Wisconsin Cheese Soup

I told a couple people that I would post this recipe.  It is SO good!
(Sorry, I don’t have a picture of it though!)
Wisconsin Cheese Soup
 
Prep Time: 15 min 
Cook Time: 20 min
Ready In: 35 min
Ingredients
5 tablespoons margarine
2 carrots, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
5 button mushrooms, chopped
1/2 cup chopped ham
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste  

Directions

  1. In a large heavy kettle, melt butter or margarine. Add carrots, celery, onion, green pepper, mushrooms, and ham; cook over medium heat until vegetables are crisp tender, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not brown.
  2. Stir in flour and cornstarch; cook, stirring constantly, about 3 minutes. Add broth and cook, stirring, until slightly thickened. Add milk, paprika, cayenne, and mustard.
  3. Stir in cheese gradually, stirring until cheese is melted. To avoid curdling, do not allow soup to boil after cheese is added. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve piping hot.

New Pages

It’s been a while since I’ve posted some pages I’ve finished.
I suppose that could be because I don’t really have much time anymore to do pages.
Hmm.  Go figure.

 (Ivon & I look so young in this picture!  We’re getting old!  AHHH!)

Apple

Christopher got an apple from Grandma and asked her if she would cut it up so he could eat it better.
Grandma asked him, “How do you want it cut?”
Christopher replied, “With a knife.”
;)

Inspiration…

I was just talking to an amazing friend of mine, 
telling her about the postpartum depression that’s hitting me pretty hard these days… 
and she said something that’s helped me a lot….
“You are Woman.  Bring it on!”
I think I need to make a plaque or something with that on it.
Thank you, Mandy!

Halloween

We had a fun Halloween!  Emily, Hannah, Robby and Christopher were Cowgirls and Cowboys.  Mallie was a ballerina.  They were all so cute.  They also got to go Trick or Treating for reals this year- not Trunk or Treating!  Mallie stayed home with me to greet those who came to our door.

(Although, I must admit it wasn’t as fun as Halloween 2009, when we all had the Swine Flu.  That year, the kids went Trick or Treating door to door in our house!  We also bought the good candy….Mmmmm!  So much fun!)

(Oh, and the sheets behind them are to hide the mound of clean laundry behind it… It’s been a busy five weeks!  I can’t finish anything!)