Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Potato Corn Soup

Last week, no, the week before, I made a recipe that I was given back when we lived in California. My friend made this amazing pot of potato soup that reminded me of something my Grandma Karen used to make when we were little. Smelled the same, tasted the same, and I loved it. I changed a few of the ingredients and thought I would share something wonderful for these crazy cold days everyone seems to be having in the northern half of this continent. 

Ingredients: Celery
Onion
Butter
Corn
Potato
Chicken Broth
Half and Half

(prepare for an unconventional recipe: just the way I like them)
About 6 celery stalks and half an onion chopped up small.  3 tablespoons of butter added to
brown in the pan over medium heat.
My mother in law taught me this wonderful trick. When you cut onion and don't need all of it, chop it all up
anyway and put it in a jar (or bag) and freeze the rest. Then when you need chopped onion, it's already done!
I used 6 potatoes, you can use more or less depending on how starchy you like your soup.
When the celery and onion are soft and a little browned, add them to the pot of broth and potatoes.
I used to use water, but ended up adding lots of salt. Lately I've been substituting lots of things with broth
to add more flavor. I used about a box and a half of Organic Chicken Broth (less sodium than non-organic). 
Bring to a boil until the potatoes are almost soft and add the corn. I did 1 can and part of another. The other recipe said a whole bag of frozen corn. You choose. Then add 1 1/2 cups of  Half and Half.  Obviously add more if you like really creamy soup. 
We love cheese so we topped it with shredded cheddar. So good.

Andrew and I would both agree that this soup is even better the next day. The broth soaks up the potato and the flavor is stronger. 
Enjoy!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Cousin Craziness: Klamath Edition

It was 2 years ago when we last got a picture of all of us together.

Last summer we spent time with my side of the family and all the cousins. This New Year we had the great privilege of getting most of the cousins on Andrew's side together. A few couldn't make it and they were missed, but the ones that were there had a great time playing, paining, helping, reading, and even napping! All the while the adult cousins spent catching up, the kids also did their share of getting to know one another. Ella was so happy to have a girl cousin her age to spend time with. Andrew was able to meet his niece for the first time as well. We had tons of food and a fun gift exchange with both little kids and big kids :). Onto the slew of pictures...































Friends in Home Places

This past week has been draining. It was very busy, and just when I thought we would have a nice weekend away with Andrew while he's working out of town, another kid came down with a fever. It's hopefully being slept off right now so we can make it to church tomorrow, but I feel so bad for my kids when they're sick. I, too, was sick this week. By 4:30am on Thursday (thank goodness not a preschool day) I got the flu and could barely move myself downstairs with the kids at 7am. Of course it had to be the day my prayers were answered that they would get back on this time zone. Oh well. It's over now and they were so good for me all day. We watched Toy Story 1 and 2 and stayed in pajamas till bedtime. I love seasons, but I really get tired of winter illnesses. Just when you think you're in the clear, BAM! Another one bites the dust. Enough about that, spring will come soon. Right? 

I had been wanting to show some more pictures of our time in Oregon before I get back into my somewhat regular posting. I have started into my book of our blog on the computer and I'm hoping to finish it before my kids graduate high school. It's going to take a while, let's just say that. 
So, in our excitement to visit Oregon, Andrew sent out a message about having friends to his house a few days after we arrived. There was a nice showing of guests and we all had a great time catching up with each other. The kids played well together and we enjoyed seeing them interact. It was nice for Andrew especially since he hadn't been home in 2 years.
A few days later we drove over to Medford. The drive from Klamath Falls to Medford is spectacular. The trees alone make you feel like you are just a gnome roaming the forest of everything HUGE. It was snow covered, but not snowing while we drove. We have a favorite restaurant there, called Kalidescope Pizza. It is the twin of a place in Anchorage we also frequent when back. Our friends from college just recently moved back to the town and it was so fun catching up with them. I have loved that even when we haven't seen people in 10 or so years it doesn't feel that way. We are blessed to have some really neat friends in our hometowns and here are some of the pictures from our time with them.












The boys were tuckered out on the drive back to Klamath. They just looked too cute in their matching flannels not to take their picture.