New Recipe Night - Couscous Paella Soup

I'm finally back to cooking at least for the moment.  One more week of summer and then it's back to school, so I guess I better get back into the swing of things as well.
This was really tasty, quick and easy.  Even more exciting... I got John to eat couscous despite his hatred of it.  Frankly, I don't understand how anyone can hate couscous, but he is not a fan.
I did get him to admit that it was "okay in soup."  Success on all fronts!

Couscous Paella Soup

1 Tbsp olive oil

1/2 cup diced red pepper

1/3 cup diced onion

1/3 finely diced Spanish chorizo (substitute pepperoni if needed)

2 large cloves garlic, minced

8 oz chicken tenders, diced

4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

1/c cup frozen peas, thawed (optional)

large pinch of saffron (optional)

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp ground pepper

1 cup water

2/3 cup couscous

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional) I substituted chopped green onion

1.  Heat oil in a large pan, add bell pepper, onion, chorizo, and garlic.  Cook stirring until vegetables begin to soften, about 2 minutes.  Add chicken, broth, peas, saffron, salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to simmer and cook until vegetables are tender - 8-10 minutes.

2.  Meanwhile, bring water to a boil in a small saucepan.  Stir in couscous, cover and remove from heat.   Let stand 5 minutes. 

3.  To serve, mound about 1/2 cup couscous in bowl.  Ladle the soup around the couscous and sprinkle with cilantro or green onion.

It really was very tasty and very easy.  My only suggestion... needs a little more spice/heat for me.  Maybe add jalapeño or other hot pepper.

P.S.  Didn't even offer it to Zack.  He seems to be boycotting all food except Ramen, Waffles and Froot Loops.  It's like he's skipped high school and gone straight to college!

It's finally happened, I hoped it wouldn't, but it did and I'm sad!

So the day I knew was coming, but hoped never would, has and it stinks!  Zack is finally, officially a teenager.  And how do I know you might ask....

Because everything I say is stupid, I don't "know" anything, I couldn't be any more "out" of it.  I knew it would happen eventually... it did with Brenna and I suffered through it and came out the other side okay, but that doesn't make it any easier.
I think it's especially sad for me because Zack is my baby and I've always been his favorite so it's hard for me to sit there and listen to him think I'm stupid.  We were always buddies. With Brenna - she always like John better than me, so it wasn't as heart-wrenching when she started verbalizing her disdain... but my Zacky...I am just sad!

Don't say it, just don't say anything...

I know! Right!?

This is what happens when you drop your baby girl off a college for her sophomore year and have to drive home by yourself.  I'm just saying...

Home away from home... I guess :o(

She's almost all settled.  It's all coming together for her.  I'm excited and much like last year, I'm sad.  I'm going to worry about her just like before.  Will she have friends, will she be happy, will she do well, will she and her apartment mates settle in and work everything out.  What if she hates it, what if she's homesick. We were able to move her into her apartment a week before the regular students get here... will she be bored and sit home crying in her apartment all day? You know all the typical things.  Now she slammed her toe into the curb and tore it up and she's going to the mountains tomorrow with her roommates and I'm worried that she'll get some weird mountain bacteria! Does it ever end! :o)  Probably not.

The apartment is shaping up and I'm getting sadder and sadder by the moment. We've been to Wal-mart twice for furnishings and then food.  Today I spent the day showing Brenna how to cut up her healthy fruits and veggies.  Made sure she knows how to run the washing machine, getting her printer set up.  Tonight she's going to redye my hair and we'll say our goodbyes - then I'll leave first thing in the morning! :o(

Brooke and Erin

 

I am going to miss my girl!

So. Much!

Happy Anniversary to ME!

Today is my one year anniversary of being caffeine free!  Yeah for me!

Who would have thought - one year!  I don't even really miss it!

Please don't go....

Someone else is not very happy about our Brenna going back to Radford tomorrow!

Wintergreen Resort Extravaganza!

Since John has been working such long, long hours we never really got any kind of summer vacation, so John booked us 3 days at Wintergreen Ski Resort.  Apparently these resorts and adding all sorts of summer activities to bring people in.  We had a GREAT time.  Rented a beautiful little house and did all sorts of "fun" activities!   We went on the Zipline, summer tubing, bungee trampoline, rode a mechanical bull, rock climbing, lake trampoline, kayaking and hiking.  We also roasted Smores in the fireplace, played Candy  Poker and watched the Closing Ceremonies.  I think we were all ready to come home after 3 days.

I still can't believe they talked me into going on the Zip Line.  It wasn't as terrifying as I expected it to be, but parts of it were the making of nightmares.  Actually the worst part was on the tower when I had to lift my feet and let go, plus at the end I had to climb down a. ladder. on. a. tower!  But I did it! Yeah for me.  The rest was awesome.  The kids enjoyed everything.  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Candy Poker