Creamy chicken noodle soup

 Natasha's Kitchen

• 6 cups chicken broth, w used low sodium
• 5 cups water
• Salt to taste
• 3-4 chicken thighs, skinless (bone-in or boneless)
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 medium carrots, 2 carrots grated, 1 carrot sliced into thin rings or half circles
• 2 medium celery stalks, finely chopped or thinly sliced if you prefer
• 2 cups pasta such as rotini, egg noodles, or your favorite kind or could make dumplings
• 1 cup corn, from 15 oz can, or preferably 1 cooked cob
• 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 3 Tbsp fresh or frozen dill
• 1 tsp Mrs. Dash, or your favorite salt-free seasoning

12/5/22 I served this soup with homemade egg noodles

instead of pasts make Dumplings

1. In a large soup pot, combine 6 cups broth, 5 cups water and 1/2 Tbsp salt. Bring to a boil then add chicken thighs (no need to trim fat), and boil uncovered 20 min. Skim off impurities that rise to the top. While chicken is cooking, proceed with step 2.
2. Place a large pan over medium heat and add 2 Tbsp olive oil. Add chopped onion and sauté until softened (5 min), then increase heat to med/high and add grated carrots, chopped celery and sauté 5-7 min, stirring often until soft and golden then transfer to soup pot.
3. Remove chicken thighs from the pot and let rest until cool enough to handle, then use forks or hands to shred chicken, discarding any bones and fat (which should come off easily). Return shredded chicken to the pot (by the time it's cooled and shredded, this is usually after step 4).
4. Add 2 cups pasta, sliced carrots and corn to the soup pot and continue cooking 15 min at a low boil until pasta is at desired softness. You can skim off any excess oil from the top at this point if you want the soup to be a little lighter.
5. In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, melt 4 Tbsp butter, whisk in 1/3 cup flour and cook whisking constantly for 1 to 2 min or until just barely turning golden. Ladle 1 cup of hot broth from the soup pot into flour mixture, whisking continually until well blended then whisk in 1/2 cup heavy cream and transfer mixture to the soup pot, stirring until well blended.
6. Season soup with 1 tsp Mrs. Dash (or your favorite salt free seasoning) and more salt to taste if needed. Add 3 Tbsp dill then return to a boil and turn off the heat. Enjoy!

Maple sweet potato chicken

From Molly cash- she said, "This is so simple and really delicious. Every time I make it I wonder why we don’t have it more often."

• 1 lb Chicken Tenders ( I used chicken thighs)
• 1 Yellow Onions, small, cut into strips
• 2 Sweet Potatoes, cut into thin pieces, try cutting them in bigger chunks next time
• 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
• 1/3 cup Pure maple syrup ( I only had brown sugar)
• 1 tsp Salt
• Fresh ground pepper
• 1/2t Garlic powder
• 6 Sprigs Fresh Thyme, or can use dried ( I didn't have)

Preparation Steps
10/25/18- delicious

1. I covered the outside chicken (and stuffed under the skin) with brown sugar, salt, garlic, pepper. Then in a iron pan, I browned each side on the stove top. Not necessary, but I like crispier chicken.
2.  Toss chicken, potatoes and onions in olive oil. Put in 9x13 pan. Sprinkle all other ingredients over the top. Bake at 425 for 45-60 mins.

Pelvic strengthening exercises

Im peeing my pants still and that shows me I need to strengthen my pelvic floor and Molly sent me some info about exercises to do to improve it.

Mexican Haystacks

D*Delicious and BrightBlueKitchen
Serves 6

1 Tbs olive oil
1/2 onion, diced
1 tsp minced garlic
1 1/2 c rice*
1 can tomato sauce
1 1/2 tsp chicken base
1 1/2 c water
1/4 tsp (ish) cumin
1/4 t chili powdersalt & pepper to taste
fresh cilantro (optional - I didn't have any)
1 cup corn kernels
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup frozen peas


*It called for basmati.  I used long grain, since that's all I had.  I'm sure it'd be great with basmati.

Cook it all in one pan!!!

Heat olive oil in a large skillet (that has a lid!) & saute onions.  Add garlic toward the end so it doesn't scorch.  When onions are translucent, stir in rice until toasted (just a couple minutes).  Add everything else except cilantro.  Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat TO LOW & simmer until rice is cooked.  BE CAREFUL not to let it go too long.  This said 13-16 mins, but I would maybe check after 10. 

Serve on top-
black beans, fresh tomatoes, cheese, "guac" which turned out to just be packaged smashed avocados, sour cream, & crunched up tortilla chips.  Salsa would be good,

French Silk Chocolate Pie

All Recipes  and BrightBlueKitchen

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
3/4 cup white sugar
2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened baking chocolate, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 prepared 8 inch pastry shell, baked and cooled

Cream butter in a mixing bowl. Gradually beat in the sugar with an electric mixer until light colored and well blended. Stir in the thoroughly cooled chocolate, and vanilla extract.

Whip the egg whites in a separate bowl with 1/4 c sugar to help form stiff peaks. 

Then you are supposed to add the chocolate mixture to the egg white mixture which will give you plenty of filling for your pie with a taste that is heavenly and is so light and fluffy.

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating 5 minutes on medium speed after each addition. Spoon the chocolate filling into a cooled, baked pie shell.
Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.