2011 Recap

Now, I know Christmas is over and the year 2012 has gotten off to a great start. How could it not; there is little to no snow and in the last week the average high here in Minnesota has been like 50 degrees! I was reading some Christmas cards the other day-Sad, I know.

For many Facebook is the place to be get catch up on all family/friend gossip and happenings wherever they might be around the globe (or down the street). However, for those that enjoy a cup of coffee, tea, glass of wine, or even a Diet Coke and enjoy some reading, sit back and enjoy! I've also included a mini-clip of the years festivities in review (the big events that I actually had pictures from).

 

 Now to those that like to read.

Seasons greetings from my family to yours. This year has been another year of firsts for this new family! We had lots of festivities to keep us on our toes this year; including our own wedding to celebrate! I will try to piece together a few months at a time and give some highlights of 2011.

January/February: Yet another cousin was married: sadly due to a snowstorm, many were unable to attend (including us) but having a great time making our extended family even bigger! Another 'cation' spent at Breezy Point; will there be snow this year?

March/April: The hubby went on a duck hunting trip with some high school friends (picture #1), enjoyed boiling syrup and spending time with some more high school friends. The Midwest Jersey Sale held in Rochester, MN. And another cousin wedding.

May/June: We continued to prepare for our wedding coming up in the summer planting flowers and organizing, Did our (separate) bachelor/bachlorette parties, and of course...WINSTOCK. A friend of high school gets married (a great time had by all).

July: OUR WEDDING! It was a HOT, HOT, HOT one! But very special-how many people can say their dad walked them down the isle and married them? I am truly blessed. And our mini-honeymoon getaway to Cove Point Lodges.

August: MN State Fair, Farm City Days in WI.

September: Hubby went with a good friend to Colorado to go Elk Hunting; no elk this year.

October: Deer hunting (with a bow) begins....

November: I get on a roll with this blog thing (a quiet month).

December: All the holiday festivities begin! And another cousin wedding being planned for 2012!

January 11, 2012....Winter is Here!

Winter is FINALLY here! Well, I should say it's not really here, just making its presence known to the central part of Minnesota.

I hope 2012 is still finding you all healthy, well, and warm (wait, it was just 50 degrees-disregard). Now that I sit in the kitchen writing this I hear the wind howling it's usual tune this time of year and the snow dancing across the sky (trying to give us a spectacular show). I for one, am mighty disappointed in lack of winter and lack of ice fishing.

Therefore, it is with my great pleasure to give you (wait for it) another recipe! I will have to tell you I kind of tweaked this one to fit my own personal preference. I absolutely love Panera Bread's Broccoli Cheese Soup, and I found a recipe for it, but I also found another recipe that I liked a part of too-therefore, kind of combined them.

Give it your best shot!

BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP

INGREDIENTS:

2 Tablespoons Butter

1 Small Onion (I used 3 stalks of Green Onion-great color)

3 Stalks Celery-Finely Diced

2 Carrots-Julienned (I used my cheese grater)

3 Cloves Garlic-Minced (I just used 1 Tablespoon of already minced garlic)

2-3 Cups Broccoli (Cut into small enough pieces to fit on a spoon)

3 Cups Chicken Broth (If you use bouillon cubs-1 cube equals 1 cup of water-do the math)

2 Cups Half & Half or 2 Cups Milk with 1/4 Cup Flour (blended)

8 Ounces Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese (Also equals 2 cups if you buy it already grated) or just use Velveeta OR however cheesy you like.

*Salt & Pepper to taste*

**Milk & Flour for thickening**

DIRECTIONS:

1) Melt butter in a pot over medium heat

2) Add Onions, Celery and pinch of salt and pepper to melted butter and cook until soft. 

3) Add Garlic, cook for another minute.

4) Add Broccoli & Carrots, cook for another minute.

5) Add Chicken Stock, Bring to a boil.

6) Slowly stir in Half & Half (or Flour/Milk mixture)

7) Reduce heat to a simmer, Add Cheese-Stir (don't want your cheese to burn to the bottom)

8) Continue to cook (low to simmer) until to your liking.

**OPTIONAL: May want to add some milk and flour mixture to soup to help thicken if needed when almost ready to serve.

Onions/Celery and Carrots

Add Onion/Celery to butter in pan

Cash wanted to play ball

Photo Op!

Add Broccoli & Carrots to Onion/Celery

For you non-mathematicians: 1 Pt equals 2 Cups

Dish up and enjoy! I did

Happy New Year

My Husband and I brought in the 2012 New Year by visiting with family on New Year's Day and by melting tin. What? Yes, you read it right. For those not familiar with it-here is a short background.

The Finnish New Year's custom of melting tin by melting a small piece of tin over a stove in a cast iron lathe, then cast the melted tin into a pail of cold water, causing it to form unique shapes. Tradition holds that these shapes foretell what the upcoming year will bring.

For those that live in the area-the Cokato, MN Historical Society invites the public to its 12th Annual New Year's Open House on Sunday, January 8th from 1:00 to 4:00 PM in the Centennial Room of the library/museum in downtown Cokato. For more information, visit the museum's website (www.cokato.mn.us), or Facebook page.

Dumping into bucket

What his piece looks like in water.

Our 2012 Fortunes-Mine on Left, Husbands on Right.

Taking Me Back

I hope this post has found you all recuperated from the Holiday and starting off the new year happy, healthy (and not hungry). My husband and I had today off and getting some cleaning done to start off the new year with a clean house. Okay, so not really cleaning the house today, but we are cleaning the garage. I say 'we' because I was out there helping until it was getting close to lunch time and we both didn't eat breakfast this morning.

We decided to take lunch back to grade school and making what most didn't enjoy, but my husband loves---Pizza Burgers! For those that also loved or have never tried, it wouldn't be a normal post without the recipe!

PIZZA BURGERS

1/2 Lb. (8 oz) Mozarella Cheese

1/4 Lb. Butter-Melted

1 Small Can Tomato Paste

1/4 Tsp. Garlic Powder

Dash of Oregano

1/2 to 1 Tsp. Basil

1 Tbsp. Grated Onion

1 Lb. Browned, drained Hamburger (Seasoned and Cool)-Garlic Powder, Oregano, Basil, Onion

1) Melt Butter and Mix in Tomato Paste

2) Mix in Remaining Ingredients and Mix into Hamburger-Cheese

3) Cut 1 Dozen Hamburger Buns in Half

4) Top Buns with Hamburger Mixture (Can top them with some more shredded cheese if you like it cheesy)

5) Heat on a Cookie Sheet at 400 Degrees Until Cheese is Melted and Golden Brown.

**FREEZES WELL**

I added some Sharp Cheddar with Mozarrella

Looks a Little Funky-but helps it so it doesn't dry out.

Ready for the Oven.

Enjoy!