Butternut Squash Chicken Soup

I think this soup is even yummier than my last recipe I posted! This winter I've been googling ingredients and modifying recipes I find. Needless to say I've had some interesting creations.

I wanted to share my better inventions.

Here is one I had for dinner tonight:

***

Butternut Squash Chicken Soup

4 c low sodium chicken broth
1 - 2 c water
3 - 4 chicken breasts, chopped
1 onion
½ c minced celery
½ tsp nutmeg
½ tsp cumin
1 tsp cinnamon
1 bell pepper, seeded and minced (original recipe I modified

called for 1 Jalapeño pepper)
1 15 oz can butternut squash puree (or 1 ½ - 2 c fresh butternut

squash cooked and pureed)
2-3 potatoes, chopped
2 c fresh spinach (I used baby arugula. It tastes similar

to spinach, just has a thicker leaf)

Heat ¼ c broth in a large pot. Add raw chicken pieces,

onion, celery, nutmeg, cumin, and cinnamon.

Sauté for 8-10 minutes. Add bell pepper,

let cook for 1-2 minutes. Add remaining chicken broth and water,

turn to high heat and bring to a boil.

Reduce to medium heat, add squash and potatoes.

Simmer for 20-30 minutes until potatoes are cooked.

Add fresh spinach, allow to simmer for 5 more minutes.

***

Enjoy!

Christmas Card and Letter

Here is my Christmas card and letter for 2009.

Just click on them to see the full image.

I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

***

***

Merry Christmas!

This year I've noticed more people saying "happy holidays." I even heard someone say "merry holiday." I sometimes wish people would stop trying to be so PC and just say Merry Christmas or even Happy Christmas! Christ is the reason we celebrate. We should remember Him. Like Elder Uchtdorf said in his talk last week during the 1st Presidency Christmas Devotional, can we see Christ in Christmas? I think it's an important question to ask ourselves.

I also found this quote from President Packer, it was an excerpt printed in the Church News recently from a talk he gave at BYU back in December 1962 but it still applies today:

Of all times of the year, at Christmastime

Latter-day Saints ought

to be the most joyful, ought to have

greater cause for festivity

than anyone, ought to enjoy the

Christmas tree and the

holly wreath and the stockings

and the mistletoe and gifts

and toys and children and even

reindeer that can fly!

When you accept the true account of

the birth of Christ,

it will indeed

"Bring thee the light of thy childhood again."

Silly Christmas Jokes

My supervisor brought these jokes to our team meeting at work this week to get us to laugh. I know they're a bit cheesy but I hope they make you smile!

***

What do elves learn in school?

The elf-a-bet
***

What's the difference between the Christmas alphabet and the regular alphabet?

The Christmas alphabet has no “L” (Noel)

***

What Christmas carol is a favorite of parents?

Silent Night

***

Why does Santa have three gardens?

So he can hoe, hoe, hoe

***

What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire?

Frostbite

***

What kind of bird can write?

Pen-guin

***

What did the ghost say to Santa Claus?

I’ll have a boo Christmas without you

***

How do sheep in Mexico say Merry Christmas?

Fleece Navidad!

***

What does a cat on the beach have in common with Christmas?

Sandy Claws!

***

What kind of candle burns longer, a red candle or a green candle?

Neither! Candles always burn shorter

***

Why was Santa’s little helper depressed?

He had low elf-esteem

***

What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus?

Claus-trophobic

***

Tomato Basil Lentil Soup

As the days get colder I've been eating more soup. There is something comforting about having a warm bowl of yumminess. Tonight I tried a new creation. Over the last week I've done some googling to find lentil soup recipes. I combined ideas from a few and came up with the recipe below. It is extra yummy and health too. I hope you enjoy it like I did!

3/4 c lentils

1 Tbsp olive oil

1 small onion, chopped

1 can (14.5 oz) "no salt added" diced tomatoes

1 can (14 oz) "less sodium" chicken broth

1 c water

2 bay leaves

1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

3 Tbsp fresh basil, chopped

***

Rinse lentils then cook them in boiling water for 30 minutes. Drain when cooked and set aside. (note: I had to keep adding water during the cooking time)

While the lentils cook, heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a separate pan then add 1 chopped onion and 2 cloves minced garlic. Cook until onions are tender.

Then add tomatoes, chicken broth, water, vinegar, and bay leaves. Sprinkle in some salt and pepper. Simmer for about 30 minutes. After 30 minutes remove from heat and remove the bay leaves. Scoop mixture into a blender and mix until smooth.

Pour tomato mixture over cooked lentils. Add fresh basil. Return to heat for about 5 minutes until heated through. Enjoy!