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SOUP FOR THE SICK...or FOR THE CHILLY PEEPS!!!

So, I got somewhat motivated last night when I realized I would need something to eat today for breakfast and lunch. I did not feel like my usual chicken and veggies because my stomach is so screwed up from cold meds the LAST thing we need to do is add vegetables to the mix! I decided to go on line recipe-searching for Lemon Rice Soup and couldn't find anything that looked good. So, I made up my own. Ha!

I have had enough of Lemon Rice Soup in my life to know how to make it. I surveyed my kitchen and decided I had the ingredients: water, Minute Rice, lemon juice, chicken bouillon, parsley flakes, and pepper. And, although I never have it in my soup when I buy it from anywhere, some recipes included chicken, and since I could probably use some protein, I did add a chicken breast.

I did not measure the water I put in the pot but

you can see it's a medium size pot filled with water, added maybe two tablespoons of chicken bouillon after boiling. My chicken is cooking alongside it.

Here's me behaving exactly like a person with a cold and hacking cough, all three burners being used: soup, chicken, and rice. As I said, I used Minute Rice so it took all of five minutes.

I threw the rice in with the water to absorb the flavoring.

My scientific self just used all the lemon juice I had which amounted to 3 ounces which is halfway between 1/3 cup and 1/2 cup. I would have preferred to use real lemons but I hadn't really planned this soup. Maybe next time!

Yes, I use the most expensive spices (LOL) I added some pepper and parsley along with the lemon juice. I have never seen any justification using more expensive spices. Fresh parsley? I have used it, but again this wasn't planned and this worked out just fine. (Another "maybe next time"!)

Here we have it all in the pot, ready to blend and get to know each other...

Can't forget the chicken!!!

And, lunch is done!

I couldn't post this until I TASTED it. It was pretty good for Lemon Rice Soup on the fly. Lemon juice MAYBE could have been reduced to 1/3 cup but it was really good and really hit the spot.

If you try it, let me know what you think...

Soup for the Sick

SOUP FOR THE SICK

I am at home today sick. BLAH! I know there have been A LOT of people out sick recently, so I am going to share my recent experiment with Steak and Potato Soup. I took pictures of it, but it was during the few hours before the Super Bowl and I was running around like crazy destroying my kitchen before leaving the house. FUN!

I will list the ingredients first and then go through a few pics and tell you what the heck to do with them.

You will need: green onions, bacon bits, shredded cheese and sour cream to garnish. If you don't care about the garnish (for example, you have a cold and you're near death!) don't worry about these items. Replace them with crackers instead.

For the soup, you will need a steak of your choosing, 5-6 large potatoes (diced), 1 lb. Velveeta cheese, salt, pepper, garlic, and 1-12 oz. can of evaporated milk.

Directions:

Peel the potatoes and dice, if not done already. Put in a pot and cover with water. Boil for about 25 minutes.

While the potatoes are boiling, you can broil the steak (here I have mine cooking in the same pan as some chicken breasts I'll be eating for lunch during the week).

While that is going, you can dice up that cheese, (asking you to "cut the cheese" would just be so wrong. You're in the KITCHEN!)

When the potatoes are done cooking, drain them into a colander. Put back in pot and add milk, salt, cheese, pepper, and garic to taste. Cook on low,  frequently stirring until cheese melts.

Make sure soup does not boil. Dice up steak (or cut into whatever size you feel comfortable with) and add to pot.

And there you have it, to garnish or not to garnish. I hope you're feeling better too!

VALENTINE'S DAY

Yes, it's getting HOT in here...

So, I like to play with food. Did I mention that somewhere already?

Oh well, we all have our weaknesses. Another one of mine is "going to class". If I have any inkling at all that I can get out of it, I don't go. This is a rationalization feature that has been part of my brain since at least high school. I think when I showed up at my high school graduation some people looked at me and wondered WHY I was there or WHO I was. LOL

So, now my excuse today to miss class, unless I'm a good girl, is "I have to work on my blog!!!" I have been one busy girl! I am posting pics now of my Valentine creations (LOL) and later will have more of One Bowl Brownies and Banana Muffins, along with recipes.

For now, enjoy these pics:

Started out with some little guys and they were SAD! They needed FRIENDS!

Oooohhhhhh, and look! They found some!

Close up shot :-)

View from the rear...

And, the side!

Aerial shot

Then we had to add a female just to make it more Valentine-ish!

I might just have to go to class tonight. It appears I've already been a little too naughty.

Thank Goodness Christmas is nowhere in sight!

Which brings me to also add- I was a bit upset while doing these because I was lamenting the thought that the next holiday up was Easter and, really, they may have paired toys and Santa with the birth of Christ and Easter eggs with a cross, but I didn't see HOW I would get away with doing any cakes like these for Easter. I was saddened until I remembered that the next holiday is

ST PATRICK'S DAY!!!

I am sure I can created some little drunken peckers for that!

LOL

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

Shifting Gears a Bit

I AM a Libra, which means I balance things. And I DO balance things, I love Accounting so I'm used to all the debits and credits, etc. Which made me realize this morning upon reflecting on the blog-business lately that I have to take a day to "be light".

I have named this blog "Spacie Stacie" and people might read this and go "DAMN, how is she spacy?" TRUST ME...LOL I am...Recently I was out to breakfast with my hubby and Sarah Palin was on TV. He told me about a quote from her he read in Maxim magazine where she said she grew up her whole life hunting, etc. and if anyone didn't like killing/eating animals that they had plenty of room up there in Alaska for all the world's animals "right next to the mashed potatoes". ??? I spent the next five minutes asking my bewildered husband WHERE the mashed potatoes were. I thought maybe she was making a reference to Canada...

I have earned my nickname and there's not a lot I can do about it.

Another thing came to mind about COMPLACENCY. I realize not everyone has a lot of energy and might be able to relax just fine. I am NOT one of those people. Then again I am probably a little more caffeinated than most. I start my day with a Crystal Light energy drink followed by Monster low carb then a Peach Mango Green Tea Crystal Light (for metabolism, it says) and then a Propel. So, I (probably) have issues sitting still.

I have a few pics of how I'll be spending my time after graduation. I said this would be my un-serious post so here it is. Ha Ha...In my defense, and to give credit where credit is due, this idea was NOT mine. I got it from the Bachelorette Superstore's website.

Take a look and have fun...

Yes, they are what they appear to be!

These are just flesh colored ones I did a different day...

They got their close up...look at those googly eyes...LOL

Well, I'm off for a night of Biggest Loser and American Idol.

I have no idea who is really reading this. If you want to contact me and you don't have the proper account to comment, write to me at stacieschultz@aol.com

Have a great night!

The Status Quo

COMPLACENCY

Yes, I had to look up the spelling. LOL I don't normally write or type this word but it was HEAVY on my mind earlier as I was making dinner, making lunches, and washing the kitchen floor.

It is VERY EASY to say I am "doing all I can" or "doing enough". If I sat down right this moment and did not do one more thing, I don't think anyone would point a finger at me and say, "She could be doing more." Not at all. BUT, what more am I capable of? I mean, I'm working full time, making great money, going to school and getting my degree in May, cooking dinner every night, the kids are out of the house, I plan outings for us, I agree to go to Hooters every Friday night (LOL), and consider myself to be an excellent wife.

This is where my upbringing is a BIG problem. I care about not failing. No one else seems to care!

I am a stubborn person. I do not believe in complacency.

From Merriam-Webster: "Complacency" means:

self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies

I am one aware chick

My mother told me that when I had my first child (Jackie) that I should not work until she was potty-trained. I then had another child when Jackie was 2-1/2 (Christie) and another child when Christie was 2 (Brad). Had I followed my mother's advice I would not have worked for ten years! I know this because I bought diapers for ten years straight.  

School?

Why am I going to school?

To better myself???? Make sure I'm qualified for any jobs I apply for that ask for a Bachelor's Degree even though I have plenty of experience...to CMA...

In the end I think I have to answer my dad's question yelled at me many times when I was younger:

"Are you stupid or something???"

Let's just say the answer is:

"NO"

But thanks for asking...

Next? One SMART Cookie...