A New Plan

Okay, so, here's what I was thinking: See, I didn't want to disappoint my readers in the morning with my new workout schedule (working out in the mornings and not blogging). What I will now try to do is type up a post in the evenings and save it to post right before I leave for school in the morning. That way I will give everyone something to read and I can still work out!

So, tonight (Sunday) I made a fabulous veggie beef soup. It was from the magazine that mom had left here of Paula Deen's. The only thing I did differently was instead of using ground beef, I used stew beef. I coated it with a flour/salt/pepper mixture and browned it and then let the soup simmer on medium for just over an hour. Jim loved it and I have to say it was superb and easy!!!

Home-style Veggie Beef Soup

1 lb. ground chuck or stew beef
2 c. diced yellow onion
1 c. chopped celery
2 (32 oz) beef broth
3 c. quartered red potatoes
1 (14.5 oz) can fire roasted tomatoes
1 c. chopped carrots
1 c. fresh green beans, trimmed and halved
1 t. salt
1 t. pepper
½ t. cumin
½ t. red pepper

1. In Dutch oven, cook beef (if using stew beef, coat in a flour/salt/pepper concoction), onion and celery over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until beef is browned and crumbly and onion is soft. Drain beef mixture and return to Dutch oven. Add broth, potatoes, tomatoes, carrots, green beans, salt and pepper, cumin and red pepper. Bring soup to a simmer and cook uncovered for 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Okay, it's now 7:30, I've taken my bath and my Tylenol PM so I'm headed back upstairs to read while "You've Got Mail" plays on the TV in the background. Hopefully I will fall into a peaceful and uninterrupted sleep. I dread going to school tomorrow where I have no idea what I'm going to do with the kids. I suck as a teacher, don't I?!

Oh, by the way, Jim and I saw Seven Pounds today. We both loved it but if you decide to see it, take a box of tissues - it's a tear-jerking doozie!