We're still mourning the loss of our chickens, and today to top it all off...snow! After our recent flirtations with the sun, we are trying to not take it personal that the sun hasn't bothered: calling, returning our affection, or coming by to heat up those daffodils he left behind...now frozen. So today I made this soup.

But there's soooo many other reasons you should start making this soup on a regular basis:

A) It's a great food storage soup
B) tons of fiber and vegetables
C) Indian soup means it's full of flavor and deliciousness
















Spicy Chickpea Tomato Soup
2 - 19oz cans chickpeas (aka garbanzo beans), drained
1 - 13.5 oz. can coconut milk
2 - 14.5 oz can petite diced tomatoes
1/2 bunch of roughly de-stemmed cilantro
1/2 cup apple juice
1/2 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp salt

Throw in blender everything but spices, chicken stock, and 1 can of tomatoes. Puree to desired consistency. Transfer to pan and heat through while adding the rest of ingredients.

Garnish: 1/2 cup plain yogurt and chopped scallions (green part only)

Since we're a good 8 weeks since New Year's and all those fruitless resolutions, I thought it would be safe to post a delightful, gooey, sweet, crunchy treat that are a favorite of The Mister of the House.

Here's the ingredients...

• stick of butter
  
• sweetened condensed milk
  
• caramel squares (80)
  
• marshmallows, big ones
  
• Rice Krispies
  
  
  

Snip those suckers in half.










Melt the butter, milk, and caramels in a double boiler. If you don't have a double boiler (like me) no big deal! Boil water and put a pie plate or casserole dish above the water (but not immersed at all in the water).

sugar + fat = cure for all your emotional pains

I heard that once from Marlon Brando, or maybe it was Rikki Lake. Anyway, sound advice that works!

Stir it together. When it look like this, you're ready to roll. Let's set up our assembly line. Right to left:

1) marshmallows 2) caramel 3) rice krispies 4) wax paper

Yum.

With all the running, eating, praying, playing, yelling, crying, dreaming and thinking...you have to wonder, how are my kids processing all this and how will it all end when they're done growing? What will be their personal evolution. Let's explore our possibilities shall we? Our guinea pig? Vanilla Wafer. In desperate need of a haircut.

Here he is flashing his age, and proud to be 3.

Awwww. Nerdy cute.

The slippery sag of the shoulders, together with the feathered riptide searing the middle of his head, and his trusty crayons filling his front pocket...it's enough to make a mother glow knowing the ladies, the booze, and the bad grades will make a screeching halt upon hitting his nerdy shield.

As a plug for mother's pride and nerdy studs, I thought I'd share this pure-white rap from a skinny, brace-faced teenager who started a no-cussing club that is 30,000 strong worldwide. Mrs. Olsen is just waiting for Rainbow Girl to turn 13 so she can formally sign her up.

Here we are subscribing to the concise prescription for non-conformity. To be a unique and brazen individual, you absolutely must do the following no exceptions!: color your hair an M&M shade, look ticked, and pick up your prom date with a mohawk.

He's wearing this shirt with a sense of irony.



Oh my! Here's Mrs. Olsen back in High School in the great state of Idaho.


[leaning through the cab of his truck while at a red light on Main Street]

Meet me in your tight-arse jeans and big hair September 6th. Eastern Idaho State Fair. Blackfoot. Okay fine! I'll perm the mullet before we go. Just make sure you wear your fishnet v-neck over your pink tubie for the Def Leppard concert.

BTW, Wendy O., if you're reading this and since I just discovered you are a closet butt rocker, you will be in heaven at the Eastern Idaho State Fair. The 80's and their horrible music are still going strong there on an annual basis.

And finally...

Happy squirmy 3-year old with a freshly shorn head. For now, we'll take your wrestling, kissing, and obsession with things on wheels as long we keep getting the love. And keep getting no sass. Love you kid!