Hello there! I miss you! Verizon hasn't let me upload for days. You see they're upgrading our phone lines for all the extra smartphone users and adding iphone service to our area. Yes, such are the perks of living out in the country!
Thank you so much for all your sweet comments on my last two posts. Shelby really liked the hat I knit her and the bracelet pattern was indeed from More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson.
We have all taken turns being under the weather around here. Abigail was home with me yesterday due to some tummy troubles. She's off to school today but Ezra is home with a headache and stomach bug. He's such a trooper and hates missing a day of school - he got dressed, ate breakfast, took some motrin and made it all the way to the bus stop before he admitted defeat and asked to stay home. Right now he's wrapped in a quilt, nursing a cup of cinnamon apple tea, and reading Make magazine. So glad he's feeling a bit better.
I've come to the conclusion that there's nothing more important than one's health. Each week in temple we take a moment of silence to pray to G-d individually yet all under one roof - I always ask for health for my family and friends. Some weeks I question whether I should be asking for world peace or an end to hunger or...but I always end up asking for health. I guess i figure that we can work on fixing most other issues if only we had our health.
And on that note we've been cooking up a storm of healthy yumminess around here.
We baked the moistest pumpkin muffins using Ellie Krieger's recipe. We omitted the pumpkin seeds and sprinkled chocolate chips over the top to make them even more yummy.
We also made potato leek soup - twice. I modified this recipe. I doubled the amount of chicken stock and added three sliced carrots and some chopped broccoli because who couldn't use some extra veggies in their soup. We used yukon gold potatoes because they make the soup creamier and give it a pretty yellow color.
And here's some veggie/beef pasta sauce that was a huge hit with all three kiddos.
Saute 1 chopped onion, 3 sliced carrots, I head cauliflower in olive oil. (You can add or substitute with mushrooms, broccoli, spinach, etc.)
Add 1 pound ground beef to veggie mixture and continue to saute until meat is cooked through. Adding the beef to the veggies keeps it from browning and makes it moist. (kinda like meatball consistency)
Pour in 1 can of diced tomatoes with juice, 1 cup of chicken broth and juice of 1 lemon. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Simmer for 10 minutes and toss with whole wheat pasta. Enjoy.
In case you were wondering - yes, 95% of the meals i cook are prepared using just one pot - or one bowl. I have a lengthy lack-of-dishwasher story that I will share at a later time but we do just fine bringing our one-pot meals to the table and digging in!
As long as we're on the topic of food, I wanted to mention that we do not bake the dried cherries or cranberries with the granola we make - we just stir them in once the granola is baked and cooled. I mention this because Ezra was making the granola this week and came to ask me if he should add the dried fruit before baking - as directed in Ina's recipe. He knew to ask because we always add the cranberries and cherries to the jar with the cooled granola and shake until it's incorporated. I must admit that I never read the recipe carefully enough to realize that Ina recommended baking dried fruit for 30 minutes - this would surely make it dry and not very tasty.
See the hearts?
We have been finding them everywhere lately.
Turns out you just have to slow down and look!
Thanks for all the links to that yummy goodness! I hope you are all feeling well soon and have a wonderful rest of your week.
Posted by: Andrea | January 26, 2011 at 01:13 PM
I agree with you--health is one of the best things you can pray for! Love all your recipes. We came home from Florida safely, and woke up to snow! The kids had a half-day today (it was supposed to be a half-day Friday, but was cancelled due to snow), and I'm betting on no school tomorrow. I just hope all my littles stay healthy. I'd hate for them to miss more school after all these stops-and-starts due to weather and travel! I'm making soup tonight. Snowy weather just makes me want to eat soup! Stay warm and healthy!
Posted by: Meg Evans | January 26, 2011 at 02:58 PM
we've had some sickness as well. your food looks yummy. i made potato leek soup last weekend : ) take good care!!
Posted by: Denise | January 26, 2011 at 03:59 PM
Oh, my gosh. I'm so hungry already and then I spy your picture of the pumpkin muffins. I think I'll plead sickness and go home and back. yummm
Posted by: Its_Lily | January 26, 2011 at 04:26 PM
Everything looks so yummy, and I am especially in love with the potato leek soup. That is going on the list for the weekend. Hope everyone is feeling better soon.
Posted by: Heather | January 26, 2011 at 04:32 PM
You always have such good stuff coming out of your kitchen. My kids will only eat pumpkin muffins with chocolate chips. It probably neutralizes all the goodness of the pumpkin, but it makes them irresistable!
Posted by: Jodi | January 26, 2011 at 06:22 PM
What a perfect post. Lots of yummies and good sentiments to match.
I want to make that granola...soon.
I ♥ Ellie Krieger. She is ace.
Posted by: dani@little fists | January 26, 2011 at 06:43 PM
Those pumpkin muffins look so yummy! Love the hearts you've found, hope your days are filled with lots more :)
Posted by: Stephanie | January 26, 2011 at 09:47 PM
Sorry to hear your kiddos have been under the weather, well wishes to Ezra for a speedy recovery. Oh my gosh these dishes look amazing thanks for sharing the recipes. Those muffins and that soup are right up my alley. I see a place for them on my table soon :). Have a great day i hope you spy some more hearts!
Posted by: Jen | January 26, 2011 at 10:32 PM
You are so right about good health. I always forget how much energy being sick takes! Hope everyone is mending at your house and love the grapefruit hearts!!
Posted by: Rose | January 26, 2011 at 10:50 PM
and now i have SOUP on the brain... the potato leek sounds like a winner! thanks for the link.
oh, yes... baking the fruit... i have done that before and it has tasted burnt. i was the only one that would eat it... unless i picked it out for everyone else! :)
glad you are all on the mends... yes... health is SO unbelievably precious... i give thanks for it everyday.
Posted by: leslie | January 27, 2011 at 08:21 AM
health. health. health. seems to be on our brain too. I've had company all week due to illness. this is the first day I'm back to being alone at home...it's quiet!
your recipes look awesome! I think my kiddos would eat those muffins and soup. thanks for sharing all the goodness coming out of your kitchen!!
Posted by: kristyn | January 27, 2011 at 09:55 AM
Yum, thanks for sharing your recipes and tips!
Posted by: Karen | January 27, 2011 at 04:52 PM
I hope everyone is feeling better soon. That soup looks so very yummy. Thanks for sharing the recipes.
Ruth
Posted by: Ruth | January 27, 2011 at 07:14 PM
Everything looks so good! Now I'm hungry! Hope everyone is on the mend!
Posted by: jane | January 29, 2011 at 07:01 AM
I just wish I could eat your post! Hehe.
Posted by: Mary-- The Yellow Door Paperie | January 29, 2011 at 11:10 PM
You are right, health is the key to everything. We should remember this omre often!
Posted by: aracne | January 30, 2011 at 02:43 AM
Wonderful post, it's always good to be reminded of what comfort food & a good day home can do. Please don't omit the "o" from God, be proud to state who you give thanks to! I would hope no one who reads your blog would mind!! Love to your family ;O)
Posted by: Jennifer | February 01, 2011 at 12:18 PM