Chicken Noodle Soup

I will be the first to tell you that I am not a great cook.  I don't even like cooking.  I joke around and say my next house will have no kitchen, just vending machines.  But living the poor life you have to cook.  I also do NOT like soup.  I never go somewhere and think, I bet they have great soup, I think I will order soup today... no.  I do warm up canned soup for my children at times, and no, I do not eat that.  I think canned soup is pretty much gross.  I will eat soup with rice in it.  But not plan soup.  And forget about adding an extra can of water.  Yuck!  With that being said I am a pinning oholic on pinterest and I found a recipe for chicken noddle soup.  With it being winter like here (temps in the 30's as the high), I decided lets try it!!  And holy moly, it knocked my socks off!!  Some of my children will eat soup, some won't.  Samantha didn't like the soup, the boys all ate it with little complaint.  The three older boys had more than one bowl!!!  Go me!!!  And I just had it as left overs (I don't "do" left overs either), and it was still great!!!  So this is a keeper for my family!! 

Here is the recipe for anyone that wants it.

Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup (in less than 30 minutes!)

Ingredients:
1/2 of medium onion, chopped
1 bag of egg noodles (you can use either medium or wide)
2 cans of cooked chunk chicken breast (I like the Tyson brand), strained
1 can of sliced carrots, strained
Water
Chicken Bouillon cubes
Parsley Flakes

Easy steps to homestyle, tasty goodness:
1) In a large soup pot, saute onion in olive oil until translucent.
2) Fill pot 2/3 full with hot water and add bouillon cubes (I usually use 3 or 4)- you could also use canned chicken broth.
3) Bring to a rolling boil and add bag of egg noodles.
4) Boil until noodles are tender (approx. 12-15 minutes), and stir occasionally.
5) Add carrots and chicken and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 10 more minutes. (I usually do a quick taste test here and add more seasoning if it needs it.)
6) Sprinkle parsley flakes on top and serve!!! (Don't skip out on the parsley flakes- it really adds to the "homestyle" look of the soup. I am discovering that you can put parsley flakes on an old tennis shoe and it will look appetizing! haha)

I did add more chicken bouillon cubes then the recipe calls for. 

And a link to the blog.

http://wellfeefamily.blogspot.com/2011/09/homestyle-chicken-noodle-soup-so-easy.html

Let me know if you try it and what you think!

Christmas Decorations

Here are some of our Christmas decorations.  I love decorating!!  I  need to still take photos of the outside since there are lights on the house. 

 

Our tree.  I need a tree topper someday, but I am VERY picky about the topper.  I have only found a couple that I like.

My skirt that I made.  I may add more ribbon but I am loving it!  It was worth the sore back,  burnt fingers, and burnt elbow.. don't ask!  LOL , lets just say that I shouldn't craft in my bed.  LOL!

My snowy village.

The stockings, I need a new holder for mine.  And two stockings need names.  Hopefully soon!

A flower I made.  I actually have two like this.  And I am making a red one.

And the chandelier.  I love this!!  Thank-you Pinterest!!

 

I also have ornaments hanging in my living room.  And other small decorations out.

Wreath Anonymous

I think I need wreath anonymous!!  These are the three wreaths that I have started... still not finished.  Maybe soon!  The balloon wreath is close though, it just needs a Happy Birthday sign.  The others are no where near done.

Summer Wreath

This is my favorite thing that I had made from pinterest so far!  I really like this wreath!  It was super easy to make, to find the umbrellas was a challenge (go to a party supply store).  You just stick the umbrellas in a foam wreath and there you have it!  Simple and so cute!!!  This looks so beach like to me, and I am a beach girl living in a land locked state.  Maybe someday I will go to the ocean/ beach again.  Here is the link if you would like to make your own.  :)

http://cfabbridesigns.com/holidays/christmas/easy-easter-wreath/

Back to School Wreath

I made this wreath a couple weeks ago, another Pinterest find.  It's out Back to School Wreath.   Let's just say it is harder then it looks.  I thought, of take crayons and hot glue them... simple!  Ha, not so simple to hot glue crayons in a circle and to keep the circle shape.  I had fun making this wreath, but my OCD makes me want to take all the crayons off and redo it.  But I won't. But I may redo it someday...

http://ballardbunch.blogspot.com/2010/11/teacher-gift.html

Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes

So I am a Pinterest junkie, and I have no problem admitting it.  Today I tried out a cupcake recipe.  They are chocolate chip cookie dough cupcakes.   All of my children loved the icing and the cookie on top.  As for the cake, they are not sure about it.  As for me, I didn't mind anything about this cupcake.  The cake is a little buttery.  But there is like 9 sticks of butter in this recipe.  Overall, I would eat these, but if my kids don't like it there isn't much point making them since I don't need to eat 24 cupcakes!  Here is a link to the recipe.. leave me a comment if you try it out!

http://www.beantownbaker.com/2011/03/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-cupcakes.html