbaskets.org/

Word for the Year

Layla over at the Lettered Cottage is hosting a Word of the Year link party.  There are some exciting and terrifying changes and challenges on the horizon for my family this year, so my word is...

Courage

 My husband and I are always dreaming of new career possibilities like opening coffee shops, becoming caters or having our own B&B.  Over the years, we had done little more than dream about a few of our ideas, but always, we have stopped short.  Why?  Timing? Yes.  Opportunity? Yes.  Money? Yes, but underlying it all is Fear of Failure.  That is our biggest enemy.   Well, this year, I want things to be different.  They need to be different, and I feel strongly that my desire to be home more with my sweet boy and to be more available to him is something that I need to pursue.  This blog, in fact, is my first attempt to try something I have always wanted to do.   It is taking courage to keep posting and trying to earn a following!

In Psalm 37, King David speaks of committing our ways to the Lord and Psalm 139 says that God is aware of every aspect of our lives.  To me, having courage this year is trusting what God's word says about His Goodness and Faithfulness.  I can try new things and take risks knowing that when my trust is in the Lord and I am committing my ways to Him, He is with me.  Having courage also means being willing to keep trusting in his Goodness and Faithfulness even when my plans do not work out.  I think that takes the most courage.

It will take real courage to step out into the unknown this year.  To face my fear of failure and to embrace uncertainty.  To be willing to take risks and to see even failure as a friend.  I will only be able to do this by God's Grace; thank goodness, He offers it freely! 

Sorry for the long and slightly preachy post, but I needed to process through this.  (Okay, confession time.  Writing all of this down is one thing, hitting "publish" is another! No time like the present to be courageous, right?)  I'd like to hear what your word for year is.  Have you thought of one?

Shadow Box to Jewelry Organizer Project

I was in Marshall's the other day and found this really cute shadow box complete with shabby chic paint and padded fabric on the inside.  I instantly thought of the jewelry organizer I have been wanting to make, so I put it in my cart.

 

 Now that I am home, I am realizing that the pretty white color is not going to show up on my white bedroom walls.  And, the box is a little beat up, so I need to find away to cover the scratches. I could paint it, maybe a robin's egg blue? Or....

...I could cover the sides in paper and use mod podge.  I really like the graphic look of the white vines on the green paper.  If I covered it in paper, I would leave the front alone, or I could paint it green to match.  What do you think?  I would really love some feedback before I start this project, so please leave a comment and let me know what you would do?  Paint or Paper, or something else?

Pillow Give Away!

I love the blue and white chevron pattern!  I have been seeing fabric like this everywhere and think it is time to add some to my home. 

 

Want to up date your look with a new pillow, then check out the pillow give away at A Place to Call Home! In addition to her cute blog, Jen has a shop on Etsy called DIY Pillows.  Her prices are great, and her fabrics are fun and hip.  For the giveaway, Jen is letting the winner pick a 16x16 pillow cover from her selection in her shop.  Check out her shop and her blog and enter to win!

http://ap2ch.blogspot.com/2012/01/pillow-giveaway.html