Monday, January 31, 2011
Loaded Baked Potato Soup
I found this recipe at Cookinglight.com,and changed it a little... it would be somewhat healthy if it wasn't for all the cheese and bacon...
Ingredients
Usually I double this so I have left overs for Stephen and I!
* 4 (6-ounce) red potatoes
* 2 teaspoons olive oil
* 1/2 cup prechopped onion
* 1 1/4 cups fat-free lower-sodium chicken broth
* 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
* 2 cups 1% low-fat milk divided
* 1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 3 bacon slices halved
* 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
* 4 teaspoons thinly sliced green onions
Directions
Cube potatoes and then boil until they are fork tender
While potatoes cook, heat oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes. Add broth. Combine flour and 1/2 cup milk; add to pan with 1 1/2 cups milk. Bring to a boil; stir often. Cook 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in sour cream, salt, and pepper.
Use an immersion blender and blend until smooth. Top with cheese, green onions, and bacon.
Ingredients
Usually I double this so I have left overs for Stephen and I!
* 4 (6-ounce) red potatoes
* 2 teaspoons olive oil
* 1/2 cup prechopped onion
* 1 1/4 cups fat-free lower-sodium chicken broth
* 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
* 2 cups 1% low-fat milk divided
* 1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 3 bacon slices halved
* 1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
* 4 teaspoons thinly sliced green onions
Directions
Cube potatoes and then boil until they are fork tender
While potatoes cook, heat oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes. Add broth. Combine flour and 1/2 cup milk; add to pan with 1 1/2 cups milk. Bring to a boil; stir often. Cook 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in sour cream, salt, and pepper.
Use an immersion blender and blend until smooth. Top with cheese, green onions, and bacon.
Scrappy Time!
I even managed to get some scrapping in this weekend!
I did this for a challenge where I had to journal about something "I remember..." journaling says..."…how much Grandma from California LOVED Penny!!! Whenever she would come stay with us, they would start their day by sharing a banana. They spent the day together lounging around watching shows like “Murder She Wrote”. When Grandma would go back home, Penny would wait by the basement door still for her to come upstairs!"
This one is a sketch challenge Kim posted for me...
I got a new table and chair....it is so much easier to scrap in there now, loveeee it!
I did this for a challenge where I had to journal about something "I remember..." journaling says..."…how much Grandma from California LOVED Penny!!! Whenever she would come stay with us, they would start their day by sharing a banana. They spent the day together lounging around watching shows like “Murder She Wrote”. When Grandma would go back home, Penny would wait by the basement door still for her to come upstairs!"
This one is a sketch challenge Kim posted for me...
I got a new table and chair....it is so much easier to scrap in there now, loveeee it!
Outside in January!
Okay, I'm sure there is a point where this gets old to me....it hasn't happened yet. The weekend was GORGEOUS! We had the windows open, even did a little "spring cleaning"! Hahaha, not sure this will last but I hope it does!
I even have some basil that is starting to grow back! LoL....riveting I know!
I even have some basil that is starting to grow back! LoL....riveting I know!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
The Keurig
Gooooood Saturday Morning!!! I am going to go make a nice big cup of coffee from my brand new and improved Keurig. Our old one broke, and they quickly sent us a brand new one! Out with the old and in with the new... 
Thank godddd, because a few days before it broke...we just received our "year supply" of K-cups!!!
Thank godddd, because a few days before it broke...we just received our "year supply" of K-cups!!!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Until Next Time
We moved the whole guest room around, and I was able to really organize the whole scrap area, it looks great! I will post pics of the room tomorrow...but for now check out this cute layout I did of a pic from when I had to say "goodbye" to Kaci and Joseph over the summer...
(The journaling says "Everytime I have to leave...it gets harder and harder to say goodbye")
(The journaling says "Everytime I have to leave...it gets harder and harder to say goodbye")
Friday, January 21, 2011
Banana Slips on Man!
OMG...my brother posted this on my facebook page, and it has literally been cracking me up all day!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Pasta Primavera
Here is what was for dinner tonight
I don't have a pic of the finished product, I ate it all...
Here is the recipe!!!
(From Food Network...can't remember who)
Ingredients
* 3 carrots peeled and cut into thin strips
* 2 medium zucchini or 1 large zucchini cut into thin strips
* 2 yellow squash cut into thin strips
* 1 onion thinly sliced
* 1 yellow bell pepper cut into thin strips
* 1 red bell pepper cut into thin strips
* 1/4 cup olive oil
* Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
* 1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs or herbes de Provence
* 1 pound farfalle (bowtie pasta)
* 15 cherry tomatoes halved
* 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
* 2 medium zucchini or 1 large zucchini cut into thin strips
* 2 yellow squash cut into thin strips
* 1 onion thinly sliced
* 1 yellow bell pepper cut into thin strips
* 1 red bell pepper cut into thin strips
* 1/4 cup olive oil
* Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
* 1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs or herbes de Provence
* 1 pound farfalle (bowtie pasta)
* 15 cherry tomatoes halved
* 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Directions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
On a large heavy baking sheet, toss all of the vegetables with the oil, salt, pepper, and dried herbs to coat. Transfer half of the vegetable mixture to another heavy large baking sheet and arrange evenly over the baking sheets. Bake until the carrots are tender and the vegetables begin to brown, stirring after the first 10 minutes, about 20 minutes total.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
Toss the pasta with the vegetable mixtures in a large bowl to combine. Toss with the cherry tomatoes and enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve immediately.
I don't have a pic of the finished product, I ate it all...
Here is the recipe!!!
(From Food Network...can't remember who)
Ingredients
* 3 carrots peeled and cut into thin strips
* 2 medium zucchini or 1 large zucchini cut into thin strips
* 2 yellow squash cut into thin strips
* 1 onion thinly sliced
* 1 yellow bell pepper cut into thin strips
* 1 red bell pepper cut into thin strips
* 1/4 cup olive oil
* Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
* 1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs or herbes de Provence
* 1 pound farfalle (bowtie pasta)
* 15 cherry tomatoes halved
* 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
* 2 medium zucchini or 1 large zucchini cut into thin strips
* 2 yellow squash cut into thin strips
* 1 onion thinly sliced
* 1 yellow bell pepper cut into thin strips
* 1 red bell pepper cut into thin strips
* 1/4 cup olive oil
* Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
* 1 tablespoon dried Italian herbs or herbes de Provence
* 1 pound farfalle (bowtie pasta)
* 15 cherry tomatoes halved
* 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Directions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
On a large heavy baking sheet, toss all of the vegetables with the oil, salt, pepper, and dried herbs to coat. Transfer half of the vegetable mixture to another heavy large baking sheet and arrange evenly over the baking sheets. Bake until the carrots are tender and the vegetables begin to brown, stirring after the first 10 minutes, about 20 minutes total.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
Toss the pasta with the vegetable mixtures in a large bowl to combine. Toss with the cherry tomatoes and enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Season the pasta with salt and pepper, to taste. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve immediately.
California
Sooooo...I just wanted to add on here, that although the reason for the sudden trip to California was not at all a positive one...it is always a good time when the family gets together. By "good" I mostly mean "crazy"...but for all "intents and purposes" (it is not "intensive purposes"...who knew?) I will say it was a "CRAZY GOOD TIME"! Here are some of the happier memories I will take away from the unofficial start to 2011...
COUSINS!!!!!! (Okay...there is a very important person missing from this pic...my poor brother was sick, and couldn't come out)
Casano's Paradise...
Cousin Peter and Jen have 3 adorable puppies, Lucy, Lilly, and Louie...here is my cousin Michael Sco with LOUIEEEEE
Okay before I begin to explain this ridiculous "fiasco"..NO let's call it an "incident".. let me first start off by warning my "readers" (that means you Mom Sco and Sko...actually Mom Sco already knows this).... My Dad's family is nuts, everything is always interesting (putting it nicely)! An incident such as this is not that unexpected especially when we are all gathered together in such close proximity! I'm pretty sure this is part of the reason we all live so scattered across the US (New York, Alabama, Florida, California...even some in Jersey). There is probably some government restriction against us all being together for any extended period of time.
Ok, granted this is one of those "you had to be there" stories, but since I have photo's to prove this I'm going to briefly explain it here...so here is the pic...
Here is what is happening:
1. We are about a third of the way to Vegas in the worst traffic on the freeway imaginable...unintentionally of course!
2. Ears are popping, we are in the mountains...there is snow...something is wrong
3. We are in 4 separate cars
4. The Giannini's pull into the only turnaround for about 100 miles (most likely)...which I'm still thinking was illegal
5. Two cars pull into the shoulder right before the turn-aroud (I'm in the first one) a confused/crazy and probably angry Aunt Ann tries to get out of the car, and a whole commotion takes place in the car behind us
6. Oh NO, the car that my Dad and Uncle Michael were in, goes by in the lane to our right!!!!
7. Cousin Peter calls Dad and coaxes him over into the shoulder about a football fields length PAST all of us (and the turn-around)
8. Longgggggg pause/awkward silence once he finally makes his way over
9. Cousin Peter finally says ".........now back up"
10. After a lot of convincing and my dad saying "just go on with out us, we will suffer" (so dramatic)...and another long silence...
11. The reverse lights go on and my dad starts backing up...Everyone cheers!!!
12. I snap the picture
13. Mom freaks out "He is going to go into the ditch"
14. Dad does not go into a ditch (he wasn't even close)
15. We all successfully (and illegally..still...I'm just saying) turn around and book it out of there like a bat out of hell
It was a rush, and it will go down in history along with the "Maxi Pad Mix-up"...I'll get to that another time...
Okay, I think I painted a very clear picture in 15 steps, you get the point! Haha, moral of the story...it is always interesting...hahaha!
Oh, what was this post really for...PICS...
Look at this beauty I took on the plane!
COUSINS!!!!!! (Okay...there is a very important person missing from this pic...my poor brother was sick, and couldn't come out)
Casano's Paradise...
Cousin Peter and Jen have 3 adorable puppies, Lucy, Lilly, and Louie...here is my cousin Michael Sco with LOUIEEEEE
Okay before I begin to explain this ridiculous "fiasco"..NO let's call it an "incident".. let me first start off by warning my "readers" (that means you Mom Sco and Sko...actually Mom Sco already knows this).... My Dad's family is nuts, everything is always interesting (putting it nicely)! An incident such as this is not that unexpected especially when we are all gathered together in such close proximity! I'm pretty sure this is part of the reason we all live so scattered across the US (New York, Alabama, Florida, California...even some in Jersey). There is probably some government restriction against us all being together for any extended period of time.
Ok, granted this is one of those "you had to be there" stories, but since I have photo's to prove this I'm going to briefly explain it here...so here is the pic...
Here is what is happening:
1. We are about a third of the way to Vegas in the worst traffic on the freeway imaginable...unintentionally of course!
2. Ears are popping, we are in the mountains...there is snow...something is wrong
3. We are in 4 separate cars
4. The Giannini's pull into the only turnaround for about 100 miles (most likely)...which I'm still thinking was illegal
5. Two cars pull into the shoulder right before the turn-aroud (I'm in the first one) a confused/crazy and probably angry Aunt Ann tries to get out of the car, and a whole commotion takes place in the car behind us
6. Oh NO, the car that my Dad and Uncle Michael were in, goes by in the lane to our right!!!!
7. Cousin Peter calls Dad and coaxes him over into the shoulder about a football fields length PAST all of us (and the turn-around)
8. Longgggggg pause/awkward silence once he finally makes his way over
9. Cousin Peter finally says ".........now back up"
10. After a lot of convincing and my dad saying "just go on with out us, we will suffer" (so dramatic)...and another long silence...
11. The reverse lights go on and my dad starts backing up...Everyone cheers!!!
12. I snap the picture
13. Mom freaks out "He is going to go into the ditch"
14. Dad does not go into a ditch (he wasn't even close)
15. We all successfully (and illegally..still...I'm just saying) turn around and book it out of there like a bat out of hell
It was a rush, and it will go down in history along with the "Maxi Pad Mix-up"...I'll get to that another time...
Okay, I think I painted a very clear picture in 15 steps, you get the point! Haha, moral of the story...it is always interesting...hahaha!
Oh, what was this post really for...PICS...
Look at this beauty I took on the plane!
A Poem
This is a beautiful poem that my cousin Jennifer (Casano, not to be confused with Orlando...could my family BE anymore Italian?) had found, and I read at the ceremony at the cemetery. I just wanted to share it on here, because I thought it was perfect...also right before I read the last line, a bird started making a bunch of noise and we all laughed! It was good timing!
To Those Whom I Love And Those Who Love Me
When I am gone, release me, let me go
I have so many things to see and do
You must not tie yourself to me with tears
Be happy that I have had so many years
I gave you my love, you can only guess
How much you gave me in happiness
I thankyou for the love each have shown
But now it is time I travelled on alone
So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must
Then let your grief be comforted by trust
It is only for a while that we must part
So bless the memories in your heart
I will not be far away, for life goes on
So if you need me, call and I will come
Though you cannot see or touch me, I will be near
And if you listen with your heart, you will hear
All of my love around you soft and clear
Then, when you must come this way alone
I will greet you with a smile and a Welcome Home
To Those Whom I Love And Those Who Love Me
When I am gone, release me, let me go
I have so many things to see and do
You must not tie yourself to me with tears
Be happy that I have had so many years
I gave you my love, you can only guess
How much you gave me in happiness
I thankyou for the love each have shown
But now it is time I travelled on alone
So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must
Then let your grief be comforted by trust
It is only for a while that we must part
So bless the memories in your heart
I will not be far away, for life goes on
So if you need me, call and I will come
Though you cannot see or touch me, I will be near
And if you listen with your heart, you will hear
All of my love around you soft and clear
Then, when you must come this way alone
I will greet you with a smile and a Welcome Home
Monday, January 17, 2011
Golden Grams
I haven't been around for a while...just got back from California a few days ago. Unfortunately my grandmother passed away. She was 89 years old, and if I ever thought anyone would live to be 100 I thought it would be her. She was such an incredible person, so energetic, independent, and ALWAYS said what was on her mind! My cousins and I are all so grateful for having such an amazing grandmother...we were very lucky, and she will be missed!!! Here are some of my favorite pics of her...
Monday, January 3, 2011
New York!
We went to NY for the holidays! Everything was perfect as far as the holidays went....until the Blizzard!!! We were snowed in for about a day and a half....which would have been okay to deal with....until Stephen got sick! Needless to say, things didn't exactly go as planned! We would have liked to have visited the reception hall where the wedding is going to be, but that wasn't happening. Oh, well there is always next time! Anyway, the good news is that Stephen is finally feeling much better! Regardless of the craziness up north, we still had a WONDERFUL Christmas! It was so great seeing everyone, and spending a lot of time with both the Sko's and the Sco's! :)
Strangely enough, I don't really have many pics at the moment...here are just a few...I'll add more when I get them!
Strangely enough, I don't really have many pics at the moment...here are just a few...I'll add more when I get them!
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