February 21, 2012

Green Chili Pork Potato Soup

There is NO better potato soup!  Period.  This is the best you will ever eat!  I got the recipe from my friend, Meredith.  She actually took a basic potato soup recipe and "dolled" it up herself.  I'd say she did a FANTASTIC job.  I did change some things up (what I put in red).  SOOOOO GOOD!

1 can of cream of chicken
4 cans of chicken broth (or 2 boxes)
3 cans of chopped green chilies (I had some roasted Hatch chilies on hand and used them too.  It just depends on what level of heat you want.)
1/2 of an onion, chopped (whole onion)
3-4 celery sticks, chopped (5-6 sticks)
1 1/2 packages of cream cheese cubed (2 packages)
6-8 baking size (med-lg) potatoes, washed and sliced (I used 8 and cubed them)
1/2 cup of half/half
4-6 pork chops
salt and pepper to taste
3-4 green onions, chopped to garnish
shredded cheddar cheese to garnish

1. Combine cream of chicken, chicken broth, onion, green chilies, celery, half and half, and salt/pepper in a large stock pan.

2. Heat on med-med high.....when bubbling add potatoes. Stir often.

3. Brown the pork chops with a bit of canola oil, salt, and pepper with a lid until cooked through. Cut them into bite size pieces.

4. When potatoes are starting to become soft add the cubed cream cheese. Cook with a lid stirring often. Add the pork chops when they are done.

5. Cook until cream cheese is melted and mixed in good.

6. Serve with cheese and green onions.


This will make enough to eat on for days!  You can eat left overs, freeze or even cut the recipe in half if you don't want so much at one time. 




Linking up with 33 Shades of Green!


February 19, 2012

Valentine's Day Party

It seems like I've posted about Valentine's Day a million times, but I promise this is the last one.  ;)

Rick gets to go to all of Spencer's parties at school which I'm so thankful for.  It's completely across town for me and so hard to get off in the middle of the afternoon.  Looks like he had a great time though!!




February 18, 2012

Meal Plan 02.19.12

Saturday - Green Chili Pork Chop Potato Soup (will be posting the recipe Tuesday)
Sunday - fish tacos
Monday - taco salad
Tuesday - stuffed jalapeƱos (yes, we eat these as a meal); we stuff them with chicken and cream cheese, wrap them with bacon and grill them
Wednesday - grilled chicken salads
Thursday - tilapia Vera Cruz
Friday - chili dogs (went out to eat last week, so we still have stuff for chili dogs)

I'm having smoothies for breakfast this week (and maybe next) using this concept:





Making this dessert Sunday to take to school on Monday...yes, it's insane and I've been dying to make it for some time.  I had an extra package of Oreos left over when I did Oreo moon phases with my 8th graders last week and what better way to use them up! 




February 17, 2012

Valentine's Day Goodies

We did lots of fun things this year.  I don't know what I would've done with my Silhouette Cameo!!  LOVE IT!

We made special cards for his grandparents and his aunt and uncle.  I meant to take a picture of them using our good camera and realized I hadn't done that when I was on the way to the post office with them.  So, blah pictures from my phone will have to suffice.  I just traced his hands and attached them with an accordion-folded piece of card stock.  I signed his name on the back and let him "sign" it as well.  They are working on writing their name at school and all he makes are P's, R's and E's.  Of course I forgot to take a pic of that too. 




Spencer's Valentines were a MUST when I first saw them (on Pinterest, of course!). Spencer picked out what bug he wanted for each of his friends.  It was precious to sit and watch him really think about it.  He had in his mind which bugs for were girls and for boys.  I guess that made it easier for him!


We had to make a Valentine's box for the first time this year.  I searched for Darth Vader box ideas and found this and went with it!  The box is two cereal boxes put together and then I spray painted them.  The cape is an old black t-shirt.


For his treats for his Valentine's party, I made chocolate rice krispie treats on a stick.  So yummy & easy.  Got the idea here via Pinterest (of course).

Spencer was "helping" me and I turned around and found this little guy in the rice krispies.  Spencer said he was really hungry.  Ha!





For his teachers, Spencer & I made sweet & salty Valentine popcorn.  Pinterest to the rescue again. :)
 I caught someone trying to steal some...oh, what a sweet boy!

I put them in Chinese take-out boxes and made the tags on...you guessed it...my Silhouette!

We had lots of fun this year making all of this and our snow day at home sure did help with getting them done!

February 14, 2012

My life is Valentine's Day...

...and I couldn't be more lucky!  

Valentine's Day is definitely a day for Spencer, but not his parents.  We are lucky in that every day is a Valentine's Day for us, so we don't do the chocolate, roses, blah, blah, blah...  I'm so glad Valentine's Day is an every day occurrence for Rick and I.  I have no idea how I got so lucky, but thank God every day that I have the best husband ANYONE could ask for.  Now for Spencer, it's a different story.  He was so excited when he woke up this morning because he knew he was having his Valentine party today and got to take his Valentines & his box to school.  So cute!

 So, to my Valentines...



 
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