Source of Sunlight

I just wanted to say in the blossoming of this little blog through friends I have found a source of light and a breathe of fresh air. It's good to feel connect and I'm so enjoying the learning!

BLOG ON GIRLS

It is not yet soup weather here in California, but I made this for enrichment last night and it was really good and easy!

Chicken Cheese Chowder

2T butter 1/2 tsp dried marjoram

1 large potato, diced 1 cup diced cooked chicken

1 onion, chopped 1 cup frozen corn kernels, thawed

1/4 cup flour salt and pepper, fresh parsley, to taste

2 1/2 cup chicken broth 1 cup shredded or cubed cheddar cheese

1 1/4 cup milk

1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add potato and onion; cook, stirring often, for 10 minutes. Blend in the flour and cook for 1 minute stirring constantly. Add the broth, milk, Worcestershire sauce and marjoram. Stir until slightly thick and bubbly. Stir in the chicken and corn to heat through. Add parsley and salt and pepper. Stir in cheese until blended just before serving.

PS I love the wisdom of little Lucas!!

Chef Diaries: Zucchini Soup

Adventures In Zucchini Soup!

By Kaitlyn Ray

Recipe By Mackenzie Brasher

09.22.09

It all started with some zucchini... and the smoke alarm going off due to a small kitchen, weak stove fan, and too many items on the stove...

I was making my way through the first few recipe steps with ease. I even found the fat free half and half (as recommended, I was determine to follow the recipe exactly because I truly don't trust myself as a cook at all!)

I decided I would cook the chicken Jordan had bought at the store to go with our tasty soup. This is where we hit problem number one. Too much chicken to try to cook on a small pan while trying to manage soup. Note to self: (and all you guys reading this) If the item you are cooking is too thick the bottom will completely burn before you have cooked through to the middle! Further more too much olive oil in a hot pan will cause little oil drops to jump up and burst on your arms while you are trying mash zucchinis. But somehow I salvaged that whole situation and made it through the veggie steps for the soap and onto the sauce...

When the spoon I had sitting in the pot ,while I was getting out dishes, decided to jump out of the pot and sit on the floor... TWICE! (don't worry it was washed in between)

The results of which you can see below. Again note to self: (and everyone reading) As a beginning cook trying to melt butter while adding flour and various other ingredients I should be very precise on the timing of such a process or the mixture may or may not come out very lumpy and awkward.

I call these Soup On Floor and Soup On Pants... just two of this seasons latest in the Ray Home.

HOWEVER... When all was said and done, the soup was AMAZING, if I do say so myself and I do. A HUGE thanks to Mackenzie & friends recipe for delighting my taste buds and teaching me big lessons in the kitchen! I always feel proud when Jordan asks for seconds :) I think I will make zucchini soup again soon! You ladies should try it too, see recipe in post below!

The joys of learning to cook!

Love&Light,

K.Ray

Wisdom of children

We all have bad days. I've had a particularly hard week this past week. I am usually pretty hopeful and positive in general, but this week has been tough. As I have reflected on how to get out of this slump, if nothing else but for the sake of my kids (who have not seen the best of me lately), I am reminded of something Lucas has said to me a few times. "Mom, sometimes things happen that way." And indeed, Lucas, though you are only 3, you are right. Sometimes things happen that way. I need to look ahead with hope and remember that of all of the things that truly matter in my life, all is right. The rest will work itself out.

Thanks girls for the recipes! I think they would actually be yummy together. Just add some french bread and you've got dinner. (You could always add a little cooked chicken to the salad for your protein--that's the mom in me.) I can't wait to try the soup!

Chef Diaries: Pork Diane

25-Minute Pork Diane

( I totally copied and pasted a recipe I just tried from allrecipes.com, which I fully support, If you are an IPhone user, get their app asap. Anyways this recipe was fairly easy, I mean you can see what I made above and it was super good. Jordan loved it!!! I think one key is getting the right Dijon, I used a balsamic-Dijon mustard that was so good if you can find it. Go get em guys!)

Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, and lemon add zest to this tender, juicy pork loin recipe, which has only 131 calories and 1 gram of carb per serving!

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon water

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce for chicken

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard

4 3-ounce boneless pork top loin chops, cut 3/4 to 1 inch thick

1/2 to 1 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning

1 tablespoon butter or margarine

1 tablespoon snipped fresh chives, parsley, or oregano

Directions:

1. For sauce, in a small bowl stir together the water, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and mustard; set aside.

2. Trim fat from chops. Sprinkle both sides of each chop with lemon-pepper seasoning. In a 10-inch skillet melt butter over medium heat. Add chops and cook for 8 to 12 minutes or until pork juices run clear (160 degrees F), turning once halfway through cooking time. Remove from heat. Transfer chops to a serving platter; cover and keep warm.

3. Pour sauce into skillet; stir to scrape up any crusty browned bits from bottom of skillet. Pour sauce over chops. Sprinkle with chives. Makes 4 servings.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 131, Total Fat 5 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 55 mg, Sodium 377 mg, Carbohydrate 1 g, Fiber 0 g, Protein 19 g. Daily Values: Vitamin A 0%, Vitamin C 0%, Calcium 0%, Iron 0%. Exchanges: Fat .5.
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Soup weather is almost here

Kaitlyn,

I adore you. And so do my children. I suspect I will be learning much more from all of you ladies than you will learn from me. But here goes anyway...

Oh, and I cannot take credit for this recipe. My dear friend Suzy made it for me a few years ago, but I have been hooked ever since.

Zucchini Soup

(This amount just makes 3-4 servings, so I usually double it)

Combine and cook the first five ingredients until zucchini is tender and most of the water has evaporated. Mash or puree and set aside.

3 cups unpeeled, sliced zucchini

1/2 cup water

1 tbsp. minced onion

1 tsp. seasoned salt

1/2 tsp. parsley flakes

In a saucepan, melt butter, add flour, butter, pepper and stir until somewhat blended.

2 T butter

2 T flour

1 chicken bullion cube

1/8 tsp white pepper

Add half-and-half and milk to flour/butter mix, cook until thickened. Stir in veggie mix.

1 cup half-and-half (I use the fat-free kind. I know what you are thinking, but it does exist.)

1/2 cup milk

Poppyseed Salad: K.Ray Style

Here's How I Like It

1 Pink Lady Apple

1 can of Mandarin Oranges

1/2 cup sliced almond

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1 bag of spinach leaves

2-3 tbs. Marie's poppyseed dressing

Instructions:

Now I find the best way to make this salad is let you instinct guide you. Change the amount above according to your preference. I personally love all the fruit, so I over use. Personalize this little creation anyway you like. Let your taste buds be your guide!

Attention Please

Ladies...

Don't forget to leave your name at the end of your post so that we know who wrote what! Makes a big difference.

P.S. Thanks Kare Bear for getting us started, who's next...

Love&Light,

Clouds and blue...my favorite!

Great idea little bride! As for the name, well that just suits me fine! Here's a little thought for today. Look at the sky! Just take a minute or two and look at the sky. It is the most glorious color of blue, not even Tiffany's can duplicate it or my friend Robin who is the color queen. I started doing this every day about two years ago and it is amazing how it fills your heart with gratitude for the beautiful world we live in and for Heavenly Father who created all. Things aren't always perfect, but just for today take a look at the sky and let it soak in.

Come One Come All

So I was thinking the other day about all the amazing women I know. So many creative, strong, smart ladies with a multitude of talents. It occurred to me we should and could totally be learning from each other, not that I'm claiming to have much to offer, however I just thought this would be fun. My idea is that we can trade recipes/craft ideas/good laughs over this blog. Over the next couple days I'll post some example... let me know what you think!

xo

K.