Mrs. Good's Miracle Elixir! Good For What AilsYou! All For Just Pennies!

Blah! We have all been sick with colds for the past few days. The worst part is that the weather decides to be gorgeous as soon as we are all sick and don't feel like doing anything! I wanted to post something fun and exciting but unfortunately we didn't do anything except buy groceries.
No matter though because I can still post about my soup! I couldn't get enough of this stuff....it's magic elixir. I may try to market this stuff...its that good...and I am totally convinced of the healing properties!


I know it's just chicken noodle soup...even if its homemade you can't expect to reinvent the wheel right? Well I didn't but I tweaked it to make it a better, more streamlined, sexier wheel!

Here's what I did...sorry no real recipe...it's chicken soup. I put a chicken carcass with a good amount of meat on it that I had in the freezer for just this occasion. I added an onion that I just cut into chunks and threw in the pot. I put in like 9 peppercorns...that's a lot but I accidentally added too many...oops! I also added some sprigs of rosemary, a bay leaf and some red pepper flakes. I covered the mess with water and put the pot on low heat for like 5 hours. Actually I forgot about the whole thing until an hour before my husband got home...so I had to hurry the last little bit!

I strained the broth from the chunks of chicken and veggies...then added the broth back to the pot. I set the chicken aside to cool a little so I could remove the meat. Meanwhile I added carrots and onions (sorry I was out of celery.) I removed the meat and threw it in the pot.

This is where it gets interesting. I got a wild hair up my ass and threw in some lemon zest and juice from a lemon. I was worried about the taste being weird but I thought the citrus would cure my ailing body. Then I added thyme, chopped rosemary and a little bit of cayenne pepper (that will clear the sinuses!) I took 5 garlic clove and thinly sliced them and put them in the soup. Then I added linguine noodles...which are now my favorite "go to" pasta shape because I can use them in almost every dish I make...but that's another blog. Lastly, of course, salt and pepper.

The end result was amazing! It tastes like my roasted chicken...but its all just soupy goodness. The lemon I was worried about actually was the best part. I just added a small amount of zest since it's powerful stuff, I wouldn't add a lot. I really did feel like a miracle cure!

In all it was a boring weekend but if it ends with an amazing soup how bad could it be?

Fry Momma

Last night I fried mac & cheese. I am a big believer in NOT owning a deep fat fryer...so you don't do stuff like this everyday! I get a nice heavy pot and a thermometer and do it the old fashioned way. This is such a pain in the ass that I rarely fry things...which is why I am not 200lbs!

It was quite delicious.

Wrapped in bacon for extra goodness!


I rolled in in store bought crumbs...because honestly I don't have time to make my own crumbs. Nor the appliances with which to do it in a time efficient manner. Also, who cares? It's fried mac & cheese...bread crumbs won't make the difference.


We ended up not using silverware because the bacon is hard to cut with a fork. I also don't see this as a dish that should require two pieces of silverware! I have enough dishes to do thank you very much.

Also it reminds me of work. I miss cooking in a restaurant sometimes and stuff like this takes me back to "making my lunch" at work. Just grab leftovers and fry 'em!

Rainy Day

I am reading "Last Child in the Woods" by Richard Louv, and even though I'm not finished with it yet it has still made my list of favorite books. In the book he talks about getting our kids back to nature. He recommends finding ways to give kids "unstructured" time in nature. By letting kids play on their own outside...with no toys, parents, or rules (besides obvious safety rules) kids are able to really discover nature on their own. It goes beyond the facts of books. Kids need to ask and find out what water feels like, what grass smells like, and what dirt tastes like.


Lucky for me my kids LOVE to play outside in the rain. For whatever reason they can spend hours outside as long as it's raining. (and not freezing!) Maybe it's because we have spent the last 3 years in the desert....this is their first experience with actual weather.

They get really excited to go out. They start hounding me about getting raincoats on...then they go out to the back yard. They make mud in the garden...collect water from the gutters into buckets...stick out their tongues and taste the rain drops. They actually play better and longer if I am inside and not be a "helecopter parent." Part of me wants to tell them to "Stop playing with the gate"...."Don't eat dirt"...."That water is yucky, don't drink it"...."Get off of the chair before you hurt yourself." But I stay inside and keep my mouth shut. They need to learn and experience. There is nothing for them to be seriously hurt by in the backyard....and even in the small space they are still building an intimate relationship with nature.
The best part is coming back in the house drying off and having hot chocolate! Then we wash sticky faces then snuggle up in the big chair to read "The World of Pooh." Rainy days are starting to grow on me.

Argyle is so hot right now!

These are my newest project! I finally got the knitting needles/supplies that I ordered so now I can get started. However all I can do is "start" because I didn't realize I need size 8 DPN's and I don't have any. I did get them started and have started on a scarf that I hate but I am going to see if it grows on me. If not I don't mind tearing it apart to start again.

I'm really excited about knitting again! It's been months and I'm a little rusty but I like it...I just have to develope callouses on my fingers and hands again. Ouch!

Cookie Queen

My sweet girl and I made Chocolate Chip cookies yesterday. She really loves to stir...as you can see we are continually working on this skill!

I have to say I have the best recipe in the world for chocolate chip cookies. I know everyone probably says that but it's because they haven't tried my recipe! So here it is:

Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

4 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups softened butter
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 packages (3.4 oz.) instant vanilla pudding
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
4 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix flour, salt and baking soda. (My Sweet Girl took care of this for me) Set aside. Cream together butter and sugars, mixing until light and fluffy. Mix in instant pudding. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix to combine. Stir in flour mixture to combine. Add chocolate chips. Drop onto cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes until the edges are brown.

I usually add less than the required amount of chocolate chips but that is just a personal preference...how weird is it that I prefer the cookie over the chip? This recipe bakes a HUGE amount of cookies. However I just send them away with my husband or to my neighbors and everyone is happy.




I also made the last of my turkey into Turkey and Noodle Soup yesterday. It's the best because I put it on at 10a.m. and kept it cooking on low heat all day long. This made the house spell fantastic and I got to hang out and bake cookies instead of thinking about dinner!



It is also worth mentioning that my husband's family has a wonderful way of eating their turkey and noodles. They put it in a bowl full of mashed potatoes! I thought it was so weird when I first ate it but damn it grows on you! It's now my favorite way to eat turkey and noodles. Thanks Jake's Mom!

I'm Thankful For Turkey

Today we had "Thanksgiving" dinner. I love to have turkey dinner for no reason other than enjoying some awesome food. Also turkey is cheap....I can make up to three meals with one bird. That sounds like a deal to me!




This is my good china. I belonged to Jake's great grandmother and its just beautiful. I like to use it as many times as I can. I think life is too short to "save" good china for special meals that we only have a few times a year. Why waste space storing dishes? Especially in British housing where storage space is at a premium!
I made these peach hand pies! I used puff pastry because I love it and also because I am lazy and didn't have the space or resources to make homemade pastry. Don't undersell puff pastry folks. Also don't try to make it yourself....I can tell you from experience it is too much effort that can be used in other places.


This is my plate. This is how I eat my turkey with fixin's. I LOVE to mix the flavors! It is the best mix of sweet and savory that I have ever eaten. Also it looks gorgeous!

That was my day today. I enjoyed myself tremendously and will continue to do so.....just as long as the leftovers last!

Yesterday in honor of my new blog I baked some cupcakes!


They actually happen to be my favorite cupcakes that are amazing....usually. There is something about England that is not friendly to my recipes. Everything I have baked here so far has ended up less that what I expected.

The cupcakes were still yummy just not orgasm worthy like usual. They seemed soggy, instead of the moist they were in Tucson. They are also A LOT flatter than they have been in the past. Another thing that I remembered, was that before we moved I had the Dark Chocolate cocoa instead of just the regular Hershey's. It is a definite difference but something that can be easily remedied. The whole recipe can be fixed pretty easily I hope...its just frustrating when my "Go To" recipes aren't up to par.

Regardless...Here is the recipe...hopefully you live in a higher and dryer climate...these should turn out for you perfectly. Also the Dark Cocoa REALLY makes a difference.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Coconut Chocolate Glaze

1 1/2 cups butter (cut into pieces)
1 cup fresh brewed coffee
1/2 cup milk
3/4 cup cocoa
3 cups all purpose flour
3 1/4 cups sugar
3/4 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp soda
3/4 cups sour cream
3 Eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Glaze:
6 oz semisweet chocolate
1/2 cups canned coconut milk
1 to 2 TBS corn syrup
1 1/2 cups coconut toasted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line pan with cupcake liners. Put butter, coffee, milk and cocoa into microwave safe covered bowl. Microwave until the butter melts. Whisk to combine. In a large bowl mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Set aside. In a small bowl beat sour cream, eggs and vanilla. Whisk hot cocoa mix into dry ingredients. Then stir in sour cream mixture just until combined. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake for 30 minutes or until cakes test done. Cool cakes in pans then remove to rack.

For Glaze, place chocolate in a medium bowl. Bring coconut milk and corn syrup to a boil. Then pour over chocolate. Let stand for 10 minutes then stir until smooth. Glaze cakes and scatter coconut over top.

This recipe for me usually makes 3 dozen cupcakes

(Most of which I send to work with my husband since the kids and I have no business eating 3 dozen cupcakes!)

The Journey Begins

This is motivation. Motivation to be more interesting...to do fun and wonderful things and share them. Since we have moved to England it has been more important to share and keep in touch with our friends and family. Also since moving to England my life has become dull. I feed and dress the kids, do dishes, and wish I had a "charmed life." I have seen numerous blogs so far of people with the same occupation as me...domestic engineer/chef....that are, dare I say it, Fascinating! Also there are such lovely photos to make everything seem even more....lively. There are two things I want to achieve with this blog.

Number 1: Seek to experience something interesting and lovely things everyday. There is always something to make you realize how great life is...even if it's very small. You just have to look at life to discover its beauty. Thats what I want to do.


Number 2: To share it. Even if no one reads this and becomes changed because of it...I can still pretend they will. This will force me on days when I am feeling lame to go out and have an adventure. I live in bloody England for Pete's sake! If I don't have a ton of adventures...even domestic ones...while I am here there are people in The States who will kill me! Thats what you call motivation.

So this is my intro to blogging. I had better wrap it up and get off the computer so I can start living, also I am still in my jammies and that is unacceptable!