"Warm Me Up" Winter Soup

One of my favorite things about Winter...

is the chance to make lots and lots of SOUP!

This one is perfect for a cold, snowy day.

Has a nice smokey bacon flavor - with a hint of parmesan. 

Ingredients:

Olive oil

10 slices of Bacon

1 Onion chopped

2 cups chopped Carrots

2 cups chopped Celery

2 cloves Garlic

1 pound of Kale

1 Potato chopped

1 can diced Tomatoes

1 can of Cannellini beans

2 cans of Beef Broth

Fresh Rosemary

1 block of Parmesan Cheese

First off...

Add 2 teaspoons of olive oil to a DEEP pot.

Add about 10 slices of bacon (thinly sliced) to the oil.

Cook until CRISPY.

Then, take the bacon OUT of the pot - and let it cool on a plate with a paper towel.

In the SAME pot...

Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil...

Throw in the chopped onions, carrots, garlic, potato and celery.

Cook for 15 minutes.

Then, wash your 1 pound of Kale.

Chop it up... and add to the pot.

(It may look like A LOT... but it will cook down.)

To the pot, also add your can of diced tomatoes (juice included!)

ALSO - add 1 can of the beef broth.

Add two sprigs of rosemary to the pot.

(DO NOT chop them up. Leave whole.)

Add 1/2 the can of beans to the pot.

(Save the other half!)

Mix all together!

Take your OTHER 1/2 can of beans (along with the OTHER can of beef stock)... 

and mix in a blender.

(Just until the mixture is smooth.)

Add the beans/broth mixture to the soup.

Also - add the RIND of your parmesan cheese.

(Trust me on this one!!!)

Mix it all together.

Cook on low for 30 minutes.

Once it's done...

TAKE OUT the rosemary sprigs.

Then...

Dish some of the soup in a bowl.

Top it off with some shaved parmesan cheese...

and those CRISPY bits of bacon!!!

Delicious.

The perfect soup for a cold winter day.

Peppermint Patty Brownies

Looking for the perfect winter treat?

Try "Peppermint Patty Brownies"... yummmm.

What you'll need:

1 box of DARK CHOCOLATE brownie mix

About 12-15 small peppermint patties

Follow the brownie instructions on the box.

Put HALF of the batter into a GREASED baking pan.

Place the peppermint patties on top.

Cover with the remaining batter.

Put into an oven.

(Once again - follow the instructions on the brownie box.)

When they come out of the oven, LET THE BROWNIES COOL!

(More than likely, parts of the peppermint will be bubbling around the corners.)

It is moist, delicious - and best of all - has a surprise "peppermint treat" inside!

Super easy.

Super tasty. 

Twist on a Traditional Wreath

This is a project (that I put off last year)...

and FINALLY got it done for this Christmas!

An awesome wreath - using YARN.

First up, you'll need to get some "craft balls" from 

Hobby Lobby or another craft store.

A bag will cost you about $4.

You'll need different SIZES.

So, make sure to get big, medium and small.

Buy different colors of yarn.

(I went with a blue/silver theme.)

You'll also need a wreath ring...

and some floral ties.

The first part is the MOST time consuming.

Wrap the yarn around your craft balls.

(This will take you a couple hours - just an FYI.)

Take one floral tie, and put it through the ball of yarn.

TWIST the ties onto your wreath ring.

Also throw in some fun Christmas ornaments too!

Secure them all in place!

Add a fun ornament (to put in the middle of the wreath.)

I chose a snowflake.

And... tada!!!

A homemade, Christmas wreath - for about $30.

Best part?

No one else will have one like it!

You can switch out the center ornament each year...

and even add more balls of yarn too.

Pepsi Potroast

I know what you're thinking...

"PEPSI potroast?"

But, TRUST me... (when you try this)... you won't think I'm crazy!

Start with a nice slab of chuck roast.

Place in the bottom of your crock pot.

Next, you'll need:

1 can Cream of Mushroom soup

1 packet of Onion soup/dip mix

1 can of Pepsi

Then, put:

 1/2 the can of mushroom soup

1/2 packet of dried onion soup

 1/2 can of Pepsi on top!

Add your favorite veggies!

I used onions, carrots, green beans, celery and baby potatoes.

Top that off with the REST of your 

can of mushroom soup...

the rest of the dried onion mixture...

and the rest of the can of Pepsi.

Cook on LOW heat for 3-5 hours.

When it's done, you'll have this SWEET, tasty piece of meat...

and the GRAVY is TO DIE FOR!!!

I highly recommend serving this with mashed potatoes.

(The gravy will have your family going back for a second, third, fourth helping!)

Ruby Red Reindeer

My FAVORITE time of the year... is here!!!

And, we're celebrating with one of my FAVORITE holiday drinks:

Ruby Red Reindeer

You'll need:

1 bottle of champagne (Moscato Spumante is great!)

1 cup cranberry juice

1 cup ruby red grapefruit juice

2 tablespoons of grenadine

Lime juice

Fresh cranberries

Handful of ice

First up - 

Put the ice in a pitcher, and add cranberry juice...

... then the RUBY RED grapefruit juice...

... grenadine...

... juice of 1 lime.

Stir together!

Add a few cubes of ice to a glass...

then POUR champagne.

Top off with your cranberry/grapefruit mixture from the pitcher.

Add fresh cranberries for garnish!

Delicious, pretty - and festive!