Ski & Stay GIVEAWAY

Please go HERE to check out this AWESOME giveaway my friend Sharlene is doing!

OH I HOPE I WIN!

Lasagna Soup

I just had to post this recipe.  I made this last night for my mom and it is now my FAVORITE soup.  It takes a little time but sooo worth it!  It seriously was AMAZING!

Christy’s LASAGNA SOUP

2 tsp olive oil

1 1/2 lbs bulk Italian sausage

2 onions, finely chopped

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 tsp oregano

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

2 T tomato paste

1 (28 oz) cans diced tomatoes

6 cups chicken broth

2 bay leaves

8 oz fusilli pasta

1/2 C finely chopped fresh basil

8 oz ricotta

1/2 C grated parmesan

1/4 tsp salt

pinch pepper

2 C shredded mozzarella

In a large pot, heat the oil over med heat.  Add the sausage and saute’, breaking it up into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until the sausage is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.

Drain any excess fat from the pot.  Add the onions and saute’ until softened, about 6 minutes.

Add garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes and saute’ for 1 minute. 

Add tomato paste and sauté until the paste turns a rusty brown, about 5 minutes. 

Add tomatoes with their juice, the broth and the bay leaves and bring the soup to a boil. 

Reduce the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes.

Add the pasta, then increase the heat to medium-high and boil the soup until the pasta is tender to the bite, following the time recommendations on the pasta package. 

Discard the bay leaves, then stir in the basil.  If desired, season with salt and black pepper to taste.

In a small bowl, combine the ricotta, the parmesan, the 1/4 tsp salt and the pinch of pepper. 

To serve, place about 1 - 2 tablespoons of the ricotta mixture in each bowl, sprinkle with some of the mozzarella, and ladle the soup on top.

ENJOY!!

WAGIE RIDES FOR TUESDAY

So as you know... in Denver they were doing "wagie rides" in honor of Tuesday. Well since I couldn't make it to Colorado we joined in on the virtual wagon ride from PA. We were at Brittani's volleyball tournament at Cal-U and since it was a "warm" day, we walked all around the campus and did our "wagie ride" too!

(Well... we didn't have a "wagie" so we used a worm!)

sorry for the poor quality..

A couple more pictures!

We weren't able to find balloons anywhere that day and it's been raining ever since so we plan on doing our balloon release this Saturday, Valentine's Day.

FOR TUESDAY

Tuesday and Piper

Tuesday's family is having a memorial for Tuesday this Saturday. (I have been trying so very very hard to get there but it's not looking possible)

Anyway, there is going to be a parade in celebration of Tuesday's life. In this parade they are doing "wagie rides" (Tuesday's very favorite thing) and then releasing balloons with Nuks (binkies) attached to them (Tuesday loved her binkies!).

If you would like to join in on the celebration of Tuesday's life but can't make it to CO and would like to show your love and support to the Whitt Family, I am asking that you join me in doing your own balloon release this Saturday! And take pictures! If you can send them to me over the weekend that would be great! I have a great friend that is going to do something very special with all of the pictures.

You can send the pictures to christeez6 @ gmail . com (take out the spaces)

Another thing you can do is to go here and read about her fabulous idea for a virtual "wagie ride" parade. You can click on the button on the left side of my blog to join in and don't forgot to come back next week to see how many people joined in on the "wagie ride" parade!

I'm hoping these things will bring a smile to the Whitt's faces.. if even for just a moment. (I LOVE YOU JK!!)