Pizza Soup

Since I've mentioned this soup to a couple of people lately who thought it sounded good, I decided to share the recipe. I never used to like soup but in the last year or two, I've had a change of heart. I particularly like tomato soups now - and those used to be my least favorite.

This soup is really easy, quick, kid-friendly (at least Elaine love it) and I think it does taste like pizza. And you can really customize it to your own tastes.

Here's the recipe as it appears in my book.

2 cans (14 1/2 oz each) diced tomatoes
2 cans (10 3/4 oz each) condensed tomato soup, undiluted
2 1/2 cups water
1 pkg (3 1/2 ounces) sliced pepperoni, quartered
1 sweet red pepper, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp rubbed sage
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
10 slices French bread, toasted
1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

In a Dutch oven or soup kettle, bring the tomatoes, soup and water to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Mash with a potato masher. Add the pepperoni, red and green peppers, mushrooms, garlic, sage, basil, oregano, salt and pepper. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Ladle into ovenproof bowls. Top each with a slice of bread and sprinkle with cheese. Broil 4 in. from the heat until cheese is melted and bubbly.

My notes: I don't like mushrooms so I don't put those in and I've been known to use Italian seasoning instead of the individual herbs. I also found that two whole bell peppers was too much. I use 1/3 - 1/2 of each bell pepper. Someday I might try adding other pizza toppings, like sausage.

Hope you like it!

Problem Solver

Elaine is 29 months old now and is quite the problem solver. So I had to share this story from yesterday.

Mid-morning, she usually gets a snack and gets to watch The Backyardigans (our favorite show - but that could be another post). Yesterday I have her milk and a cookie. I made sure she was all settled on the couch, watching her show, and then I left the room for a minute. While I was in another room, I heard her walking around (which is unusual when her show is on) and then I heard the gate at the top of the stairs close. So I got up to see what was going on. Elaine was walking back down to the tv with only her sippy cup in her hand. I looked up to the top of the stairs and our labrador, Riley, was behind the gate.

Me: Elaine, did you lock Riley upstairs?
Elaine: Yes.
Me: Why did you do that?
Elaine: Because he ate my cookie.

She never once called for me - she just quietly solved the problem herself. So she got a second cookie.

Growing Fast!

Natalie had her two month appointment today (even though she's 11 weeks old - it takes forever to get an appointment with the doctor I want). She's already 24 1/4" long (4 inches in 11 weeks) which puts her at 97%! She's at 70% for weight (11 lbs 15.8 oz) and 80% for head size (just over 40 cm). I think she's going to be a tall girl!

How Time Flies!

I can't believe my last posting was in November! Since the three people who actually read my blog have all commented (more than once) that I need to update....here you go!

So what's happened since my last posting? Well, on December 3, I had a beautiful little girl. Natalie was born at 4:42pm and weighed 8 lbs, 3.1 oz. and was 20 1/4 inches long. We came home on December 5 and Elaine got to meet her sister for the first time. Elaine has really adjusted well and she says she likes being a big sister.

Daddy stayed home with us for two weeks, which was a big help. Then it was my birthday - we didn't do anything really. Too tired.

My sister got engaged shortly before Christmas which was very exciting. Love my new brother-in-law to-be!

Then it was Christmas and we just traipsed all over the front range with our two little girls - visiting family.

We were supposed to have company over New Year's but my dear friend, Becky, was too sick. Morning sickness and flu - it doesn't get any worse than that, in my opinion. So we went to bed early on New Year's Eve.

Since then, we've just been adjusting to life. I'm not working anymore and trying to take of the girls and keep my sanity (ha!)

Here are pictures of my two sweeties. I'll try to update more often.....but I make no promises.