Curry Pumpkin Soup

This is so YUMMY! I made this today for my family and it is something I had to share! Caleb ate two bowls. The girls were so so on it.

2 tbsp butter
2 medium onions chopped (1c)
1 med carrot, chopped (1/2 c)
stalk celery,chopped (1/2 c)
1 tsp curry powder
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
2 15 oz can of pumpkin
2 14 oz cans reduced sodium chicken broth
2/3 c water
1 c half and half or light cream
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground pepper

In 4-quart pot or dutch oven melt butter over medium heat. Add onions, carrots and celery. Cook ten minutes, stir ocasionally, until veggies are softened. Add curry powder and pumpkin pie spice. Cook another minute. Add pumkin, chicken broth and water. Increase heat to medium high and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for fifteen minutes. Remove from heat and let cool a bit.

In food processor or blender add one third of soup and blend until smooth repeat until all of the soup has been blended. Return to pot.

Stir in half and half (or light cream) salt and pepper and heat through. Top with Orange Cranberry topper.

Orange Cranberry Topper:
combine 1/2 cup dried cranberrys, 1 tablespoon finely shredded orange peel and 2 tablespoon snipped fresh Italian (flat leaf) parsley.

Each 1 cup serving : 145 calories, 7 grams fat, (4g sat fat), 19 mg chol, 433 mg sodium, 20grams carb, 4 grams fiber. Serves 8.

It did say if you wanted to make it and freeze it, to freeze it before andding the light cram. It will last three months in the freezer. Defrost and add the cream. I have to say the cream did not make a huge differance to me. I thought it was just as good with out it. It just made the color lighter.

Better Homes and Gardens October 2008 issue, page 219

Who Is Your Worst Enemy?

I know who my own worst enemy is. It is myself. I tell you what, I can beat myself up mentally over so many things that it is ridiculous. I think I have always been this way to a degree, but as I have gotten older I think I do it more. I let things affect me that I shouldn't and when I do, it is like my mind is stuck like a broken record playing through over and over again.

Today I let something bother me and that triggered me wondering about different situations. I have to say,I felt myself wallowing in no where land and I had to go back and ask myself how in the world did I let myself get this point? I also asked myself is this the way the Lord wants me to be. Well of course that answer is NO! Satan knows how to cause me to stumble and he was doing a good job of it. I pulled out my Bible and read and really took it in. I can not control how people act or feel. I can not control how they view me or my family the only thing I can control is doing what the Lord wants for me, following my husband, and taking care of my children to the best of my abilities. So why let my mind ponder things that I can not control? Why not think on things that Philippians 4:8 tells me? Finally, brethern, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virture, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8

Maybe this is to much to publish for all to read, I am not sure. But it was on my heart.

My Bathroom Has Been TP'D

I left Caleb to his self for a quick minute and look where it gets me. Tony was trying to tell me how to down load pictures from the camera to the computer over the phone. (No I could not do it again with out his help either.) I walked out to check on the kids and this is what I found. But because my camera was connected to the computer at the time, I could not take a picture of Caleb sitting in the middle of the mess looking up at me as if I should be proud of him because he was so proud of himself! So here is the picture of the mess. Yes that is another ball of toilet paper by the tub. I think he wanted to rearrange the rugs too. I found it funny that I have a picture of Courtney at 9 months sitting in the middle of her toilet paper mess. except she brought it out into the living room of my mother in law's. If I find that picture I will scan it and post it. That was the day of video camera's not digital.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Caleb is Moving Now

We wanted Caleb to walk before our friends Jeremy and Julie left. As much as we encouraged him he was not ready and that is fine. Tony and I gave this push and scoot toy to Caleb for his birthday. He has never wanted to walk with it before until the day after Jeremy and Julie left. He is a stinker. We did have to take his jammy pants off, he kept walking on them. He looks like a little old man with a walker. Funny hu.

Yum Soup

Today is very chilly out. I think it is in the low 40's. The weather is changing so quickly. It made me think of soup. For me I am more of a chili girl or cream based soups, I know cream bases soups are not good for us. So it made me think of one of my low fat cook books that I have. I haven't made this soup since I lived in Hawaii. (I know you are thinking why in the world would you eat soup in hot Hawaii. Well I guess you just try to keep traditions of what you would do if the seasons were changing.) Tony and I are trying hard to lose our weight. We are finally inspired by the fact that we are not healthy and the weight needs to come off. We have fabulous friends that are encouraging us and holding us accountable. The encouragement is a blessing to me and knowing that I am going to email everything that I put in my mouth to my friend helps me to not eat things that I know that I shouldn't because she is going to remind me of my goals! I am so proud of my husband for trying so hard! So on that note, here is a corn chowder recipe that you might like. Of course you could use regular cream and real bacon but it is really good with the light cream and turkey bacon or with no bacon at all. You should at least try it once the healthier way. I have also added some chicken before it makes it a bit more hardy.

Corn Chowder:

2 slices turkey bacon cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup yellow pepper
2 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth
10 oz cubed potatoes
2 cups whole corn kernels
1/4 cup light cream

Cook bacon and place on paper towel then crumble and save for later. In 3 quart pot add onion and bell pepper and tsp of water. Saute until soft, about 5 minutes. Add broth and potatoes. Bring to boil; lower heat. Simmer partially covered, 10 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Add corn; simmer 5 minutes longer. Remove from heat; cool slightly.

Place two cups of soup into food processor or blender; puree until smooth. Pout back into sauce pan. Stir in cream and heat to serving temperature. Top each serving with bacon.

4 1cup servings. 198 calories, 76g protein, 6g fat, 32g carbohydrate, 149mg sodium, 15mg cholesterol, 4g dietary fiber.

Weight Watchers Complete Cookbook p.87

Caleb Swings

Caleb LOVES to swing! We ate lunch at the park after going to the Ben and Jerry's Factory. Caleb laughs the whole time with pure elation while on the swing! It doesn't get much better than this!