Cream of wild rice soup

My version of a traditional Minnesota soup.

I don't have a recipe for this I just put it together with some basic ingredients and it more or less turns out the same every time. So, any measurements I give here will be a guess as to how much I put in. Have fun.

Cook 1 cup Wild rice with 4 cups water.
Fry around 6 strips of bacon, set aside.
In some of the bacon grease, saute an onion and 4 stalks of celery, minced.
In a small sauce pan make a white sauce with 3T butter, 2T flour, 1/2 c milk, salt and pepper and a few diced mushrooms. Or use a can of cream of mushroom soup.
Combine the cooked rice, onion and celery, 8 oz of sliced mushrooms, white sauce, and a quart of chicken broth, 3T sage, 3T soy sauce, and cooked julienned carrots.
Let simmer.
Just before serving add about a cup of heavy cream, the bacon (minced), and slivered almonds if you like.

I think that is all. Modify it as much as you please.

Mmm, refreshing

I have started making a lemonade slushy for when we are working outside on a hot day. Maybe you would like to try making it. :)

 lemon ice

4 Tablespoons lemon juice

4 Tablespoons sugar

1/2 cup water

14 ice cubes

blend together in a blender until smooth. enjoy.

Day 13

• I made Apple cake in an iron skillet Today. So very yummy. But, if you make it do follow Keren's advice and use only 1 stick of butter in the first part of the recipe. I did, and I was not sorry.
• It was a rainy day. Made us really need our naps this afternoon. It was very nice to have rain though. We've been having gray days a lot lately and it is much nicer to have rain with the clouds. In my opinion.
• The kids went out and played in the rain off and on today. They were collecting rain water in buckets and cups.
  
• We did our school work in very good time.
• My arm and finger are still sore from using the spray paint for Lars' bike. I find it kind of funny while it is annoying.

I better get these kids to bed.

Toasted pumpkin seeds

For each 1/2 cup seeds boil in 2 cups water. For each cup of water add a Tablespoon of salt.
Simmer for around 10 minutes. Drain. Spread seeds on baking pan with a couple Tablespoons olive oil. Bake in hot oven until lightly browned.
Eat whole. They remind me of popcorn in flavor.

A fun read

I just got this book from the library and I have been enjoying it a lot. It not only has some good recipes it tells all about the making of chocolate. It also has lots of really cool pictures of cocoa trees and even inside of their factory where they make their chocolate.

Thoughts in response to Friend's posts awhile back

Here is a recipe for a very good vegetarian soup;

Pad Thai Soup
Saute: 4 Tbsp. sesame oil 1 bulb minced garlic
2 bunches chopped green onions
1 block cubed tofu
Add: 6 Tbsp. chunky peanut butter
When peanut butter is melted add: 1 1/2 cups soy sauce
3/4 cup maple syrup 1/3 cup cider vinegar
2 tsp. cayenne pepper 2 Tbsp. lime juice
4 stalks celery finely chopped Water(enough to make a somewhat thin broth)
Shortly before serving (so as to be just tender) add:
8 oz. rice threads 1 lb. bean sprouts
10 oz Spanish peanuts
Serve.

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Some of our favorite snacks;
yogurt, nuts and fresh fruit
we also enjoy things that are not so healthy from time to time like;
cookies, cheesy crackers, and cake or ice cream
Popcorn is my all time favorite though. we sometime try different things on it other than butter and salt. Like; powdered cheese (from a mac and cheese box), brewers yeast, kettle corn (white sugar), and once ranch mix. all were good. I always pop it on the stove with just a little oil.

Dark chocolate yummyness!

Here is a recipe for a very good dessert I made awhile back.
Ghirardelli Individual Chocolate Lava Cakes
Center: 1/2 bar (2oz) 60% Cacao bittersweet chocolate baking bar
1/4 cup heavy cream
Cake: 1 bar (4 oz) Cacao bittersweet chocolate baking bar
8 Tbsp. unsalted butter
2 whole eggs 2 egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup flour
To make centers, melt chocolate and cream. whisk gently to blend. refrigerate about 2 hours or until firm. form into 6 balls; refrigerate until needed.
To make cake, heat oven to 400. grease 6 4 oz. ramekins or custard cups. melt chocolate and butter, whisk gently to blend. with a mixer beat eggs, yolks,sugar and vanilla on high speed about 5 min. or until thick and light. Fold melted chocolate mixture and flour into egg mixture just until combined. Spoon cake batter into ramekins. place a chocolate ball in the center of each. Bake about 15 min or until cake is firm to the touch. let sit out of the oven about 5 min. Run a small knife around each and invert on to a plate.
serve with raspberries and whipped cream or do like I did and top with 7 min frosting.
for people who do not like dark chocolate, You will not like this! (Abbi, if you want to try this you should make it with milk chocolate;D)

My fun fast gift

Derek decided he needed to give his sarg. a gift so I quick put this together. I was so excited about it that I came right over here to share it with you! I made some powdered hot chocolate mix: 3/4 c. sugar (divided) 1 vanilla bean 1 c cocoa powder 1 T ground cinnamon 1/3 c dry milk powder Put 2 T of sugar and vanilla bean in a blender and blend until a fine powder. Combine remaining sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon and dry milk in a bag, add vanilla sugar and mix well. transfer powder mixture to an airtight container. To serve mix 1/4 c powder with 8 oz. hot water.
I put the hot chocolate powder in a 1/2 pint jam jar and tied a red ribbon with instructions for making drink and a cinnamon stick to the top. Than I made some chocolate syrup: 1/2 c heavy cream 1 c chocolate chips 1 c light corn syrup 1 T vanilla In a sauce pan over medium heat bring cream to a boil. Add chocolate and blend until smooth. Add corn syrup and vanilla. Remove from heat. let cool than pour into jar with tight fitting lid. store in the refrigerator. to serve combine 3 T syrup with 8 oz hot milk.

Derek had found the Jack Daniels flavored coffee at the dollar spot in Target last week. I had a basket on hand that I stuck holiday tissue into. I had made some candy the other day that I wrapped up in some green serene wrap and tied with a red ribbon. I used one of the mugs we had on hand and added tissue and the coffee to it. I also wrapped up some mini marshmallows and some doughnuts I made this morning. Then added the candy cane for decor.