Amy's Italian Meatball Soup

Ok, so I made some delicious Italian Meatball soup yesterday & jarred most of it for sharing with friends, so bear in mind this photo is of the soup after it's been in my fridge overnight so the top layer is the fat layer from the beef stock but once cooked obviously looks much differently.

Now, with that said, this is NOT Italian Wedding Soup, the two are entirely different... I think this soup is much tastier & flavorful since I use fresh ingredients & lots of spices! =)

Now, on with the recipe:

Ingredients:

2 T. butter
1 medium red bell pepper (chopped)
1 large clove fresh garlic (minced)
1 large spanish onion (chopped)
1 package of frozen (fully cooked) small Italian style meatballs
8 cups beef broth
2 t. dried Italian seasoning
2 oz (1cup) ditalini pasta (uncooked) - can also use egg noodles or small variety pasta of your choice, I prefer ditalini's

Directions:

Melt butter in soup pot until slight sizzle.
Add red pepper, garlic & onions all at once.
Heat 2 -3 minutes until onions become slightly transparent.
Add frozen meatballs, broth, Italian seasoning, salt & fresh cracked pepper (to taste) & cook till comes to a boil. (10-15 minutes).
Add pasta & reduce heat. Cook for 5 minutes or until pasta is tender.
As Always, serve with freshly grated Imported Parmegiano Regianno cheese on top & ENJOY!

Pour your VINO & grab some PASTA...

... cuz we're about to party ITALIAN STYLE courtesy of Miss. Ruby Cate, her fantastic Nonno and her beautiful Nanna. (musical ambiance provided by: Dean Martin with Luna Mezzo Mare)

OCD has a name...

... and in this house, it's known as 'rain'BOWS!

Yes, I know- I need professional help.

*wink*

(16 bows @ $5.99 a piece = several pedicures my feet never saw...)

LOL

Peek-A-Boo!

I see you Momma!

The Lone Rubester Rides Again!

Only 'MY' kid...

... can fall asleep in THIS position & be comfy & toasty to the point of snoring.

I guess it just goes to show that the love of a good Bear can do wonders!

~*White Trash Rodeo*~

"Ruby In Her Own Time..."
Would like to welcome you all to the First Annual:


WHITE TRASH RODEO!



Our Very Own Miss Ruby Cate
will be riding her wooden friend 'wifebeater'


who proudly displays her name on his chest redneck style,
courtesy of an old licence plate!


Here's her mount...
GO RUBY, GO!

No wooden horses OR white onesies were harmed

during the making of this post.

(Disclaimer: Bear was too embarrassed to even show up for this event...
so he sends his best wishes to all & says he'll be back just as soon as the madness is over.)

On the Menu Tonight:

Florentine Chicken & Pasta Soup...

... with baby spinach leaves, baby portabella mushrooms
& freshly grated parmigiano reggiano cheese to top!
*DROOL*
(Yes I made this tonight for dinner, yes it was FANTASTIC & yes even RUBY loved it!)

Ingredients:

1 & 1/2 cups uncooked tricolor pasta (shells or radiatore are best)
3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into small pieces
1 large yellow (spanish) onion chopped
2 cloves fresh garlic minced
1/4 cup all purpose flour
3 cups fresh baby spinach leaves
1 package sliced baby bella mushrooms
1 can (plus 2 cans of hot water) Campbells Cream Of Chicken Soup
1 pint Half & Half
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1 generous dash of nutmeg


Directions:

Cook pasta according to package directions, drain & set aside.

In large soup pot, melt butter until slight sizzle.
Add onion, garlic and cut up chicken.
Cook over medium/high heat until chicken is no longer pink. (4-5 min.)
Stir in flour until smooth. (1 min.)
Stir in all remaining ingredients, (EXCEPT PASTA) and continue cooking, stirring constantly. (2-3min.)
Reduce heat to medium & cook, stirring occasionally until soup is slightly thickened. (8-12min.)
Stir in cooked pasta & continue cooking stirring occasionally until heated through. (2-3min.)
Serve hot with freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese on top.

*ENJOY!*

FABULOUS FIND!!!

This is the Wilton Cupcakes & More Dessert Stand that I simply FELL IN LOVE WITH this past sunday at a birthday party Ruby & I were invited to. Rather than the traditional cake, it was this GLORIOUS TOWER full of SCRUMPTIOUS CUPCAKES!!! They used a #3 for the top cupcake since the birthday girl was 3, and every cupcake was just beyond decorated with the most fun candies you've ever seen. This picture honestly doesn't do it justice, because it literally took my breath away! Upon completion of this party, Ruby and I headed straight for our local A.C. Moore. and scoffed one of these bad boys RIGHT UP! I plan on using this for Ruby's 2nd Birthday this coming Sept 7th! I think I'm going to make these amazing looking Vanilla Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting that I stumbled upon while checking in at every 'fat girls favorite blog' More Than 52 Cupcakes.
For those of you who LOVE to bake, this blog is a must see, as "The Cupcake Queen' is always sharing great ideas & recipes to keep your little cakes in the Here & Now! Also, while perusing her site, I got myself some of these adorable little Cup-a-Cake Holders in all 5 colors they offer! Adorable to say the least & if you're interested in getting some for the sweet little cupcake in your life, you can find them HERE.

HAPPY BAKING EVERYONE!

Onion Bagel w/ Cream Cheese & Olive Please!

Mmmmm, everything looks so good Momma, I don't know which piece to pick first...

That piece was pretty decent...

Now let's pick another one!

Yeah, that's the stuff, now we're talking!


Momma, how am I looking?
Do I have any cream cheese on my face at all?
Maybe I should rethink that napkin...
*grin*

Priceless...

International Adoption: $23,000
BEAR: $5.99
Fuzzy Princess Chair from Target: $40.00

Ruby & Bear curled up on the FLOOR in FRONT of her chair: Priceless.

Celebrate!!!

That's right, there is definitely something to celebrate here in the Ruby Cate household... Momma got herself a JOB!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, you heard me right, a JOB!!!!!!!! So, celebration is in order, yes? A very good friend of mine who was insistant upon me finally using a little $ to get something for MYSELF rather than always finding reasons to NOT treat myself & do for Ruby... ( who couldn't, after all... that FACE! those CHEEKS! that LAUGH! )
Anyway... I FINALLY gave in to her and treated myself to a pair of these beauty's. Now, I have always LOVED Birkenstocks, but NEVER OWNED A PAIR, EVER! My brother and I have the same size feet & he owned a pair & I was ALWAYS stealing them around the house. (sorry Adam...) I just couldnt' see the need to seriously spend that kind of $ on shoes that I'd probably end up kickin the CRAP out of... as I'm TOTALLY HARSH on footwear, always have been. (like trying to put fancy shoes on an elephant, just isn't done.) So, when my new boss finally signed our contract for the next year, I figured it was safe to be a little selfish for once and treat myself to my BEAUTIFUL NEW SANDALS THAT I CAN'T WAIT TO ARRIVE!!!!!
I seriously buy cheapie Adidas sandals every summer... why EVERY summer you ask? CUZ THEY NEVER SURVIVE MORE THAN ONE SEASON, PERIOD! Yes, it's true, my feet like to kill shoes... ESPECIALLY SANDALS!
First of all, for the RECORD, I prefer to be BAREFOOT- however, there are times that being barefoot isn't all that appropriate, so if I HAVE to wear something, it's sandals, slides to be exact, NO TOE VIOLATORS!!!!!! UGH THOSE DRIVE ME APESHIT! Always have...

So, about this job? Curious at all to hear all the details? Well, I'll be happy to divulge them just as soon as I know my new boss is comfortable knowing that her story is going to be shared in such a public venue, fair enough? Let's just say that it's twice the fun, twice the giggles, twice the work but definately twice the blessings. Oh, and did I mention that I get to work from the comfort of my OWN GLORIOUS APARTMENT? *grin*

More details when/if I get the green light to share them, but I just want to publicly thank EVERYONE who helped me out in my deepest darkest hour... without everyone's show of support, both monetary & through prayers, I would NOT have survived, WE would not have survived. Ruby and I will be FOREVER BLESSED to have friends here in Bloggerville... truly, beyond blessed that most of you, know me personally. Gifts that cannot be measured with any other tool, but the heart.
I thank you all... and now without further ado', let's GET RID OF THAT DAMN DONATE BUTTON!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

A few favorite YUMMIES... *UPDATED* (see #11)

I'm sitting here enjoying a delicious mint chocolate patty frozen yogurt cone & thinking to myself " OMG is there anything better in the WORLD than Mint Chocolate ice cream/frozen yogurt?"

So it got me to thinking, I have alot of favorite yummies... & I know everyone else must TOO so I'm going to list a few of mine & please feel free to comment on yours cuz I'd love to see what everyone else just ADORES! And by the by... Islay, when you read this, email me privately ok? Link to the right of the blog to click on for that... thanks hon!

Ok, so here are a few of my things I simply ADORE:

1. Mint Chocolate ANYTHING! Ice cream, Frozen Yogurt, hot cocoa... you name it, if it comes in a chocolate mint form, SIGN MY ASS UP! (after all, that's where it ends up anyways, right?) LOL

2. Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese on a cold ickky rainy/snowy type day. NOTHING BETTER!
You can keep your mac & cheese, I'll take soup & a grilled anyday thanks!

3. Coconut & chocolate together in ANY FORM, milk chocolate, dark, white, you name it, forget the damn lime, put some CHOCOLATE IN MY COCONUT PLEASE & THEN SLOWLY BACK AWAY FROM THE SINFUL TREAT!

4. Tea Tea and more PG Tips Tea ! Drink it EVERY MORNING when I get up and it is the only way I can truly start my day... it's my own personal 'Amy fuel' and honestly, Ruby's as well as we share the mug religiously. Now, granted... it used to be black tea taken 'black' for me, but with little Miss Cheeks having it as well, it's slowly evolved into more of a milk with a splash of tea rather than the other way around but it's ok, small sacrafice to make for my girl.

5. Hot Buttered Popcorn from Salem Willows! Now, to those of you not from around here you won't truly have lived until you fly your toosh to Salem, Massachusetts & stopped in at E.W. Hobb's inc. at Salem Willows Park & enjoyed some of their AMAZING POPPED BUTTERY SALTY GOODNESS IN PERSON! OMG, you people think that that microwave crap you've been buying is good? MOVE OVER ORVILLE REDDENPOOPER, THIS STUFF TRUMPS YOUR CORN ANY DAY OF THE WEEK!
And after all, when your popcorn has been voted 'The Best Popcorn in New England!', how can you NOT make an effort to get here & try some? Who knows, give them a call, maybe you can order some to be shipped right to your door? Here's the 411 on Hobbs:

E.W. Hobbs, Inc.
(Seasonal) (978) 745-7691
Since 1897, four generations of the Hobbs family have served original salt water taffy, home-made ice cream, and "the best popcorn in New England". In 1906, Everett Hobbs & William Eaton offered the first ice-cream cone in America!


6. Dill Dip!!!!! OMG some fresh cut up veggies & a batch of this dip & you've got yourself a party for ONE MY FRIEND! And since it's THAT GOOD, I'm going to share the recipe with everyone, trust me... if you like dill & you love to dip things, and not just veggies, I mean DIP ANYTHING (pretzels, chips, crackers, your finger... etc) you're gonna DIE OVER THIS STUFF:

1 16 oz container of Sour Cream
1 Cup mayo of your choice (I use Hellmanns)
1 T fresh lemon juice (or the juice of one lemon if you have them fresh)
3 T dill weed (but being that I'm Italian, I don't measure much, just a few good shakes & mix & then a few more. LOL when it's riddled with dill, you know you've done good...)
4T dried minced onion
2 t seasoned salt ( I use Lawry's Seasoned Salt)

Mix all ingredients together until well blended.
Put into fridge until time to serve, letting it chill overnight is best.
(Thanks to my Aunt Allegra/Ruby's Nanna T. for handing down this recipe to us!!)

7. Boston Beer Works own Sour Cream & Chive FRIES! *thud* sorry, that was my jaw dropping as I salivate just THINKING ABOUT THEM!
There is a more local Beer Works location in Salem & I go there every now & again for a treat, but man oh man, I honestly could just get those fries with a drink & call it a day, they're enough for a MEAL!

8. Grape Nuts Trail Mix Crunch Cereal... SO GOOD FOR YOU YET SO SINFULLY SWEET & DELICIOUS YOU'D SWEAR YOU WERE CHEATING, BUT REALLY YOU'RE NOT! I promise!!

9. Le Bastogne Cinnamon Sugar Biscuit's OH! MY! GOD! (do ya remember that tea I mentioned earlier that I have every morning? Well, get yourself a cup of that & an EMPTY cookie jar & FILL IT with these bad boys cuz you'll find that once you try ONE, you won't want to NOT have them in the house at ALL TIMES!!

And finally...

10. Werther's Original hard candies. No need to even explain why these wonderful little nuggets of HEAVEN made my list... only thing to ask yourself is, WHY ARE YOU NOT ENJOYING ONE RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE??

Ok, so far so good, I'll add things as I think of them, but this should get you all thinking about some of the treats in your life that you just could not POSSIBLY live WITHOUT!

And remember, share the love, if you have something that you just know everyone is going to enjoy, POST A LINK TO IT OR SHARE A RECIPE OR TWO!

Sharing's fun... hell I learned that in kindergarten, didn't we all? LOL


UPDATE:
11. Nutella OH MY GOD SO GOOD! When I'm TOTALLY craving chocolate but there's none in the house, this is a FANTASTIC way to satisfy that craving without going nuts & devouring an entire chocolate bar. A little of this fabulous spread on some toast or with a few grahm crackers and voila, OMG SO GOOD! =)

12: Berkley & Jensen (otherwise known as BJ'S) Veggie Chips! OH MY GOD! You guys remember Muncho's yes? That deliciously yummy, sinfully crunchy, melt on your tongue potato chip from way back in the day? Well, picture the same texture & flavor, but in a healthier veggie version and YOU'VE GOT YOURSELF SOME BJ'S VEGGIE CHIPS! In Spinach, Tomato and Potato, these chips are going to be the HIT of ANY GATHERING! (pair them with the above 'Dill Dip' recipe (#6) & you're sure to have a crowd pleaser!

Somewhere over the rainbow...

... along the broken road, a dream came true.

Nov 20th, 2005 - May 20th, 2006...

"I CAN'T believe it!
Has it really been SIX MONTHS since the day we first hugged each other, really ?"

" Wow Momma, that's a really LONG time, isn't it? "


" Ok, let's see... how long would that be in Ebenezer years? "

"Momma, I thought your glasses were supposed to make me smarter?
I can't do math yet, I'm not even 2! "

Fun With Water...

As always... hit PLAY & then immediately hit PAUSE until the whole movie loads. Enjoy!!!

A little sugar to go with that Elephant? Thanks, but I'll pass...

Ever have one of those nights where you're just truly sad to the core?
When you don't know why, but you kinda do know why?
Things don't make sense, yet you know exactly why your eyes are filled with tears
and your lip is quivering so fast & you can't stop it?
Welcome to my thursday night...

I know I have a lot to be thankful for...
I know Ruby is the most amazing thing that ever happened to me, and I know I should stop this shit & kill the pity party for one & be happy with the things I've been blessed with in my life.
I know... I know.

I also know that it's not fun going to bed alone every night...
... or having to bury your best friend of 10 & 1/2 years.

Knowing that my mind is playing tricks on me when I'm trying to sleep & the house should be quiet but I hear the click' click' click' of nails on the hardwood floor & imagine that he's trotting his way on into our room to curl up on his bed & sleep... when really he's curled up with his teddy bear about 4 feet under a beautiful rose bush about 20 feet from where I'm breathing.
Alone.
I know it's retarded to still be sad about something I know was the right thing to do, but the truth is, I just am & probably always will be.

I suppose if I still had a roommate or were married it would be a little easier to deal with the sleeping aspect of it, and since I do NOT believe in 'co-sleeping' there's no option of getting Ruby to curl up in my bed with me here & there, just never gonna happen.


I hate doing my shots, I hate my MS, I hate that people who, years ago, I thought would be my friends for the long haul, dropped off the face of the planet & could give a rats ass about me now & have no desire to spend time with me OR my daughter.

It saddens me how years can change the status of things you once knew as sacred & unchangeable...
... and they're now trashed & forgotten.

It saddens me that people, for the most part, are fake.
One way to your face, another alltogether once backs are turned.
"Oh, she's so rude, she doesn't think before she speaks" etc...
I just speak my mind.
When you think before you speak, sure you may rearrange your thoughts so that they come out in such a way that everyone's happy, but then they're not you're true thoughts anymore...
...just a shadow of the original thoughts you first had,
now reshaped & molded into a form that makes everyone happy.
Everyone that is, except me.

Wanna know something folks? Sometimes, life isn't always happy... and you hear shit you didn't wanna hear, but that's life right?

Maybe some people are ok with being that way & that's fine if it works for them...
but I have NEVER been that person.
Nor do I want to be.
I can't live like that, I don't want to live like that, I won't live like that.
I do not now, nor have I ever had an internal censor.
I live my life in a real world where things don't always get sugarcoated & the one thing that people can ALWAYS count on with me is that I'll always give it to them straight.

Most of us have that friend we know we can go to & ask " do these pants make my ass look big?"
& they'll smile & always say "No way, are you nuts? you look great!"

Newsflash people... and this is from one curvy girl to the next...
You got 'back' & you come up asking if your jeans make your ass look fat?
I'll smile & say, "No, your ass was doing that way before the jeans ever entered the picture!"
and then I'll giggle, because it's funny but also because it's true.
Hell, my ass is fat too, who cares?
Who cares how my ass looks in my jeans or how my jeans look around my ass?
Am I comfortable? Am I happy? Do I have enough water to drink?
THEN IT'S ALL GOOD!
I think most people worry too much about the stupid shit that really shouldn't even be a blip on the radar most days.
You've got food on the table? Good.
You've got money & means to pay the bills? Good.
You've got family & friends who love you for you? Good.
Quit'cher bitchin!

It's funny, I've always prided myself on being a woman who is true to myself.
I speak my mind, I never back down from something I believe in,
I'm so strong willed & stubborn & voice the deepest desires of my heart.
I speak loud, I live big and I love deeply...

I've never been one to 'skirt around the "white elephant in the center of the room"
shit to please the masses.
I'd be the first person saying with my jaw falling to the floor shouting:
'HOLY SHIT, IS THAT A HUGE ASS WHITE ELEPHANT OR WHAT?"
loud enough for anyone within a ten mile radius to hear.
My personality is what it is.
And sometimes, most times, people don't like me.
Sure they think I'm cute, they think I'm funny, they know I'm good to have around
cuz I'm the comic relief, the life of the party...
But deep down, they find me crass & loud & obnoxious & rude.
And it's not because I mean to be that way, it's just who I am.
And I guess that saddens me a little bit too.
Some say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, and maybe they're right...
... but you know what? I don't want to learn new tricks.
I don't have it in me to be anything but who I am.
I can't be fake
The only thing I've ever wanted is to be true to myself,
to the Amy who isn't afraid to speak her mind.
Ever.
The Amy who'se never smart enough to know when to shut up but at the end of the day
is proud that I never once wavered in my beliefs, my conversations, my convictions.

I don't lie to myself, therefore I was never a good liar to others either.

I know some have the gift of 'tact'...
Me?
Not. So. Much.

A friend and I were recently having a conversation about this exact topic & I said to her:
"You know, I just don't think before I speak..."
and she said to me,
"It's not that you don't think before you speak, you just speak exactly what you're thinking... there's something to be said for that."

Maybe she's right.

To anyone I've ever offended for any reason, I'm Sorry.

But I'll never be sorry for ever speaking my mind about something I truly believe in & felt with my heart & soul.
I think it's sadder to be untrue to myself for the sake of appeasing the masses,
than it is to inadvertently hurt other's feelings because of the strength of my convictions.
Because, let's be honest...
at the end of the day, it's only me, myself & I who I have to be happy with & proud of...

and every night, after I've tucked my daughter into bed and transferred a kiss gently from my lips to hers with the soft sweep of my finger, I know in my heart that I'm doing right by her.
I'm teaching her honesty & truth & self respect and diginity and morals.
I'm teaching her through example,
that it's so important to never lose yourself to the mass chaos that is life.

If Ruby grows up to be half as outspoken & honest & strong willed & loving as I am,
I'll know I've done right by & for her.
Nobody's ever taken advantage of me when it's really mattered
& I'll be damned if it will ever happen to my daughter.
I'll raise her smarter than the average girl... God willing.

On that note, I'm gonna go do my shot & slip into an exhaustion induced coma.
G'night.

Ruby's friend Joely...

... has her VERY OWN BLOG!!!
Look to your right under "Waiting & Waiting & Waiting Some More..." & check out: Family Blend...
Her & her Mommy were the 'perfect family' that I really wanted to work for had they not been so far away. Sadly, they had to hire another nanny in the end, one who was closer & didn't mind driving in the snow. It was fantastic though to meet them & make some wonderful new friends!
Ruby & Joely had alot of fun together & Joely's Mom said that she STILL talks about her friend Ruby...
"Ruby have poopie diaper?",
"Ruby take Joely's sippy, Amy said no Ruby take Joely's sippy..."
"Ruby go tunnel?"
TOO CUTE! I look forward to making Family Blend... another of my daily reads & so should you.
ps. Check out Bear's cameo on their blog header... He certainly gets AROUND! hehehe
He's a Bear about TOWN! *grin* Maybe that's why Ruby loves him so much... hee hee

A moment of silence...

... for my adorable, talented, funky white soul boy Elliot Yamin.

I have no words...
I'm truly saddened that he's going home tonight...
I honestly thought it was going to be a Taylor/Elliot finale...

With that said, Elliot has NOTHING to be sad about IN THE LEAST!
That vote was SO CLOSE that honestly, they ARE ALL WINNERS!
Elliot is BEYOND GIFTED and I KNOW IN MY HEART
that he is GOING to make an INCREDIBLE ALBUM someday soon,
and I will be the FIRST ONE IN LINE TO BUY IT!
Elliot, Ruby & I adore you & will continue to keep you and your Mother & all your family in our thoughts & prayers. You done good my friend, beyond anyone's wildest dreams...
... you not only move Paula, but you move me as well.

Sad, sad, sad... and my apologies to those of you on the west coast who didn't know yet, I couldn't NOT blog about this, I'm just feeling like I've had the wind knocked out of me & emotions this fresh have to be captured in the heat of the moment.

Elliot, always sing like YAMIN it!
BOSTON LOVES YOU!!!!!!!!!

xoxoxo

-Amy & Ruby

Ginger Snap needs a good home...

... and NO I'm NOT going to be the one adopting her-
however,


I think she's just deliciously ADORABLE
and would love to see her find a wonderful home.


If anyone is interested in adopting this little beauty, feel free to contact:
Mildred Muse