“Ring-a-ling, ring-a-ling”… the sick bell tolls.

“Ring-a-ling, ring-a-ling”… I charge up the stairs, peeking in on the patients who have summoned. “I’m cold, can I have more covers?” “Can I have a popcicle?” “I need a drink.” “My tummy hurts.”

Naturally, as a parent, when your kids are sick you want to do anything you can to make them better.

I used the very same sick bell to summon my mom when I was sick as a kid. It’s one of the few things I’ve carried onto my family from my childhood. My mom was always so patient when we were sick… bringing us a silver bed tray of hot soup, 7-Up and saltines when we needed it to make us feel better. The sick bell, always on the tray or nearby, was for us to use whenever we needed her. I’m sure, like my kids, I had a tendency to overuse it.

Soup equals comfort and in my opinion has healing powers. I’m not sure if that’s really true, but it always seems to make me feel better. Doesn’t it you? (more…)

I didn’t end up creating a menu plan last week because we were out of town over the weekend and I just didn’t get it done. I can tell you that our wallets and waistlines both saw just what failing to plan does… I spent more money eating out and I’m sure that equaled more calories and junk being put in our bodies. I am convinced that planning our menu weekly is definitley the way to stay on track!

Here’s our menu plan for this week, and below that a recipe for Mesquite Taco Soup that I threw together today. It was so good!

I hope you’ll share what’s on your menu as well!

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First of all, it bothers the absolute heck out of me that I can’t take a straight picture to save my life. I swear my house must be crooked. Anyway…

This week I’m sharing our menu plan for this coming week as well as the recipe for Bush’s Black Bean Tortilla Chili that was a hit from last week’s menu. Here is what we have planned for this coming week: (more…)

I leaned over her bed, late at night, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek. As I did, one of my tears fell onto her face, falling down into her wild and curly hair.

I love this girl so, so much I feel my heart physically swelling at the sight of her, but I don’t get her and I don’t know how to get her.

She could easily be described as sweet and kind… but that sweet demeanor can turn on a dime. One moment happy, cuddly and cheerful… the next in a fit of emotion about something small, like the taste of her toothpaste. Even if it the culprit of the fit seems trivial, her pain over it is obvious. She feels so deeply, so loudly, every emotion she has. Whether happy or sad, she feels in extremes. (more…)

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! I didn’t mean to be gone from blogging all week, but sort of unconsciously decided to unplug some and it felt really good. In fact, I still have to open my inbox from ignoring it all week. I am not looking forward to doing that tomorrow. I hate to see the mountain of monstrosity waiting for me once I do.

Speaking of unplugging, over the break I thought a lot about what my 2013 word of the year will be. For 2012 I chose Connect, which has been great, but I think my focus for 2013 will be “Simplify”. I’m still tossing it around in my thoughts, but right now that’s what I think I want and need to focus on in 2013. We’ll see if I change my mind between now and the first of the year! Have you given some thought to your focus for 2013?

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If you would have told me before today that I would make tomato soup and after one taste, I’d sit down and devour the whole bowl, I would not believe you.

In fact, before today, the mere words “tomato soup” made me gag a bit. I love tomatoes fresh from the garden and in sauce form, but tomato soup was something I equated with soggy crackers and tin cans. (more…)

Well friends, you’ve done it again! For the second year in a row you have proven that you love soup as much as TidyMom and I do! I am so thrilled to share that SoupaPalooza was a huge success, all thanks to you and our great sponsors.

Cheryl and I were blown away that there were 325 soup recipes shared in the link up and over 90 soup recipes shared in the comments section of our blogs. That means for SoupaPalooza 2012 we had over 400 soup, stew, chowder and chili recipes! That is one gigantic soup recipe resource. Thank YOU all for sharing your favorite soup recipes with us!

Congratulations to all the winners of the incredible prizes provided by our sponsors this year. Cheryl and I both used Random.org to choose the winners. Be sure to check out Cheryl’s winners at TidyMom because there were two winners for each prize!

• KitchenAid 7 Quart Stand Mixer (ARV $650) - Jesseca from Sweet Treats & Good Eats
• KitchenAid 6 Quart Slow Cooker (ARV $149) – Joy in My Kitchen
• Le Creuset 8 Quart Stock Pot (ARV $55) - Natalie V.
• Red Star Yeast Gift Basket (ARV $65) – Stephanie from Dairy Free Diva

We work with some of the nicest sponsors. Thank you again, KitchenAid, Red Star Yeast and Le Creuset for being such an important part of SoupaPalooza 2012!

If you are on Pinterest, be sure to check out the SoupaPalooza 2012 board Cheryl and I are working on putting together. Soon we’ll have all the linked up recipes shared on that board!

And how could I forget? The SoupaPalooza that started it all took place last year! Make sure to check out the collection of over 200 soup recipes shared from SoupaPalooza 2011!

Thanks again for your participation and help in making SoupaPalooza 2012 such a great success. We hope to see you next year for more soup!

Thank you, Heidi, from FoodieCrush for the SoupaPalooza collage at the top of the post!

Disclaimer: Thank you to KitchenAid, Red Star Yeast and Le Creuset for providing compensation and prizes for Soupapalooza. The views and opinions expressed on Dine & Dish  are purely my own and based upon my personal experiences with the products and brands.

Cheryl from TidyMom and I have been anxiously awaiting this day. The 2nd Annual SoupaPalooza Linkup Party is finally here!

Last year we were amazed at the large collection of soups shared with us during our first SoupaPalooza. We know that this year will be even bigger and better and can’t wait to see the soups you share!

A bigger and better SoupaPalooza means even bigger and better prizes from great sponsors!

Share your favorite soup recipe for a chance to win!

A special thanks to KitchenAid, Red Star Yeast and Le Creuset for providing these great prizes for SoupaPalooza!

• KitchenAid 7 Qt. Mixer (ARV $650) – 2 winners
• KitchenAid 6 Qt. Slow Cooker (ARV $149) – 2 winners
• Le Creuset 8 Qt. Stockpot (ARV $55) – 2 winners
• Red Star Yeast Gift Basket (ARV $65) – 2 winners

So many great prizes from some truly great sponsors!

Participating in SoupaPalooza is simple! Here’s how: (more…)

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The SoupaPalooza linkup beings tomorrow and I am so ready! I thought and thought about what kind of soup to share with you for our second annual #SoupaPalooza. At first I was thinking I wanted to share some kind of French Onion soup. Then, after spending a few days last week with a sick kid, I thought a comforting Chicken Noodle Soup would be good. Finally, a shift in thinking occurred when I noticed my kids gobbling up broccoli night after night at dinner. It was then I remembered that I have never introduced them to the goodness of Broccoli Cheese Soup!

Is there a more perfect soup than a hot bowl of cheesy broccoli soup? I’m sure this could be easily up for debate, but for me, Broccoli Cheese Soup tops the list as one of my faves.

The recipe I use comes from an old church cookbook that I have hung onto through the years. It is a simple soup recipe with so much flavor… you are going to love it!

If you know me at all, you understand that soup without bread is a sin… so… I whipped up a batch of the most delicious Whole Wheat Cottage Cheese Rolls from the Red Star Yeast website! Since Red Star Yeast is my favorite yeast to use, I was thrilled when they jumped on board as a SoupaPalooza sponsor. They have so many recipes on their website, with clear instructions for use with a bread machine or by hand. The Whole Wheat Cottage Cheese Rolls were so soft and tender and the entire batch was gone before sunrise the next morning. We loved them that much! Make sure to check out the recipe on the Red Star Yeast website and browse around for other great bread recipes to pair with your soup!

While you’re browsing recipes… make sure to head over to the TidyMom blog and check out Cheryl’s Creamy Bacon Potato Soup. I wish I had a bowl to spoon up right now!

Before I share the Broccoli Cheese Soup recipe, just a quick reminder that tomorrow kicks off the 2nd annual Soupapalooza! Cheryl of TidyMom and I along with our sponsors would like to invite YOU to share up to two of your favorite soup, stew or chili recipes!! New posts, old posts, non-bloggers, bloggers… everyone is invited! Just click here if you need more information on how to join in on the 2nd annual SoupaPalooza linkup! There are some fabulous prizes to be won and you have a week to link up your recipes!

Recipe: Broccoli Cheese Soup (Adapted from the Sacred Heart of Shawnee Cookbook)

• 1 Tablespoon melted butter
• 1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 cups half-and-half cream
• 2 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 pound fresh broccoli florets
• 1/4 teaspoon Allspice
• 1 pinch ground cloves
• 1 1/2 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
• salt and pepper, to taste
• shredded Parmesan cheese, if desired

1. In a small skillet, heat 1 Tablespoon butter. Add onions and saute until tender. Set aside.
2. In a large stock pot, whisk together 1/4 cup butter and flour over medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Continue stirring while adding the half-and-half cream. Whisk in the chicken broth and continue to simmer over medium-low heat for 20 minutes.
3. Stir in the broccoli and cooked onions. Cook over low heat 20-25 minutes or until broccoli is tender.
4. Stir in Allspice, ground cloves, salt and pepper. Add shredded cheese and stir until melted.  Ladle into serving bowls and top with shredded Parmesan cheese if desired.

UPDATE: Soupapalooza Party is now LIVE – Over 300 recipe have been shared! you can find all of the details, and how to share your recipes here.

After an extremely mild few months of winter, we finally had our first real snow of the season yesterday. As much as I love warmer weather, I have to admit I miss those cozy up inside, soup kind of days. Soup, stews, chili and chowders just seem to go hand and hand with colder, more frigid temps!

Last year my friend Cheryl of TidyMom and I hosted the first SoupaPalooza. It was such a huge success we promised to bring it back this year, even bigger and better!

This year KitchenAid, Cheryl and I along with some other wonderful sponsors are inviting you to share your favorite soup recipes here at DineandDish.net and TidyMom.net from February 28 through March 5th.

And good news! Like every great party……..there will be prizes from some fabulous sponsors!!

A big thank you to KitchenAid, Red Star Yeast and Le Creuset for joining in on the fun this year!

Here’s how you participate in SoupaPalooza:

1. Write and post a recipe on your blog featuring a soup, stew, chili, or chowder. (You can use an old post…just PLEASE be sure to link back AND follow #2 below)

2. Include “Come join SoupaPalooza at TidyMom and Dine & Dish sponsored by KitchenAid, Red Star Yeast and Le Creuset” in your blog post. (you MUST include this to be eligible for prizes)

3. Starting February 28th through March 5th add your link to your soup post to the widget on either TidyMom or Dine & Dish (we will have the same widget code, so you only need to add it on one site).

4. Don’t have a blog? no problem…..leave your recipe in the comments section of either blog on the day of the SoupaPalooza party starting February 28th through March 5th.

5. We’d love your help spreading the word about Soupapalooza through social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

• Sample Tweet: Join @DineandDish & @TidyMom for #Soupapalooza Share your recipes (and WIN) here: http://tidymom.net or http://dineanddish.net Pls RT
• Instagram photo’s of your soup or making your soup using the hashtag #shotofsoup and/or #soupapalooza

6. Button for your sidebars or posts – just use the button below if you want a button in your posts or on your blog sidebar.

7. Have fun and enjoy!

Disclosure: Thank you to KitchenAid, Red Star Yeast and Le Creuset for providing compensation and prizes for Soupapalooza.   The views and opinions expressed on Dine & Dish are purely my own and based upon my personal experiences with the products and brands.