Halloween...Trick or Treat Chicken Noodle Soup

Besides Christmas, is there any "holiday" more looked forward to that Halloween? My children were nearly beside themselves as they packed up their costumes to take to school today.

Dinner will be a rushed affair and they'll be standing by the door, in full regalia, counting down to the bewitching  hour. Not mid-night--but six o'clock. The start of Trick-or-Treat in our neighborhood.

Although my Biggest, Little Mouth, would like to be able to run around the neighborhood with her friends, I will, alas be accompanying them again this year. We have a long standing rule that any candy received and not properly thanked, goes to the Big Mama.  This could be why big mama isn't a smaller mama, but it does tend to make sure both Little Mouths remember to say thank you at each house.

The remnants of hurricane Sandy are keeping it windy and wet in our neck of the woods. I'm not sure how long we'll be out and about tonight, but there will be this big pot of goodness awaiting our return. What a treat!

Easy Chicken Noodle Soup
1 Large Sweet Onion
1 teaspoon Olive Oil
1 cup baby carrots, sliced or whole
1 Lemon, Zest and Juice
1 Cup White Wine (Optional)

2 Chicken Breasts or Thighs
(Whatever you have on hand)
2 cloves of Garlic
1 teaspoon thyme
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon chopped parsley 
(fresh is best, but dried is fine)
1 Box of Chicken Broth
1 bag of egg noodles
(I prefer Reamers in the freezer section
or make your own-it's easy!)

Heat a large pot or dutch oven on the stove top, add olive oil and chopped onion. Slice carrots and add them to to onion. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the veggies begin to soften.  De-glaze the pan with the wine or juice of one lemon.   Add the chicken broth, lemon zest, thyme, garlic, bay leaf and chicken. Allow to simmer for 45-60 minutes. 

Remove chicken, bay leaf and any large pieces of garlic. When chicken has cooled, shred and add back to the broth.  If broth has condensed, add water until you have enough liquid to cook the noodles.  Add noodles to the pot and bring to a boil.  

Lower flame to a simmer until the noodles reach the desired tenderness.  Add a tablespoon of fresh chopped parsley and serve with crusty bread.

Skipping Stones

This summer the Little Mouths and I experienced a lot of firsts.

It's the first summer we've ever spent together.
The Littlest Little Mouth ate a strawberry.
The Biggest Little Mouth learned to sew, and her pillow went to our State Fair.
We went on the world's longest road trip and had a wonderful time.
The Littlest Little Mouth Skipped a rock EIGHT times.

The Biggest Little Mouth skipped more days than that of rolling her eyes at me.
It seems funny, but when I worked at a day job, summer was just an inconvenience.  It pushed my normally hectic schedule to the breaking point. It was a juggling act to say the least.
Even our family vacation didn't bring much relief, because I was in charge of that too, sole cruise director of our little ship, rapidly taking on water.

But this summer blessed us with a change of pace. Slower mornings and later nights. Lots of activity, to be sure, but hour upon hour to spend with my kiddos. Playing with them, making things with them, reading to them or just hanging out. Once again a summer day lasts forever and is something to be treasured and not wished away.
I am thankful for all of our blessings, but I have a special bucket of gratitude for the unanswered prayer that gave me this glorious summer.
Oh, and I have a first to celebrate as well. It's the first summer I'll be sad when school starts...;)

Amazing Photos...and 4-H.

I thought, when I was able to write full time, that I'd have lots and lots of time to blog etc. Boy howdy, was Big Mama delusional!

But I am going to try to do better.  I promise.

And I have something really cool to share. Look at this:

And this:

And another one of my favorites:

And the last one...I promise!

Big Mama didn't take these photos...it was my 11 year old Little Mouth for her 4-H project.

Big Mama love, love, loves, 4-H. I was a 10 year member and this is my bigger, Little Mouth's second year. Even though we live in the city, 4-H is a valuable way for kids to learn life skills, such a cooking, sewing and other skills such as photography and scrapbooking. Plus, it's just a lot of fun and a terrific way to spend quality time with your own Little Mouth.

She already got Reserve Grand Champion on her muffins last week.  These photos are from her photography project that will be judged tomorrow.

Thumbs up from Big Mama and Little Mouths.