Tummy Warming Tomato Basil Soup

Delicious...Easy...Inexpensive

3 T Butter

1 medium vidalia onion, thinly sliced

(1) 28 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained

3/4 c whole milk (or heavy cream)

1/4 c fresh basil, finely chopped

salt & pepper to taste

Cook onion and butter on medium heat for 15 min or so. Add tomatoes and 4 cups of water and simmer uncovered for 30 minutes. Puree the soup in a food processor, blender or use an emersion blender. Put back in the pot and add cream/milk, salt & pepper and basil. I also picked up a can of Amy's Organic low fat cream of tomato soup and added it. Delicioso!

circa 1957...

my mother...

My Angel Wings

Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Isla Mujeres, Mexico

LOVE (luV)

Noun:

A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person or a sense of underlying oneness.

Burned Caesar Salad

I was at a Tuscan restaurant last week in Orlando with a group of people who I was sharing a family style dinner. The host ordered each of us a Caesar salad, which I probably would not have ordered on my own. So when the waiter set it in front of me I noticed two things that were different than your usual Caesar salad. First, it was made from a wedge of iceberg lettuce - the kind you typically find swimming in bleu cheese. It had also been chargrilled? So that is the recipe that I am posting today. So simple but so set apart from the traditional taste of a Caesar salad. Just cut a wedge from a head of iceberg lettuce, throw it on a high heat skillet, let it char the outside of the lettuce (yes, black), drizzle your favorite Caesar dressing on it, add cracked pepper and parmesean cheese and serve! It looks so fancy but it is so simple and inexpensive!

The day after Christmas my husband and I set out on our first road trip to Park City, Utah. We drove through Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and across the great state of Texas! This is one of 700 pictures that we took on the trip. Happy New Year to all!

Tonight it will be below freezing in Dallas and has already begun to sleet! With that in mind, I decided to make a hot and spicy pot of tortilla soup for Brett and myself. Then with topped it off with a cup of  hot peppermint cocoa! Here is the recipe that will definitely warm your tummy...

Tortilla Soup

2 cans of chicken broth

2 cans of stewed tomatoes, chopped

1 garlic clove

1 T cumin (or more if you like)

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup of salsa (I used southwestern style)

salt, pepper & cayenne pepper to taste (we like a lot!)

2 cooked chicken breast cut into pieces or torn

sprinkle of olive oil

about 1/4 cup light sour cream (I put in soup to make it a little creamier)

Top with crispy tortilla strips and cheese...Enjoy!

For the peppermint cocoa I just brought enough water for 2 cups of cocoa to a boil, put two packets of cocoa in along with 2 chamomile and peppermint tea bags, a packet of stevia (a natural sweetener), pour and serve!

Christmas 2008

Toasted Coconut Pecan Cake 

with Cream Cheese Frosting

"Life is not about finding yourself...it is about creating yourself"

We had our 2nd Annual Christmas Party last night and it was lovely....a huge success! We had such a wonderful time hosting new friends and catching up with old friends! It is important to do that often, especially around the holidays and especially in these times, to remind yourself of what is truly important...parties! Only kidding, we really enjoyed having everyone here and had a great time!

Girlfriend (Gerl frend) n. 1. Your best and most crucial friend. She's the truest, closest, and most beloved woman you know. In other words, she "gets it", whatever it is you need her to "get". From the most minute details to the big picture, your true friend makes your experience more real.

Happy Holidays! I want to welcome you my blog! I want to share with you some pictures, ideas, recipes, etc. Essentially, my life in a pie shell...

No. 1801

Me & Miss Haven

My Favorite Place

The Payday Run @ Park City Mountain Resort

Jen & Jen

Biggie

Pops

Campbell Brown Philips

Maggie McGee Philips

Maggie McGee Philips