The Angel Forever

Winter Means Pinning Lots of Soup

Posted on January 12, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Yes, I do mean I am pinning lots of soup this winter. If you don’t know what I mean come on over to Pinterest to find me.

Thanks to a sweet four year old that shared his cold, nothing sounds good to eat. I am craving my mother’s chicken soup, but that isn’t going to happen. So while trying to clear the congestion in my head, I went to Pinterest. I wanted to find soups for my family to enjoy, keep warm, and devour the rest of this winter. It may not have been THAT cold yet, but there are many more months where Mother Nature will likely have her last laugh.

I sent a call out to my friend on Twitter to see if they had any soup recipes to share. @Kimberaka who writes at From My Corner of Saratoga sent me three items on her blog. She shared how to make soup into dinner, a great New England Clam Chowder recipe, and the one below for Corn Chowder. Thanks Kim!

Source: frommycornerofsaratoga.com via TheAngelForever on Pinterest

Then, I started to do random searches on Pinterest for soup. Something I have also been craving is Pho. Since TechyDad does not like to eat meat when out, we have not been able to locate a place to get Pho for him. Thanks to this pin, we just may be able to make some at home soon.

Source: keepitskinny.wordpress.com via TheAngelForever on Pinterest

It was hard to decide what to and what not to pin, but I was selective at this point. My love of cauliflower and the fact that my oldest son also likes it made a recipe for Caramelized Cauliflower Soup jump out. This sounds really delicious and different to me.

Source: sproutedkitchen.com via TheAngelForever on Pinterest

Since we keep a kosher kitchen, we often make vegetarian soups. I do miss the hearty meaty soups, but love when I find alternatives. Plus with “burger crumbles” from companies like Morning Star, you can easily revamp a great recipe. Here is one for Morning Star Vegetarian Tortilla Soup.

Source: morningstarfarms.com via TheAngelForever on Pinterest

Of course, a girl can also dream of a soup that looks like a major splurge. I wonder if this one from the Disney Parks Blog for Loaded Baked Potato Soup can be tweaked into a kosher variety (hello soy bacon in a pinch).

Source: disneyparks.disney.go.com via TheAngelForever on Pinterest

Do you have a favorite soup recipe to share? I would love to know about it. Please let me know about it in the comments. Feel free to leave a link to a post or the recipe online. My need for soup thanks you and I will add it to my soups pins on Pinterest.

Categories:
bloggy friends food glorious food me moments Pinterest sickness TechyDad winter yummy

Winter Safari Wear

Posted on January 11, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Categories:
Disney jsl laughs winter Wordless Wednesday

Putting My Family First Can Hurt

Posted on January 10, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Guilt, sometimes it hits like a big freight train. This weekend, my extended family will all be together for a special reason and I will not be there. My first cousin is getting married and I am going to be home instead of doing the Horah in celebration.

Why, you ask?

I am putting my family first. For multiple reasons, going would not be a good choice for the four of us. No need to go into that here, those have been explained, discussed, and debated countless times over the last year. There is no doubt that I am hurting feelings, and I feel quite guilty about that. Still, I do hope that family members will forgive me and realize that I am being an adult and doing what is best for my children.

On the night of the wedding, I will sit and remember babysitting my cousin when he was little, going to his hockey games, and joking with him as he helped to paint our house. So many memories of watching him grow up into the man that he has become. Perhaps we will get some donuts to celebrate the event – I know Cousin A will get that reference. I wish both A and A a wonderful life ahead of them and much happiness in their new life as husband and wife. Although we will not be there in person, we will be with you in our hearts.

With that, I leave you with a song that seems fitting right now. The song is My Family by The Laurie Berkner Band. The song really hits home and seemed appropriate at this moment

When you’re in my heart, you’re in my family,
When I’m in your heart, I’m in your family.
When you’re in my heart, you’re in my family,
When I’m in your heart, I’m in your family!
Fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers,
Cousins, friends, sons and daughters,
Uncles, aunts, and grandparents
I’m so glad you’re my family!

Have you ever had to put your family first and miss a big family event like a wedding? I would love to hear from you and share in the comments below.

P.S. Many tears were shed in the typing of this post, but I still know it was the right decision for my family.

Categories:
cousins decisions family looking back me moments photos video

For the Love of Cookie Dough

Posted on January 9, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

I am definitely my father’s child. I LOVE cookie dough. Give me cookie dough ice cream and please hold the vanilla ice cream. Admission: I am the adult that actually keeps all of the cookie dough chunks from the ice cream to savor at the end. For my last birthday before becoming a mother, TechyDad skipped buying me a cake. Instead, he surprised me with a tub of cookie dough.

On one trip to Walt Disney World as a child, I remember eating at Hollywood Studios and getting a Cookie Dough pie. It was the most amazing creation. When I went back next time, it was not there. Tears were shed, hopes dashed, and we had to move on.

Thanks to Pinterest, my cookie dough fever is back. People keep pinning recipes for sweets that involve none other than cookie dough. Just looking at them seems to keep me happy and smiling. One day, I do hope to try a few, if not all, of these goodies.

My first repin was for this Philadelphia 3-Step Cookie Dough Cheesecake. I love the concept of the Cheesecake Factory cookie dough cheesecake, but do not like the chocolate crust. Way too much for this girl. So check out how delicious this looks:

Source: evalawrie.wordpress.com via TheAngelForever on Pinterest

Soon after this some Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles caught my attention. They were also pinned to gawk, stare at, and dream about.

Source: eat-drink-smile.com via TheAngelForever on Pinterest

I am not too sure how I feel about Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownies. As someone who is not really into chocolate, it may be a bit too much for me. No doubt, many others would adore it.

Source: recipegirl.com via TheAngelForever on Pinterest

Locally, I have tried Cookie Dough cupcakes at Fluffalicious. They were very good, but I was curious about baking them at home. Thanks to Pinterest, I found just that item.

Source: alli-n-son.com via TheAngelForever on Pinterest

I know that if I head over to Pinterest now, I will find many more amazing pins for things with cookie dough, and lots without.

If you have any cookie dough recipes or pins that you adore, I would love for you to share below. Let me know in the comments and I will come find you on Pinterest.

Categories:
food glorious food looking back me moments photos social media yummy

Magical Kiddie Concert Moments

Posted on January 8, 2012 12:00 am by TheAngelForever

Recently, I wrote about recalling memories of going to concerts as a child. TechyDad and I have taken the boys to several concerts over the years. When we had the opportunity to go to the Laurie Berkner concert yesterday, we jumped at it. My family has been fans of Laurie for a long time thanks to her appearances on Jack’s Big Music Show. I will write more about the amazing show later, but now I wanted to share a few photo memories of our experience.

Of course, we will also remember this show because of something that happened toward the end. Laurie was on the stage floor “taking a nap” and Susie, Adam, and Bob were trying to get the audience to help wake her up. Suddenly, you hear Bob mention that they have a runner. TechyDad and I both captured this moment on video. A sweet little girl was dancing with a bunch of other children. Then, she bolted up onto the stage. What you will see the band members do is beyond magical. They went with the flow and worked it into the concert. Here is the video:

We have a lot of other videos and photos from the Laurie Berkner Band concert to share soon. A huge thank you to Laurie, Susie, Adam, Bob, and everyone else that made this concert at Proctors an extra special day for MY family and so many others.

Disclosure: My family and I received complementary tickets to the “Animal Party” concert thanks to The Laurie Berkner Band. The opinions are mine as a long time fan of Laurie Berkner and I received no other compensation. Posting this was done to share a fun experience and not expected in return for the tickets.