Tuesday

Yesterday I asked Sophie if she wanted to take a shower. I turned on the water and went to get Brynn. This is what I found. Notice she is carrying a purse, Brooklyn's purse. This is a favorite recipe we have been making since we lived in Houston.

Sweet Sausage Minestrone
1 lg. onion chopped
1 T. olive oil
1 red pepper, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 crushed garlic clove
1 13 oz. can beef broth
3 c. water
1 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
2 c. coarsely chopped cabbage
6 sweet Italian sausages (about 1 lb.)
1 T. basil
1 T. oregano
1 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
1 15 oz. can cannellini beans or kidney beans
1/2 c. sliced olives
1 8 1/2 oz. can artichokes (opt)
1 lb fresh tortellini
parmesan cheese

Saute the onions in the oil until translucent. Add the peppers and garlic and saute for 5 minutes. Add the broth, water, tomatoes, cabbage, sausages (whole) and seasonings. Bring to a boil then cook over med-low heat for 20 minutes. Remove the sausages and cut into 1/2 in. slices then return them to the pot. Add the beans, olives, artichokes and cook for 5 minutes. Add the tortellini and cook until al dente. Garnish with cheese. Serves 8-10.

Check out the link on my dinner section to the right for the marlboro man's favorite sandwich. The Pioneer Woman has a lot of good recipes, check out her blog, it's a fun read.

Also, a good non-fiction book I just browsed through: Don't Go Shopping for Hair-Care Products Without Me by Paula Begoun. She rates hair care products and tells you which ones are worth the price and which cheap ones are good too. Interesting stuff. The stuff I've been forking over the dough for turned out to be a sham. Frederic Fekkai Protein RX Reparative Shampoo for instance, has a main detergent cleansing agent that is the drying TEA-lauryl sulfate. The Proteine RX Reparative Conditioner, "...cannot repair anything. It is just a very standard, but good, conditioner that would work well for normal to dry hair of any thickness". In the back of the book she has the best products divided into categories by type and price. Check your local library!