For Monica

I'm glad you liked the soup. Here is the recipe. I made quite a few modifications from the original recipe... so hopefully it all makes sence.

Creamy Potato Cheese Soup

12 medium potatoes
1 small or medium onion, chopped
2-4 stalks celery chopped
1/4 Cup butter or margarine
2 cups cream
3 cups milk (more if you want thinner soup)
1 tablespoon salt
2+ cups grated cheddar cheese
1 pound bacon, fried crisp, drained and crumbled
Salt and pepper to taste

Peel & Quarter potatoes. Boil until tender. Drain.
Meanwhile, sautee celery and onion in butter until tender.
Cook bacon.
Remove about 2 cups of the potatoes, set aside. Whip remaining potatoes with cream.
Add milk, salt, onion & celery and reserved potatoes.
Return pot to stove and simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Watch carefully to avoid scorching.
Mix in cheese (I always use more than 2 cups) and bacon (I usually mix in a little bacon grease too - healthy, I know!).

If you don't care about the CHUNKS of potato, you don't have to separate out 2 cups. Jeremy just loves the chunks, so I take the extra step.

Happy Birthday Aiden!

Aiden turned 2 yesterday. I can't believe how fast it has gone by. He is an amazing kid. He is totally trying me with his 2 year old fiesty-ness and when he trys to be so independent. But I laugh SOOOO much more than I get frustrated. Its a great balance. Jeremy, Aiden and I are so blessed to have each other. I love the thought of having our little family grow over the next few years as we gather these little spirits together in our home.

Here are some of my favorite pics of the last 2 years.

At birth... Precious 6 months... cutie
One year... sweet
18 months... energetic
Last week... FIESTY

Peanuts Sittin' Pretty

My mom is here visiting for a few days and this is what we did this morning. These are one of my holiday favorites. I grew up always knowing what they were, but apparently I am one of the few. None of my friends seem to have ever heard of them! But they are wonderful so I am sharing the recipe with you all.

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 egg (separated - whites reserved)

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 cup flour

1/4 tsp salt

Finely chopped nuts (either walnuts or pecans)

1 can vanilla frosting (I like the cream cheese vanilla frosting)

M&M Peanuts

Cream butter & sugar.

Blend in egg yolk & vanilla

Mix flour & salt then blend all ingredients.

Chill dough for 1 hour

Roll into 1 inch balls

Dip balls in egg white (slightly beaten)

Roll in nuts

Bake @ 350 for 5 minutes

Take out & press thumb print in center

Cook 5 minutes more

When cool, add a dab of frosting & a Peanut M&M

Note: The recipe is VERY small. I tripled it today and still wish I'd done more!