Lemon Orzo Soup Recipe

LEMON ORZO SOUP RECIPE LINKIs the cold kicking your booty?  Do you have a sore throat?  Runny nose?  Moi too.

I don’t know why I’ve been saying “moi” instead of me lately, but just go with it.   This phase will pass.  It’s probably because I’ve been trapped inside the past few days.

She’s loosing it, folks!

Anyway, I made this soup last spring and it was delish!  It’s a light but filling soup and I’m ready to make it again so I thought I’d share with you fine people.  You’ll especially love it if you’re a fan of broth-y soups like moi.

Lemon Orzo soup from Allrecipes.com

Bon Appetite, sweet people!

Here Comes the Snow

Snowy DayChristmas is over.  The New Year is here.  You know what that means.

WINTER!

It snowed today.  Not a ton, but a nice covering.  A good reason to bust out my favorite snow boots and justify another cup of coffee.  It’s cold.  Also a good reason to make one of my favorite soups—Rachel Ray’s Asian Noodle soup.  To go with it, I made a thick version of Thai peanut sauce, spread it on a wrap and toasted.  Yum.  Grilled thai peanut toasty.  #comfortfood

I’ve hunkered down and worked up two fun jewelry making tutorials that I’ve been thinking about for a long time.  Things have been so busy here the past two months (like everyone else’s past two months).  Lots of work on special projects-someday I’ll tell you.  Sorry to be secretive.  It’s super hard!!

This week I ship out for CHA (Craft and Hobby Show) in California.  If you’re going I’ll be in the Jesse James Beads booth.  They are a really fun company that I love working with.  There is a lot to do before then and I want to get these tutorials posted so I’m going to sign off here and get busy posting a sparkly bracelet tutorial.  You’re gonna love it.  I know it!

Big hugs to you,

Candie

Soup Recipe Ideas for a Cold Day

Candie Cooper Snow PictureYesterday, we got hammered with snow.  This is our backyard.  It would have been a perfect blanket of snow until my husband “thought” he lost his keys out there.  Just minutes earlier, life was good and he was out feeding the birds.  So like a good wifey, I started skimming his path with a snow shovel to see if we could find them.  Panning for keys on the snowiest day in years was a joy.  Ten minutes into this hour long process, I suggested he peel off his coveralls to see if maybe they got stuck somewhere.  “No, no!  They’re a huge wad of keys!  I would feel them!!”  What do I know?  It was so bad he rifled through the bird seed bag looking for them, then told me to look in there.  Meanwhile, the birds were busy loading up on bird seed, flitting around to stay warm.  An hour later, we were frozen and I waved the white flag.  See ya in the spring, keys!  I’m out.  I came in to a project I’d been looking forward to for weeks:  making ham and beans.  Random, I know.  The next thing I hear from the porch goes something like this: “Uh oh!”  I already know.  You already know.  We don’t even need to ask.  “What?” comes out of my mouth.  “Nothinggg.”  Clomp clomp clomp I go out to the porch, keys on the ground.  “Mmmhmmm….would feel them right?”  This is married life at it’s finest.  Clomp, clomp, clomp back to the ham and beans.
Candie Cooper Soup RecipesThe beans were already soaked overnight and my father-in-law saved the ham bone for me from Christmas (from Honey Baked Ham).  This dish is an Indiana fave!  It went together really easy and since it was snowing, I decided to be like the birds, stocking up with a pot of cream of mushroom soup (nothing makes me happier than dueling soup pots. I love soup.)  I sampled it–deeelish!  If you’re making it for company, I would double it because it made 4 cups exactly.  It’s now in our freezer.  I bought a ton of deli freezer containers on Amazon to freeze soups specifically. They’re perfect.  Especially if you’re husband doesn’t love curried cauliflower soup or Moroccan carrot Soup and you do.

Here are the two links to the soups as well as my SOUP board on Pinterest plus the delic containers:

Candie cooper ice rainbows 2This morning we are snowed in.  Literally.  No traveling.  We’re enjoying the view out our back window.  I’ve got craft projects up to my ears,  I’m guest posting on the Jesse James Beads Facebook page, and I leave for California to work with Plaid at the Craft and Hobby Show on Friday at 7AM.  It’s going to be a fast week!

Stay Warm.  Stay Well.  And for God’s sake, don’t loose your keys in the snow!

Candie

Fresh.

Salad 2
My hunkie boyfriend has been sicker than a dog the past few days.  I feel so bad for him, going through a box of Kleenex a day.  Sinus misery.  I made a pot of chicken noodle soup, picked up orange juice and splurged on Puffs Plus for him.  For me, I made a lush salad to ward off those pesky germs.  So far so good.  I heard May was supposed to be bad for flu and colds since we've had such a strange spring.  I hope everyone else stays healthy!  Drink your OJ, kids.  

There are a lot of projects going on in my studio the next couple months.  It's overwhelming and exciting at the same time.  I've turned my garage into the Hands On crafting headquarters.  Gearing up for the next taping of Beads, Baubles and Jewels too.  I'm working with Tierra Cast again for my segments.  I love them.  It's such a blessing to be able to do what you love and I can't thank you enough for the support and positive feedback.  XOXO.

Hearts

Potato chip

Don't you love finding a heart in the center of a potato chip?  It's the little things.  This one came in our lunch from Cafe du Cirque in Peru.  If you haven't eaten there, go, you'll love it!

Easter Brunch

I made two things for Easter Brunch.

French toast
Blueberry baked french toast that tasted wonderful thanks to the recipe from Allrecipes.com!  This is the back-up batch–the first one had wayyyy more blueberries.

Pnut butter eggs
Second, your fav and mine, peanut butter eggs!  This recipe yeilds 66 (and I didn't catch that when I started making them).  Aaron and I rolled and patted out at least 50 and then I started dipping them in chocolate.  By egg number 14, I was…….  Let's just say I can cross chocolate dipper off my list of possible careers.  Betty Crocker made the little chicks for the top. My Aunt Jane piped icing ring nests (and dipped some extra eggs–lifesaver) while I plopped the birds in.  Aunt Jane also says I should've borrowed her special dipping tools.  Noted.

It was a happy day filled with church and family time.  I'm thankful for the beautiful day.

See the rest of the Easter photos here.

Mushroom Hunting

Photo

We are waiting.

Patiently.