Another favorite of mine..

While preggers with Peyton, I was craving Olive Garden’s minestrone soup.

Bad.

I was not craving going there, enduring the wait, and paying their asking price (especially at dinner time).

I hunted around and found a great knock-off recipe at Recipezaar.

I have been loving it ever since!

Let me start by saying that it might be best to half this recipe, unless you have a giant pot (mine isn’t big enough) and if you don’t mind eating this for days.  (I don’t, Merrill does.)

Minestrone Soup

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup minced white onion

1/2 cup chopped zucchini

1/2 cup frozen cut Italian green beans (I haven’t been able to find these since the local grocery store was bought out, I use the regular frozen green beans.  Canned beans gives the soup a funny flavor.)

1/4 cup minced celery

4 teaspoons minced garlic

4 cups vegetable broth (DO NOT USE CHICKEN BROTH!)

2 (15 ounce) cans red kidney beans (drained)

2 (15 ounce) cans small white beans or Great Northern Beans (drained)

1 (14 ounce) can diced tomatoes

1/2 cup carrots julienned or shredded

2 tablespoons fresh minced parsley

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

3 cups HOT water

4 cups fresh baby spinach

1/2 cup small shell pasta

Heat the olive oil in a large soup pot.  Saute onion, celery, garlic, green beans, and zucchini in the oil for 5 minutes or until onions begin to turn translucent.

Add vegetable broth to pot along with tomatoes (I don’t drain these), beans, carrots, hot water, and spices.  Bring soup to a boil, reducing heat to allow it to simmer for 20 minutes.  Add spinach and allow them to cook for an additional 20 minutes, or until the soup has reached a desired consistency.

I learned to boil my pasta in a separate pot until it reaches the “al dente” stage, drain it, and when the soup is ready, ladle the pasta into the serving bowl first, then pour the hot soup over the top.  This way, the pasta is the perfect tenderness, not too mushy.

I love to top this with an Italian 3 cheese blend .

I also love to have it with yummy bread.  One of my favorites, and something we usually have on hand, are hard rolls.  I cut them in half, spread on a butter, garlic, and parsley mixture, and set it under the broiler until the butter is just melted and the edges of the roll are golden.

Mmmm..   comfort food!

(Makes about 8, 1 1/2 cup servings.)

Binky Ban..

We were dry (pacifier dry) in this house for all of one (1) day.
The mutilated binky was lost, right before bedtime (wouldn’t you know it..) and we hunted, we really did.  But being the foolish woman that I am, thought that the “cold turkey” method would be the best way to go.  Cut those apron strings, you know?  That event was followed by one really crappy night’s sleep (if I can even consider it sleep) and a naptime involving the re-birth of finger-sucking, to get one of these puppies out of hiding.

That’s right..
I hid them in my underwear drawer.
And those nylons, underneath, have been sitting in that package, in that spot since I bought them about 4 years ago.
I hate nylons.  (And that would be random fact #476 about me..)
I thought this was the safest place in the house for one to go about hiding the most loved item by one particular resident of this house..  that is until the 5 year old obsessed with all things chestly had to go looking.
“Look Pey!!!  Binkies!”
She was so proud of her discovery.
I gave her a look that isn’t good for a mother to give her child, and that prevented her from taking one out to further prove her discovery, so Peyton probably still assumes that Ashley was teasing her, as usual.  Why would anyone hide binkies in a drawer that also houses those other things anyway?
It isn’t that we don’t want her to have it, we just love hearing her sweet voice and all the new words she picks up daily, and we also rather enjoy her smile.  The plastic and silicone get in the way too much.
And don’t get me started on taking pictures with that thing around.
All was going well, until she lost THE ONE, the one that I snipped, the one that it was okay for her to have, and I was not wanting to let her in on the truth that the rest were still located on the premise.
So we went dry.  For that one horrendous night.
I considered sticking to my guns, and continuing on the cold turkey route, but then this happened yesterday:

She picked up the habit after 7 months of not doing it like it was second nature.
These were the days BC (before cast)..

She spent most of her down time with these in her face, the other hand busy twirling her hair..  we knew when she was tired this way!
Then that bittersweet day when she broke her arm..
It was a blessing in disguise.
But the comforting mother stepped in and had to screw it all up.
I shoved a binky in her mouth to give her the comfort she desired without being able to get those two beloved fingers up to her mouth.  And those left ones weren’t doing the job..  for once in her life, she gladly accepted a binky.
I should have just left well enough alone.
After discussing the resurgence of  digit devouring with the man who will one day have to spring for all orthodontics to repair the mouth that seems to never forget, we decided it was best to welcome binky back…
But only for bedtime and the occasional naptime, hoping that all other times she will forget her fingers, pining away for the quality time she will get to spend with Nuk.
And trying to still get her to give it up, I mutilated a new one.
Then found the first one, in the laundry basket.
This morning, after we had both woken happily, she greeted me with a pacifier muffled, ”Hi mom!” and all I had to say was, “That binky needs to be put away until nap time..” and she handed it over with a cheerful “Okay!”
But hey, I am looking forward to another great night’s sleep.  Last night was splendid.

March 9th..

Today was a happy day..

She’s feeling much better.

See..  she’s even dancing!

March 8th..

Coconut Cupcakes..

I should start out saying a big thanks to Jaclyn, my SIL who made these tasty treats 4 years ago, and has had me hooked ever since.  Another big thanks needs to be said to the cookbook where she got the recipe from..  love that Ina Garten!  Grandpa W. probably loves her too..  these are a fav!)
Now, don’t have a heart attack when you read the ingredient list, just tell yourself that you can have one (or three if you are like me) a day, and call it good.
Cupcakes:
3/4 pound unsalted butter at room temperature (that’s 3 sticks)
2 cups sugar
5 extra large eggs at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 teaspoons almond extract (mmmm..)
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
14 ounces sweetened, shredded coconut (divided in half)
Preheat oven to 325.  Cream together butter and sugar for about 5 minutes on low.  Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well, then add the vanilla and almond extract.  In a separate bowl, sift together: flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Add 1/3 of the combined dry ingredients and half of the buttermilk to the batter.  Mix well, then add 1/3 more of the dry ingredients, and the other half of the buttermilk.  Mix again.  Add the last of the dry and mix until just combined.  Fold in 7 ounces of the coconut, and bake in lined muffin tins for 25-30 minutes.  Let cool well and then ice.
Icing:
1 pound of cream cheese (softened)
3/4 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature (3 sticks again..  I know, I know..)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 1/2 pounds of powdered sugar.
Cream together the cream cheese and butter.  Add the vanilla and almond extract, then add in the powdered sugar.  I would mix in a half at a time.  You can fold in the remaining coconut or top the iced cupcakes with it, Merrill likes it that way so there is adequate warning that these particular cupcakes contain coconut..  or do a bit of both.  They look pretty and taste even better.
This does make a lot of icing, but I like to eat it for breakfast. ;)

2..

Well, it’s 3 actually…
After I made this shirt for Peyton’s second birthday, I received a request from a friend to make one for her soon to be 2 year old.

I ended-up making 3 of them.



What can I say, I was groovin’.
(I’ll have to let you in on which one she chooses..)
So if you know or love someone who is turning 2, I have two 2 shirts available.  They run $10 each.
Sized 2T of course. ;)
Or, perhaps you are interested in a customized cupcake with a different digit? I can do those too!  (Price may vary.)
Just contact me: mindypitcher@comcast.net

Kickin’ Back..

After a couple of crazy hectic weeks, we (I) am trying to relax and kick back for awhile.  It also helps that 4 of the 5 of us are not feeling well.

That is good enough to force us to chill out for a bit.

The run-down of last week included an 89th birthday celebration,

  a baby shower,

a going away party,

and the loss of a binky.

(Just to name a few..)

At first, I just snipped it, then she lost it, right before bedtime.

Today, she has re-discovered her fingers. :(

Don’t you like how most of the events in my life revolve around food?

Really.

I am wiped out!