Another Fall Favorite Soup...

Please, please, please don't let the name of this soup scare you...or you will be missing out on some absolute yumminess!
Even if you don't like cauliflower, you will love this creamy cauliflower soup! My son won't even touch a vegetable, yet this is one of his favorites. The really good thing is... it also has carrots and celery in it, but everything is pureed, so he gets a full serving of vegies and doesn't even know it. I find that being a sneaky cook works well with my children, especially the picky ones :)

I have made this recipe for years...it's another family favorite.  This creamy soup is perfect on a cool fall day served with rolls or just crackers.  It can be put together fairly quick, or make it early, and transfer it to a crock pot set on low for all day simmering.

From my kitchen to yours....ENJOY! ♥

~ Creamy Cauliflower Soup ~

2 celery ribs, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 carrot, peeled and chopped (I'm assuming everybody peels their carrots...but, just in case) :)
2 T butter
1 lg. head cauliflower, about 2 lbs., broken into florets
6 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup flour
2 cups milk (2% is fine)
3/4 cup half and half
1 T minced, fresh parsley, or dried to taste
1-2 tsp. salt, to taste
1/2 tsp. dill weed (opt., but, I like it! )
1/4 tsp pepper

In dutch oven or soup pot, saute the onion, celery and carrots in butter for 3-5 minutes until crisp tender.  Stir in cauliflower and broth, bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 15 minutes or until cauliflower is tender.  In a blender or food processor, puree' soup in batches until smooth. Return to pot. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally. In a medium bowl whisk  flour and milk until smooth.  Stir into puree'.  (I always pour my milk/ flour mixture into soup through a strainer...just in case there are any flour lumps...don't like those in my soup.) Bring to a boil, cook and stir for 2 min. until thickened. Reduce heat. stir in half and half, parsley, salt, dill and pepper. Heat through. 

mmmmm....good!

"I love the leaves I do not know why. Is it their colors or how they fly? They crunch and crinkle Under my feet; I pile them up And take a leap!"

... Beth Paulsen

One of our favorite Fall meals...

Hooray Fall!

One of my favorite things about this time of year is Autumn dinners!  Around September, I come out of what I call my "summer dinner hibernation" which is where I do lots of quick and easy dinners like, BLTs, tacos, salads, and wraps.  It works wonderful for Summer when the days are long, busy and hot. I like to be out enjoying it rather than being in my kitchen most of the day.  However, once the days start to get shorter and there is that wonderful crisp chill in the air, I dust off my apron and embrace my kitchen.  I look forward to the delicious meals and enticing aromas that will soon fill the air.  There is just something so warm and inviting about the smell of bread baking or soups simmering. It is truly a favorite of mine.

Thus, the reason I've decided it would be fun for me to blog about tried and true recipes of mine as well as new recipes. I just love trying new recipes and am always happy when they taste good and my family gives the thumbs up!

One of my family's favorite Fall dinners is, Loaded Potato Soup with Homemade Rolls.  When the kids know this will be dinner for the night, they come running! It is so good! I've made this soup for guests and potlucks, and it always goes quickly and gets rave reviews. Last year, I entered it into our church's annual chili/ crackpot cook off.  It placed 2nd.  I was thrilled because everybody knows that the ladies at church can cook!

My homemade roll recipe is for the bread machine. I'm sure you could do them by hand. I just haven't tried it....yet! :) These rolls are so light and delicious, they are almost a dessert. Everybody loves them. If you have leftovers, which is rare, they make great sandwich rolls the next day.

 I hope you enjoy this meal as much as we do!

~Loaded Potato Soup~

• 1/2 stick butter
• 1 small onion diced
• 2 medium carrots, diced about the same size as the onion
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 6-8 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 4 cups whole milk
• 2 chicken bouillon cubes, dissolved in 1/2 cup hot milk
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• Crumbled bacon
• Grated cheddar cheese
• cup or so of frozen corn (optional)

In a large saucepan, melt the butter and saute the onion and carrots until both are slightly tender, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute. Add the potatoes, milk, and dissolved bouillon cubes. Cook over medium heat for 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are very soft. Keep an eye on this and continue to stir frequently. 

While the potatoes are cooking, fry up a pound of bacon and grate a nice heaping pile of the cheese. Set aside.

When potatoes are cooked, mash soup with a potato masher until desired consistency. I like mine mashed up pretty good, so only tiny chunks remain. After you have mashed to your liking, add the half-and-half, salt, and pepper.  Now you can add the frozen corn if you like.  Simmer on lowest temp. until ready to serve. Stirring occasionally.

Pour into big bowls and crumble bacon over the top and some cheese. ENJOY!!

*note*
About the milk...now, you can substitute the whole for 2% or even 1%. But, I never do and really don't recommend it. The whole milk gives it the creamiest and thickest texture...so, go ahead and splurge a bit...you deserve it!  :)

~Butter Yum Rolls~

3/4 cup + 2 T water

1 lg. egg

3-1/4 cup bread flour or all purpose

4 T sugar

1 tsp. salt

3 T dry milk

1/4 cup butter

1-1/2 tsp. active dry yeast

Place water and egg in bread machine. (my bread maker warms up the liquids to the right temp. on its own. If yours doesn't, make sure your water is warm enough to activate the yeast.)

Add flour, sugar, salt and dry milk. cut up butter into smaller pieces and place in corners of bread maker. Make a well in the middle and add yeast. Set bread maker to dough setting and start.  When dough is done. remove from pan and form dough into equal size balls. Id say a bit larger than a golf ball. Place balls into greased baking dish. Pyrex is good. Cover with dish towel and let dough balls rise in warm place for about an hour or until doubled in size.
Bake at 425 for 12-14 min.  Remove from oven and take a stick of butter and rub it over the tops. Be generous, allowing the butter to drip down the sides.  Best served warm with jam.
Makes about 14-16 rolls.

Wishing you all a Delicious Season....remember to soak in each day...embracing the beauty all around. 

♥ Smile often...they are so easy to give and wonderful when returned. ♥

♥ Sweet Sunshine ♥

The last two days the sun finally emerged, and it was wonderful. I wore tank tops, open toe heels and capris. It was a beautiful thing. I played outside with the kids, we ate popsicles and soaked in as much sun as we could.
Now, that April is here we can expect April showers. Normally, I don't mind the sweetness of the April showers, especially when they bring with them that wonderful Spring, rain smell. However, with the March we had I am not at all excited about April showers.  March was filled with rain and grey skies, and to be honest, it started affecting my mood. I hate when lousy weather puts me in a grumpy mood. Grey skies can make for a grey day. It can completely zap my motivation.
My favorite days are when I wake up to the sun shining through my windows.  It puts a spring in my step and a song in my heart. Yep, it really does...guess you can say it kinda brings out the Snow White in me...I can whistle while I work, or turn on some music and dance as I work...
Today, I woke up to those darn grey skies and some rain, but it's ok. The past two days put sweet sunshine back in my mind and in my heart. I feel that delightful spring is back in my step. 
With the sun on my mind...I decided to write down the top ten reasons I love it so. I hope you find some reasons that appeal to you and may even make you smile.


10. Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy. John Denver sure knew what he was talking about. I love and crave that warmth on my shoulders.

9. The wonderful, natural Vitamin D! I remember my mom saying all Summer long..."Get outside and get your Vitamin D"  I'm happy to say I'm still obeying my mom. Not too mention all the health benefits of Vitamin D. You'll have to google that on your own, or I will get side tracked and make this a Vitamin D blog. Check this out...here's just one headline on google, and I like it!! Mama always did know best...
"Researchers say health benefits of sunshine outweigh the skin cancer risk and might help you live longer"

8. Sunshine makes me smile. big smiles. I smile at everybody. Even when I don't feel like smiling, if its sunny out...I don't know how not to smile....

7. ahhhh, the warmth of it all....I like to be warm and cozy. The sun is a natural at making me feel this way.

6. Sunshine is light, and I love light. I'll choose it over the dark any day...

5. Sunshine and rainbows...after a fresh, cleansing rain....the beauty and smell can take my breathe away...

4. I'm not sure if I like yellow more because of the sun, or if I like the sun more because its yellow...I just know they are two of my favorite things...

3. When the suns out...flowers bloom, birds chirp, people smile more, hold hands more and love each other a bit better.

4. Beach side, poolside, river or lake side...put me by water when the suns out, give me a towel and swimsuit, iced tea and good company or just a good book...and that's a perfect day...

3. Sunshine means tan lines....I've always thought my skin looks better when its bronzed. Unfortuntaely, gone are the days of laying out all day and covering myself with baby oil.  Sometimes, I do put on a bit of sunscreen, but, I don't go overboard.  I don't know, I kinda like to think that perhaps the chemicals in the sunscreen are maybe just a bit worse than the sun's natural rays...or maybe I just like this excuse, so I can still tan under the sun and not feel guilty...either way, it works great for me ...

2. I love to be called sunshine. Nothing better than waking up to a "Good Morning, Sunshine" or hearing a, "you are my sunshine." There's just something so sweet about being some body's sunshine. (kinda like my "sugar" blog...sunshine and sugar...they go together quite nicely)
I've also been called Lil' Miss Sunshine on more than one occasion...whether it's meant as a compliment or not... I think its fantastic.

1. Sunrises and Sunsets...on a mountain, at the beach, over a lake, hiking on a trail  or just out a window...two of life's greatest and most amazing beauties. The start of a fresh, new day with no mistakes and the end of another day, looking forward to the next...

Top 10 reasons why I love sugar...

A silly little blog about my lifelong love affair with sugar...and why my life would be dull without it's shimmery sweetness.

               ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
        (not necessarily in order)



10. I love sparkly things, and sugar sparkles at me. It likes to tempt me.

9. I love that it's so versatile and has many uses. It makes a lovely face scrub. I mean, sugar on your face...that's just splendid! (However, don't use that fake Splendid stuff, that's got to be nasty!)

8. I love that you can put it on and in almost anything, and it makes it taste so much better like cereal & grapefruit. Of course, there's all the baking...but, that would require a blog all by itself.

7. I love how it makes coffee drinkable and delicious, how it makes a lovely cup of tea, 2 heaping teaspoons please.... and how lemonade isn't lemonade until you add the sugar.

6. I love how using the word, "sugar" in a song makes the song a bit sweeter.

5. I love how it sticks to things, like: my finger, the rims of glasses, on sour patch kids, and the tops of cookies when rolled in it....I don't like it, however, sticking to my floor. 

4. I love it in it's cube form. Watching them dissolve is pretty cool, not to mention there's Science involved...something like,
 water is a powerful solvent. Properties of water molecules cause them to break down the crystalline structure of a sugar cube..., yawn....
But, I also like that I get to say, "one lump or two." ...hey, I think that's in a song I like....

3. I love that you can mix it with water and it will attract hummingbirds. I love watching them hover and flutter.

2. I love being called by it, "Hey Sugar". That just makes me smile.


1.  And...the number one reason I love sugar...is because it gives me those adorable little bursts of energy.

the reason behind the name...

Faithresting....is a word my mom liked to say a lot while I was growing up. Like my mom, I also use it a lot.  Faithresting is how I choose to live my life. Continually living by faith, then resting in my faith, knowing that no matter what the circumstances are, God is in complete control.  The "flying by the seat of my pants" part is also how I live my life. I've never been a planner, and my organizing skills leave a lot to be desired.
I've always been the type of girl that likes to wake up in the morning and just see how the day leads...I like to be open to whatever, and be available whenever. As I see it, schedules can be re-arranged, sleep can be caught up on, and nobody is gonna starve to death if dinner isn't served right at 5 o'clock.
Schedules, planning, organization and routine are the areas I have always struggled with. Sometimes, I just don't understand why it's so hard for me to stay with a routine or schedule for longer than a couple weeks.  I say the words, "I wish I was more organized" at least 2-3 times a week.  I realize that my life would be easier and less frustrating at times if I only had these qualities.
I hate to admit it, but, I think I just get a little bored doing the same things at the same times day in and day out.  I don't like to be bored.  Something else my mom said a lot was, "Only boring people get bored," therefore, I try to stay un-bored as much as possible.
(Disclaimer: I am in no way saying, those who are organised, good at schedules and planning are boring.  I am simply talking about me and only me. I have many wonderful friends that are very organized, and I have struggled to be like them. Unfortunately, I always come up short which makes me sad , then I get down on myself and have a pity party, thinking, "woe is me, why cant I be more organized?" I cry a little.....,and then toss away my current day planner.)
I've learned that as long as I'm living the "Faith Resting" part, then I don't need to feel bad about the "flying by the seat of my pants part."  I actually think the two go together rather well.  

Is. 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint

Some words about my Grandpa...

After writing my first blog post the other night. I decided it was time for me to dig out my notes about Grandpa that I had read the day of his funeral. To be honest, this was hard for me. I haven't even looked at the words since the day i read them aloud. It still hurts too much.
I don't think you ever really get get over the loss of a loved one. Sure, the days go by and you don't think about it as much, and it does get easier. However, all it takes is a maybe a smell, a sound, or a song and that loved one is right back with you. Sometimes, the memory brings joy and sometimes sorrow. Like the time last Summer as I was picking peas out in the garden, enjoying the sunshine. When the next thing I know, tears are streaming down my face. All it took was the smell of the peas, and the movement of my hand as it snapped the pea pod off the vine, and instantly I was back in Grandpa's garden, spending the day with him, eating raw peas as I follow along behind him. Not wanting to be anywhere else in the world.
I miss him.
I decided it would be nice to put my words about my grandpa in this blog as a tribute to him.

These are just my thoughts and my feelings jotted down.  It's not a paper or a story. It has not been edited or altered. It was just what came to mind the week that I lost my Grandpa. pure and simple.

May 2009

Grandpa Bud was an amazing man.  Truly the strongest, kindest, gentlest, most caring man I’ve ever known.

One of my favorite stories was how I first met him. Grandma tells the story best. She said she knew Grandpa was a keeper the moment she saw me crawl up in his lap the first time I saw him and start playing with the pens in his shirt pocket.  She told me it was love at first sight for both of us.  He was so patient and loving with her baby granddaughter.  She knew she had found herself a very special man.  As far as I was concerned Grandpa’s lap was one of my favorite place to be.  I would spend a lot of time there over the years.  I would climb up in Grandpa’s lap where he  would read my favorite book to me or tell me a story, or watch tv. or, I would just sit there with him and we would be quiet together.

Of course, the other best place to be was in Grandpa’s garden.  He had the greenest thumb of anybody I ever knew. His garden was beautiful and always flourished.  On our annual Summer weeks together, my brothers and I loved to go out and pick in the garden with Grandpa…from delicious, green peas to green beans, raspberries and strawberries…my favorites were the strawberries…when it was strawberry picking day, Grandpa would uncover them, and the strawberry search would begin…it wasn’t unusual to see 3 kids with red stained mouths and fingers by the time we were done…but Grandpa never minded….

I always remember Grandpa working. It wasn’t unusual to wake up to the sound of the lawn mower running…which is funny, but, that never bothered me…instead it just announced the dawn of another  beautiful Summer day that we had to look forward to with Grandpa and Grandma.  Grandpa had the most beautiful yard on the street…seriously, not a weed in sight!  The grass was so green.  Many days were spent running around playing in that yard. He took great pride in his yard, and it showed.  

Grandpa had many filbert trees and he always sent home grocery bags filled with filberts.  I remember Grandpa always muttering about the battle with various pests that would attack the nuts…he never gave up, but he always battled those pests with a vengeance, and we reaped the benefits! As far as my brothers and I were concerned filbert nuts weren’t anything special because we had them flowing out our ears…all the family knows what I’m talking about…it wasn’t until recent years and we no longer had the gift of those filberts that we  learned to really appreciate them….it was when I went to the store and had to buy some…WOW…I never knew the filbert or “hazelnut”, as the stores called them were such a delicacy and so expensive…

If Grandpa wasn’t working, he was in his chair reading , napping…or smoking his pipe, Sir Walter Raleigh  pipe tobacco…I love that smell, it smelled of Grandpa…eventually, Grandpa had to stop smoking that pipe for his health… it was very hard for him to do….   I think he splurged from time to time on special occasions and had just one.  Grandpa loved that pipe…he enjoyed it, and I enjoyed the comfort of that smell…funny, how smell can bring you right back to specific moments and when it’s gone…you miss it immensely.

Grandpa loved flowers, he loved camping and fishing. He and Grandma would have annual flower sniffing trips where they would search out rare species of flowers.  I had the joy of accompanying them on some of these trips…we would hike for what seemed like hours…and when they happened to find one of the flowers…the joy in their faces was amazing.  Simply put, Grandpa just loved nature , whether work or play he loved being outside.

Grandpa loved trains…and would read whatever he could about them…he loved the strength of them, the looks of them, the sound of them…he had various recordings of train engines, whistles, and sounds. He loved listening to them. We always knew a good gift for Grandpa would be anything to do with trains…

Grandpa also loved reading. He and Grandma have the hugest library of anybody I’ve ever known…, it could pass for a small public library.  Books about anything and everything.  He was so smart, the smartest man I know. but, he was also wise and had such wonderful words of wisdom to give.  I miss his voice so much already. I am afraid I will forget it...just the voice, not the words.

Grandpa always had his camera around his neck…he took pictures of everything…. he would put on “Grandpa’s famous slide shows” All of the grandkids looked forward to these shows.  There would be slides of flowers, animals, scenery, and lots and lots of family and friends…each grandkid would sit patiently just waiting for the slides that showed themselves….Grandpa and Grandma would talk about each photo, where they were and what they were doing…I never realized how much I would miss Grandpa’s slide shows… what I would give for just one more afternoon, laying on the floor, listening to his voice and watching his beautiful slides…

Above all else Grandpa loved his family…he was the rock of this family, our hero.  Words cannot express how he felt about his family and how his family felt about him.  He had this special way of making each person feel so special, so loved. He always had time for his grandkids…no matter what he was doing, he would stop and listen or give a hug or tell a story or a joke.  His laugh was beautiful. He was beautiful….I never in my 37 years heard him say a harsh word or an unkind one…unless it was about the crooked politicians and what they were doing to this great country ... then, watch out…he simply would not tolerate these “imbisals” that were ruining this great country and the state of Oregon that he loved so dearly!  Grandpa came from an era of honesty, character, and integrity…and it angered and saddened him to see these qualities become extinct in gov’t and men.   He taught his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren these qualities not just with words, but especially by how he lived…we all wanted to make Grandpa proud. 

…Thank you, Grandpa for being the constant man in my life…Thank you for always being there…I treasured every second with you… I will miss your priceless kisses and the way you held my face in your  hands and the way your scratchy whiskers felt upon my face…I will always be your Shani-Baby…and I will miss you dearly…

off and running....well...off and writing that is...

    I think I've always had the desire to write. I kept diaries for as long as I can remember. "Dear Dairy, today I went to school." or "Dear Diary, mom made tacos for dinner."  These small tidbits were the first simple entries I would write in my first diary that I recieved when I was just seven years old.   As I got older, and my interests expanded, the entries in my diary became more and more detailed.  It was between the pages of these small books that I would talk about my deepest thoughts, feeling, hopes and dreams.  Starting at the earliest age, I've always enjoyed putting my thoughts on paper. To me, it is much easier writing them down than actually speaking them.
   In college, I studied English, and my desire was to write and edit. Fortunately for me, writing came natural.  It was about the only thing in my life that did,  so I embraced it.  Thankfully, I had a great English professor that saw potential in my writing. He was a great help and encouragement to me. 
    Well, long story short. I finished college, got married, had kids and stopped writing.  I didn't just stop a little bit...I mean, I stopped completely, cold turkey, done, zilch...nada!
     I had entered mom mode, and was consumed with all things baby. The smell, the feel, the warmth and love of my children easily took the place of the cold tablet and dark ink.  I loved every minute of those years.  Of course, there was no time for writing or putting thoughts to paper; diapers had to be changed, stories had to be read, laundry had to be done, meals had to be made, and so on and so on....
     There's lots of good stuff to write about in those years...and, I'm sure I will get to it in time...
but, for now...back to today...and how I remembered this writing thing I used to do...

     A year and a half ago, my beloved Grandpa died. It was, without a doubt, one of the hardest moments of my life. My Grandpa was my hero, and I loved him with all my heart.  When he died, a piece of me died with him. 
    As preparations were being made for Grandpa's funeral, it was decided that we would ask our Pastor to speak at the graveside service.  Pastor asked if I would be willing to write down some words describing my grandpa since he had never met him. Pastor explained this would help him make the service more personal.
Sure, I told Pastor, that wouldn't be a problem.  That night I went home, and for the first time in 15 years, I started writing. It was beautiful. It was as though I was renewing a long, lost friendship.  I simply poured my heart onto paper. 
The next day, I gave Pastor what I had written.  I apologised to him because I wasn't sure if  it was any good at all. It had been a long time since I had written anything, and frankly, I was a bit scared of somebody else reading what I had wrote.  What if it didn't sound good or didn't make sense?!  I am certainly my worst critic! When we met with Pastor the day of the service, I asked him if my paper had been any help to him at all.  It was the next moment that was one of those, "light bulb" moments for me. I'll never forget his words: 

 "Shannon, I didn't know you could write like that. I couldn't put your paper down. It made me feel as if I've known your grandpa my entire life. You really have a gift."

    So, in the midst of tragedy and heartache, a passion for something I loved was rekindled...it was as if you could say, I got a tiny piece of my heart back.  I felt like Grandpa was still there, helping me just as he always had, and, I could still see him smiling.

It's taken me over a year now to get started. Life just gets so busy.  But, I've made up my mind to slow down each day and capture moments as I fly....