Italian Wedding Soup

Cool nights have arrived in New England and I am LOVING it! It is time for some soup!

This year my girls seem to be asking for soup which could not make me happier!!

I decided to mix it up and make Italian Wedding Soup.  For what it is worth I am of IRISH descent with an Italian last name... but even I like this soup!!

I started with my organic chicken stock (you can see how I made that HERE).

Then I rolled as many tiny little meatballs as I could.  I like to make these ahead and freeze them.

On their way into the oven:

On their way out:

Then following my recipe

Italian Wedding Soup

8-10 cups of Chicken Broth

1/2 cup chopped carrot

1/2 box frozen chopped spinach (defrosted)

24 mini meatballs

1-2 cups of Orzo pasta (uncooked)

parm cheese for garnish

Bring the broth to a boil.  Add all the other ingredients to the pot.  Stir occasionally so that pasta does not stick.  

Simmer for 20-30 minutes.  

Best served with fresh french bread.  Mmm Mmm Good!!

If you make your meatballs ahead of time this soup could not be easier to make.  Give it a try!

New England Day Trip

My oldest sister who hails from another state (NOT in New England) was in town and we chose a Corn Maze for our outing with the girls. Is this a regional thing?  I feel like Corn Mazes are new to us here in New England.  It was fun either way!

It was a BEAUTIFUL warm sunny September afternoon.  Did I mention warm? 

The girl at the entrance told us to plan to be in there for an hour.  We stumbled out an hour and a half later.  Tired and a tad cranky.  BUT it was fun

When we got out - we treated ourselves to some ICE COLD LEMONADE and Apple Cider Donuts.  Mmmmm!

I am pretty sure the girls went to bed right on time that night and did not have any trouble falling asleep.  

The Ugly Kitchen Door...No More

My FALL Home Project is redecorating my tiny little kitchen.  I have a long list of changes to make.  Basically, I am keeping the cabinets, floors, appliances and and the counters.

FIRST change up was the Stool (see that post here).

SECOND I started in the mud room which I gave a Fall cleanup.

Then it was time to carry more of the black to the inside of kitchen door which in 14 years has never got any attention.  That was a terrible factory white - ignored - it is terribly sad.

See the sad before picture - Don't stare too long :(

And AFTER!

And while it was great to be able to see right out the door  and get what little daylight we could - that also means people could see right in.  And what they see is my 'cluttered' mud room.  

Being a metal door I ordered a set of Magnetic Cafe Rods.  They stick right onto the door.  (Of course, I should note I ordered brass rods but I received brushed nickle.  I will say  -  they blend with the black of the door and I now think that the brass would have been a bit much.  I plan to spray them black if they bug me!)  Then I added a sheer curtain panel and I think it looks SO MUCH BETTER!

Of course - painting the walls and woodwork are next in this poor ignored corner.  Then I can accessorize this rooms wall a bit nicer.

Design Star - Finale

I waited to post this - I did not want to ruin it for anyone who may have DVR'd it!!

Look away if you have not seen it yet.  The winner is.....



Yes, my girl MEG did it!  I think that she has been steady and strong all season.  She would definitely keep my interest with her personality.  I also love that she is not a twig with an inverted bob.

She is SO cute! (I can say that because I am older.)


I also have to say that I think this was my favorite thing she did all season:

IF I had wall space to do copy this great idea of the hanging lanterns - I so would!!

BUT this room definitely was a winner for me!


Congrats Meg!  I will be watching!

Old Dishes - New Dishes

WAY back in 1997, when I got married, I allowed the Mr. to select our dishes for everyday.  I gave him three sets to choose from to keep things easy.  (Yes, three that I could live with!)  He chose Garden Harvest by Mikasa.  They have been good dishes.  They have led us through romantic dinners by the TV, breakfast at the kitchen island and then have been with us through the growth of our family.




However, they have been showing their age lately.  I understand how they feel.  Chips, missing mugs and of late - the color was so.... well 1990s!  For what it is worth - I was watching the Rachael Zoe Project and she had the SAME dishes!  SO - they must have been in STYLE at some point.

Saying goodbye to an old friend

Fast Forward to 2011.  I swear I was not looking for new dishes and had Lulu not insisted on using the restrooms way in the back upstairs at Sears I would never have seen them.

But I did.

It was a RED ROOSTER that caught my eye.  She CALLED to me. (Can dishes call to you??)   I came right home and got online when we got home and checked out all the options available to me.  It is the COUNTRY LIVING collection.

I knew one thing - I was all done with 'matchy matchy' and wanted something that went together but not necessarily from the same 'line'.   I came up with this.

Let me break it down - this is the new setting we use daily now - isn't it adorable!

Here is the dinner plate

Here SHE is - that ROOSTER who called to me (it is our most used plate: lunch, breakfast, dinner)

New soup, salad or cereal bowl

The coffee mug (Note: I can finally use that 'large' cup button on my Keurig!!)

AND that leads us to the saucer.  Which really is a dessert plate.  This is Johnson Brothers.

I tripped on a set of 6 teacups, saucers and dessert plates on Craigslist for $25.00 - LOVE THEM~!!

These new dishes pull together my favorite colors,  they are versatile, casual and now feels like our 'old dishes' that we used all the time.

I LOVE FOLLOWERS!!  

Be sure to become one!!  I also read all my comments - is there a better way to get to know everyone?

A Rare Treat

Local and fresh picked... this is something we only get our hands on every few years!

I can almost smell them through the screen!

Bake Sale Season

It is that time of year again!!!

When the school bake sales all come looking for me!  Where do I hide?  Three sales this year - two election days and one school craft fair.

Actually, I LOVE to bake for the yard sales.  But I love to sample what I bake even more.  There lies the problem.  BUT I love to help out a good cause.

I thought - lets find some new things to make for the bake sales this year!!  Pumpkin Bread and Chocolate Chip cookies are good but we can do better!!

Here are some I am thinking about (images are links):

Whoopie Pie (my personal favorite!)


Pioneer Woman's Toffee Squares


Paula Deen's Creme De Menthe Brownies


Lets take Rice Krispy Treats to the next level


Candy Corn Bark


The kids can assembly line these with me!


Meringue Snowflakes -great idea for our Holiday Craft Market bakesale!


An updated Blondie


Wow!



Fabulous Packaging Ideas




I think a label or tag gets HIGHER pricing!

NOW Get Baking!!!