Chicken Soup for the Family

I say for the "family" because here in the Little Red House - it is about the only meal my whole family loves these days.  I should also add my Mom in this.  She says it is the best chicken soup she has ever had - and she is 80 years old so she has had a LOT of soup in her lifetime!

I start out with that FABULOUS Chicken Stock that I make HERE.

Ready Set - COOK! (This is one of those recipes that I say 'some' and a 'handful' in.  Just go with it.)

First I prep all my fresh ingredients.


I should note: the Mr. does NOT like onions.  SO I have learned to chopped them up VERY small.  He does not even know they are in there! Shhhhh!



I add some butter and olive oil to a hot pot.



First I add the onions to get them good and soft.

Then I add the celery for a minute or two, next comes the carrots.


I throw in a heaping TBSP of flour to 'thicken' things up a bit.



Next comes that Fabulous Stock!  Just pour it ALL in!

Once that is all stirred - its time to add some chopped chicken.



Last I add pasta.  Pasta of your choice really.  The girls like Orzo.  We like a LOT of pasta.  I add about two handfulls (maybe 1.5 - 2 Cups).


Then, bring to a low boil and keep stirring so pasta does not stick.  Let this go on for about 20-25 mins.  I do lower the heat once it 'boils'.

Salt and Pepper to your liking and PRESTO -

What CUTE dishes!


NOTE:  When chopping the veggies - if there are leftovers or unusable pieces- throw these into a Ziploc in the freezer.  These are the veggies I use in my Stock!


 
 

MY Apple Pie

I named this MY Apple Pie because I had a few recipes in my binder and this is my FAVORITE!  I have made a lot of apple pies in my day but none are like this.

 Collection of ingredients

Start with the peeling and coring of apples

Melt butter, add sugars and vanilla

Stir to combine

Bring to a boil then remove.

Pour this over the apples

Pour this into a prepared pie dish with a ready crust.  (Thank you to Lulu for taking this photo!)

MY secret ingredient.

Sprinkled on top. 

Egg washed and ready to go IN the oven.

Out comes perfection!!

 Is there a better use for Silpat??

MMMMMM!!!   

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The Recipe: 

My NEW Apple Pie

• 1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie  (Pilsbury Box fine)
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 8 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced
• Cinnamon Sweet Sprinkle  - optional

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
2. Melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add water, white sugar and brown sugar, vanilla and bring to a boil. Reduce temperature and let simmer.  
3. Pour over apples in large bowl.  Toss to coat. 
4. Place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, mounded slightly. Sprinkle with Sweet Cinnamon Sprinkle.  Cover with a lattice work of crust or full crust vented. 
5. Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven ON a cookie sheet. Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes, until apples are soft.

    

Stock is On!

Mmmmm what kind of soup will I make tonight?  

I love the smell of this stock simmering all day - especially on a cool fall day.

I love even more when the girls walk in from school and say - YEAH Soup!

Of course, this could be because we always have fresh bread with soup!

What is your favorite soup to make?!?  Let me know!

Back To School

Conflicted is how I feel this year.  I am usually the Mom singing 'It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year' the week before school starts.  Of course, this was when my girls were little and required so much entertainment and attention.  Now that they are older they tend to care for and keep themselves entertained fairly well.

I will might even miss them this year!  Plus the merry go round of driving to and from soccer and chorus and dance classes....  I am already tired.  

We ended our family dinner on Monday night with a special treat.  It does not look all that exciting - but MMM it was good!

Toll House Pie

Coco is starting 5th grade and Lulu is starting 3rd.  And as you can see dance has already started!

First Day Goodbyes 
We have taken every photo in this same spot on the first day.  I remember when they did not reach the door handle.


And...now:

Even I have grown over the years...

Fabulous Friday

Today we are off on a New England day trip - but I wanted to share a favorite summer recipe -
  LEMON BARS!