Which means that yesterday was Tuesday and a crock-pot dinner day. While it was a good one, Tomato and White Bean Soup, it is something I’ve mentioned several times before. Yes, it is fantastically delicious, much better than the sum of its parts, but I don’t really have anything exciting to say about it, other than the fact that I added the last of the frozen kale I had to the soup, and that totally took it to a new level of deliciousness. This is a tomato soup the whole family can get behind, and it literally takes less than 10 minutes to put together. The recipe does call for canned chicken broth, but I’ll tell you, I’ve used vegetable stock very successfully to make this soup a fully vegetarian soup. If you leave the sprinkle of cheese of at the end, it’s also vegan and suitable for just about anyone.
I also wanted to mention that this past week I tried another bread from A Year In Bread. Also from Farmgirl Susan, I have to say that her Honey Bran Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread is fantastic- just as delicious as the Farmhouse White I’ve been making. I had a little trouble finding wheat bran, so I ended up using wheat germ in my bread. It turned out just fine. This is not your ordinary whole wheat bread, it’s soft and wonderful in texture, and has a delightful whole wheat flavor. If you’ve been looking for a homemade whole wheat bread, this one is your bread. One recipe makes three loaves of bread, so you can pop them in the freezer after they’ve cooled and always have homemade bread on hand. I just need to get to the store and pick up more bread flour so that I can make another batch!
And finally, if you’re looking for something a little different to dress up your Easter Baskets this year, why don’t you try adding a few homemade goodies instead of the usual bounty of store bought candy. I know I always tend to go overboard, because I can’t decide which candies to add to the baskets. This morning on Kids Cuisine, I share about how a favorite missing treat at the store inspired me to make my own, even better replacement. Using already on-hand ingredients, it’s actually a very budget-friendly replacement as well.
And speaking of Easter Baskets, what are you tucking into yours this year? I’m kind of at a loss as to what to put in the kids baskets. I may add some craft supplies to Abigail’s, maybe a CD… the only for sure is the requisite chocolate bunny.
The kids will get chocolates eggs & chocolate bunnies this year.
You are so right about the homemade goodies, if you can find the time to do so. Otherwise, between Target and a box of candy I got from the M&Ms people I’m almost set. Oddly, all the places I usually get Badger Claws and Cow Pies no longer have them. Am going to the cheese shop on State this afternoon to look.
The best thing I did this year was buy many of the unwrapped candies and fill those cheap plastic eggs with them. Put them in clear green Rubbermaid tubs ($1.99) and viola.
Otherwise, still thinking peanut butter or Cadbury mini egg (can’t find them either) cookies.
Will post a photo of the obscene amount of candy I got soon.
Yeah Helene, so far chocolate is the only for sure- going shopping this morning.
Lol J! I’ll be waiting with baited breath for the obscene photos! I’m still thinking about those candy popcorns you shared the other day…