Sniffles & Snow

Oh, the snow is coming down! Big fluffy flakes. Finally, it is winter.

And now that I have said that, I think I'm already ready for springtime. Just kidding. I like some elements of winter. I like bundling up both indoors and outdoors. Wearing lots of layers and snuggling close to the ones you love. I love spending nights with hot cocoa and a movie or a good book. I love the smell of the fireplace at my grandma's house. Oh, grandma's house. How I wish I could be there now....(Especially now because they're snow birding in Florida...where it is not snowing).

But along with winter, comes the sniffles, which I have battling these past couple days. Yuck! I do not like being sick. As if anyone does, but it seems to be even more annoying when you're older because you don't get to stay home from school. Sure, you can stay home from work, but there isn't nearly as much enjoyment out of staying home from work because its all still there tomorrow, just piled up more.

Although, I am pretty fortunate to have someone who loves me enough to take care of me when I have the sniffles. Yesterday, I spent the day on the couch not leaving except when I ran out of tissues. My faithful companion, Winnie, laid with me most of the day. I swear that dogs take on whatever emotion you are feeling. So, Winnie and I watched countless episodes of reruns and the newest episode of The Bachelor. Thankfully, Jake went to the store for more medicine and made me chicken noodle soup and 7UP, which always makes me feel better. So today I got off the couch and went back to daily life. Still sniffling just a little...but now the snow is falling and its beautiful.

Also, Winnie got her first haircut. She went from a floppy puppy to a little lady!

Cozy weekend & soup

It snowed for the first time this week and Winnie had her first snow experience. 

The rest of this weekend was filled with warm, coziness, movies and reading.

I have started reading this book and so far I am loving it. I also tried a new recipe today (you know to continue my resolution). Snowy weather and Jake has been feeling a little under the weather, so I figured soup would be the best. So I made Tomato Basil Soup. So, good. It's definitely something we'll eat again. I paired it with a provolone,tomato grilled cheese sandwich.
 

Tomato Basil Soup

3 cloves of garlic, minced

2 tablespoons of olive oil

2 - 14 oz. cans of crushed tomatoes

1 - 14 oz. can of whole tomatoes*

2 cups of stock (chicken or vegetable)

1 tsp of sea salt

1 tsp of sugar

1/2 tsp of fresh ground black pepper

1/4 cup of heavy cream

3 tablespoons of fresh basil, julienned

Parmesan cheese

*I used peeled, fresh tomatoes and blended it all with an immersion blender.

In a saucepan, saute garlic in olive oil on medium heat for 1 minute.  Add the crushed tomatoes.  Add the whole tomatoes one at a time, squeezing them into the pan to break them up.  Add the juice from the whole tomatoes, as well.  Add chicken stock, salt, pepper and sugar.  Cook the soup on medium at a simmer for 10 minutes.  To finish, reduce the heat to low and stir in heavy cream and basil.