And then we ate popcorn and cookies for dinner.

We woke up to sunshine and blue skies today. I was so excited I ran outside to take a picture, and then turned into an icicle. Don't let this blue sky fool you my friends, it's -10 outside right now, with a -25 wind chill. I'm a firm believer that on days like today, people should skip work, bake, build a fort,  drink hot cocoa, sing Kumbaya, and read stories by the fireplace.

Apparently in the real world people have to go to work, and Tay has a huge trial competition this week so no time for fort building. But there's always time for popcorn and chocolate chip cookies! So that's what we had for dinner. And it was almost as good as Kumbaya and storytime.

When we aren't eating popcorn for dinner, we have soup once or twice a week. It keeps use warm during these chilly winter months. Mmmmm . . . soup and fresh bread  . . . that's almost as good as Kumbaya too. Here are a few that we have in or monthly rotation:

Minestrone Soup (from Tia)
1 lb. Italian Sausage (I use ground turkey)
1 C diced onion
1 C sliced celery
1 C sliced carrots
2 cloves garlic, diced
1 (15 oz.) can Tomatoes
1 (15-16 oz.) can Tomato sauce
2 C. water
5 tsp. beef boullion
1 tsp. dried parsley flakes
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. basil
1.4 tsp. pepper
{add at the end...}
1 (15 oz.) can red Kidney beans (undrained)
1/2 C elbow macaroni
1 C cut green beans
1 C sliced zucchini

In large pot, brown sausage. Add all ingredients EXCEPT beans, zuchini, and macaroni and Simmer for 20 mins. Add remaining ingredients, and let simmer until noodles are soft and cooked. 


White Chili 
- I would wait and add the salt until after finished, and then salt to taste. It gets too salty quickly.


Tortellini Sausage Soup
- I prefer a little less parsley than the recipe calls for and use turkey sausage. 

Chicken Tortilla Soup 

Put the following ingredients in a large pot and cook on medium heat for 1 hour.

3-4 chicken breasts (depending on how "chickeny" you want it)
20 oz can diced tomato
1 can beef broth
4 c chicken broth
1 can tomato soup
1 - 10oz can diced tomato with green chiles
1 chopped onion
3 garlic cloves
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp chili powder

After 1 hour of cooking - take chicken breasts out and shred them with two forks. Put shredded chicken back into pot along with 1 can of corn and 1 can of black beans (drained & rinsed). Cook for 15 more minutes.

Serve with homemade tortilla strips.

We love any of these soups with cornbread or Lion House Rolls.  Also, all of these soups taste better when eaten while wearing warm sweats just out of the dryer. It's a proven fact.

Then for dessert, have a snowball, or just gnaw baby's chubby little hands. Delightful.

Enjoy!