Soup's on the Menu!

Soup is one of those meals that just tastes infinitely better when it's cold outside. It's just a fact - ask anyone and they'll tell you it's true.
This here is a soup that my mom used to make when I was growing up - it's called Spinach Tortellini Soup - and it's one of my favorites. And it's pretty darn easy too - this is what I call a no-fuss-meal. So if you're looking for something to warm up with on a chilly October night, this just may fit the bill.
There are many variations of this soup, and I'm not even sure the one I picked is the exact recipe my mom uses, but here is one take on it:

Tortellini Spinach Tomato Soup

Ingredients:
1 whole medium onion, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans (14.5 oz) Diced Tomatoes
2 quarts chicken broth
1 lb. Cheese Tortellini (frozen or fresh)
1 bag (6 oz) fresh baby spinach
Salt
Pepper
1/2 c. freshly grated Parmesan Cheese

- In a large stock pot heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and saute unil translucent, about 5 minutes. Add tomtoes and broth. Turtn heat up to high and bring to a boil. (The original instructions don't say to do this, but PLEASE let this simmer for a good half hour or so(lid on) - it needs time for the flavors to meld and to get that canned taste out of the tomatoes.)
- Add Tortellini and cook according to package directions. When tortellini has about a minute left to cook, add the spinach. Salt and Pepper to taste.
- Garnish with cheese and serve immediately.

It's a great weeknight meal!!



And the best part about this meal? It tastes great as leftovers - the flavors just get even better!! You may have to add more chicken broth because the tortellini tends to absorb a lot of it - just let it simmer a bit on the stove and you're golden!
oh, and no, flowers are not on the menu, but they were just so pretty I could not end this post without sneaking them in. Oh how I do love gerbera daisies!!!!!

A Writing Frenzy

I was reading my dear sister-in-law's blog today, and was inspired to join her in NaNoWriMo.
What is that you ask?
National Novel Writing Month.

Click on the link. It will tell you all that you need to know.

When I was 13, I started writing a novel, and about 14 chapters in, I stopped.
I wish I had never stopped.
So for the fun of it, I'm going to accept this challenge. As Ed put it, "you can only fail..."
Thanks, Ed. (I think he was trying to say...what is there to lose?....at least that's what I hope he meant....)
I have a week to get my brain in gear.
Either I have stumbled across the next big thing. Or I'm nuts. Or crazy. Or insane. (Yes...I realize those last three options are one in the same....because there's a 75% chance that that's what's up here....)
Mike says he hopes to see me during the month of November. I hope to see me too.

I'll let you know if I get a week in and realize I've really gone off the deep end this time.....

There is a ghost amongst us....

In the spirit of Halloween (side note - the only way I can remember how to spell Halloween correctly is to sing that song I learned as a kid - "H-A-double L-O-double U double E-N spells Halloween!)
anywho
in the spirit of Halloween (got the song stuck in your head yet?) I thought I would bring your attention to a certain somebody amidst our ranks.
His/her name is the I-Don't-Get-You Ghost.

Said Ghost has many talents. Among them being a sense of humor for the 'i don't get you' reaction. The I-Don't-Get-You Ghost thinks it's hilarious to go through every post and check off "i don't get you." I have to admit, Mike and I almost fell over laughing when we were leaked this story.
This person doesn't know I know. Until now. This person, according to an inside source, "apparently...does it in his/her free time and thinks its hilarious"

I will give you three guesses as to who said ghost is:

1) Nick DiMaio
2) Meghan Hayes
3) Richard Healey

The prize shall be a bag of Halloween candy for the first person to guess correctly.

Southwest Night

This is what we had for dinner tonight, and it was really tasty. And easy. Here's the recipe:
Crispy Southwest Chicken Wraps
Except her picture looks better than mine.

I didn't have all the ingredients on hand, so I had to make do with what I had.
Here are the changes I made:

- I used butter instead of cooking spray. Tastes much better, I think.
- I omitted the beans
- I was out of Chili Powder, so I substituted Hungarian Paprika. It worked in a pinch.
- I used Habanero-Lime tortillas (they're our favorite, if you haven't noticed.)

It was good. Mike said he wants it added to the "keeper" list.

Oh, and for those of you protesting that this is not "autumnish," all I have to say to you is that the week is not over yet :)

For Christmas.....

I would like this...

However, I have been informed by my dear husband that I may as well ask for a trip to the moon while I'm at it.
I don't want a trip to the moon.

Squash, Rugs and Object Lessons

So, this weekend has been busy. Busy, yet fun.
This past week's AP meal was Rigatoni with Squash and Prawns. Minus the prawns. Sorry. They weren't in my budget this week. (You'll see why shortly.)
It was pretty good - I think it would definitely be better with the shrimp. But it was still yummy - I used whole wheat pasta and added oven-roasted tomatoes.

Here you can see object lesson #1: this is what I get for buying a rinky-dink vegetable peeler. It is not very effective on a butternut squash. It took fooorrreeeeevvver.


Finally got it peeled and chopped up. I was much happier at this point.


I cooked some extra butternut squash and mashed it with some butter, salt and pepper. Michael did not want to have anything to do with it, but that's ok. He ate the oh-so-good Asiago Cheese Bread from Panera. Sooooooo good.



And here is the rug part. Mike told me on Saturday that a rug was high priority on our list of house items. Could I have asked for better words to come forth from my husband?? :)
Anways, on Saturday Meg, Heidi and I were already headed out to the Lancaster outlets to look for a bridesmaids dress for me for Michelle's wedding. While out there we stopped by Pottery Barn Outlet to see what we could see. And lo and behold! What did we find but this beauty of a rug! I had to duke it out with another lady who was also interested in it, but in the end she decided it was too small for the room she was decorating. While sad for her, I gladly swooped in to offer this rug a new home. Here it is, as well as dear Michael the Husband enjoying some Sunday afternoon football.



And this is where we come to object lesson #2. I should preface this story by saying that I was going to a plethera of favorite stores while having already spent my clothing budget for the month. And that's all I'm going to say.
Here, ladies and gents, is the dress I found for Michelle's wedding:

I had ordered another dress online a few weeks back, but when it came it was not at all what I had anticipated. So I was on the hunt again. I quickly found yet another dress at J Crew that I liked quite a lot. It was rather expensive, but Mike made a deal with me. He said I could have it, but I had to first search for 5 days to see if I could find something that I liked just as much but at a better deal.
I promised.
And I searched.
And I found this one at Ann Taylor for an amazing amazing deal. And I liked it. And it was cheaper. Way way cheaper. I had fulfilled my promise AND I liked the dress!
And that's when things took a turn.
May I just say, this sounded like a good idea at the time. (And maybe I still kinda think it sounds like a good idea???? But don't tell Michael....otherwise he may say my lesson has not been learned.) But no, truthfully, I do see his wisdom, and I am grateful for his leadership.
Anyways. I had just walked out of Ann Taylor having saved beaucoup bucks. And I walked into J Crew still quite aware that I had saved beaucoup bucks.
And this was hanging there:

And it was 40% off. Plus Heidi could get me an additional 15% off with her student discount. (She asked to be the heroine of this story with her 15% discount.)
And so in my mind, because I had just saved the equivalence of what the coat cost when I bought the dress, it made sense that I could get the coat.
Well, apparently this did not make sense to Michael.
And, long story short, I am on a payment plan until February. It was either that or return the coat. I chose the payment plan ;)
And I have learned my lesson. Looking for a better deal is not always just so I can buy something else (though sometimes that IS the case). Sometimes finding a good deal is God's blessing so we can actually SAVE that money :)
But, since I have learned my lesson, I would just like to say that I like my new coat very much ;)

My Painting Project

I finally did it. I started my painting project.
First up? My server. I love how it turned out :)
Here it is pre-project. In all it's blue glory.


The Paint. I had a real hard time trying to pick this out. Why? Because I am drawn to a color simply based on its name. How can you not be when they tell you to pick from their vast collection of "Colors of Inspiration"? Sugared Shortbread. Magical Moonlight. Milk and Cookies. Snow Ballet. Alaskan Mist. Moonlit Snow. How can you possibly choose?! They all sound so inviting!
I had to remind myself to pick a paint based on the actual COLOR, not the name. I think the paint guy at Lowes thought I was a psycho because I kept pulling out paint chip after paint chip and sighing in agony.
I finally settled on Winter Mood. I am happy with it. Both the name and the color.


I should have just bought a cheap sheet to spread out. But I did not. So I spread out all the paper and plastic bags I owned, plus broken down boxes. And I then proceeded to pray throughout my entire painting project "Please don't let paint get on my floor....please don't let paint get on my floor..."


The first coat. It was still iffy as to whether it would turn out like the picture I had in my mind. But there was no turning back now.


The beautiful knobs from Anthropologie. I love love love them.


The finished product!!



I am very pleased with it. It has given me courage to finish the other pieces in my house: my china hutch, my mail cupboard, and an old mirror I have. And it means I get to buy more knobs at Anthropologie. Clearly this is my next big thing.