Warm me up! Winter soup.

One of my favorite things about winter is all the homemade soups.  There's nothing better on a bitter cold day than to walk in the front door and smell the aroma of warm simmering soup.  What a wonderful way of saying "Welcome home".  Whoever invented the crock pot deserves a bowl.

Every week I buy a bunch of fresh veggies and whatever is left over goes into the soup at the end of the week.  The kids enjoy the soup and I enjoy the thought of how many vegetables they're are consuming. I try to always make some biscuits or whole grain bread of some sort, just to sneak in the extra grains.  I'll post some of the bread recipes another day.

On the weeks that I roast a whole chicken for dinner, the family looks forward to later in the week. I simmer the chicken carcass for about 3-4 hours or until the meat falls off the bone.  You'll be surprised by how much meat you will have.  Separate the meat and toss the other stuff.

Chicken broth
1 can of diced tomatoes with garlic, basil, and oregano.
1 onion diced
1 clove of garlic or more
1 summer squash and zucchini sliced
 2 carrots chopped or more
green beans
celery
carrots
about 1/4 cup of brown rice
Cook until vegetables are tender.

This one is my personal favorite.  Use the same base as before.  Chicken broth and Diced tomatoes with garlic, basil, and oregano.  Dump the whole can in, juice and all.

sliced summer squash and zucchini
carrots
onion and garlic
kale, chopped into bite size pieces
1/4 pearled barley

I never measure I just throw stuff in and it always comes out great.  Enjoy!

Little Homemakers in Training

Ever since the girls were babies, I have always included them in the cooking and baking.  They would sit in their high chair next to me as I prepared dinners.  As they grew they would pull over a chair and help dump measured ingredients into bowls.  When I felt they were ready, I would allow then to stir the simmering soup on the stove or sauteing vegetables, of course I'm always right beside them.  As they grew in their obedience and gross motor skills, I would allow them to cut soft foods with a butter knife.  Now, Elysia at age eight and Makenna at age five, are fully capable of helping me with most of the kitchen duties.  Not only do they cook but I've trained them to help clean up.  Elysia is able to load and unload the dishwasher by herself , although this is still my job on most nights.  Elysia has meals that she has learned to prepare alone with no help.  When she is finished I will put it in the oven for her.  Often when I make the week's menu, each of the girls will choose a new meal to make with me.  Not only do each of them learn a new meal, they also get to have one on one time with Mommy.  From time to time people will ask why I do this?  I truly have a passion for cooking and baking and wanted my girls to feel the same way, and it worked!  The girls are continuously asking to make something and they truly enjoy it. (As I'm writing this Elysia is begging me to allow her to make some cookies.) Not to mention it's an important life skill that they will one day need.  It's also a great way to teach basic math skills, nutrition, how to read and follow directions, and it encourages a sense of accomplishment of their behalf. I'm so grateful the Lord has blessed me with my beautiful daughters, I'm just having so much fun!  I can see the benefit of my labor as Elysia often allows Connor to help her bake.  I see her teaching him how to dump measured ingredients into a bowl and stir, not only did I teach her cooking skills but how to prepare to be a homemaking mommy.  I can only depend on the Lord to teach me how to be a loving mother as I train my little girls to one day cherish motherhood as well.

Makenna making brownies and Elysia preparing salad.

Elysia's famous pizza!

Face painting

I had the kiddos paint while I was cooking supper this evening.  Usually I would have them help me cook but tonight I just wanted to get it done quickly and with little to no mess.  Well,  I got dinner done but had a whole different kind of mess to clean up.  I think I will stick to the normal routine for now on.