Tomato Basil Soup

Tomato Basil Soup

1 tsp extra virgin olive oil

1/2 C finely minced white onion

1 tsp finely minced garlic

2- 28oz cans crushed tomatoes

3 C chicken broth

3/4 C half & half 

1/3 C minced fresh basil

1 to 2 packets Truvia

2 tsp minced fresh parsley

1/4 tsp dried oregano

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1) Heat oil in pan with onions and garlic.  Cook till tender. 

2)Add tomatoes and chicken broth. Bring to a boil.  Turn down heat and simmer 20 minutes.

3) Add remaining ingredients and simmer for another 20 minutes. 

Garnish with parmesan cheese. 

I served the soup with a side of baked parmesan chicken over a salad.  To make the chicken I just brushed a little caesar dressing on the chicken tenders and sprinkled with shredded parmesan cheese.  Baked at 350 for about 20 minutes until cooked through and cheese was lightly browned. 

February Update

Can't believe February is almost over.   I have spent all of February sick as well as the last 2 weeks of January.   Started with a sinus infection.  Then was better for a few days.  Then the kids all got the 24 hour stomach bug but I of course had it for 3 miserable days.  Then round 2 of sinus infection which then lead to a horrible ear infection that keeps getting worse instead of better.  Antibiotics, ear drops and pain meds.  Then needed benadryl because the vicoden makes me itchy all over.  The ear pain is insane.  I get ear infections 2 to 3 times a year but this is the worst one I have ever had.

On to some pictures.

We had my inlaws over for the Super Bowl.  That was a lot of fun and yummy food!

This was one day that I was feeling ok!  

I joined Ipsy and got my first bag this February.  

I made a nice dinner for Valentine's Day.  It was so good.  We had london broil, french onion soup, salad and cake.

Now it's time to put all the Valentines stuff away.  Looking forward to hopefully a healthy March!

Salsa Style Chicken (E)

This recipe normally calls for chicken drumsticks which I make for the family but I turned it into an E recipe for me by using chicken tenderloins for myself. Although you could just buy enough white meat chicken breasts or tenderloins for the entire family.

For us I use 1 family package of drumsticks and then a small pack of the chicken tenderloins I think it was about 1 pound.

Salsa Style Chicken (E)

2 small/medium onions sliced about a cup to cup and a half
juice of 2 limes
1 tbs olive oil
1/2 tsp hot sauce
3 cloves of garlic
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
2 (20oz) cans whole tomatoes (I sliced them....couldn't find sliced canned tomatoes w/o sugar)
1 jalapeno pepper seeded and minced
12 chicken drumsticks &/or chicken breast/tenderloins (enough for your family so you decide how much)*
Enough cooked brown rice for your family (I can do the serving for 6 on the package that is is enough for us)
2 cups of water

* you have to use skinless white chicken to make it an E meal.

Mix onion, juice, sauce, garlic minced, cilantro,tomatoes (& juice from cans) jalapeno pepper and chicken together in a large bag (I had to use 2).  Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.
Heat broiler.  Remove chicken from marinade and reserve the marinade.  Place chicken in a single layer, skin side up on a broiler rack.  Broil 4-6" from heat for 15-20 mins turning once for the drumsticks.  Check to make sure it is done all the way .  My oven takes a little longer.  If using chicken tenderloins I broiled those about 5 minutes on each side. The chicken breasts take a little longer so keep an eye on them.

For the marinade place in deep skillet or sauce pan and add water.  Boil 30 minutes until onion is tender.  Serve over rice.

Serves about 6 maybe more if your family doesn't chow down as much as my 4 boys do!

Happy New Year!

I can't believe 2016 is here......so I am a little late on this!  My oldest graduates from high school this year!   That is just crazy.  Time flies by!

Anyway here is a quick recap of our NYE treats and then our late Christmas with my inlaws.  I wish I had taken more pictures but I didn't.

For New Year's Eve we had a few snacks:
Sausage cheese balls
Turkey meatballs
Bunless chili burgers
Shrimp
Lil' smokies
Veggies & ranch
Hot wings
Loaded potato skins
Chips

We did work stuff during the day then after work stuff was done we watch the new Vacation movie for the second time.  The first time we saw it at the movie theater.  After that we switched back and forth between the NYE tv specials and a football game.

Then since my inlaws were out of town visiting their daughter and her husband we had a late Christmas with them.

We had a nice dinner.  I cooked up a yummy leg of lamb, mashed red potatoes (I had cauli mash), and veggies.  I also made french onion soup and left the bread out of mine. After dinner we had the zucchini cake from the Trim Healthy Mama cookbook and I served it with strawberries.  The leg of lamb recipe can be found HERE.  It is a Martha Stewart recipe.

Then I finally put all the Christmas stuff away this past week.  I had a little help from a protesting dog.  Dozer wanted the closet area for himself.  Took a few cookies to get him to move out of the way!!

That's it it was all really low key and very enjoyable!! :)

Recap of Christmas Day

The dogs woke me up at 5:30am like usual.  They have their schedule and they stick to it.  I got up fed them, let them out and then enjoyed some quiet time by the Christmas tree with a hot cup of tea!

Once the boys and hubby woke up they all came downstairs to the family room and started opening their presents.  

After opening all the presents it was time for some brunch.  Hubby and I enjoyed a cup of brandy slushy, kids had OJ.  We had eggs, shrimp, bacon, sausage and orange cinn. rolls. 

Then for dinner they all requested steak fajitas!  YUM!!

Then it was time to relax!!

Merry Christmas 2015

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!   I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas with family and friends.

Here are some previous Christmas pictures.

and this years picture again:

Living Room Christmas Decorations

Decorating has been slow going.  I have the tree up in the living room so far.

The flower pot I put it in this year was spray painted green and I redid it in a antiqued stainless spray paint.

Before

Then I got it ready and made sure I checked all the lights and none of them worked so I had to run up to the store to buy new ones!

I ended up getting some larger C7, I think, LED warm white lights from Menards.  I really like them! 

The bell wreath hanging up was red, silver and green.  I just gave it a quick coat of spray paint.

Then I went to hang the garland which I couldn't find anywhere!  I have no idea where I put it when I took it down after last Christmas.  So back to Menards to buy some more.  I really like the new one better than last years anyway!!

Nathan is in charge of the Christmas countdown.  He insisted his kangaroo help as well!