Monday – edit again per request

This last weekend just flew by. Ran errands at the mall on Friday, had wanted to see a movie too while there but Terry had an early karate class to teach so that was out. Not that there is much out there that I want to see, which I find so disappointing. Going to the movies used to be such a fun thing to do. Calories never count while in a darkened theater.

Went to dinner on Saturday night with the daughter and her husband. This place has the most wonderful tender melt-in-the-mouth steaks that I thought I’d died and gone to heaven, not to mention how big they are, which means lots of leftovers.

Sunday, we spent a quiet day at home. It was raining, which I love so I decided on a good gloomy rainy day dinner of Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice soup and the homemade bread (from the BreadMachine). Soup was wonderful but unfortunately, I hadn’t set the mixing dish/bucket properly into the machine (nor did I check on it during the process) and it never mixed up everything producing an inedible bread. I quickly popped some biscuits in the oven and all was not lost. The soup makes sooooo much that we’ll have it again tonight and this time I had Terry re-check the bread machine and darned if I didn’t have it right again. Thank goodness, he checked it and it seems to be doing just fine now. I even have enough soup to take tomorrow to my friend when we go to see the twins while she runs her errands. She’s almost worn out since the little girl developed pneumonia last week, causing many sleepless nights and now the little boy is sniffing and coughing. But he was checked by the doctor and it seems like it’s just going through the normal process of a cold. Hopefully, not another pneumonia.

Last night, around 11 PM, I saw lightening out my window, not common here at all. Then thunder started rumbling, also unusual. It was very loud and unexpected, the weather forecast predicting showers only. Soon there was this horrendously loud pounding on the roof. I ran down the hall to Terry, asking if that was rain. Turned out it was rain and hail, like I’ve never seen. Lasted quite awhile, scaring the begeezers out of me, thinking the roof would collapse because it was so loud. I’m not sure how it could hail with the temps being 50 degrees but hail, it did!! Being a native Californian, I can handle earthquakes but heavy, loud hail with thunder and lightening and I’m ready to crawl under the bed!

Time to finish up the last load of laundry, and I should have some time to paint before starting dinner. Am looking forward to returning to art class. The teacher and his wife had gone on a cruise. I enjoyed having the time off but now am ready to get back to it.

Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup

INGREDIENTS
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• 2 cooked, boneless chicken breast halves, shredded (or rotisserie chicken like I did)
• Sautéd chopped onion, chopped celery, carrot, one clove garlic in small amt of olive oil (all optional)
• Sliced fresh mushrooms – lots!
• 1 (4.5 ounce) package quick cooking long grain and wild rice with seasoning packet
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup butter
• 2 cups half and half ( or use milk or heavy cream)
DIRECTIONS
1. In a large pot over medium heat, combine broth, water and chicken. Bring just to boiling, then stir in rice, reserving seasoning packet. Cover and remove from heat.
2. In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper and flour. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in contents of seasoning packet until mixture is bubbly. Add sautéed vegetables & mushrooms. Reduce heat to low, then stir in flour mixture by tablespoons, to form a roux. Whisk in cream, a little at a time, until fully incorporated and smooth. Cook until thickened, 5 minutes or less.
3. Stir cream mixture into broth and rice. Cook over medium heat until heated through, 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Serves 8