Chicken Avocado Tortilla Soup

  I got this recipe from my sister, Krista, & it is AMAZING!!  I have tried other tortilla soup recipes & this one is the best I have found.  Hope you like it as much as my family & I do!!

Chicken Avocado Tortilla Soup

1/2 onion chopped

1 1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. chili powder

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 tsp. pepper

8 cup chicken broth

1 (4 oz) can diced green chilies

1 cup chunky salsa

10 corn tortillas

1 1/2 lbs. chicken, cooked

3 Tbs. cilantro, chopped

salt to taste

1 large avocado, sliced

1 (14 oz) diced tomatoes

2 Tbsp. sugar

shredded cheddar cheese to top

1 ~ In large nonstick pot, stir first 6 ingredients over med. heat for about 1 minute.  (onion, garlic, cumin, oregano, chili powder, and pepper until spices are fragrant)  Add broth, tomatoes w/juice, green chilies, salsa, & sugar.  Cover & bring to a boil over high heat.

2 ~ Meanwhile, stack tortillas & cut into 1/8-inch-wide strips.  Add to boiling broth (this will thicken your soup).  Reduce heat, cover & simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3 ~ Slice & chink chicken  into 1/2 inch pieces. Peel the avocado, pit, & thinly slice.

4 ~ Add chicken to broth, stir in cilantro & salt to taste. Ladle into soup bowls, top with grated cheese & avocado. 

** Note:  Can top with sour cream, & it helps cool it down if it's too spicy. 

Can also add a can of corn & black beans for color.

Serve with chips, corn bread, or rolls.

Enjoy!!



My Bruschetta Recipe

 I had the BESTEST Bruschetta at a local Italian Restaurant & I knew I wanted to try to recreate it!  I took a little from one recipe & some other stuff from another recipe & this is what I came up with!  I shared it with 2 of my girlfriends & they LOVED it!!  So here it is!!  Enjoy!

My Bruschetta

6 roma tomatoes, chopped in pieces the size of a quarter

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1/4 cup olive oil

2 Tbs. balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup FRESH basil, stems removed, choppedin big pieces

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1 loaf of Artisan bread

Mozzarella

~ Preheat oven on broiler setting.  In large bowl combine tomatoes, garlic, oil, vinegar, basil, salt & pepper. 

Allow to sit for 10 minutes.  Cut bread in slices, then in 1/2.  Lay on baking sheet.  Broil for 1-2 minutes, flip bread, broil for 1-2 minutes.  Cut fresh mozzarella.  Put on bread, top with tomatoes.  Broil for 1-2 minutes.

DELICIOUS!!

Unshaven Legs

  Are you perfect!  Do you think you are perfect?  Do you think that you should work on being more perfect . . . whether it's for you or others?  I will be the first to admit that I am NOT perfect!!  I will admit that I have felt like I need to be perfect around others, so that I can be a better example & give hope to others!  To show that I have everything going for me; life is GREAT; there aren't any problems; I have the perfect marriage & home life; nothing is ever wrong; life is perfect!!  Little did I know that when I do this, make my life SEEM so perfect, it makes other's feel inadequate . . . hopeless . . . lonely . . . & like a failure!  That has NEVER been my intent!!  I am so sorry for betraying some of you & making you believe something that is NOT reality!!  I didn't know what I was doing.  Reality is that there are days that I feel like I am going to loose it . . . I yell at my children; my house isn't perfectly clean; my legs aren't always clean shaven & I am not always ready for the day; I'm overweight & I don't have any ambition to change it; sometimes dinner may be out of a can or box; & I have junk drawers, corners, & closets that aren't organized . . . & it's OK!!!   NOBODY'S PERFECT!!! 

   My husband has so much wisdom on something's, that it AMAZES me when he says things like he did the other night!  He said to me, "How do you know that your life isn't perfect already?  What is your perfect?"  Then he continued to say, "I don't really like the word 'perfect', why not use the word 'happy'?"      What I do know, & have realized, is that life is to short!  Live life for each day & remember what is important . . . family & the time you spend with them!!  Laugh often, especially if it's at yourself, & never take for granted what you have!  If I can help one person with this post, then I have done what I have set out to do! 

  It made me start to think that maybe perfect is having kids to yell at, a house to not keep perfectly clean, legs to not shave & enough money to buy the food that keeps me plump.  (LOL)  It's not the "perfection" but the "happiness" you have in your life!  That is the true question . . . what makes you & your family happy?  What is YOUR perfect?  What is your HAPPY?  

  Recently I came across this post on a blog & I had to share it with you all.  PLEASE READ!!  This is a post that EVERYONE should read!  It is talking about the disease of "Perfection"!  What are we teaching our children?  What are we passing down?  The need to feel perfect . . .

click here to read the post - The disease called "Perfection"

  Hope this makes you think about your weaknesses & what you are portraying to others!  What are you ready to admit & pass down to your kids?  The first thing to do to move on to a BETTER YOU is to admit your weaknesses!  Then work on changing them!!  I still struggle with this!  I pray & ask for strength, everyday, to help me with my weaknesses.  We are all here to learn from our trials & mistakes!  What are you willing to admit & overcome? 

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup pumpkin

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup oil

1 egg

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. soda

1 tsp milk

1 cup chocolate chips

1 tsp. vanilla

* Combine pumpkin, sugar, oil & egg.  Mix well. 

Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, & salt, then add to pumpkin mixture. 

 Add soda to milk, combine all, add chocolate chips & vanilla.

Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes.

Surprisingly Yummy Pasta

  I have a recipe on my Monthly Menu Planner that is called "Farfalle Al Salmone" & I was wanting to make that, but didn't have any smoked salmon, so I found a recipe & added my own touch, & it is SURPRISINGLY very good!!  I didn't know if it was going to be all that good.  I thought that the tuna was going to be too "fishy" tasting for my kids, but they didn't even know it had tuna in it!  BONUS!!!  My 3 yr old had SECONDS & my 6 yr old ate ALL his!  So here you go, hope you like it!!

Alfredo Tuna Pasta

8 oz. pasta noodles

(I used angel hair, whole wheat spaghetti)

1 (6 oz) can tuna - drained

1 (15 oz) frozen peas

1 (16 oz) jar of Alfredo sauce

1 tsp. minced garlic

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. dried basil

shredded Parmesan cheese to top

~ Combine tuna, peas, sauce, & seasonings in pan. 
Stir together & heat over medium-low heat. 

Stirring often so it doesn't burn.  Cook pasta, drain & add to sauce. 

Top each dish with shredded Parmesan.  Serve with garlic bread & salad.

Let me know how it turns out for you!!

The 5 Love Languages

    After having my first child, almost 7 years ago, I remember there was a time when it felt like my husband & I weren’t close & communicating very well anymore.  Things had changed.  I was busy taking care of our new addition to the family, trying to recover from a c-section, & was very sleep deprived . . . like all new parents are, & he was trying to get used to it all & the fact that I wasn’t available all the time like I was before.  I knew I had to do something to get us back on track.  When our son was about 6-9 months old, I confided in a friend & she told me about a book by Dr. Chapman “The 5 Love Languages”.  It is an AMAZING book!  It has REALLY opened my husband & my eyes.  We both now know & understand how the other person feels loved. 

  Many people feel loved in different ways.  Dr. Chapman says everyone has a primary love language.  He identifies the 5 love languages as (1) words of affirmation, (2) quality time, (3) receiving gifts, (4) acts of service, & (5) physical touch.  Here is a brief summary to describe each language:

Words of Affirmation – If this is your love language, then compliments & words of positive affirmations mean the world to you.  May include receiving notes, cards, or phone calls where expressions of love, appreciation & encouragement are given. 

Quality Time – This person likes spending full undivided time together.  Nothing says “I love you” like really being there, with the TV off, fork & knife down, chores & other distraction put on hold.  This makes them feel special & loved.

Receiving Gifts – This is not to be confused as being “materialistic”.  The person with this love language, the receiver of the gift, feels the most loved from the thoughtfulness & effort behind the gift.  The gift or gesture shows that they were thought of & cared for.  These tangible gifts may be a flower, a note, a candy bar, a favorite soda pop drink or money to spend on whatever they want.

Acts of Service - If this is your love language then anything that eases the burden & responsibility from you is an act of service.  Such things as doing the dishes, vacuuming, making dinner, doing laundry, or other duties can all be expressions of love  The words this person likes to hear the most are, “Let me do that for you.”

Physical Touch – This language isn’t all about the bedroom.  A person with this love language is, not surprisingly, very touchy.  They like hugs, snuggling on the couch, a pat on the back, holding hands, a kiss, thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder or face are all ways to show love.

  What is your love language?  You can feel loved by more than just one way, so you may have a primary & secondary love language.  One way to determine your love language is by looking at what YOU do, the most, for the OTHER person.  Chances are that you’re doing what you would like the other to do for you.  Once your spouse & you know what each other’s love languages are, then it will be easier to communicate & show love to each other.  It may be hard to do some of these things, but that’s what marriage & relationships are all about.  Trying to make each other feel loved, needed, & wanted.  I’ve used this quote before, but I think it explains love perfectly:

“Love is not just a feeling.  Love is an action.  Love is a choice.  When an action doesn’t come naturally it is an even greater gift of love.” By Laura M. Brotherson

  I know that my relationship got a lot better when we started thinking about each others love languages & then actually doing more of the actions that the other person wanted & needed.  I hope this can help someone out there, because I know it helped me!

Let's Get the Love Back

 

  Remember when you first met your husband, wife or partner, & that feeling you felt deep inside you?  The butterflies in your stomach, your heart felt like it was going to beat out of your chest & you felt like nothing else in the world mattered but you two.  Then REAL life happens . . . work, bills, kids, keeping up on the house & so on.  Well that fire that you felt inside at one point in your lives, can start to burn out after awhile & that's ok!  It’s normal!  A relationship takes commitment & some work, but you can make it fun work!  I have been there!  Where it seems like you will never feel those feelings again like you did before.  I thought to myself, “I have another 60 plus years with this man, so I better get to figuring this thing out!”  That’s when I decided to do some research & get ideas on how to keep my love alive & get that fire started back up again. 

  There are many things you can do to get back, & keep, that spark in your relationship, (which I will be adding different ideas in other posts), but this is one idea I came across that will bring you & your partner closer.  Both people in the relationship, make a list of 10 things that most make you feel loved & cared about.  Be specific, positive & descriptive.  Write what you want, instead of what you don’t want, & how much of what you want & when you want it.  Be as specific as possible, so that your partner can be successful at loving you.  Think of things that make you feel truly loved & cared for.  Start each sentence like this, "I feel loved when . . .”  Some examples might be “I feel loved when . . . you kiss me & tell me you love me each time you leave the house” or . . . “the house & kids are clean when I get home from work”

  Many people may find that what their partner needs & wants the most, may seem difficult for them to do.  Love is not always easy.  Sometimes love requires doing things you don’t want to do or don’t like to do, but knowing that there is a reason behind it.  I love these words; “Love is not just a feeling.  Love is an action.  Love is a choice.  When an action doesn’t come naturally it is an even greater gift of love.” By Laura M. Brotherson

  When you're both finished, share with each other what you both wrote.  BOTH of you commit to do at least one thing every day that makes your partner feel loved.  Try it for awhile, then get back together & talk about how things went & maybe change your lists up a bit. I got this idea from the book, “And They Were Not Ashamed” by Laura M. Brotherson, CFLE.  This book also has many other ideas to strengthen your marriage.  It was turned out really well when my husband & I did this activity.  It really gets you thinking about the other person, instead of yourself. 

  Let me know how this turns out for you & your relationship!  Can't wait to hear from you all!! 

My Vegetable Beef Soup Recipe

 
  It's my favorite time of year, Fall!  The leaves are changing, the air is getting crisper, & my time in the kitchen gets to be longer!!  Love it!  All I wanted to do today was make home made Vegetable Beef soup, because I had a lot of rolls I needed to use up & you can only use them to dip in soup;)  LOL  I threw some stuff together & it turned out DELICIOUS!!!!  So here it is:

Andrea's Vegetable Beef Soup

1 lb. ground beef

2 stalks chopped celery

1 med. chopped onion

2 cloves minced garlic

1 pkg. frozen mixed vegetables

1 can diced tomatoes

2 c. cubed potatoes

3 c. beef broth

salt & pepper to taste

garlic salt (a few shakes)

bay leaves, a few shakes

1/4 tsp. marjoram (if you don't have it, that's ok...it will still be good:)

1/2 tsp. thyme leaves (also, if you don't have it, don't use it)

~Brown ground beef, drain.  Sauté celery, onion & garlic with beef until celery is tender.  Add all the other ingredients to meat & simmer for 1 hour.  Serve with rolls:)

   There ya' go!  Sorry I don't have exact measurements on some of the seasonings, but that's how I cook.  My rule of thumb is, start with a little bit & you can always add more.

The Therapy of Cleaning

  How many of you have that junk drawer, cluttered closet, or the “catch all” place in your home?  Or do you ever look at your baseboards, walls, light fixtures or ceiling fans & think how they need a good cleaning?  I know I have a couple different places that tend to get over cluttered & things that need some extra special attention.  I always tell myself that I'll get to it later.  Then later becomes days, weeks & months.  Well, yesterday I decided to clean at least one or two different places that have been driving me nuts.  I ended up cleaning & organizing four places & it felt GREAT!!  It is so funny how when you de-clutter & organize your living space, you feel so much better about things.  I think I’ve come across a good therapy technique for anyone who is feeling down or over stressed.  J

 

  So here’s what I'm doing.  I’m making a list of the things that are driving me nuts, then I'm starting at the top & working my way down.  What a perfect way to have your house feel & look, extra clean & ready for the Holiday's!!  I'm so excited!!  Take one time a week that you clean one place that has been bugging you.  It always seems so overwhelming to do these kinds of tasks, but not when you do one or two things a week.  It could be your bedroom closet, the hall closet, the kitchen counter, the kids’ closet or room (but make sure they help:), the junk drawer, the kitchen cupboards, or the desk in your office.  Whatever it is, just commit to doing one place a week.  It could also be deep cleaning things, like wiping down base boards, washing blinds, windows, washing light fixtures or dusting ceiling fans.  Those are things that I see & want to do, but it seems I never have time for.  The hardest part is actually getting started, but once you do, you will probably be able to do a few a week!  So make the commitment now!!  Are you excited?  Can you just see you sparkling, clutter free home?  Can you feel the stress lift from your shoulders?  Can you feel the self confidence & pride in your work?  So. . .who's with me?  My day will be every Wednesday or Friday around 1 pm.  Which day are you picking?  It will make us all feel so much happier & less stressed!  I know we can do this!!  I want to hear how you are feeling after your successes, so keep us updatedJ  Happy De-Cluttering & Cleaning!!