DDA Chapter 26

[Disney Yooper]

The Italian Sausage soup is really tasty. I don't like spicy so none of my recipes will be spicy. The Corn Shrimp Chowder is the only one that doesn't freeze well. The other two froze nicely. I freeze them in individual servings.

Corn Shrimp Chowder
2 T butter
1 med. onion, chopped
1 rib celery, diced
1 carrot, diced
2 cans (7 oz) tiny shrimp
2 c diced potato
1 bag frozen corn
1 t salt
1 t sugar
1/4 t pepper
3 T corn starch
4 c half and half

Saute carrot, celery & onion in butter until tender. Drain & reserve juice from shrimp. Stir in potatoes, corn, juice from shrimp, salt, sugar & pepper. Bring to simmer over medium heat. Mix corn starch & 1/2 c half & half until smooth. Stir into corn-shrimp mixture; add remaining half & half. Stirring constantly, bring to boil for 1 minute. Add shrimp. Stir occassionally, cook until heated. Makes 8 servings.

Cheese Broccoli Soup
4 T butter
1-1/2 c chopped broccoli
1-1/2 c chopped celery
1-1/2 c chopped carrots
1 small onion, diced
1/4 # canadian ham, diced
1/4 c water
1/3 c flour
4 c milk
1/3-1/2 # velveeta cheese
1 can cheddar cheese soup
1/8 t garlic powder
1 T parsley flakes
1/2 t salt
1/2 t pepper

Combine butter, veggies, ham & water. Cook on medium heat for 15 minutes. Stir in flour. Slowly add milk. Boil to thicken. Lower heat, add cheeses and seasonings. Do not boil again, just heat through. Use a very heavy pan to keep from scorching the milk. Can be doubled and frozen.

If freeze in individual services, reheat 4 minutes in microwave, stir & heat 1-2 more minutes.

Italian Sausage Soup w/ Tortellini
1 # italian sausage
1 c chopped onions
2 garlic cloves, sliced
5 c beef broth
2 c (or 4 medium) peeled tomatoes
1 c thinly sliced carrots
1/2 t basil leaves
1/2 t oregano leaves
8 oz tomato sauce
1-1/2 c sliced zucchini
3 T chopped parsley
1 med. green pepper
Grated parmesan cheese
Meat or cheese tortellini

Remove casing from sausage. In 5 qt. dutch oven, brown sausage. Remove & drain, reserving 1 T drippings in dutch oven. Saute onions & garlic in droppings until onions are tender. Add beef broth, tomatoes, carrots, basil, oregano, tomato sauce & sausage. Bring to boil Reduce heat, simmer uncovered 30 minutes. Skim fat from soup. Stir in zucchini, parsley & green pepper. Simmer covered an additional 35-40 minutes.

Heat Tortellini separately and add when serving.
Add cooked tortellini & sprinkle with parmesan cheese when served. Don't freeze with tortellini.

 

[MrsHeg]

Marci,

It breaks my heart to hear about your diagnosis, I will be praying for your speedy recovery. You were so kind and supportive of me, if there is anything you need please feel free to ask.

I don't have any soup recipes, but when my mom was ill we would make shakes out of ice cream and ensure and she could tolerate those pretty well.

If you need a place to chat about your feelings, this is a great one.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Marci-so sad to read about your cancer. Lots of prayers for you and your family.

I don't know if it freezes but I make a leek & potato soup. I just sort of wing it rather than a real recipe. I saute onion & leeks in a large sauce pan until wilted. Then add chopped uncooked potatoes and cover with chicken broth & water (I don't like an overpowering flavor of canned broth so I use 2 cans of water to every can of broth). Boil until the potatoes are cooked. It is a nice mild soup. I add salt & pepper to taste at the table.

 

[tinker1bell]

Marci,,,I am sending you hugs that everything goes okay and you have a speedy recovery.

The one soup that I know that freezes well is chicken corn noodle soup. Easy to make and you can add potatoes and even slices of hard boiled eggs.

 

[tmfranlk]

Well, the car isn't good news - fuel pump to the tune of almost $900. We're doing some thinking as to whether or not we want to take that plunge or let the car go temporarily. Gotta do some number crunching, thinking about schedules and come up with a final decision. With my charges coming back, I could just cover the expense by the time the bill would come due. However, that would be the second $900 repair this year. Gotta consider what would happen if it were to happen again in six months, etc. Not sure what else big could go and Volvo's are typically pretty good cars so it's got that going for it, but then they're also expensive to fix. Ai yi yi.


On a much more positive note, I might have a lead on new charges. I was talking to the owner of Terra's dance school this evening and we were talking about Deva. She asked if I was having to buy all new stuff because of the age difference and I said something about having some from babysitting. She has a friend looking for childcare for their twins. They're a little bit younger than I would have looked for on my own, but can't help but think it's meant to be if it just falls in my lap. She was going to talk to her friend and see if they were still needing someone. So I've got my fingers crossed and prayers going up. Almost doubling my income would go a long way towards helping us out. Also, I'm hopeful that if I've got three closer together in age (the 2yo I have now and these two) that they will give each other better entertainment which will hopefully help my 2yo be a little easier to deal with. (Or so I would hope, she says naively. )

 

[PNO4TE]

Oh, Marci. I am so sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I hope that you will continue to take care of yourself so you are strong for your surgery. Know that we are all here praying for you. I have a couple of good crock pot soup recipes that I will type up in the morning and put on here. Lots of hugs going out to all four of you.

 

[tinknme]

Marci this saddens my heart to hear. My thoughts & prayers are with you

 

[my3princes]

I promised pics of the closet. It isn't completely finished, still need to paint the door and trim, add the baseboards and some hooks for frying pans, but it's close.

And this is a picture of Nick and his girlfriend. They went to the homecoming dance tonight

 

[babytrees]

nice closet Deb!!

I can't believe how grown up Nick looks!! And that there is a homecoming dance on a Thursday. Abi's homecoming is this weekend and she is hilarious when you asked her if she wanted to go.

 

[PNO4TE]

Good morning, DDA!

 

[PNO4TE]

Deb - The closet looks like the perfect use for that space! and Nick looks so grown up in that shot. Wow.

 

[Glynis]

Tia - I hope that things work out for you with the new charges! Yikes on the car repair! We have to have our shocks replaced, and I'm worried about that! I'm trying to hold off as long as we can.

Deb - The closet looks great! I think you are going to love it! I can't believe Nick and his date! They look so grown up! When did that happen???

Today is bowling and then errand running! Should be a fun day. Alan and I are going to a wedding reception tonight, and then out to dinner. Yay for a date!!!

 

[bethbuchall]

Deb, wow that closet looks great! I don't suppose you'd want to "vacation" in lovely central NY. I agree that Nick is looking very grown up. I always seem to forget that other kids get older, too.

Glynis, have fun!

Tia, I am sorry that your car needs such an expensive repair. I hope that you get it figured out and that you do get those extra charges to help with finances.

Laura left on Wednesday for a trip with her AP Bio class. They have been doing some kind of water study. They couldn't actually make it mandatory, but it was highly recommended that everyone go. They left Wednesday right after school, so I haven't seen her since about 8:00 am Wednesday. I don't think I'm ready for her to go away to college (though, of course, I'll be the adult and let go when the time comes). She is going to have a lot of work to make up this weekend, but she did have several tests today. That is good in that she didn't miss any actual class and bad in that she needs to now find time to make up these tests. Every teacher thinks his/her class is the most important, of course, so it could get a little tricky. At least there is no cross country meet this weekend. There is, however, a much dreaded 8 am Saturday practice tomorrow. Maybe that will get her up and moving for the day...maybe it will just mean she comes home and goes back to bed and misses a lot of the day.

I haven't heard from Matthew since we saw him at his meet last Saturday. That's not really unusual, though, and he did e-mail with dh about some financial stuff, so I know that he is still ok.

We don't have too much planned for this weekend, though looking at the back yard, I know what we'll be doing (again). I was thinking of starting some raking today, but it's awfully grey and cold out there. We'll see... It's not like there isn't plenty in here to keep me busy.

 

[bethbuchall]

nice closet Deb!!

I can't believe how grown up Nick looks!! And that there is a homecoming dance on a Thursday. Abi's homecoming is this weekend and she is hilarious when you asked her if she wanted to go.

I missed the fact that the homecoming dance was a Thursday night. Did they have school today, Deb?

Laura actually went to the homecoming game this year which completely shocked me. A group of her friends that she doesn't get to see much of wanted to go, so she went with them. She wouldn't even consider the dance, though. She hates school dances.

 

[my3princes]

nice closet Deb!!

I can't believe how grown up Nick looks!! And that there is a homecoming dance on a Thursday. Abi's homecoming is this weekend and she is hilarious when you asked her if she wanted to go.

This week is teachers conferences or inservice or something like that in VT. The kids had a 1/2 day on Wednesday and are off Thursday and Friday. That gave them time to build the bonfire after school on Wednesday and that was Wednesday night, the Homecoming Dance was last night and the game tonight. Nick went to the bonfire and dance. I doubt he'll go to the game though. His girlfriend that he met through his 8th grade dance date, lives about 40 minutes from here. It is a long ride when we go pick her up for something down here. At least her parents picked her up at the dance last night. She seems nice and her parents are both educators, Mom Special Needs and Dad is the Principal at her school. She is 13, will be 14 this year and Nick just turned 15. I don't approve of the age difference or that she is in 8th grade, but her parent's don't seem to have a problem with it Next year they are shipping her off to bording school an hour away. Her sister is already there. I cannot imagine sending my Freshman off to school. I just don't think they're ready to be self sufficient at that age

Tia - I hope that things work out for you with the new charges! Yikes on the car repair! We have to have our shocks replaced, and I'm worried about that! I'm trying to hold off as long as we can.

Deb - The closet looks great! I think you are going to love it! I can't believe Nick and his date! They look so grown up! When did that happen???

Today is bowling and then errand running! Should be a fun day. Alan and I are going to a wedding reception tonight, and then out to dinner. Yay for a date!!!

Nick has certainly grown up. He so needs a haircut. My cousin is coming over tomorrow to cut all of our hair. His girlfriend has ideas about a cut for him Nick likes it long, but it is so thick it looks shaggy and drives me nuts.

Deb, wow that closet looks great! I don't suppose you'd want to "vacation" in lovely central NY. I agree that Nick is looking very grown up. I always seem to forget that other kids get older, too.

Glynis, have fun!

Tia, I am sorry that your car needs such an expensive repair. I hope that you get it figured out and that you do get those extra charges to help with finances.

Laura left on Wednesday for a trip with her AP Bio class. They have been doing some kind of water study. They couldn't actually make it mandatory, but it was highly recommended that everyone go. They left Wednesday right after school, so I haven't seen her since about 8:00 am Wednesday. I don't think I'm ready for her to go away to college (though, of course, I'll be the adult and let go when the time comes). She is going to have a lot of work to make up this weekend, but she did have several tests today. That is good in that she didn't miss any actual class and bad in that she needs to now find time to make up these tests. Every teacher thinks his/her class is the most important, of course, so it could get a little tricky. At least there is no cross country meet this weekend. There is, however, a much dreaded 8 am Saturday practice tomorrow. Maybe that will get her up and moving for the day...maybe it will just mean she comes home and goes back to bed and misses a lot of the day.

I haven't heard from Matthew since we saw him at his meet last Saturday. That's not really unusual, though, and he did e-mail with dh about some financial stuff, so I know that he is still ok.

We don't have too much planned for this weekend, though looking at the back yard, I know what we'll be doing (again). I was thinking of starting some raking today, but it's awfully grey and cold out there. We'll see... It's not like there isn't plenty in here to keep me busy.

Nick is also taking Advanced Bio. They were supposed to have a bio trip earlier this year, but it had to be cancelled for some reason

It must be hard not hearing from Matthew everyday. I think I'd send him a daily text just cause...

I'd love to help you out with organization, but with just one week until I hit the real workforce, I've created a large to do list for myself here. Projects that I started years ago that suddenly I feel the need to finish We'll see how much I actually achieve, but at least the house will be in better shape with the boys birthday parties coming up as well as the holidays. I'm actually excited to get the Christmas trees up, but that has to wait until Thanksgiving time. I need to sit down and plan out the pirate adventures and menu for the kids parties. I have a bunch of stuff floating around in my head, but I need to actually write it down and plan it out to make sure I'm not missing anything. Then I need to pray for no rain or I'll have soggy pirates on their adventures

 

[bethbuchall]

Nick is also taking Advanced Bio. They were supposed to have a bio trip earlier this year, but it had to be cancelled for some reason

It must be hard not hearing from Matthew everyday. I think I'd send him a daily text just cause...

I'd love to help you out with organization, but with just one week until I hit the real workforce, I've created a large to do list for myself here. Projects that I started years ago that suddenly I feel the need to finish We'll see how much I actually achieve, but at least the house will be in better shape with the boys birthday parties coming up as well as the holidays. I'm actually excited to get the Christmas trees up, but that has to wait until Thanksgiving time. I need to sit down and plan out the pirate adventures and menu for the kids parties. I have a bunch of stuff floating around in my head, but I need to actually write it down and plan it out to make sure I'm not missing anything. Then I need to pray for no rain or I'll have soggy pirates on their adventures

The AP Bio trip is great for bio, but she has 5 other AP classes that aren't going to be cutting any slack for missing two days. Also, she'll have to make up PE (or just take the 95 for the quarter which will be my recommendation at this point).

I e-mail and text Matthew. I just don't always hear back from him. He is usually better than this, so it must have been a busy week. He doesn't get great cell reception in his apartment either. It's weird to be disconnected so much.

I'm sure you'll get everything done before you start working. You are great about getting your to-do lists done. I'm not sure exactly what my problem is, though I probably just need a good kick in the pants. I want to get things done, but I freeze up when I actually think of doing them or I put them off until the time is right (and then the time is never right). The party sounds like a lot of fun, and you always have such creative ideas!

 

[Steffy]

Marci, my heart is just breaking for you right now. Stay strong and keep a positive attitude. I'm going to go and look for some neat soup receipes when I get home. I have a black bean soup that my family loves. It freezes really well.

 

[my3princes]

I'm rearranging cupboards and pulling things from other areas that would serve us better in the pantry. I found things that I forgot I had Hopefully we will be more efficient in the kitchen now.

 

[tmfranlk]

Good afternoon, DDA!

Beth - Making up in 5 AP courses cannot be fun! Yikes!! I can't believe that she has to make up PE. That's just crazy, especially for an excused absense, double especially on a school-related trip.

Deb - You'll get tons of that list done, I'm sure! You're better at making it through your to-do lists than almost anyone I know. I could learn a lot from you if I ever pull my head out and start listening!

Glynis - Good luck on the shocks. Not fun, I agree!

Terra, Deva and I just got back from a nice picnic at the park. It's a gorgeous day out with potentially 3 days of rain to come. (Though it better taper off for awhile late tomorrow as Terra has been looking forward to the bonfire we're going to for weeks now.) Just a few days left until my charges start coming back so I've got some last minute picking up to do as well. Gotta re-baby-proof the things I've gotten in the habit of just leaving out.

 

[bethbuchall]

Good afternoon, DDA!

Beth - Making up in 5 AP courses cannot be fun! Yikes!! I can't believe that she has to make up PE. That's just crazy, especially for an excused absense, double especially on a school-related trip.

Deb - You'll get tons of that list done, I'm sure! You're better at making it through your to-do lists than almost anyone I know. I could learn a lot from you if I ever pull my head out and start listening!

Glynis - Good luck on the shocks. Not fun, I agree!

Terra, Deva and I just got back from a nice picnic at the park. It's a gorgeous day out with potentially 3 days of rain to come. (Though it better taper off for awhile late tomorrow as Terra has been looking forward to the bonfire we're going to for weeks now.) Just a few days left until my charges start coming back so I've got some last minute picking up to do as well. Gotta re-baby-proof the things I've gotten in the habit of just leaving out.

A picnic in the park sounds fantastic! It is sooo cold here.

I guess they are strict on PE attendance because of past problems, but I agree that they should not be penalized for excused absences or school activities. They even need to make it up if they miss it because they have to leave school early for a meet or game. So, they are getting physical activity. Matthew almost never missed school, but one year he was sick for 4 days in a row with a 104-degree fever. Because it was the end of the quarter, he couldn't even make up the days that he missed. That 90 in PE was the lowest grade that he ever received. They lose 5 points per class that they don't make up, so I think Laura should just be happy with the 95 this quarter (assuming she doesn't miss any other classes).