Soup Weather

It has been so rainy and cold. All I wanted last night for supper was SOUP. Warm, filling, yummy soup.

Remember my list of 101 things to do in 1001 days? Well, cooking one meal a week was on there.

Here's what I made (also tried new recipe)

Cream of Mushroom Soup (CD Kitchen)

Ingredients:
8 ounces mushrooms
4 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion -- chopped
1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup water
1 can condensed chicken broth
1 cup half-and-half
Snipped parsley

Directions:
Slice enough mushrooms to measure 1 cup; chop remaining mushrooms. Cook and stir sliced mushrooms in 2 tablespoons of the butter in 3-quart saucepan over low heat until golden brown. Remove mushrooms with slotted spoon. Cook and stir chopped mushrooms and onion in remaining butter until onion is tender. Stir in flour, salt, and pepper. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, about 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in water and broth. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in half-and-half and sliced mushrooms; heat just until hot. DO NOT BOIL. Garnish each serving with parsley.

Well, I obviously didn't garnish with parsley. But, Ryan loved it. We don't agree on soups; he loves thick, creamy soups. And, generally they have dairy products that hurt my stomach. Since, I figured this would hurt my stomach if I ate a full serving size.

I made some chicken and wild rice soup. I used this packet of stuff and added a can of carrots, can of green beans and some cooked chicken. It was really yummy.

Funny story about chicken and wild rice soup-- He got home from a business trip late one evening, and I had started making this soup. Well, within minutes of eating it, he got very sick. Stuff coming out both ends at the same time. Right before he had left, he had been told his appendix was inflamed, but not enough to remove it. I called his mom and let her know I thought it was time for us to go to the hospital. Well, about 10 minutes after that, I got sick too. Evidentally, I used the old milk in the refrigerator, and gave us both food poisoning! I still haven't lived it down, and he was hesitant to eat the chicken soup last night.

101 things in 1001 days

I read about this somewhere online, and then "googled" it. The concept is, you pick 101 things you would like to accomplish, list them, and then you have 1001 days to complete them. So starting today, my end date is Tuesday, July 13, 2010.

(update-- list items in progress are in purple)

Things to learn

1. Learn scuba.
2. Take a ballroom dance class.
3. Take a cooking class.
4. Learn to crochet with thread.
5. Learn to locate major countries on a map.
6. Learn to shoot gun safely (take Hunter's Safety course).

Things I'd like to do

1. Send Christmas cards, at least 25 each with a personal note, (mailing on time is necessary.)
2. Go to the zoo.
3. Have a progressive dinner.
4. Do yoga/pilates 3 times a week.
5. Run or walk a 5 k.
6. Read 101 books in same time frame. (1/101)
7. Make 101 scrapbook pages in 1001 days.
8. Buy a new car.
9. Get new digital camera.
10. Buy 5 lottery tickets.
11. See a astrological phenomenon (meteor shower, eclipse, etc.)
12. Swim a mile.
13. Blog at least 100 words per day, must do for 30 days in a row to count.
14. Take 10 new photographs a week for a month.
    

Things I should do

1. Finish Christmas shopping presents by 12/1.
2. Sell things on ebay and etsy.
3. Write thank you notes after Christmas and birthday.
4. Improve my Spanish.
5. Ride a bike for fun.
6. Get a passport.
7. Participate in some activity involving local politics.
8. Make an emergency kit for home.
9. Write 3 letters/emails praising products or service.
10. Renew my CPR certification.
11. Volunteer 5 times for 1 hour each time.
12. Use online bill pay through my bank.
13. Wake up when alarm goes off. Must do daily for 3 weeks.
14. Adopt needy child for Christmas. (first present already bought)
15. Donate school supplies to Family Resource Center.
16. Update my resume.
17. Improve credit score.
18. Do not buy any craft supplies for one month.
19. Donate $5 to charity for items not done on day 1001.
    

Being a better friend

1. Make a mix CD for a friend.
2. Send a package to a friend I've been out of touch with.
3. Call someone I haven't talked to in over six months. (called Julie Bennett)
4. Write someone a thank-you letter, but not for a present (e.g., old teacher, author of a book I read).
5. Send someone flowers for no reason.
6. Make 10 homemade gifts. (crocheting shawl)
   

Cultural Activities

1. Go to a lecture or seminar.
2. Go to the ballet.
3. Go to an orchestra concert.
4. Go to a museum.
5. See an IMAX movie.
6. Tour a vineyard.
7. Go to college football game and take Ryan.
8. Buy a piece of original art.

Spiritual

1. Join a church.
2. Read the Bible cover to cover.
3. Tithe
4. Get baptized.

Around the house

1. Have a garage sale.
2. Plant flowers.
3. Redo shrubbery in yard.
4. Grow a vegetable garden.
5. Have an egg laying chicken, preferably a banny hen.
6. Put dishes in dishwasher or hand wash immediately after using (must do for 6 weeks to count.)

Food and cooking

1. Cook a full meal once a week, must do 10 times. (2/10)
2. Try one new recipe a month, 12 times. (1/12)
3. Learn to bake strawberry cake.
4. Eat at a Brazilian steakhouse.
5. Try Indian food.
6. Make a family recipe book.
7. Can or freeze something; jelly, vegetables, etc.
8. Try a mixed drink I've never had before.
   

Changing habits

1. Quit biting nails. (haven't bitten since 10/13-- of course, have acrylics on)
2. Sort the mail when it comes in, instead of letting it accumulate into a huge pile first.
3. Go to the movies alone.
4. Put clothes in hamper instead of floor. Must do for 1 month to count.
5. Do taxes in February.

Personal Treatments

1. Get a really good pair of jeans.
2. Buy deliciously sexy high heels.
3. Go to spa for a day.
4. Lose weight to a healthy BMI.
5. Use those teeth whitening strips and finish the pack.
6. Take a multivitamin/calcium supplement, must do for 2 months to count.
7. Floss teeth more.
8. Drink no carbonated beverages for 1 month.
9. Get a massage.
10. Do a detox diet, at least7 days.
11. Buy 3 sets of pretty lingerie.

Family

1. Get married.
2. Find out all the family birthdays, anniversaries, and email addresses. Make calendar and distribute.
3. Make family heritage scrapbook for my mom and Uncle Joe P
4. Call Grandmama once a week, 12 weeks in a row to count. (2/12)
5. Visit my grandfathers' graves and my Auntie's.

Travel

1. Go to Washington DC.
2. Travel west of Missouri.
3. Visit 5 states I haven't been to before.
4. Go to Disney.
5. Travel out of the country.
6. Ride on a train.
7. Go camping.
8. Visit a state or national park.
9. Go whitewater rafting