Zuppa Tuscana knockoff

Once upon a time I was making a soup that was supposed to resemble corn chowder, but I was out of a couple of the key ingredients, so I substituted with other things that I did have and voila! a delicious soup resembling Olive Garden's Zuppa Tuscana was created.  Here are the specifics for all of you who have been wondering.  (I apologize for the lack of exactness.  As this was an accident to begin with I have never really written it down and still tend to just eyeball it.  But don't worry.  You'll do great as I know that almost everyone that will be reading this will be more advanced in the culinary arts than me.  Enjoy!)

Zuppa Tuscana

6-8 Potatoes (maybe more maybe less depending on their size)
1 pkg spinach
2-3 T. butter
16 oz. package sausage
12 oz. can evaporated milk
salt 
pepper
italian spices
Nature's seasoning

Peel and slice potatoes in thin slices like you would for scalloped potatoes.  There should be enough to fill your pan about halfway.  Fill the pan with enough water to cover the potatoes plus just a little bit more and set to boiling.  In separate pan combine a couple tablespoons of butter and the bag of spinach.  Saute the spinach in the butter and as it wilts chop it into little pieces with your spatula.  Cook your sausage like you would hamburger (don't drain, the grease in the soup broth is delicious although slightly less waist friendly-it's just better if you don't think about it).  Add your cooked spinach, sausage, and evaporated milk to the potatoes once they are fully cooked (do not drain potatoes) and stir.  Once the evapporated milk has been added DON'T bring to a boil again.  This can be disastrous.  Now here is where the guess work comes in.  Add some salt, pepper, italian seasoning or nature's seasoning (if you have some) or whatever else you like to season with or sounds good to you.  I just keep adding until it tastes good and I can see an even mixture of little seasoning particles floating happily in my broth.

Anyway, that is it.  Enjoy and substitute or add to anything you want because "When you are here, You're family".   
 




Getting ready for church is quite the process now that it includes a tiny baby.  This is Lance's first time completing the entire process from start to finish all by himself.  (well, except for picking out the cute girly outfit, that was still me) What a good daddy!!


WHAT!!  The Harris blog has been updated?  It is true.  Miracles do happen.  As a mostly stay at home mom, I have decided to take command of this ship.  This is my first attempt, so if you would please keep your laughs to a minimum and only do so behind my back I would appreciate it.  I hope you enjoy seeing the events of our lives as we certainly enjoyed experiencing them. Next time maybe you should come along.  Then you wouldn't have to read about it on our blog.  Just a thought. 
In anticipation of the professional photo shoot we were going to have with Alex, we decided to practice some of the trickier poses we knew we would be asked to do so that we wouldn't "A" look like idiots or "B" drop the baby, a much worse alternative.  Here is what it looks like done at home with a cell phone camera. (hmph amateurs)


And here is what it looks like done in the hands of a professional with a big mondo camera.  Thanks Toni!  Your the best.

Here are some more pictures that display Toni's expertise as well as allow you to more fully absorb the cuteness of this baby.  Enjoy.

The cutest frog ever!



This one we affectionately call Popeye.

One great "small" happy family.





Home is a big place

Well, that is about all I have to say about that.

Special Talents


What a good girl.  She already knows how to pray.  True, she is doing it with her feet, but we'll get things squared away eventually.  This is actually her trip home from the hospital.  What a cutie!

There's my mom

It took about a half hour after birth before Lindsay was able to hold her due to the c-section. But she was sure glad to see a beautifully bathed and washed healthy baby.
We feel so lucky. I really am amazed at the knowledge our doctors and staff had to deliver her. Thank you Dr Healy and Dale and staff. Today was truly a miracle.


photo posted from my iPhone

Daddy's little girl

She looks so little next to her dad's abnormally large hands.



photo posted from my iPhone
Her eyes aren't really that dark. A bit weird lighting here.



photo posted from my iPhone

Baby Alex is here!

7lbs 3oz 20 inches. Dark hair dark eyes and beautiful. She came c- section at around 2:00pm after the attempt to turn her around was unsuccessful.
Lindsay is doing very well too. We are parents now, weird, but awesome.
I will try and post a few more pics but I can only post one at a time on my phone so patience.



photo posted from my iPhone

Emery Harris Watkins


I realize that I have not yet posted a picture of Rob and Maren's first little cutie. He is such a good kid. I have not heard him cry at all really. He is about a month old now. If you want more details go to their blog.

Mario Kart on acid


Yes, those collars are popped people. You can only play Mario Kart so long before you get the hankerin to do the real thing. Lindsay found out that you get a free race on your birthday, so I went racing at this place on both my birthday and Rob's which are like a week apart. This place is literally about a mile away from our house, who knew.

Mario Kart Wii

Mario Kart Wii online informs me of something I have long known. Just read the top line and stop, that's what I did. (crying optional)

Sully the seagull


That's what we named this little trooper. As we at our lunch in the park across from my work. My coworker starting throwing scraps of food to the seagulls. This little guy was more aggressive than the others, so Zach (my coworker) decide to encourage his gluttony. He threw him an entire drumstick and much too our surprise he didn't just pick the remaining meat off the bone, he swallowed the entire bone whole. Insatiable as ever, he demanded more. This picture was taken after he ate two drumsticks whole (look at the bulge in his neck). He was able to gag down a third but I couldn't get a picture before he flew off feeling, no doubt, a little queasy. I tried to look up online to see if he would be okay so I could quell the fears of animal lovers, but then I realized I don't much care, it was his own greed that caused him what I imagine to be immense discomfort.

Easter egg hunt

Bay Christian makes the blog again with this obviously planted egg discovery.



posted from iPhoneSlide.com

Fillmore


We went down to fillmore last weekend for Tyrell's farewell (Lindsay's youngest brother). He did a great job on his talk and we got to spend some time with the Beckstrand clan. the snow wasn't great but little Emma sure wanted to go sledding, so I became a sleigh horse for awhile. Good times.

The Roof



We went with Rob and Maren to the roof restaurant for Lindsay's and Maren's birthdays. It was delicious and muy carro. We saw senator Orrin Hatch there as well, and I got to shake his hand (no one else did.) Not as exciting as you might expect. In the top picture you can see the piano player that was amazingly good, so good in fact that she didn't need to look at her hands while playing so she would have intense stare downs with you. Awkward.

Bay Christrian


My nephew is stylin' and cute.

Princess Party

In front is my cute niece Abbie (Erica's daughter). My help was enlisted to go be out on the ice with a bunch of seven year old skating princesses. It was one of my finest hours. Luckily they had a pink crown just big enough for me so I didn't look out of place.

Kara Irene Thompson

The newest edition to the Thompson family. I know it took a long time to post so she's older now, sorry. Actually, Garett has another little boy too named Link (sp?) but I don't have a picture yet.