Best Meal EVER!!!

I know that my last post was about one of our favorites recipe but tonight's dinner was incredible and I have to share! Please know that this was not my doing, I am just good at following other people's recipes :). There is a recipe blog that I follow that converts every day recipes into healthier ones. I had recently made tortilla soup and had left over celery and carrots so I thought I would give this recipe a try. The only part of the recipe that I changed was the part where you add the cheese rind. Honestly, I didn't know what that was so I left it out and it was still incredible. One thing I would add to the recipe is a great glass of red wine. 

Click here to go to the recipe blog.

Crock Pot Minestrone Soup
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 6 • Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups • Old Points: 4 • Points+: 5
Calories: 215.7 • Fat: 0.7 g • Protein: 8.7 g • Carb: 42.0 g • Fiber: 6.7 g   

• 1/2 onion, chopped
• 1 cup carrots, chopped
• 1 celery stalk, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes
• 1 (15 oz) can white beans, drained, rinsed (cannellini or navy)
• 3 cups fat free chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarians)
• 1 oz chunk of good Parmesan cheese rind (I didn't use this)
• 1 fresh rosemary sprig
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
• salt and fresh pepper
• 1 medium zucchini, chopped
• 2 cups chopped fresh or frozen (defrosted) spinach
• 2 cups cooked small pasta like ditalini or elbows (al dente)
• extra parmesan cheese to top (extra pts)

Rinse and drain beans. Puree beans with 1 cup of the broth in a blender.

In a crock pot, combine broth, tomatoes, pureed beans, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, herbs, Parmesan cheese rind, salt and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours.

Forty minutes before the soup is done cooking, add zucchini and spinach. Cover and cook 30 more minutes. Add cooked pasta, cook 10 minutes more. Remove bay leaves, rosemary sprig, parmesan rind and season to taste with salt and black pepper.Ladle soup into bowls and top with extra parmesan cheese.

!ENJOY!

A-Mazing Meal

I recently found these two recipes that instantly became a favorite in our home. Whenever I find a great recipe, I have to share it. Click on the link below and let me know how they turn out.
(If you cant see the link just click right below this sentence and hopefully you will find it. I keep trying to change the link font color to black...)

Stone Soup and Cornbread

Tis the Season Part 2

We headed back to Dallas a few days after Christmas to celebrate with Brian's family. We had a great lunch, exchanged gifts, and climbed in the car to begin our drive to Atlanta. Brian's dad's side of the family lives there and they try to make a trip up to visit as often as possible. Scott and Adrian decided to fly because Jackson, being a year and a half, would not enjoy the 13 hour drive. It was fun watching almost the entire first season of the show Community. (If you haven't watched it, I highly recommend it. The show is hilarious!) 

Brian, David, and I stayed at Aunt Linda's house. We had fun hanging out with our cousins (Daniel, Andrew, and Michael) and playing their new XBox Kinect. It was so much fun battling on the dance game and playing all of the adventure games. We spent many hours in the "man cave" as they call it. Every time Brian's family goes to Atlanta they have a big game of ultimate frisbee. The last time I went up to Atlanta with Brian's family (the month before we got engaged) we played in very cold weather. This year was much warmer and therefore more enjoyable :). The boys get pretty competitive and the girls run around the middle of the field so we dont get in the way. Here is a picture of us after our game in 2008. 

I wish I had more pictures to add to this post but our camera was dead and we didnt pack the charger. Just imagine all of us looking 3 years older. 

They also have a tradition of a white elephant gift exchange. This year I was the lucky winner of a box of live mice. Thanks boys! That is what happens when you have a lot of boy cousins. The adults weren't to happy and quickly released them into the backyard. We had a great time hanging out with everyone and look forward to making it back to Atlanta soon! 

This is the whole crew starting from the left-Jeff, Brian, Keri, Michael, me, Brian, grandad, Adrian, Jackson, Scott, Andrew, Leigh, grandmom, Linda, David, Beth, Jerry, Andrew, Ben, and Andrew.

Tis the Season Part 1

Being a teacher, I am so lucky to get a nice 2 week break for Christmas. Our last day of school was Friday, December 17th but instead of getting to spend that last day with my kids, I was home with strep. I went in to the doctor Friday morning to get tested so that I could get something to help me get better fast. They gave me a penicillin shot that was awful! Apparently, it is a very thick liquid that has to be given slowly. It was the longest minute of my life. When they were done I was so dizzy and nauseous that I thought I would faint. The only positive outcome was that I was fully recovered and well by Sunday. This was not how I intended to begin my Christmas break. 

Brian had to work through Thursday so we headed to Temple early on Christmas Eve. Instead of doing gifts this year, my family adopted a family that was in need. It was so fun shopping for the kids and they were so excited when we delivered the gifts on Christmas Eve. Later that evening we headed to our church's Christmas Eve service. Christmas morning we opened up some gifts that were in our stockings. Tanner definitely had the most toys! It was fun watching him squeal as he ripped the paper off the boxes. 

After opening gifts it was time to get ready for our big Christmas lunch. It was a big group this year. We had our family there, Poppa, Uncle Mark, the Cunninghams, the Burchels, and the Arnolds. 

What is a get together without a little game of Gestures?! 

Merry Christmas from the O'Neals, the Baileys, and the Pattillos.

Happy Birthday Tanner!

Today is Tanner's birthday but we had his party on Saturday (New Year's Day). Kali did a great job with decorations and the cake looked awesome! 

He had so much fun opening gifts and playing with his cousins and friends that came to his party. He wasn't quite sure about his cake but I think he enjoyed it. He still likes to pick up his food with his pointer finger and thumb so he didn't get too messy. I think one of his favorite gifts was the car that my parents got him. He loved riding around in it! 

Happy Birthday Tanner! 

We love you so much and can't wait to see how you grow this year. 

  

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

In September, we took family pictures for my mom's birthday. They turned out great and I am excited to have a good picture of Brian and I for our Christmas cards. Here are some of my favorites.

Usually I am not one for endorsing things on my blog but when I can get something free...count me in! :) Shutterfly is offering 50 free holiday cards to any blogger that creates a post about the deals they are offering this holiday season. Here goes nothing...

There are two reasons why I love Christmas cards so much. First, I love catching up and seeing pictures of friends and family, especially those I haven't seen in a while. Second, I love getting mail! Last year Brian and I sent a photo card and it turned out super cute. Click on this link to see our card from last year. 

Scott and Adrian (Brian's brother and wife) made a picture mug with a picture of Jackson on it. They gave it as a gift to Mimi and Pops. So cute! I don't know how many people want a picture of Brian and I on a mug. Maybe I will just make one for Brian with a picture of my face on it. He would love to take that to work! Perhaps we should save that idea for when we have kids. :) 

The holiday cards and calendars have to be some of my favorite things that Shutterfly offers. I think they have some of the cutest designs out there. We were so happy with the way our card turned out last year and look forward to creating one for this year.

Send your cards our way...our fridge is looking very bare! 

Happy Holidays!

A Weekend In The Woods

We spent this past weekend in a small town in north Texas playing horseshoes, roping a fake cow, playing with Jackson, sitting around a campfire, and doing a lot of reading. Brian's parents rented an amazing cabin in the woods. We got there late Friday night and Brian's parents already had everything set up. Scott and Adrian had high hopes of seeing Jackson eat his first s'more over his first camp fire. His reaction was not what we were expecting. Chocolate AND marshmallow, who could resist?! Maybe next year we will have better luck. 

Here are some pictures from the weekend. 

Jackson was helping Brian rope the cow.

I wasn't quite as successful as Brian...even with the cowboy boots. 

Jackson found a tractor.

Cozy around the campfire.

Jackson loves Uncle "Bri"

I am not a huge reader so when I find a good book I have to share. Brian's mom recommended this book to me and told me it was such an easy read. She was right. I read the entire book over the weekend. I highly recommend reading this book! Thanks Beth and Jerry for a fabulous weekend.