knitting for kids

knitting is so fun and soothing during the winter when you are cooped up inside, and recently my 5 and 6 year olds have asked me to teach them to knit. and while i think it may be too frustrating to teach them knitting with actual knitting needles, i found this alternative...finger knitting! and this super great tutorial on youtube. my kids are working on bracelets and scarves right now:) i'll post some pics when they have finished their creations! hope you are having a happy winter day!

lasagna soup...

tonight i am making this for some friends who recently were in the hospital. it is soooooo yummy. one of my favorite recipes...i found this lasagna soup recipe @ a farmgirls dabbles + my modifications. here it is:

Lasagna Soup
(print recipe)

for the soup:

2 tsp. olive oil

1-1/2 lbs. Italian sausage

3 c. chopped onions

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 tsp. dried oregano

1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes----(i omitted this)
2 T. tomato paste----(you can use tomato sauce as well, just use a little more)
1 28-oz. can fire roasted diced tomatoes----(i used regular diced tomatoes)

2 bay leaves

6 c. chicken stock ----(i used 8 cups)
8 oz. mafalda or fusilli pasta----(can use broken up lasagna noodles)

1/2 c. finely chopped fresh basil leaves

salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

for the cheesy yum:
8 oz. ricotta
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 tsp. salt
pinch of freshly ground pepper

2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese

Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add sausage, breaking up into bite sized pieces, and brown for about 5 minutes. Add onions and cook until softened, about 6 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 1 minute. Add tomato paste and stir well to incorporate. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the tomato paste turns a rusty brown color.

Add diced tomatoes, bay leaves, and chicken stock. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes. Add uncooked pasta and cook until al dente. Do not over cook or let soup simmer for a long period of time at this point, as the pasta will get mushy. Stir in basil and season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

While the pasta is cooking, prepare the cheesy yum. In a small bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmesan, salt, and pepper.

To serve, place a dollop of the cheesy yum in each soup bowl, sprinkle some of the mozzarella on top and ladle the hot soup over the cheese.

Servings:  8

And...if you have the desire to make some yummy artisan bread to go with it, I HIGHLY recommend this book...

artisan bread in five minutes a day. i made the herb variation of the boule recipe to go with this soup and it was fantastic! so so good!!

best coffee cake. ever.

found this recipe on the pioneer woman. it is absolutely heavenly!  what was intended for breakfasts, my family gobbled up in one day for breakfast, lunch and dinner! ps this makes A LOT!

The Best Coffee Cake. Ever.

Ingredients

FOR THE CAKE:

• 1-½ stick Butter, Softened
• 2 cups Scant Sugar
• 3 cups Flour, Sifted
• 4 teaspoons Baking Powder
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1-¼ cup Whole Milk
• 3 whole Egg Whites, Beaten Until Stiff

FOR THE TOPPING:

• 1-½ stick Butter, Softened
• ¾ cups Flour
• 1-½ cup Brown Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Cinnamon
• 1-½ cup Pecans, Chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Beat egg whites and set aside.

Cream butter and sugar. Add flour mixture and milk alternately until combined. Don’t overbeat. Fold in beaten egg whites with a rubber spatula. Spread in a well-greased 9 x 13 (or LARGER!) baking pan. A cake pan with higher sides would be best.

In a separate bowl, combine topping ingredients with a pastry cutter until crumbly. Sprinkle all over the top.

Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until no longer jiggly. Serve warm—delicious!

new red coat...

so for christmas i asked for a red coat. and coats are hard to find for me. i am petite and have narrow shoulders and freakishly short arms... so to find a coat that fits me well and doesn't look bulky is a challenge. but then, one night while i was watching one of my favorite shows, 'parks and recreation' on nbc, leslie knope was wearing one of the most fabulous red coats i have ever seen!

you can watch the full episode here
Smallest Park

anywho...so i immediately googled 'leslie knope red coat' and discovered this red coat was within my reach... and it came in petite... and was on sale!! thank you j.crew. you are my friend:)

it's called the double-cloth metro coat in vibrant flame. i noticed leslie also rocks the hthr majestic purple in the episode 

 The Comeback Kid

 love it!!

the sweet life...

my sweet little baby hayley is six weeks old today... i can't hardly believe it

my kids are truly what make it the sweet life... even if they can be little crazies sometimes;)\

that is what chocolate is for right?!

here is hannah's little puppy. she got him all set up for din din. 

just thought i'd share that, it is just so sweet! btw, these pics were all taken with my iphone using instagram! it is the funnest little app! you should try it:)

after holiday cleanup

the tree is down, the decorations put away...now what?! clean up... argg.

can't say I love the idea, but also can't say I hate it. it is necessary, and will try and get through as much as possible during nap time. even my baby is snoozing. it's like my house is saying,
"there's no excuse now... no, no playing scrabble on your iPhone...CLEAN ME!"

heavy, resigned sigh, "ok" i say.

here goes folks, i'm diving in!!

happy tree

christmas was wonderful! here was my december...

listening to christmas music on the radio
decorating the tree and house
yummy aromas from baking cookies and handing out goodies to friends
christmas shopping with my hubby
no school:)
the christmas devotional
gingerbread houses
parties and silly white elephant gifts
taking a trolley to see the holiday lights
wrapping presents for under the tree
leaving the chores undone
eating fudge...lots of fudge:)
watching netflix
playing wii with my 6yr old
reading the story of our savior's birth from the bible
martinellis
celebrating the new year with loved ones
snuggling my sweet little baby
not worrying about a thing
absolutely no traveling:)

hope your holiday season was wonderful too!