Italian Chicken Soup

Hello dear Friends.

Yay, that soup season is here!! Matt is a soup lover just like I am, so we have already made quite a few soups already in this relationship. Lol He makes a mean Zuppa Tuscana type one - that's a bit more waist friendly because he only does 1/2 as many potatoes and adds cauliflower and it's DELISH! 

I recently found this magazine: 

And there are so many wonderful sounding soups and stews in it. So I'm determined to make all the ones that interest us the most over the course of this Winter. Here is the first one I made right before Thanksgiving. I kind of changed a few things to make it simpler and faster and it turned out awesome! We both thought it was a nice light fresh soup with all the fresh herbs. And we liked the Italian twist to it with the tomatoes. 

You'll see in the recipe it calls for using a whole raw chicken. I made it easier on myself and I used a rotisserie chicken. So I took a fully cooked rotisserie chicken and pulled of all the meat from it and cut it up and set it aside in the fridge. I then used the carcass - along with the other ingredients called for (cut up celery, carrot, onion, garlic and rough chopped tomato, seasonings, bay leaf etc) and I let that slow cook all afternoon to flavor our "broth". 

Once the broth was complete I strained everything out of it. I put that broth back in the slow cooker and added some orzo pasta and freshly chopped tomatoes and let that cook until the orzo was done. 

I then finely chopped up the fresh herbs and put them in to cook for the last 5 minutes, along with some lemon juice and the chicken I had cut up earlier. 

I dished up our bowls and topped them each with some parmesean cheese. We had ours with some little ciabatta roll sandwiches and it was delicious. 

Here's the recipe from the magazine. Do you write little notes next to recipes you like too? 😉 

Are you a big soup person? I think living in the north, where we get a lot of cold weather, soup is such a comfort and warms the soul. 😋 

Enjoy! xoxo

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Homemaker Monday

Happy Monday Friends! 

Sorry I'm getting to this a little late. I went out with a friend for an  early lunch. I hope you had a wonderful weekend. Can you believe December is in a few days?? We even got a little snow this weekend (it's since melted) adding to the festive feelings in the air. For those that celebrated Thanksgiving, I hope you had a blessed holiday with your loved ones. 💗 

It was a lovely one here, other than my Mom had a sore back and couldn't stay too long past dinner - but she's doing better now. We had yummy appetizers and visited lots (my brother and SIL were here too, along with the kiddos, Matt & I). And then had our wonderful meal and more visiting afterwards. Followed by pie and games and maybe a nap after all that too. 😉 

The weekend was a fun one also. My son came home for lunch Friday and Matt and I put out a big leftovers spread for us and the kiddos. Shortly after Matt and I went out and did a little black Friday shopping. And then Friday night both of my kiddos hung out here all night. We played board games and video games and ordered in some pizza. I just love that my kiddos enjoy hanging out with us. I was belly laughing that night harder than I've laughed in a long time! Such a fun night. 

We got the trees hauled into the house on Saturday. We also did Saturday evening mass and then came home and snuggled in and watched a couple of movies. Yesterday we did more cleaning and I began decorating. I plan to work on that the next several days and hopefully get the rest of it complete. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! 🎶 🎄  

        

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

yogurt, coffee

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

lunch with a friend, my mammogram, painter coming to give estimate on office room and hallways, Annie's hockey games, help my Mom, hospice work

THINKING ABOUT:  

Lots of decorating ahead!

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE

 I'm in my office and I can see a sweet little candle glowing next to an adorable paper poinsettia a gf gave me for my birthday (real poinsettias are toxic for cats). (see pics below) I'm listening to old Christmas music discs on my bose system and I stop once in a while to gaze out the big window that overlooks the bay. It's still frozen over and some sides of it still have snow covering.  I'm sipping cardamom cinnamon tea and feeling very cozy. 

CURRENTLY READING

Holiday magazines (probably going to remain my go-to through the season). I have several books I'm reading and I jump around - so nothing of mention at this time.

ON THE TV TODAY:

   Survivor, Dancing with the Stars, Jeopardy, The Morning Show, Great British Baking Show, The Crown,  Christmas movies, HGTV shows, Matt and I started watching The Americans (streams on Hulu right now) 

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY -  

TUESDAY - 

WEDNESDAY -  

THURSDAY - 

FRIDAY -  

*don't have a set plan for this week - have things in the fridge and freezer to use up first part of the week and then going to reset and figure out a menu plan 

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

decorate, work on Christmas cards, wrap some gifts

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

This one interested me as I think about getting another one now and then. 

FROM THE CAMERA:

I used the cute pumpkin pie boxes that my friend Deb made - to do something different than the thankful slips I did last year. This year I filled the boxes with Thanksgiving related trivia, jokes and poems. While we sat around and had cranberry dip with cinnamon graham crackers, veggies, and some sausage and cheeses with crackers we each took a pie and shared what it said. Everyone seemed to get a kick out of it. 

We also had hot apple cider with cinnamon sticks and clove studded orange slices simmering away. 😋 

My sweet Bro and SIL. Just love them! 💕 

I always have a LOT of Fall to put away!

Switched out for the really big warm comforter for the season and it was perfect timing because we woke up to a chill snowy morning the next day

Bubba was enjoying a squirrel looking for seeds in the snow on our deck

It went from that pretty sun on the frozen bay - to snowing up a storm in a matter of minutes! 

PRAYER LIST:

 For an end to the conflicts all over the world and anyone living in war & fear. For peace and unity in this country, especially from hate and shootings or violence.  For anyone sick, suffering, in pain, fear, loneliness etc ... that God bring them comfort and peace. For His Light and Love to cast out the darkness everywhere.  For Matt's Mom and for my gf both dealing with some health issues. For anyone suffering in any way during this holiday season. 🙏 

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

Have a wonderful week ahead Friends! I'm sharing this with Sandra of Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

We've come to that cozy time of year. When all the leaves are on the ground. There's frost (or sometimes snow) in the mornings. The world already feels still and slower - hibernation time. The neighbor's wood stove is going all the time now and always smells heavenly on the crisp air. Matt and I love to do late day walks and when we work our way home the sun is setting or already down and the lights are on in neighbors' windows. Some already have Christmas trees twinkling in the windows, and at our house candles already glowing from all the front windows. We come home and snuggle under a big soft blanket to watch shows. Sometimes I sip hot tea if I'm still cold. Yep, awfully cozy these days. 

The past couple of days there's been the smell of pies baking, cranberries popping and roasting turkey thighs in the oven. It's still my favorite tip to pick up and put butter and herbs on and roast some kind of turkey parts (thighs, wings) in the oven til done.  Then put them in a slow cooker with water, onion, carrot, celery, bay leaf, poultry seasoning and sage filled to the brim with water. Then let cook on low overnight or all day. When done strain everything out and you're left with 12 cups of liquid gold (turkey bone broth) that you can use in all of your Thanksgiving dishes (dressing, make ahead homemade gravy etc) And what's leftover goes into turkey noodle soup for leftovers. 

On the list today pumpkin pie, make ahead mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy. I think Thanksgiving must be some of the best smells there are in this world! I'm writing up some fun trivia, jokes and quotes to be read by my loved ones tomorrow and spark fun conversations. Parade watching in the morning will lead to setting the table and getting ready for us all to gather. The best! (and football thrown in of course - Go Pack Go!) It will all lead to good napping that Ruby and Bubbs are demonstrating for you. 😉 

I hope however you celebrate that you have a very safe, blessed, happy and yummy Thanksgiving. Know I am thankful for YOU!! 

🙏 🦃 🧡

Happy Homemaker Monday

Hello Friends and happy Monday

Happy Thanksgiving week to my Friends in the states as well. Gobble gobble! Lol 

Are you getting all ready for it yet? Do you host...or go somewhere? Matt & I will be hosting here. The kids are here of course. Also my Mom (my step Dad might be going to his kids for a bit), and my brother and SIL. I'm actually getting to this post late because Matt and I went to run errands and get the rest of the Thanksgving groceries when he had down time (he's working from home for today). 

So I have been making my lists and checking them twice to make sure we're all set. It's the one holiday I truly make everything homemade - even the cranberry sauce and pie crusts. I love doing it and figure while I'm still able and not an old lady just yet - I'll keep it up. 😉 

Did you have a nice weekend? It was a nice one here. Highlights included road tripping with a few of my girlfriends that live near me to meet another one of our besties that lives a few hours from us. We left early Saturday morning and met her at a halfway point for breakfast. She got to see my ring and we talked wedding talk and about our kiddos and we all just had fun catching up. Another highlight was meeting the C's out for dinner and then came to our house to play cards. We have always loved playing smear and we finally taught Matt how to play! He was catching on pretty quick as it can be kind of tough one to learn. Lots of laughs and fun always with those peeps. Also it was wonderful that our Packers won and the Vikes lost. Woo hoo! Always makes my day! 😊 

        

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

I had to go for an appt so I only had some coffee this AM

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

a few appts, hospice work, and then mainly focused on house cleaning and making Thanksgiving dishes. I have certain dishes I make or bake each of the 3 days before Thanksgiving and then of course the rest of the menu on the big day. 🦃 

THINKING ABOUT:  

My lists for this week and the holidays of course. But hanging with my gf's this weekend got me thinking more about wedding plans. I know I mentioned we have the venue booked but I think we also have our color scheme and decorating vibe for the wedding - and also our wedding attire for the most part. I will share more with all of you soon. :) 

Between the holidays and wedding planning - just lots of fun and exciting planning going on! 🎉 

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE

I see all of my Fall decorations up yet...however, we did get to some Christmas decorating outside of the house. The weather was so nice this past weekend that we took advantage of it (it's going to start getting colder again) So we put away the Fall things and Autumn wreaths on the doors and we put out the Christmas decorations and Christmas wreaths on the doors. Matt did more leaf blowing too and final clean up. He had cleaned out our garage a few weeks back ...but this weekend he also cleaned out Annie's garage for her. It was so sweet and she was so grateful! I also put candles in all of the front windows. I love how they come on with their timers each night and flicker like real candles and glow so pretty inside and outside the house. ✨   

CURRENTLY READING

Holiday magazines

ON THE TV TODAY:

   Survivor, Shark Tank, Jeopardy, The Morning Show, Great British Baking Show, The Crown,  HGTV shows, movies taped

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY -  leftovers?

TUESDAY - cardamom bread french toast, fruit, maybe bacon too

WEDNESDAY -  might pick up something easy or clean out fridge

THURSDAY - turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, broccoli salad, fruit salad, corn, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, cranberry dip & crackers appetizer, veggie tray, pickles, cheeses, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, ice cream, whipped cream, hot apple cider and soda, coffee etc

FRIDAY -  homemade turkey noodle soup and leftovers

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

bake, listen to Christmas music, holiday shopping

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

FROM THE CAMERA:

Bubba is not shy about sharing his needs. And when he wants to play he lets you know it! Lol "Mom, I'm putting my paw down! Stop it with the lists and come play with me right now!!" 

On one of our recent walks along the bay we saw where a beaver had recently been doing this thing. 

The other night I made shredded Mexican chicken we had as tacos. And then the 2nd night I made a big pan of sheet pan nachos with the leftovers. I just made up this recipe with things I had on hand and it turned out so well! Here's how I made it.

 

In a slow cooker I sprayed with cooking spray:

I added some salsa on the bottom. I then added about 2 lbs of chicken breasts. On top of the chicken breasts I added more of the salsa & some taco sauce, some taco seasoning, juice of a lime and some zest, a few squirts of honey, and fresh chopped cilantro. I let it slow cook all day, then shredded the chicken. It was wonderful for soft shell tacos with all the toppings.  

Then the next day I put a bunch of crunchy tortilla chips on parchment paper. I topped the chips with the shredded chicken mixture and some shredded cheese and baked it in a 375* oven for about 5-7 minutes and broiled it the last couple of minutes. We then topped the tray of nachos with all the taco kinds of toppings (lettuce, raw onion, jalapenos, guac & sour cream). Scrumptious! 

I had some cherry pie filling that had been in the cabinet a while. So that same night I made up some quick cherry hand pies. When they were cooled I made a glaze with powdered sugar, milk and almond extract (gives a cherry flavor) and glazed the tops. Also so yummy!

Finally got me one of these to help this older bride brain stay on top of everything. Lol 💗 

Can't wait to soon have my loved ones gather here for the best feast of the year! 😋 

Love having candles in the window. I will share pics of their night time glow in the future 🌟

We hung this up this weekend - since the bears aren't a concern and hibernating. Now Bubba's favorite show is "bird feeder out the window" He has been in heaven! Lol

PRAYER LIST:

 For an end to the conflict in the Ukraine and the Middle East and for all parts of the world living in war & fear. For peace and unity in this country, especially from hate and shootings or violence. For all our Veterans.  For anyone sick, suffering, in pain or fear... that God bring them comfort and peace. For His Light and Love to cast out the darkness everywhere.  For Matt's Mom and for my gf both dealing with some health issues. For anyone suffering in any way during this holiday season. 🙏 

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

Have a blessed week ahead and for those celebrating Thursday - have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving! xoxo

I'm sharing this with Sandra of Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.