Mushroom Bisque

While traveling back and forth to the hospital, my mother introduced me to and amazing place. Zuppa's. oh wow! The phrase "where have have you been all my life," comes to mind.

Last week I created my own version of of their cauliflower cheese soup. Yummy! Ill post that recipe soon. Last night I found a Recipe and tweaked it just a bit. I was absolutely delicious. Not quite perfect yet, so ill update it as I perfect it. It defiantly hits the spot. So yummy. Even my husband who despises mushrooms, loved it. Yeah baby!

Mushroom Bisque

12-18 oz or sliced or chopped mixed mushrooms*

2 T. olive oil

1 T. butter ( next time I am going to try 4 tbsp)

1 medium onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

5 c. Beef broth (you could use chicken too)

1/2 t. dried thyme

2 c. heavy cream (next time I am going to try 1 cup)

salt and pepper

In a large pot, saute onion and garlic in the oil and butter. Cook until soft,  (3-5 minutes). Add broth, thyme, mushrooms,  Simmer with pot half covered for 30 minutes. Pour 3/4 of the soup into a blender ( I threw it all in)  and blend until smooth. Return to the pot and stir in cream and salt and pepper to taste. 

* I used 6 oz of baby Bella's, 6 oz of sliced mushrooms (it didn't say what kind they were) and a little package of dried wild mushrooms that I found at frys and rehydrated.) my stores didn't have much variety, but just use a few different ones and it will be fabulous.

I'm back!

How have you all been? Oh how I have missed you all. I have a good excuse, I promise. I almost died. Seriously, I did. Yep. So I told you in my last post that we were having baby number 6. Shortly after that post my life began to change forever. We found out that we were having our first son! We also found out that I had placenta Previa and was put on bed rest during my second boutique of the season. (I was hosting this one too!) we made it through the holidays, a move the last day of the year etc with me on bed rest. Thanks to so many angels! The beginning of Jan, I went back in to my doctor who told me that he thought I might have something called placenta Accreta. WHAT. What in the world is Accreta? Yeah, so we went home and scoured the Internet. Things began to look very grim! Two weeks later of shear panic and anxiety for my life, we went to our appointment with the high risk doctors, a Perinatologist. I hadn't even heard of a Perinatologist before then. They confirmed that I had Accreta. They weren't able to tell if I had Increta/percreta or not. I was praying that I didn't. (I have a blog that tells the long version of the story with TONS of info on all of these terms) Basically... This condition is a life threatening condition that is literally the highest risk of high risk pregnancies. I was literally fighting for my life. Blood loss, is sometimes uncontrollable. so i would most likely need transfusions. Oh and I would have to have a hysterectomy just after delivery! Good news was, my baby boy looked great and wasn't really effected from my condition. I just prayed and prayed that I would live to see him grow up.

So, bye the way, we found that out on my hubby's birthday. We went home and spent the next two days together asking for prayers in our behalf. On the 24th, the dr called me and said that since I was spotting already, they wanted me to get to the hospital and be on bed rest there until delivery. This felt good. I had to deliver at a hospital over an hour away. My chances of bleeding out before I got to the hospital were huge! So there I lay, getting doted on for 6 weeks. I desperately missed my husband and kids, but I knew that I was in the safest place possible. To spare all details on this yummy food blog... Lets just say, I had a few scares but made it to delivery day.( they had to move the date up a few times because of the scares.)

March 1st came and I was absolutely terrified that I wouldn't wake up. But completely at peace and excited at the same time. Baby Caleb was born at 31 weeks and 2 days. He was 3 lbs 15 oz. and beautiful. I didn't get to see him until the next day though. They had to out me to sleep earlier than planned because the spinal didn't go up high enough. They had to make a huge incision. Wow, I am getting anxiety again as I relive all of this! Ahhhhh.

Anyway, after 11hours of surgery, they woke me up. Still intebated by the way. Gag! Literally! I thought I was dying. Anyway, I made it through the night and they unleashed me to let me breathe on my own. Oh, that night was so horrifying. My husband was even more horrified. I was blown up like an oompah loompa (sp) my fingers and toes were little sausages. I had tiny little slits where my eyes where my eyes were supposed to be. I was so swollen you could even tell it was me. I tried finger spelling to my husband and could barely move my fingers they were so fat! Oh whoops, I was going to spare you the gory details. After 4 horrible and yet amazing months of recovery,(two months of that was spent back and forth to the hospital to see our baby in the NICU) I finally feel like a human again. I am so excited to get blogging and even more so.... Cooking again. I can't promise fabulous pictures or even pictures at all, because of camera issues and computer issues. But, I will do my best to post something fabulous at least a couple of times a week.

Prayer and faith saved my life! I give all of the glory to my God who spared my life and let me live! I am a changed woman. My life has new meaning. And oh boy am I so in love with my little man!!

Here is the link to my blog. Check it out. Surviving Accreta

Pecan Creek Boutique

Hey friends-

I know I know it has been forever since I last posted.  Life has been super crazy this year.  We started our own business doing landscaping, and I have been experimenting with a lot of foodie things to keep my sanity up.  We also found out that we have another bun in the oven!!! Yep you heard me, number 6 is on its way.  We couldn't be happier! We are so excited!  Morning sickness is in full force right now, which has also prolonged any posting, but rest assured, I am bound and determined to get back in the saddle after the holidays and get some yummy recipes for you that I have been working on.

Right now, I am excited to announce that in a month and a half I will be participating in my very first Boutique!  It's called the Pecan Creek Boutique.  Here is the link to their blog.  http://pecancreekboutique.blogspot.com/  Also, stop on over to their Facebook page to enter an amazing giveaway that they are having. (the link is on their blog)

I will be selling my famous Tamales there, for the holidays.  I know what you are thinking... why would I buy the tamales when her recipe is on the blog?  Well, I will tell you why.... one... Have you ever made tamales? Tons of work... enough said... lol.  Let me do the work for you! Also, I've been playing around with the recipes a little and made them even better. AND if that doesn't convince you, then come get the other 2 kinds that I have available that are not posted yet.  I'm not the kind of person that refuses to share a recipe. I think its lame.  I'll get around to posting the others, someday, but for now... COME TO THE BOUTIQUE!

I am also going to be selling my cheese balls and salsa. Super yummy, super good time!

The boutique will be on Nov 17th from 8 am-1 pm.  They have some amazing vendors. I am so excited to be a part of it.  So come on over and get some Christmas shopping done.  Don't forget to check out their blog for more information. See you there!

Freezer Meals Day 15- Very Berry Pops

Ahhhh, it's blasted hot outside!  And the summer has just begun.  Its time to bring out the cold snacks.  Like these Popsicles.  Nutritious and delicious, but it doesn't taste like chicken.  The best part is that it is super simple to make. 

Very Berry Pops

4 cups mixed berries ( I used Costco's frozen triple berry blend and some frozen cherries)

1 cup apple juice (or water/other fruit juice)

2 tbsp sugar

4-6 Dixie cups

4-6 Popsicle sticks

Blend ingredients in a blender until well blended. Pour mixture into the cups and place a Popsicle stick in the center of the mixture. Freeze until hardened. Tear the cup away from the Popsicle and serve immediately.

Day 14, Sloppy Joes

As good ol' Rico (from Hannah Montana) would say, "Hay-yoooooh" I'm back!  Thanks for all of your prayers and support for my sweet sister Hayley.  She is officially in Remission! What a miracle it is!  The disease that was attacking her kidneys is gone!   Her kidneys are pretty beat up, but we are hoping for continued progress and she will most likely be able to avoid a transplant. 

Life has been pretty crazy around here the past few weeks.  We started our own business back in January.  We have had the amazing blessing of too much work!  Its been hard to juggle it all but feel like we are starting to get our feet under us and will be able to handle the growth a little more in the next few months. 

5 kids has kept me plenty busy as well.  I'm enjoying having them near me and love spending time with them. I'm trying to soak it all in because next thing I know, they will be grown and gone.  I love being a mom to these sweet princesses.  We have so much fun together!  They love to help me cook and bake and are getting pretty good at it. 

Okay okay, enough rambling... on to the Sloppy Joes!!!  Its kid friendly week...still...  And here is a fabulous one.  This recipe comes from The Pioneer Woman. Love her!!!

Sloppy Joes

2 Tablespoons Butter

2-1/2 pounds Ground Beef

1/2 whole Large Onion, Diced

1 whole Large Green Bell Pepper, Diced

5 cloves Garlic, Minced

1-1/2 cup Ketchup

1 cup Water

2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar

2 teaspoons Chili Powder (more To Taste)

1 teaspoon Dry Mustard

1/2 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes (more To Taste)

Worcestershire Sauce, To Taste

2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste (optional)

Salt To Taste

Pepper, To Taste

Hamburger buns or rolls

Butter

Melt butter in a large skillet and toss in the ground beef or turkey.  Cook thoroughly until browned over medium heat.

Add onions, green pepper, and garlic. Cook for a few minutes, or until vegetables begin to get soft.

Stir in remaining ingredients to combine. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

Spread rolls with butter and brown on a griddle or skillet. Spoon meat mixture over the rolls.

Where's Jennie?

Life kind of stopped with Day 13 last week for me!  I'm sorry I didn't keep going.  My sister was put in the hospital last week for Kidney Failure. She has since been diagnosed with Wegeners Disease.  It's not a very fun disease to have.  She has started some massive treatments, including chemo, dialasys and plasmapheresis. I have been trying to take it all in and wrap my head around the situation.  And of course be with her as much as possible.  She will be in the hospital another couple of weeks. 

For the time being, pretty much anything extra is on hold, so I can try to be there for her and for my family.  Please keep her in your prayers.  She is only 21! I promise to get back with the rest of the freezer meals, when life settles down a little more. I've got some good ones for ya!

Have a great day and happy creating!

Freezer Meal Day 13- Grilled Ham and Cheese

I got to spend the day with my sweet sister yesterday.  She is in the hospital with acute kidney failure.  They will be doing a minor surgery on her today to get some answers.  If you all could remember her in your prayers it would be greatly appreciated!

Moments like these, whether big or small, are exactly why we need to prepare now with freezer meals!  Something always comes up, whether its a sick child or other family member, too many places to be at once and cant get dinner going, or you just feel too lazy to cook.  These freezer meals have saved me a lot of stress and time!

Here is another yummy freezer sandwich that goes along with the PB and J for the Masses that I posted earlier.

Grilled Ham and Cheese

Bread

Sliced Cheese ( I used American)

Sliced Ham

Butter (softened)

Wax paper (if desired)

With two slices of bread, add a slice of ham (or more if desired) and a slice of cheese (I used a couple slices). Put sides together and spread the outside with butter.  In a fry pan or on a griddle, grill (at low to medium heat) both sides until golden and the cheese is melted. Allow sandwiches to cool and wrap individually with wax paper (if desired). Put in freezer bags.  Label and freeze

To Thaw:  remove a sandwich from the bag (still wrapped with wax paper) and microwave on high for 30-45 seconds.  You can also grill them again until thawed and crisp again. ( I nuked it first then grilled it.  It was awesome!)