Busy Day Soup

Today was a perfect soup day!  The temperature this morning at 6:30 am was 38 degrees.  It warmed up to the 70's today and was really quite a perfect day!  Again - I pulled out an 'old' recipe for dinner tonight.  I used to fix this a lot when the girls were little.  It was easy to fix (the girls could do most of it themselves, even when they were quite young), it's inexpensive, and it's filling!  Gotta love that!

Busy Day Soup

1/2 - 1 lb. hamburger                    1 sm. onion, chopped

1 can bean w/bacon soup        1 can vegetable soup

2 cans water                            1 8 oz can tomato sauce

1/2 tsp. chili powder

Cook the hamburger and chopped onion in a medium skillet until the hamburger is well done.  Pour off the grease.  Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan and cook over medium heat until heated through.  

(Old Weight Watchers points - 3.75 points/serving - don't know what it is with points plus).

Chicken Ranch Pasta Dinner

I've been pulling out some of the 'old' recipes lately and cooking them again.  You know how after you've cooked something for a while - even though you love it - you stop cooking it and try new things.  I'm going to share a couple of our family 'classics'.  This one didn't really come on the scene until after the girls went away to school, but hubby and I have sure enjoyed it over the years!

Chicken Ranch Pasta Dinner

2 1/2 c. uncooked penne or medium tube pasta  
6-8 TBS butter

1 envelope Ranch salad dressing mix                 
2 c. frozen peas & carrots, thawed

3 c. cubed, cooked chicken or turkey

Cook pasta according to package directions.  Meanwhile, in a large skillet melt the butter.  Sprinkle the dry salad dressing mix over the butter and beat until smooth; heat through.  Slowly add peas and carrots and mix well, stirring constantly.  Cook and stir for 2-3 minutes, making sure the vegetables are heated through.  Drain pasta and add to the mixture in the skillet...toss well.  Stir in meat and heat through.  Serve hot.    

Serves 4.

Wedding Cake

I went to a wedding reception this weekend and LOVED the cake!  I need to learn how to use fondant....this is way. too. cute!  They had their reception at a Carousel Museum, and everything was themed 'carnival'.