Monday, January 25, 2010

Roasted Corn Soup with Avocado Salsa

I made this the other night, and it is definitely a new family favorite! When the hot creamy soup meets the chilled avocado salsa, it's heavenly. Give it a try!

(the recipe serves 8...I cut it in half and it was perfect for dinner for two with left overs for lunch!)

Soup:
2 medium red onions, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 small jalapenos, finely chopped
11 cups of frozen corn
6 cups of chicken or vegetable broth
2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp ground coriander
1 cup heavy cream

Salsa: (even if you're cutting the recipe in half, make the same amount of salsa--it's so good)
1/2 cup tomatoes, diced
2 tbsp cilantro, chopped
juice of 1/2 lime
1 avocado, diced
salt and pepper to taste

To make the soup:
Preheat oven to 400*. In a bowl, coat 6 cups of the frozen corn lightly with oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for about 15 minutes or until the kernels are a deep golden brown. You may need to stir the corn halfway through. When done, reserve 1 cup of the corn for the salsa and set the remaining 5 cups aide.
After chopping the onion, reserve 1/4 cup for the salsa. Saute the remaining onion in a little bit of oil until translucent. After chopping the jalapeno, reserve 1 tbsp for the salsa and add the remainder along with the garlic to the pot. Add the 5 cups of roasted corn and the 5 cups frozen corn along with the spices and broth and cook on high heat for 10-15 minutes. Puree the soup in batches until smooth and return to the pot. Simmer on low heat as long as you wish. Just before serving, stir in the cream.

To make the salsa:
combine the reserved onion, jalapeno, and corn in a bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and season to taste.

Top off the soup with a spoonful of the salsa (and a dollop of sour cream, if you like) and enjoy!

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Roasted Corn Soup with Avocado Salsa

I made this the other night, and it is definitely a new family favorite! When the hot creamy soup meets the chilled avocado salsa, it's heavenly. Give it a try!

(the recipe serves 8...I cut it in half and it was perfect for dinner for two with left overs for lunch!)

Soup:
2 medium red onions, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 small jalapenos, finely chopped
11 cups of frozen corn
6 cups of chicken or vegetable broth
2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 tsp ground coriander
1 cup heavy cream

Salsa: (even if you're cutting the recipe in half, make the same amount of salsa--it's so good)
1/2 cup tomatoes, diced
2 tbsp cilantro, chopped
juice of 1/2 lime
1 avocado, diced
salt and pepper to taste

To make the soup:
Preheat oven to 400*. In a bowl, coat 6 cups of the frozen corn lightly with oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for about 15 minutes or until the kernels are a deep golden brown. You may need to stir the corn halfway through. When done, reserve 1 cup of the corn for the salsa and set the remaining 5 cups aide.
After chopping the onion, reserve 1/4 cup for the salsa. Saute the remaining onion in a little bit of oil until translucent. After chopping the jalapeno, reserve 1 tbsp for the salsa and add the remainder along with the garlic to the pot. Add the 5 cups of roasted corn and the 5 cups frozen corn along with the spices and broth and cook on high heat for 10-15 minutes. Puree the soup in batches until smooth and return to the pot. Simmer on low heat as long as you wish. Just before serving, stir in the cream.

To make the salsa:
combine the reserved onion, jalapeno, and corn in a bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and season to taste.

Top off the soup with a spoonful of the salsa (and a dollop of sour cream, if you like) and enjoy!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Today's Laugh

I can't believe I forgot to write this down!

Last week, the 4/5 graders took a Social Studies test on early American history. One of the short answer questions asked, "What brought the Spanish to the Americas? What brought the African peoples to the Americas?"

The correct answer would have been something like, "The Spanish came to the Americas in search of gold, land, and wealth. The African peoples were brought to the Americas to works as slaves."

The student answer which gave me the biggest smile simply said "boats and boats."



Another favorite moment:

During a Language Arts lesson, I was teaching the kids how to use comparative language (more/most). Making sure that they didn't overuse it (i.e. "That was more better"), I gave them several examples to practice with.

"Who can tell me w
hat's wrong with this sentence," I asked, "'Did you know that cats are the most popularest pets in the United States?'"

JJ popped his hand up and said quickly, "It's wrong because cats aren't--dogs are!"


Saturday, January 16, 2010

Sad day

I learned this week that the reason I can't get on the internet with my laptop is because the internal internet port thingy is broken. SAD DAY!!! It turns out that to repair that would cost more than the computer is worth. Mourn. It is an old computer...I bought it in 2006 to replace the one that was stolen at school. Sad.

The only time I'm able to get on the internet now is when Jesse's computer is at home (but that usually means that Jesse is home, so why would I be using a computer?) But it's a Mac, so I can't transfer my pictures from my external hard drive to his computer because they're not compatible. Which means all of my pictures sit on a completely useless computer (unless you use computers for anything other than the internet, which in this stage of my life, I don't!)

So I guess I'll be on the search for a new computer. Until then, we will see how things go!

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

My Year Summed up in Statuses

We've been without internet for a week at our house, and I'm dying to blog with pictures of our recent doings. I'll catch up this weekend (hopefully--if stupid AT&T; gets their act together!) But for now, here is what I can do: sum up my year using statuses I put on facebook.

January
♥ Bethany...made caramel apples with Jesse tonight--yum!
♥ ...knows there's a cricket in this house somewhere...
♥ ...is not wild about 5am
♥...is counting down. 8 more days of student teaching!
♥...is so over student teaching. grrr.
♥...is in her last week of student teaching!
♥...is down to her LAST DAY OF STUDENT TEACHING!!!
♥...is FINISHED!
♥...is a baking fiend.
♥...loves the sound of rain on the roof.
♥...is being blessed by the truest Samaritan
♥...is sick of being sick.


February
♥...not only survived her first day of substituting, but loved it!
♥...loves playing Scrabble with Jesse when it's pouring outside and there's a fire going in the hearth ♥
♥...is amazed that there is so much hail on the ground that it looks like snow!
♥...is making soap and valentines
♥...got a surprise visit from her daddy today!
♥...loves her guy
♥...taught 6th, 7th, and 8th grade physical science, life science, geography, powerpoint, and algebra today...and now my brain hurts!
♥...is excited that her sisters are coming this weekend!
♥...is eating pink grapefruit and working on an internet assignment.
♥...does not appreciate finding cat hair in her grapefruit.

March

♥...thought I was bleeding until I realized that I had tomato sauce on my forehead. (?)
♥...is getting ready to spend her morning in line at the DMV (blah)
♥...was so proud of shopping during the 8 hour sale at Alberstons...but totally missed that it doesn't begin until 1!
♥...is feeling crafty
♥...is excited about a weekend of family and old friends
♥...feels like it's way too early to be this late. (silly daylight savings...)
♥...is decoupaging while cookies bake
♥...Bethany is wearing PINK today!
♥...is getting ready to say goodbye to Jesse for a week... :'(
♥...all by me onesy
♥...is looking for fun St Patty's class activities to make subbing fun tomorrow :)
♥...is living the life...pjs, tea, crochet, and best friend!
♥...is heading to San Bernardino to hang out with my mom-in-law!
♥...is blissfully happy that her handsome guy is HOME!!!
♥...heading to Ventura this afternoon to see Laura perform!
♥...is cooling down from a great work out and gearing up to do spring cleaning
♥...loves dancing to love songs from the 40's & 50's while house cleaning

April

♥...my baby sister is 16 today!
♥...is harping away
♥...Worthy is the Lamb whose death makes me His own!
♥...Christo anesti!
♥...is doing a dance of triumph around her car after replacing the brake light all by herself!
♥...can replace a car bulb, but wishes she could replace brakes, radiators, and oil filters, because that's what the mechanic is billing her for today (OUCH!)
♥...is baking on a sugar hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh
♥...feels like the week disappeared...it kind of did.
♥...misses the beach
♥...is listening to hymns on pandora
♥...is excited to polish the heirloom silver my mother-in-law just gave me
♥...is itching for a vegetable garden
♥...is winding down from the craziest subbing day ever.
♥...is thankful that Jesse loves her (even when she's grumpy) ♥
♥...has an exciting afternoon ahead of her: 5 loads of laundry???
♥...is excited to surprise Jesse with two days of spending time with Max before we take him to his new home
♥...is helping my mother-in-law move today (and is *ecstatic* that my flower seedlings sprung up over night!!!)

May

♥...singing with Ella Fitzgerald and getting ready for a trip to see my family!
♥...spent the afternoon up to my elbows in dirt (and am excited about growing tomatoes, strawberries, and cucumbers!)
♥...now has a porch full of posies as well as a patio packed with produce (points for alliteration, possibly?) :)
♥...is cleaning up after a lovely Mother's Day celebration at our house...and praying that Jesse and Jon don't blow the house up while installing a ceiling fan...
♥...is planning our anniversary trip! ♥
♥...is excited that Jesse will be home for dinner for the first time this week! Hmmmmmm...what to make, what to make... :)
♥...Congrats to all the CUI graduates! I'm there with you in heart! (and subbing for one of your moms so that she can be there!) :)
♥...surprise date night? what?!?! :)
♥...isn't sure what disturbed me more: Jesse's face as he snatched a slice of bread out of my hand, or realizing that I just bit into moldy bread.
♥...spent the day with my sister Kate at APU getting her all set for the fall. So excited that she'll be nearby!
♥...is marinating steak
♥...nothing like breakfast in bed with your husband and mimosas! ♥
♥...loves days like this
♥...has her new swimsuit, and new sleeping bag, and is all set for our anniversary trip!!!
♥...is tuckered out

June

♥...lost two games of monopoly to Jesse this weekend and is hiding the game board.
♥...is off celebrating my 1st anniversary with that handsome husband of mine. Back to the real world on June 9th!
♥...had an amazing trip with Jesse, and is happy to be home ♥
♥...is picking all the M&Ms; out of the trailmix.
♥...just got a Senior Citizen offer from Sunset Magazine???
♥...is blog blog blogging
♥...Has a wonderful day ahead, but still doesn't want to get out of bed!
♥...is obsessed with lavender
♥...is laughing that Kate thought we wrote the "3 cornered hat" song when we were kids :)
♥...is spending the day in Hollywood with Kate
♥...first day of summer job!
♥...last day of VBS...then life can resume!
♥...is sick, but has the most wonderful husband in the world who draws baths for me while he cleans house! ♥ ♥ ♥

July

♥...is happy about so many things
♥...picked my very first tomato from my plant today :)
♥...is loving this Sunday! Just made lemonade with my handsome guy and now we're getting ready to sit down for an all american meal: grilled steak, corn on the cob, baked beans, and rolls :)
♥...is cleaning house. if you don't hear from me within 2 hours, assemble a rescue party!
♥...gave up on cleaning a while ago and blogged instead :-D
♥...migraine...

August

♥...is enjoying an afternoon of absolute r e s t
♥...my laptop is resting on a cookie cooling rack so it doesn't overheat and crash for the bazillionth time.
♥...just finished The Giver...and is loving the challenge of reading all the Newbery Awards!
♥...off to my Papa Don's 80th birthday party...after sleeping (?) on the floor of our church with high schoolers overnight.
♥...just woke up...wow, this morning feels like yesterday!
♥...can actually see the flames from our house. wow!
♥...is loved ♥<
br />♥...is truly blessed by amazing friends!

September

♥...can add "Mrs. Bakery," "Mrs. Rudabager," "Mrs. Rule Breaker," and "Mrs. Rude Baker" to my list of name contortions. Yay for first grade subbing :)
♥...just dropped my cellphone in the bathtub. Ooops...
♥...is enjoying a quiet night at home
♥...is spending the afternoon with her sister ♥
♥...is feeling oh-so-productive in a not-priorities-first kind of way.
♥...loves, loves, loves her guy ♥
♥...loves cuddling up and watching Fiddler on the Roof
♥...is learning how to line dance :)
♥...totally loves that one of her first graders broke out singing the "Numa Numa" song during math time yesterday... :)
♥...my Papa Chuck is in the hospital...please pray for him!
♥...farewell, 22!
♥...Yay for free Dland entry on your birthday! :)
♥...is happy that Jesse had a great time at the dce conference, but is sooo ready for him to come home! hours away...

October

♥...is driving up to spend this weekend with family :)
♥..."Mrs. Brubaker, hugging you is like hugging a tree!"
♥...saying goodbye to my first graders today :( But thank you, Lord, for an amazing 7 weeks!
♥...is annoyed with her neighbor's alarm clock for going off for over an hour, but only mostly because it's rarely on beat with my music.
♥...is driving up to celebrate my Papa Chuck's 85th birthday!
♥...line dancing was cancelled tonight...all the sudden, there's a world of possibilties!
♥...hello, Autumn!
♥...is baking up a storm for tonight's Jr. High Halloween Party (and trying not to eat it all before it gets there!)
♥...oh. my. gosh. jr highers are crazy!!! but tonight was a lot of fun :)
♥...is excited about going to Oak Glen tomorrow with her handsome man!

November

♥...ohhh...beloved, restful Sundays!
♥...had breakfast in Derby, Kansas yeserday, lunch in Oklahoma City, got an ice cream cone in Shamrock, Texas, ate dinner in Tucumcari, New Mexico, and grabbed a midnight snack in Needles, Arizona. My, what a trip! But ohhhhhhh, it's sweet to be home :)
♥...saw a car dealership sign yesterday that said "If Your Not Buying Your Car Here Your Paying Too Much!" and it's been driving me CRAZY ever since.
♥...is itchin' to make something yummy in the kitchen. That boy will never want to leave home again! ♥
♥...sitting on hold and listening to Beatles music! Even though I'm calling with a complaint, Kitchenaid automatically gets a gold star
♥...pumpkin pie for breakfast
♥...ok...so, I was just at the grocery store, and as a man passed me in the aisle, he tipped his hat, smiled, and said "Have a happy Thanksgiving, Miss America."
♥...So much to be thankful for...Happy Thanksgiving!

December
♥...is preparing for tomorrow night's Advent by Candlelight (and having lots of fun) :)
♥...loves the man who spent his day doing laundry and yardwork ♥
♥...loves the ancient Thermador heater in our bathroom, and listening to big band Christmas music while getting ready in the morning
♥...loves decorating for Christmas with the one she loves!
♥...spent $40 at Macys today and saved $60. That is my kind of shopping!!
♥...date night! ♥
♥...grr...stupid strings popping when I've got two gigs this weekend!
♥...loves being heartily involved in two schools and being enveloped in their portrayals of the beautiful story of Advent
♥...just took a "half hour nap" that turned into two and a half hours!
♥...loves hosting the annual high school Christmas white elephant exchange/party at our house. Enough laughs for a week!
♥...gets to hide in the lectern and watch the elementary Christmas program from behind tonight (while dutifully shhh-ing kids and feeding lines) :)
♥...just spent 2.5 hours on a bus with 67 kids. And it was the driver's first day!
♥...baked cookies and pies by candlelight last night while good old Edison was working on the neighborhood power lines. 12 hours of no electricity was certainly an experience!
♥...totally just met Margaret O'Brien!
♥...laughs that the automated juror message warns that "the temperature in the courtroom can be unpredictable, so dress accordingly."
♥...is HAPPY!!! They let us all go home at 12 :) I can think of more exciting ways to spend Christmas break than in a Los Angeles courtroom jury box!
♥...what a beautiful testimony of God's grace--Papa Chuck became a Christian on Sunday, and went home to be with his Savior Creator yesterday. John 11:25-27