Food Friday - Ham and Potato Soup

I love a really good Ham and Potato Soup but, for whatever reason, I've never made it before but, I had a big ol' ham bone in my freezer and wanted to use it up so I went searching for a recipe and tried my hand at this new family favorite!

Ham and Potato Soup
adapted from Allrecipes.com

I took some major shortcuts with this recipe - I did it in the crock-pot :-)  I cut everything up and threw it all in, turned it on and let it cook.  I did cook it on high for about 4 hours.  It was a little thinner then it would be if you cooked the milk/flour and added it at the end to a boiling pot but it was so super good and easy - I would do it in a crock-pot every time. 

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 cups peeled and diced potatoes
• 1/3 cup diced celery
• 1/3 cup finely chopped onion
• 3/4 cup diced cooked ham
• 3 1/4 cups water
• 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon ground white or black pepper, or to taste
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk

Directions

1. Combine the potatoes, celery, onion, ham and water in a stockpot. Bring to a boil, then cook over medium heat until potatoes are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in the chicken bouillon, salt and pepper.
2. In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour with a fork, and cook, stirring constantly until thick, about 1 minute. Slowly stir in milk as not to allow lumps to form until all of the milk has been added. Continue stirring over medium-low heat until thick, 4 to 5 minutes.
3. Stir the milk mixture into the stockpot, and cook soup until heated through. Serve immediately.

What I'm Reading

I realize that I have missed this post the last few weeks and I have good reason :-)  First, though, I wanted to show you a new accessory that I got for my Kindle.  Just like with any book, when dusk hits, it gets hard to read so I did a little research and knew what I wanted - check this fun new toy out!

It is a LIGHT!!  I love it because my Kindle case has a slot for the base of the light to slip into.  Then, the light can either be down (like the first photo) and I can shine the light up onto the page or I can flip the light up (the second photo) and it shines down on the page.  Either way, it makes it so nice to read at night or anytime the light is low.  I find the light at Wal-mart and it was less then $15.00

So, why haven't I posted?  Simple this - I am sucked into the Stephanie Plum novels.  I know in a previous post I talked about reading One for the Money.  Well, I just finished book 14, yep, that's right.  This brought about a dilemma for m though because I really hesitate to recommend the books.  Why?  They are not "clean" - they actually have lots of language and that is not normally something I read.  A few of the books are worse than others - I can't remember which one for sure but either 3 or 4, I wouldn't read again but then after that, they weren't quite so bad.  Why do I keep reading them?  Because I love the writing.  It is clever, creative, and entertaining.  I have noticed a few glitches between books such as in one novel a main character's SUV is blown up but in the next novel he has that SUV again.  Anyway, that's why I haven't posted about what I'm reading - I wasn't really sure I should!  He's the catch though - do you realize how quickly you can spend money buying books?  Yikes!  I've had to cut myself off for now so I have to wait to read more.  I'm going to have to set a budget - like a $10.00 a  month limit - and then use my Swag Bucks to pick up more Amazon Gift cards to purchase anything else.  I have purchased a few but it takes up to 10 days to get them so I'm on hold for getting any new books I have to pay for until that point. 

One other thing, did you know you can lend out books in your Kindle Library?  I haven't done it yet but from what I've read, when you loan it out, the other person has it for 14 days.  So, here's the deal.  I would really like to read the first Hunger Games book but don't want to buy it.  Anyone have it and want to lend it?  I'm just wondering what the hype is all about!  I'd also like to read "The Help".  (A friend mentioned that you might only be able to load out a book 1 time - ever - she is checking into that so I'll let you know what she learns!)

Since I can't buy anything new - I should have some other books to share with you next week!

St. Patrick's Day Wreath

I've been working on getting my St. Patrick's Day stuff done and put out; it's time to share my fantastic wreath that I made!  My inspiration comes from The CSI Project and I found it on Pinterest (so I guess I could have done this for my weekly Pinterest post, huh?).  It is actually an idea from a blog I follow all of the time, Craftomaniac so maybe that is why I kept thinking it was not a Pinterest Project! Anyway, here is the inspiration photo.

I love the green and brown color combination - it keeps it a little more grown-up, I think. 

Here's my little tutorial :-)

Supplies:
Wreath
Ribbon (wide)
tulle
some type of decor

Now, you might notice that I don't actually have a wreath.  I've seen the idea of taking one of those pool noodles, cutting it down, and then duct taping the ends together to make a wreath.  I figured for $2.00, I could try this option (Plus, I cannot, for the LIFE of me, find the wreath form I have in the house . .. the boys like to play with it and now it has disappeared.  I probably hid it from them . . and apparently myself!)  Then, see the "Irish" plaque?  I found that at Hobby Lobby for $8.00 and used the 40% off coupon to get it.  I could not find any shamrock or horseshoe shapes while there so this was my solution. 

I would love to say that I took pictures of the whole process but I did not so I will show you the finished product and tell you how I got there - it did not go as planned but turned out well in the end.

Isn't that great?  What I ended up doing was wrapping the ribbon around the noodle-turned-wreath because the tulle would NOT cover the red noodle and make it not . . .red.  Then, I wrapped the tool over the ribbon to cover any of the tiny bits of red shining through.  Once done, I hot glued my "Irish" board onto the wreath and added some glittery little shamrocks as well.  I really love this wreath and actually have it facing inside the house on the door so I can enjoy it (Instead of facing out for guests to see!)

I have a couple  of things I'll show on a different day :-)

Too Cute Not to Toot

Hello!  This first idea is coming from Nothing But Country and is something we all only get to enjoy every 4 years but I love it - it's a Leap Year Dinner.  I am going to print this idea for our February binder more so that I have an inspiration.  I know that 4 years from now, my kids will find this a fun thing to do on that special day!

St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner so I love finding fun ideas.  One of my favorites, Oopsey Daisy, is sharing a great printable for that very day!

You know I love wreaths and this one is perfect for spring.  Keeping it Simple shares a great, simple tutorial too!

This next project should probably, technically, go on my "Homeschool Haven" post I do about once a month right now but, it was just too cute not to share now.  Toadally Tots (don't you love that name?) shares a super cute alphabet name using plastic eggs!

Ok, so if you read my posts for real, you know I've been talking about making Quiet books for like, forever.  I just can't seem to get my seamstress hat on so when I saw this idea over at This Just Pinned for a Busy Binder I started to rethink my plan to sew a Quiet Book . .. .

Even though I am not a great Gardener (nor is it something I love) I do like to plant a few things for the sake of my kids :-)  So when I saw a few ideas over at Veni Vidi Scrappy I thought I would share!

Well, I've run out of time to search this week (it is LATE Monday night!) so I will wrap this up for now.

I have totally fallen off the Pinterest Wagon - for no other reason then I haven't taken time to remember what ideas I'm using are from Pinterest :-) LOL  I do have one funny story though!

Last Friday, I was driving into the BIG town that is 45 minutes away.  While driving down the expressway I saw one of those new, huge TV screen bulletin boards and it said something to the effect of "Are you Depressed and hurting? We have the solution." And then I saw this "Pinterest.com" and was like, seriously?  Pinterest can help heal depression. . .I can kinda understand that . . then I looked again and realized it said PINEREST.com  Yes, that is Pine Rest - it's a hospital that helps people with issues such as depression. So, yes, Pinterest has taken over HA!!

Have a great day!

What's in a comment?

Do you comment on blog posts you read?  No, I'm not fishing for comments!!  I know I am very guilty of reading a post and not leaving a comment for no other reason then it takes time!  I thought I would throw out a few of my personal tips :-) 

1.  Leave lots of positive comments!  If you read a post and liked it, take 2 minutes to leave a comment even if it just says "Thanks for posting" or "I enjoyed what you wrote".  Bloggers love comments - it helps us know that someone actually read what we wrote!   I've been working hard the last few weeks to try and leave a comment when I read posts - I am working at about 40% right now and need to improve that percentage rate!

2.  Don't leave negative comments :-)  If you HATE what you read, don't tell the person.   Trust me, I've read some doosies and really wanted to let someone have it but these blogs are pretty personal because the writer really puts their heart into it and when someone attacks, it's not nice.  It doesn't mean you can disagree but make sure you are super careful how you say it.  I try to ask questions or, in the case of a recipe, will ask a question about the process or maybe say that there is a flavor I didn't like in it so I will leave it out next time. 

3.  Be careful of starting an argument.  Recently, I read a blog post and was extremely surprised that the writer was supporting something that I heard about a few days prior and found kind of offensive.  I left a comment with my opinion - it was really just my opinion.  I didn't attack, I just said "I disagree, I think . .. "  Well, she was gracious but other commenter's were not.  It was said that I didn't have a heart, that I was judgmental and unkind.  Those comments even made it to her facebook page.  Geesh!  Others agreed with me but I became the "mean one".  Just like with facebook, be very careful when and how you say things.  Either with your own posts or when commenting about other . .. comments :-)

4.  Feel free to ask questions.  You can always ask a blogger a question in the comments section.  I usually respond 1 or 2 ways (or both).  Your comment shows up in my e-mail box.  If you have your e-mail set up to receive responses, I will reply via e-mail directly to you.  If you don't, I will reply in the comments section.  (I also try to answer all questions in the comments for others to see the answer to as well).  So, don't get angry if you don't get a response - just go back to the comments section.  A lot of bloggers do not respond to comments via e-mail but only within the comment area so it is up to you to go back for the answer :-)

5. Re-read your comments.  I need a #5 so I'm just throwing this in there - make sure your comment reads well.  I'm so guilty of typing fast and then my comment makes no sense . .. .I also tend to not proof read until after I post it (oops!)  Sometimes it just doesn't make sense!!


I would like to challenge any of you reading this, to take time and comment on 5 blogs this week (and it doesn't have to be mine!)  That is just one a day!  Some blogs have the "spam" alert words you have to type in - take the time to do it.  I personally don't have mine set up that way right now but I am getting hit with TONS (like over a 100 a week) of spam posts.  Blogger does a great job at catching those spam posts but eventually I may "make" you type those words again ;-) 

March Goals

I wanted to take a quick post and list my March goals.  I've lost my focus on my goals a lot earlier then I usually do (I just lose it in June and pick it back up in about October!) and I'm not sure why.  I think the biggest thing is just taking time to set weekly and daily goals to accomplish the tasks and I did not do that in February.  I mentioned in a post recently that I didn't even look at my February goals and that kinda makes it hard to accomplish them if you don't even look at them! My goal is to look at my March goals :-)

Our Mantel: I'm still working on this - I have made some decor for the table but still have a few other things to make and put up.  I can't find my wreath ring that I've had for like 2 years and have always known where it was until like a last week.  So my window wreath is not made yet - no local stores carry the rings so I have to wait until I can get to a craft store. 

Holiday Celebrations: We have an annual trip we take to a place called Metrobeach so that is our family activity for this month; I have a couple of birthday cards to mail plus one "make up" card I want to get done this month.   Finally, I really want to do the first step on my birthday board which will be get the board and paint it!

Date Night: We have a few things going on this month.  We are going out to dinner with some friends on Friday; then at the end of the month we have a wedding to attend.  The kids are going to the grandparents for a very long weekend so we'll get to go out to dinner a few times too :-)

Daily Something Special: Put together my March Binder and print the activity ideas I have to use now and in the future.  I'm struggling with coming up with a special activity to do each day - it takes so much time to plan and I'm just not getting that done.  I have a new schedule I'm trying to follow for myself but it is slow going - if i can get it to work for me, then I will have specific time to plan those activities as well as do them!!

Pinterest Goals: I've gotten failed the last few weeks at getting anything done from Pinterest.  So this time, I have 4 recipes I want to make, 3 crafty ideas, and then 3 ideas to research.  I want to make one recipe each week this month, complete 1 crafty project and 1 research project each week - giving me a week to wrap things up.

Too Cute Ideas: I have 4 ideas I want to complete - one of the ideas is specifically for an Easter gift for the boys so that will be the first one I tackle. 

Quiet Book: I still have a goal to get these made.  We are planning a small vacation in May to coincide with a wedding we are attending - I would like to have these along with a quiet bag put together to use on the car ride.  We'll see!

Celebrate me:  I'm still stuck on discipline - getting things done I want to get done and practicing the piano more!

Misc Items:  I have to get my nephew's books sold or he is going to shoot me!

House Projects: I'm still finishing up the kitchen.  We have one wall that is half done - it is our stairwell wall so my husband has to become a monkey to paint it :-)  I have some touch up painting to do with white as well as some trim painting to get done.  Then I want to decorate it and get curtains up.  Finally, I plan on getting my steps painted when the kids are gone at the end of the month!

Scrapbooking: I have another crop coming up so I'm going to list the items in order I want to get them done.  1) Complete February 2012 2) Put Jan and Feb in an album 3) Complete 2011 Digitally - this is all that is left of 2011!!  4) Finish up my "old "photos 5) Put printed pages into albums and add all the fun stuff 6) Make Nate's baby book current 7) Complete our pet album.   I will NOT get this all done - if I can get items 1-3 done, I'll be happy at this point.  Anything else will be bonus items. 


So that's it for this month.  I have lots of other little things to do too.  As a matter of fact, I now have a list called "My Brain".  I keep this list on my desk top and am always emptying my brain on to it by jotting down all of those little things I need to do that I forget.  Sometimes it is just ideas that I need to remember and sometimes it is things I need to do.  I then look through it each day and try to accomplish 2-3 things from that list. 

As always, I'm constantly trying to find creative ways to clean, organize, declutter and keep our small house from being over run.  :-) 

Weekly Menu - March 3

Can you believe that it is already March??  I can't - I'm not sure where the first two months of the year went but they are so far gone! 

We did end up eating leftovers on Tuesday this past week - I had made that huge pot of Chili for when my Father-in-law came over on Monday and can you believe that they had already eaten?  So we still had a huge pot of chili left on Tuesday; that become dinner again.  I try a recipe last week for Swedish Meatballs.  I really love them, when they are made well (not just with a can of cream of mushroom soup dumped over them!) and this recipe was good but, for whatever reason my "gravy" did not thicken so I'm going to make them again soon and hopefully figure that problem out so I can share the recipe! 

On Friday night, my husband and I got to have a date night thanks to my parents coming over for the day (they also gave me the day "off" so I got to go shopping!!)  We ate at a favorite restaurant that is a little nicer (i.e. we wouldn't take the kids there right now!)  so that was a nice treat!

Here I just said that January and February flew by - then I looked at March and realized that we are a little busy so it will fly by too!!!  Yikes! 

Saturday: We have a friend who will have (hopefully!) had her baby by Saturday morning so we plan on visiting them Saturday late afternoon; then we are going to eat at our favorite Taco Place :-)

Sunday: Skinny Salisbury Steak with gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans and rolls

Monday: I am actually trying out for a music group tonight - it's a community choir so I think "try out" is a lose term for "make sure you aren't tone deaf" but, this means Darryl will be on his own with the boys.  I'm going to have a pan of Tatar Tot Casserole and Corn made for the boys to eat.

Tuesday: If I don't make this recipe this week it is going back in the book.  Ironically, we really love these little Quiches so I have no idea why I haven't felt like making them.  So, it is Mini-Sausage Quiches and Lemon/Blueberry Bread and fruit.

Wednesday: Darryl will have practice tonight so it is just the boys and I  . . . Pancakes and sausage for the boys and I will probably have a BLT and fruit.

Thursday: Ranch House Crock Pot Pork Chops with Parmesan mashed potatoes and corn.  I'm scheduled for a hair cut tonight so I needed something that I could have ready earlier in the day and just put on the table.  Hopefully this works!

Friday: We are going out to dinner with some friends - we try to go out with them 2-3 times a year and it's time !  The best part?  They supply my babysitter - they have two girls who are old enough and, since they have grown up in a huge family, they are very good with the boys.


My plan for some sweet treats this week are:  Cracked Sugar Cookies (these are manly for Darryl's lunch), Marshmallow Brownies - a new recipes, Dump Cake - this is to die for!, and I have stuff for the Lemon Cake, Chocolate Cupcakes, and Apple crumble that I did not make this past week.  I go with the flow on this stuff.  The cookies will get made but after that I like to pick one treat and make it.  Once we have eaten it up (or are sick of it), I make something else. 

Finally, for lunch this week I planned some new things that (hopefully) the kids and I will enjoy including Skinny Macaroni and Cheese Soup with Broccoli and Crunchy French Toast Sticks.  I am also going to jump on the band wagon and try out a "Green Monster Smoothie" for breakfast.  I don't usually eat my breakfast until after the boys are up so using the blender will be ok - I'll let you know how that goes!

Thanks for reading :-)