Thai Coconut Soup

Long time no post.  I've been posting, but just not here.  I've been on A Year in the Life for these past 4 years.  Sorry y'all.  :)  I'm going to make it up to you by posting a new delicious recipe for Thai Coconut Soup.

It's so easy.  I've tripled it so you can feed a family of 6, and maybe have a little left for the next day.  My crew are hearty eaters, so I have to make enough to feed the peeps.

I hope you enjoy it!
~ashley

Thai Coconut Soup
3 cans (14 oz) coconut milk
3 cans (14 oz) or 6 cups chicken broth (I use bouillon cubes & water)
18 quarter-size slices fresh ginger
3 stalks fresh lemongrass, cut in 1-inch pieces (I used lemongrass paste & it was fine)
3 pounds chicken cut into 1-inch pieces (optional)
3 cup sliced mushrooms (I forgot these, so if you don't like them, leave them out.)
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons Thai or Vietnamese fish sauce (nuoc mam or nam pla)
3 teaspoons sugar
3 teaspoons Thai chili paste (I made mine heaping, but I like spicy things.)
fresh basil & cilantro to garnish

• In a saucepan, combine coconut milk, broth, ginger, and lemongrass.  Bring to a boil over high heat.
• Add chicken, mushrooms, lime juice, fish sauce, sugar & chili paste.  Reduce heat a cook slowly until chicken is firm and opaque.  DO NOT BOIL chicken.  

Make Sure You Eat Your Peas

Happy New Year! 

Today would be my mother's 65th birthday.  It's hard to believe she's been gone 15 years.  In her memory I wanted to remind you to eat your blackeye peas.  I can't think of one New Year's day that we haven't eaten them.  Everytime I prepare them I think of her.  It's funny that I feel closest to her when I'm in the kitchen.  It was one of her most favorite places in the house, and our kitchen is the heart of our home. 

So make sure you eat your peas.  Praying God's blessings for you and your families!
Blessed beyond measure,
~ashley

New Recipe!!!

Hey everyone, I've posted a new recipe on my 'Year in the Life' blog.  I have six months left where I'll be blogging on it everyday.  So, if you haven't been over there to check it out, I hope you'll take the time to scoot on over.  :)

The great thing about this recipe is that it can be served as an appetizer, as a salad topper, or as part of a larger meal.  Very summery, very light, very yummy! 

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer!

Blessed beyond measure!
~ashley

I Don't Bake

I don't like to bake.  It requires exact measurements & you know I don't cook like that.  I'm a dumper, and that does not mesh well when you have to follow directions down to the ounce and teaspoon.  When you start dumping stuff it can make for one ugly looking & bad tasting dessert.  I just stay away from it & ask my mother-in-law to bring the dessert.  She's a wonderful baker!

One thing I can make though is a cookie cake.  My favorite part is the icing.  It's like painting, but with creamy yumminess instead of paint.  Of course the more icing you have on the cake the better, or that's the fam's opinion anyway.

Last night I made a cookie cake for the Rebel dance team from our high school.  They left for their National Competition in Orlando this morning, and were performing their routines for parents, grandparents, boyfriends, and friends.  I'm so proud of those girls, and wanted to send them off with a little 'good luck & I love you' cake.

I was kinda bummed.  The 'V' is supposed to be red, but with the white icing and red food coloring it turned pink.  The girls said they liked the pink better...I told you they were sweet! 

a close-up of my pink 'V' cookie cake

The cookie is nothing special, it's pre-made toll house cookie dough pressed into a huge rectangle baking pan, and then once it was cooled, I iced it.  No big deal, but it's the thought that counts anyway. 

I love you girls & can't wait to see how you do at Nationals!  I know you're going to knock'em dead!  Go Rebels!

Y'all be blessed beyond measure,
~ashley

Just Sayin' Hey

I wanted to remind  y'all that I'm posting everyday on my other blog:  A Year in the Life.  I would love for you to come on over & join me as I blog about my wonderfully crazy life!  I'm not posting here quite as much b/c right now we're so crazy that I'm cooking all my standby recipes the fam likes. 

We're coming up on prom season, so keep your eyes peeled, I may be trying something kinda cool for that...you never know!

Y'all be blessed beyond measure,
~ashley