Soup!

It's soooo cold here right now! What is better on a cold winter day than a big bowl of soup? Nothing! I'm making one right now and am soooo ready to eat it. Here's my recipe (it's adapted from my mom's recipe). It's so easy!

2 large cans of stewed/diced tomatoes
2 med cans of Vegeall
1 lb hamburger
1 c. elbow noodles
Sugar to taste

Bring cans of tomatoes to a boil. Add Vegeall and return to a boil. While this is going on brown your hamburger. Once the tomatoes and veggies are boiling add the hamburger and cook for about thirty minutes. Last, add noodles. Continue to boil soup until noodles are done. Add water as needed and to taste (more if you like thin soup, less if you like it thick). I like to eat mine with saltine crackers.

I'm trying it tonight in the crock-pot for the first time. I started the tomatoes and veggies first, then added the hamburger once I'd browned it, and added the noodles when I added the hamburger. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Sausage Balls

One of my very favorite holiday treats is sausage balls. Here is the recipe. I hope you all enjoy them as much as I do!

1 12 oz package of sausage (any intensity)
1 12 oz package of shredded cheese (this year we found out that finely shredded does not work quite as well)
3 cups of Bisquick

Let cheese and sausage warm to room temperature (the sausage is easier to work with that way). Mix cheese and sausage well. Slowly add Bisquick. When all ingredients are thoroughly mixed roll small amounts of mixture into balls. Bake balls at 400 for about 7 minutes.
And voila! Yummy sausage balls for everyone to enjoy!

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2009 has been one of the best of my life. I've been able to spend time with my family, continued traditions started with friends and family, and overall been very happy. I'm hoping to spend some more time with friends next week and return to school refreshed. It could have only been better if I'd been able to spend it with Steve. Here are a few of the photos from my wonderful holiday. I hope everyone has a happy Christmas!

Trying again...

I'm doing it. I'm trying again. I'm starting over on Weight Watchers. I started on the first day of school. I know, I'm crazy. Going back to school and starting a diet all on the same day? I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment. So I'm almost one week in and doing well so far. I've lost almost 3 pounds so far. I haven't starved myself. I have eaten some of the foods that I have tended to gorge myself on, but I've eaten them in moderation and eaten lighter foods for the rest of the day. I have learned that the spray ranch dressing tastes like, well, I won't say what it tastes like, but needless to say it isn't good. The peach Fiber One yogurt, however, is fabulous. It may be the best yogurt I've ever eaten. I know that I can do this. I've done it before. I just need to stick to it and stay focused. I may never be thin but I can be healthier.

Update: Julia Child

Before leaving for Ocracoke, I made dinner for Steve and me. While the dinner itself wasn't that impressive (bbq chicken & corn on the cob), my dessert was. I made from scratch a chocolate meringue pie. I mixed the chocolate pie filling and even whipped the meringue myself. It turned out wonderfully and was soooooo delicious! I was also quite proud of myself. I like cooking, I really do, I just have to stop being so lazy, get off my ass, into the kitchen, and do it! Look out kitchen, here I come!

I'm Jealous...

Today I went to see Julie & Julia. It was absolutely adorable. I smiled through the entire movie. I left quite jealous, however. I'm jealous that I'm not a good cook. There are several reasons for this. I lack the patience required to cook. I want dinner done now. Also, I'm lazy. This is a fact that I've come to accept about myself. Cooking makes a big mess in the kitchen. There are lots of dishes to clean when the cooking is all done. And buying lots of fresh ingredients is expensive and I'm on a fixed income. I'm also a space cadet. I always come home from the grocery store missing at least one ingredient. These are all reasons I tell myself I can't cook. But the fact is, that I enjoy cooking. The last time I really cooked was when I made chicken marsala and homemade mashed potatoes when Steve came over for dinner for the first time. I had a good time cooking and I felt such a sense of accomplishment. I was so proud of myself for producing this great meal. I will make an effort to cook more, and to experiment with different types of food. I can (and will) become a better cook!