annie blog

We Knew Her When

Well, it has come to my attention that April of Coal Creek Farm blog (previously April Showers) has been nominated for a bloggie award. She’s up for the best-kept secret blog category.

I hope that she wins.

Go April!

We Knew Her When

Well, it has come to my attention that April of Coal Creek Farm blog (previously April Showers) has been nominated for a bloggie award. She’s up for the best-kept secret blog category.

I hope that she wins.

Go April!

We Knew Her When

Well, it has come to my attention that April of Coal Creek Farm blog (previously April Showers) has been nominated for a bloggie award. She’s up for the best-kept secret blog category.

I hope that she wins.

Go April!

Worth Repeating

This is a great recipe. It is zesty/spicy. It is warming. It is easy, big time. It is inexpensive. And, why, yes, I’ve had it on my blog before, but I just wanted to mention it again. So, if you missed it last time, here it is. I originally got it from my friend, Jessie. So, Jessie, thanks again!

Spicy Tomato Soup

1 stick + 3T. butter
1/2 cup flour
1 medium onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, diced
3 cups/ 24 ounces canned chicken broth (I use this.)
1 29 ounce can diced tomatoes with juice
1 29 ounce can tomato sauce
2 dashes hot sauce
1/4 cup honey
1/2 T. dried dill weed
1/2 t. ground pepper
1 t. chili powder
1 t. dried basil

Saute in 3T butter the onion and garlic. Add remaining stick of butter and melt. Add flour and wisk until a paste is formed. Add broth 1 cup at a time and allow to thicken between each cup. Add tomatoes and sauce, pausing to let thicken with each addition. Season with remaining ingredients. Simmer over low heat for 45 minutes, stirring frequently. Optional additional step is pureeing the soup either with an immersion blender or in your regular blender. If you use a regular blender please, PLEASE be very careful and blend it in batches — never fill up the blender more than half way. Also, use a potholder and a kitchen towel to hold the top down. Pureeing makes this velvety smooth and results in a beautiful red-orange color. But none of that is worth it if you’re in the ER with burns from trying to blend it up. So, you know, be careful. 🙂

Happy Saturday!

Worth Repeating

This is a great recipe. It is zesty/spicy. It is warming. It is easy, big time. It is inexpensive. And, why, yes, I’ve had it on my blog before, but I just wanted to mention it again. So, if you missed it last time, here it is. I originally got it from my friend, Jessie. So, Jessie, thanks again!

Spicy Tomato Soup

1 stick + 3T. butter
1/2 cup flour
1 medium onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, diced
3 cups/ 24 ounces canned chicken broth (I use this.)
1 29 ounce can diced tomatoes with juice
1 29 ounce can tomato sauce
2 dashes hot sauce
1/4 cup honey
1/2 T. dried dill weed
1/2 t. ground pepper
1 t. chili powder
1 t. dried basil

Saute in 3T butter the onion and garlic. Add remaining stick of butter and melt. Add flour and wisk until a paste is formed. Add broth 1 cup at a time and allow to thicken between each cup. Add tomatoes and sauce, pausing to let thicken with each addition. Season with remaining ingredients. Simmer over low heat for 45 minutes, stirring frequently. Optional additional step is pureeing the soup either with an immersion blender or in your regular blender. If you use a regular blender please, PLEASE be very careful and blend it in batches — never fill up the blender more than half way. Also, use a potholder and a kitchen towel to hold the top down. Pureeing makes this velvety smooth and results in a beautiful red-orange color. But none of that is worth it if you’re in the ER with burns from trying to blend it up. So, you know, be careful. 🙂

Happy Saturday!

Worth Repeating

This is a great recipe. It is zesty/spicy. It is warming. It is easy, big time. It is inexpensive. And, why, yes, I’ve had it on my blog before, but I just wanted to mention it again. So, if you missed it last time, here it is. I originally got it from my friend, Jessie. So, Jessie, thanks again!

Spicy Tomato Soup

1 stick + 3T. butter
1/2 cup flour
1 medium onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, diced
3 cups/ 24 ounces canned chicken broth (I use this.)
1 29 ounce can diced tomatoes with juice
1 29 ounce can tomato sauce
2 dashes hot sauce
1/4 cup honey
1/2 T. dried dill weed
1/2 t. ground pepper
1 t. chili powder
1 t. dried basil

Saute in 3T butter the onion and garlic. Add remaining stick of butter and melt. Add flour and wisk until a paste is formed. Add broth 1 cup at a time and allow to thicken between each cup. Add tomatoes and sauce, pausing to let thicken with each addition. Season with remaining ingredients. Simmer over low heat for 45 minutes, stirring frequently. Optional additional step is pureeing the soup either with an immersion blender or in your regular blender. If you use a regular blender please, PLEASE be very careful and blend it in batches — never fill up the blender more than half way. Also, use a potholder and a kitchen towel to hold the top down. Pureeing makes this velvety smooth and results in a beautiful red-orange color. But none of that is worth it if you’re in the ER with burns from trying to blend it up. So, you know, be careful. 🙂

Happy Saturday!

You Know You’re In Trouble
when you have to pull out your Lamaze breathing just to make it through a homework help session with your fourth grader.

The boy in question postulated that I did not know the correct method for division because I had learned mine in the last century.

I don’t quite think that he believes me when I tell him that dude, long division is ever the same. EVER THE SAME.

When somebody fell through the hard-headed tree he hit every single branch, I tell you.

Okay, I’m done ranting now. And, I saw the sun (and some blue sky!) today. I sure do hope that the sun will hang around for awhile. My sunshine tank needs some filling.

Sometimes you just want to r-u-n-n-o-f-t. True?

You Know You’re In Trouble
when you have to pull out your Lamaze breathing just to make it through a homework help session with your fourth grader.

The boy in question postulated that I did not know the correct method for division because I had learned mine in the last century.

I don’t quite think that he believes me when I tell him that dude, long division is ever the same. EVER THE SAME.

When somebody fell through the hard-headed tree he hit every single branch, I tell you.

Okay, I’m done ranting now. And, I saw the sun (and some blue sky!) today. I sure do hope that the sun will hang around for awhile. My sunshine tank needs some filling.

Sometimes you just want to r-u-n-n-o-f-t. True?

You Know You’re In Trouble
when you have to pull out your Lamaze breathing just to make it through a homework help session with your fourth grader.

The boy in question postulated that I did not know the correct method for division because I had learned mine in the last century.

I don’t quite think that he believes me when I tell him that dude, long division is ever the same. EVER THE SAME.

When somebody fell through the hard-headed tree he hit every single branch, I tell you.

Okay, I’m done ranting now. And, I saw the sun (and some blue sky!) today. I sure do hope that the sun will hang around for awhile. My sunshine tank needs some filling.

Sometimes you just want to r-u-n-n-o-f-t. True?

I Love Math
but, unfortunately, some of my sons don’t like it, so much. So we do some practicing around here and, of course, I’m homeschooling my oldest son, and so I’ve been on the hunt for a good online site for math practice.

I found one. It’s called IXL. This site deals with math from kindergarten through sixth grade and divides the interactive work into math topics. It also allows you to see what a sample problem is like by just rolling over the link. I just love it when sites make their content so accessible. It also keeps a track of not only how many problems your student gets right but also tracks how long they have been working.

Check it out!