Salad Soup and Dumplings...weird, I know, but good!!

...on my own... felt like comfort food... homemade soup!  

...warmed some olive oil in a pot... 

...threw in diced onion and 7 or 8 tiny, new potatoes, washed and cubed. 

Good smells already!!

...checked the fridge and out came the remains of a salad from the night before... spinach, tomatoes, yellow pepper, green onions...

  

Could be interesting!  Added the salad to the pot.

What else??

... 1/2 cup salsa

... 1/2 cup leftover spaghetti sauce 

... 1 1/2 cups of water

... a splash of Worcestershire sauce

... 2 Tbsp. homemade salt substitute seasoning

My soup simmered happily for about 20 minutes and then I added...

Dumplings!

1/2 cup flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

Mix dry ingredients, then cut in 

1/2 Tbsp. butter

Stir in 1/4 cup of milk to make a soft dough.

Drop spoonfuls onto soup.  

Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.

NO PEEKING!!

Comfort food...always hits the spot!

The Country Cook Weekend Potluck #35

# 17 On baby's bookshelf...

"So please, oh PLEASE, we beg, we pray, 

Go throw your TV set away, 

And in its place you can install, 

A lovely bookshelf on the wall."

― Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Some favourite authors for little ones...

BARBARA REID: Sing a Song of Mother Goose; Zoe's Year

MEM FOX: Time for Bed; Ten Little Fingers & Ten Little Toes

EILEEN CHRISTELOW: Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

MARGARET WISE BROWN: Goodnight Moon

SANDRA BOYNTON: Barnyard Dance

JANET & ALLAN AHLBERG: Each Peach Pear Plum; Peepo

KATHY STINSON: Red is Best

# 16 Once upon a time...

Yesterday, Little Princess and her mother went to Story Time at our local library for the very first time.  As she is not quite five months old, some of you might ask....why??  Even very young babies enjoy the action songs and nursery rhymes they learn with their mothers in the library. They listen and absorb language as they're read simple board books. They're learning that books and reading are valued.

"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."

― Emilie Buchwald

How true! 

Reading with your baby is such an important first step on the road to literacy.  

TOMORROW....some of my favourite board books for little ones

# 15 The grape harvest continues! Today...grape jelly!

It was a very "purple" day!  

Bernardin Original Pectin has detailed directions for making all kinds of jam and jelly.

Grape Jelly

Measure 5 cups of grape juice into a large, stainless steel saucepan.  Add 1/2 tsp. butter (to reduce the foaming) and one box of pectin.  Stir and bring to a full rolling boil.  Add 6 cups sugar, return to a full boil and boil hard for one minute.  Remove from heat.  Skim off foam.  Fill jars.  Makes 8 cups.

Instead of processing the jelly, I filled small plastic containers to give to friends to eat right away.

# 14 Movie Night? Consider seeing Take This Waltz...

Last night we went to see Take This Waltz (2011), a Canadian film, written and directed by Sarah Polley.  (Perhaps you remember Sarah Polley from her acting days as lead child actress in the Ramona series and Anne of Green Gables.)  Although billed as a comedy/drama, this movie was actually quite dark and sad.  Its main objective was to have you reflect on how people choose their own path and how (sadly) some people can't ever feel content with the choices they've made.  The three key actors, Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen and Luke Kirby, were excellent.  Well worth seeing.

#13 Sandra Juto's photo blog

If you have time this morning to wander around the world, visit Sandra Juto in Berlin.  She has an amazing blog - few words, incredible photographs.  Originally from Sweden, Sandra now lives in Berlin.  Peek into her world!  Visit an open air market, walk up the staircase to her apartment, visit her uncle's home in Sweden.  For me, her pictures bring back wonderful memories of living and travelling in Europe.  In her blog Sandra also showcases some of the art design work she has done.  On the side, she makes wrist worms.  I'd love to learn how to knit a pair!

# 12 A "Linky" Experiment!!

So, we're trying something new tonight...hope it works!!  I've linked a previous post, Oatmeal Muffins, to a "Weekend Potluck" at The Country Cook.

Here, have an oatmeal muffin!  They really are tasty and super simple to make.  

While you're over at the potluck, check out some of the other posts Country Cook has put up lately.  Currently, she's sitting up in my Bookmark Bar and I make a point of checking her site a couple of times each week.  Lots of good cooking and well-written posts!

Hey!  I'm curious!  Which recipe sites do you like best?  

Happy Saturday!