Carter People’s blog

Hmmm.  I’m on a winning streak.   Ok, I’ve won one thing.   That’s one thing more than usual.    I always check out giveawaytoday.com and I usually enter to win whatever it is they are giving that day.   I’d say I enter about 80% of the time.    If the prize is ugly, I pass.  I don’t want free ugly stuff.  I’m picky like that.   So anyway, I won something today!    I won a huge free photography session!   I cant believe it!   Especially since Addie turned one this weekend and I was just getting ready to take her somewhere and drop a hundred bucks that I don’t have just to commemorate this event on film.   Hooray for me!!!!!   I promise to post pics.  In fact, I guess I should promise to start posting anything on here.   Anything is better than nothing.   Unless it’s free ugly stuff.

Ok, I admit it.   I watch Jon and Kate plus 8.   Don’t you?    Yes, she’s alittle high strung, but come on.   Do you have 8 kids?   Last week was the soup episode and sure enough, she was kind enough to give out one of her recipes.   Here it is.    Yum yum

Grandma Vegetable Soup- Makes 10 Servings (Just Perfect For Jon & Kate Plus 8!)

Boil soup bone in water enough to cover for 1 1/2 to 2 hours - until meat comes off bone easily. Remove bone - when cool enough - remove meat and cut fine. Return meat to stock - add onion, carrots potatoes celery, greenbeans, corn (not creamed) and tomatoesand bayleaves - add more water if needed - cook on a low fire after first coming to a boil. After 1 hour stir in barley or macaroni - cook another 1/2 to 1 hour - stir often as the barley will stick to pan and burns. NOTES : Used to look forward to this on wintery nights

Ok, I admit, I stole this from another blog a long time ago.   But truth be told, she stole it from flickr.   So here you go…………….

Nordstrom Cafe Tomato Basil Soup

1/3 C. Extra Virgin Olive Oil4 large Carrots, peeled and chopped

1 large Yellow Onion, chopped

1 T. dried Basil

4 cans (400 grams each) whole Tomatoes in puree

1.5 (6 1/2 C.) liters low-sodium Chicken Broth

2 C. heavy Whipping Cream

Kosher Salt

freshly ground Black Pepper

2 T. lightly packed fresh basil leaves, cut into fine ribbons

In a 7.5 liter stockpot (a really big one!) over medium heat, warm the oil and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Add the carrots, onion and dried basil and saute, stirring occasionally, until softened, 10-12 minutes.

Add the tomatoes, including the puree, and the broth and bring just to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 2 minutes to blend the flavors. Remove from heat.

Using a stick-immersion blender, puree the soup in the pot. (If you don’t have one of those, get one! or, working in batches, puree the soup in a blender or food processor fitted with the metal blade.)

Return the pureed soup to the saucepan, add the cream, and place over medium heat. Warm until heated through. Season to taste with Salt and Pepper. Ladle the soup into a warmed soup tureen or individual bowls, garnish with the basil, serve immediately.

Be warned, this recipe is a double-batch. It EASILY serves 12-15 people. Halve this for a normal sized starter to feed 6. I made the mistake of just starting to cook…and then I realized I’d have to get out a second stockpot. And yes, use DRIED basil. If you use fresh basil to start, it’ll just lose it’s entire flavor. This is one of the few times (oregano is another) where I have no problem using the dried stuff.

Daddy showed Addison off at work today.   Here she is all decked out for Halloween.  Maybe when she turns 25 I’ll introduce her to Hans Solo!

Mommy takes so many pictures!   All day long!  Everywhere we go!   I think Addie is over it.  What do you think?

So, I’m starting a blog.  No earthshattering reason why.  Mostly for friends and family to keep up with the Carter goings on.   Hopefully I’ll pick up a few new friends here and there.    Since, at this point,  anyone reading this blog already knows me, I’m not going to give statistics about myself or any other boring info.  I’ll just jump right in with today’s news.   Yeah, not much.    Went to bible study this morning, ran some errands, came home to watch somthing off the DVR that Kris hates - such as John and Kate or Tori and Dean, etc….  Then, WHAM!   A call out of left field from the hubby stating that he would be home in 24 mintues.  Yes, he said 24 mintues.  have you met Kris?    So I flew off the couch and proceeded to do 24 hours worth of much needed cleaning into, you guessed it, 24 minutes.     Now I sit here cursing why I’m using this website for my blog instead of Blogger or something like it that could make my stuff look all cute and artsy.    Well, hopefully I’ll actually learn a thing or 2 and it will get cuter over time.    TTFN!