Monday's Menu Item

photo credit: MeeMom
Pizza Soup with garnishes

We know, we know.  It doesn't sound so good, but try it once and you'll be hooooooooked!  In our family, we like to start with the soup as the base and then have a bunch of "garnishes" or "sides" that are added to the soup.  This allows for everyone to put in their soup what they like. That means they'll eat every bite instead of picking out the onions and the olives and the peppers and . . . .


PIZZA SOUP
Feeds a Hungry Family of Eleven

1-2 pounds ground beef or Italian sausage (or both)
2-3 Tablespoons oil
2 large cans or bottles of your favorite spaghetti sauce
2-14oz cans of Italian tomatoes, pureed
6 cups chicken broth (or 6 cups water + 7 boullion cubes)

Brown meat in oil.  Drain and rinse.  Place remaining ingredients in large stock pot or slow cooker.  Let simmer for an hour or longer, if you have a lot of time.

Soup Garnishes/Sides:
cooked macaroni or shell pasta
bell peppers
onions
cheeses (Mozarella, Parmesan, Cheddar, Colby)
fried pepperoni (yum!)
kidney beans
black olives

Serve with bread sticks or garlic toast

I'm Sick!

photo credit: MeeMom

MeeMom: While on the phone on Sunday evening, Staccato held up this note for me to read because, unlike some multi-tasking women, I am incapable of talking on the phone and effectively communicating with my children using out of control hand gestures at the same time.

Staccato: I felt very sick and I wanted MeeMom to know because DooDad had been sick all day and didn't go to Church because he was feeling that bad.

Treble: And I stayed home from school on Friday because I felt so gross.  Actually, I felt gross on Thursday but went to school because I had a test.  What a great student I am, don't you think?

MeeMom: Ahem.  So once I read the note and took a look at Staccato I noticed that he was ghostly white.

Bass: That got MeeMom off the phone right away.  I'll have to remember to use that tactic next time. :)

MeeMom: So I tucked sick Staccato into my bed with a heating pad and a cozy blankie.

DooDad: Staccato is a little tease.  And I really thought he was pulling my leg when he said he felt like he wanted to throw up.  Until a little while later when Staccato was out of bed, fumbling and mumbling for the "Throw-up Bowl."

Middle C: We have an official "Throw-up Bowl" so we won't use it when we make a salad or something.

DooDad: And lo and behold, my bedroom floor was covered with his dinner.  Poor little guy.  And it just got worse from there.

Staccato: I tried to sleep feeling so sick.  I kept asking MeeMom if it was morning.  It seemed like forever just laying there and feeling so icky.

Fermata: And that was about the time that I found THIS on our dining room wall and well, it helped
Staccato forget his ickies for a few minutes.

MeeMom: Thank goodness Allegro and B Sharp were in bed - asleep! - or we would have had chaos times ten.  Let's hope no one else gets sick (or eaten by a spider)!

Monday's Menu Item



photo credit: MeeMom
Waffles with sour cream sauce and fresh peaches!

Truth be told we DO have breakfast for dinner!!  This is one of our very favorites!

WAFFLES WITH THE WORKS
Yield: Enough for a hungry Family of Eleven
(This is a perfect recipe for a Belgian Waffler Iron)

5 1/4 cups white or wheat flour (or half and half of each)
3 Tablespoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
6 eggs
5 1/4 cups milk (I always use pre-made powdered milk)
1 1/2 cup oil

Place all ingredients in a large mixer.  Beat until smooth.  Bake in heated waffle iron.

Serve with all or some of the following:
Maple Syrup
Peanut Butter
Powdered Sugar
Fresh Fruits
Jams or Jellies
Honey
Ice Cream
Whipping Cream
Yogurt
Sour Cream Sauce: mix with sugar to taste and a drop or two of almond oil
Fruit Sauce

What We're Laughing About Today

Monday's Menu Item

Photo credit: MeeMom

DUTCH OVEN IN THE OVEN STEW
Feeds: A Family of Eleven


Ingredients (add what you like, the amount you like)
Potatoes, quartered
Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts cut in pieces
Roast Beef, cut in small pieces
Carrots, cut into pieces
Corn
Onions, cut into large chunks
Salt and Pepper to taste
Olive Oil
1/2 cup water

Place in 350 degree oven and cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until potatoes are soft.

Serve with gravy or BBQ sauce.

Saturday Sound Off

MeeMom: Another Saturday. Another Sound Off.

B Sharp: I did SOMETHING that WAS COOL. I was in BASs AND TREBle's room AND I shot the little basketBALL from FAR away and made iT iN the HOOP!

Allegro: l love my family and my parents, even when my dad stole my scooter and Mezzo stole my scooter. We were going on a walk to the school and they stole the scooter away from me and rode it down the street. Signed, Allegro.

Middle C: So today we had to get out of the house. We weren't given a lot of options so we were happy to walk to a school near our house and we raced on a track. We were all running the 50 yard dash and Doo Dad was timing us. On the last race before we left I came in second because I was slower than Bass. My best time was 7.9 seconds I was pretty fast, but my slowest time was 8.00 seconds. After, we went to our neighbor's house, The Rock Stars, because they let us watch College Football at their house because MeeMom says she won't get satellite TV and DooDad couldn't find the games on the internet. It was a lot of fun of fun for me because I ate tons of food.

MeeMom: Let me just say a word about these little foot races we had at the school. I discovered a fifty yard dash marker and thought it would be fun for the kiddos to time themselves because, if I remember correctly, I ran the 50 in 7.2 in 6th grade! I was just checking to see if my kiddos are as fast as I was. Notice the operative word is was. Because before we walked home, we had one final race that involved everyone. Yes, I thought it would be fun to see how I would fare running against all the kiddos. I should have listened to my gut because I never finished the stinkin' race. I pulled some glute muscle that rendered me a limper for the rest of today. Tomorrow's pain doesn't look too promising, either.

Staccato: I don't really want to write anything because our neighbor, Maraca, told me today that she's reading our blog. So I want to be on my best behavior.

Bass: I wish that we had Comcast, but I also like that we don’t have it. I want it so we can watch sports such as football and basketball. But I am glad we don’t have it because it is so much money to get it and pay for it every month. I like sports very much.

Treble: I so agree with Bass. I want Comcast or whatever people have these days, but we can't afford it. Today I went to the Rock Stars' house to watch college football.  They are nice to let us come. What excitement! Thanks for reading the blog!

Mezzo: There is a lot to say on this "free day" Saturday. First, what an exciting day to talk about sports. College football, that it. I always like the exciting, edge-of-the-seat last play, a field goal block, an interception or a touchdown. When we went to the school this afternoon played some basketball, rode bikes, and ran a timed 50 yard dash. My best time was 7.1 seconds. My legs start to hurt after awhile. I tried to help DooDad connect our internet box to our TV so we could watch College Football in the confines of our own family room, but it didn't work. So we went to our neighbors, The Rock Stars, and ate and watched football games. Treble and Bass are bad sportsman and have bad sportsmanship. They were cheering for the team I wanted to lose and booing for the team I wanted to win.

MeeMom: About the food at the Rock Stars' house. I am so embarrassed because it wasn't supposed to be us, Family of Eleven, going across the street to watch football and eat them out of house and home. I tried my best to make some eats to take over, but I must have been overtaken by an alien cook because nothing I made turned out. Nothing. So I went over with a bowl of sad, sticky popcorn and ranch dressing and left my excuse for breadsticks at home, cooling off in the garbage.  My kiddos owe them a HUGE thank you for the intake tonight! I'm thinking I owe them a dinner. . .

Fermata: I forgot I that I hadn't summarized what I had read this week, so I ended my Saturday doing Language Arts homework.

Coda: All the football made me grumpy and tired. I kept trying to wail my way back home, but everyone thought I was just plain cute. It finally took falling asleep on MeeMom's shoulder that got me home and to bed.

DooDad: Yo MeeMom, I ran the 50 in 6.8 in 5th grade!! And yes, we definitely owe the Rock Stars dinner!

What We're Laughing About Today

photo credit: MeeMom

So this evening, right before family prayer. Staccato informed us of a little altercation that took place today during recess.

Staccato: Do you know what Tambourine did to me today? (Tambourine is one of Staccato's second grade class mates).

All of us (in unison): What?!

Staccato (all matter of fact): He kicked me.

MeeMom (slowly and suspiciously): He kicked you?  Why?

Staccato (drawing in a deep breath): Well . . . I saw him hugging a girl. So I went up and said, "Dude, why did you do that?"

We all broke out in hysterics because that is just the kind of question you get from Staccato.  He doesn't beat around the bush.

Mezzo (being the BIG brother that he is): I bet he kicked you because he was embarrassed that you caught him hugging on a girl.

Staccato (scrunching up his face): Not only that, she was a first grader!

We Are Family

photo credit: MeeMom

MeeMom: This month of September we join with families across the globe in celebrating OUR FAMILY! Okay, not our family specifically, but our families in general.

Bass: I am a twin. Being a twin is very fun and cool. It gets very annoying when everyone says, "You look just like your brother?" or "Does anyone ever call you Treble?" Of course I smile and answer "Yah" to both questions. Other than that, it is cool to have a twin to play with and fight with.

Fermata: The other day when we were at Costco I saw many people start counting with their fingers how many kids we had in our family - - - and we were short THREE, and I could tell that they were still surprised. It happens all the time when we go places.

Mezzo: I am the oldest in the family of nine kids. I sometimes love to be the eldest. Sometimes I get annoyed. Once time my aunt and uncle and my five cousins came to watch all of us so my parents could go out on a date. We decided to walk to a park that wasn't too far away. As people drove past they started to count, thinking my aunt and uncle had 14 kids! I told them that's how people look at us all the time.

B Sharp: I Love my FAMILY. mY dad and MOM Are The BEST.

Allegro: I'm a good girl because i love my family and my mom and dad and my grandparents. Signed, Allegro.

Staccato: All I know is I couldn't get away doing what I do if I were in another family. My ability to tease was one of the talents given me in heaven. MEEMOM! Why are you writing things like that? Now my teachers from school will read it.

Coda: Ahh, all I can say is that being the youngest in this family means I am the c.e.n.t.e.r. of attention. And I love it!

Middle C: My family is the BEST like when we go to awesome places. But sometimes, because I am in the CENTER, I get picked on. Mezzo won't let me into his room and Staccato will just do things to me that make me so angry. But, I always LOVE my family. About what Fermata said, almost every time we go somewhere someone will ask MeeMom or DooDad "Are those all your kids?" MeeMom says one day she's going to make us wear our Scout uniforms for no reason just to pretend we are a Scout troop instead of a bunch of brothers.

Treble: Our family is special. We love to go places together like swimming, to the park, to Costco, and to the grocery store (to see if we can put stuff in the cart that MeeMom won't know about until the checkout). Sometimes my siblings get really annoying and don't stop, but I forgive them. Our family is the best!

MeeMom: While I may be wrong, as I am on many occasions (but shhh, don't tell the kiddos), I have come to believe that somewhere in a Great Meeting in Heaven, we were given the opportunity to choose our family. I know that might be a stretch to even consider, but I believe that if we have full agency here, we probably had full agency up there. Which means I don't think the Lord sent us to our families kickin' and a screamin' (although I've had a few delivered like that). It's been enough to make me think that our relationship before we came to earth was important enough that we decided we would take on earth-life together, as a family!

DooDad: Family, Ah....a six letter word...like....wowzer or insane or sleepy. These are just a few words that describe our family. You know, they really are the cream of the crop. With all the chaos that exists within the walls of this home (and outside as well), I would not trade my wild tribe for anything. I would have to say, MeeMom and I did pretty darn well.

Monday's Menu Item

photo credit: MeeMom

BUTTERSCOTCH CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
Yield: Enough cookies for a Family of Eleven

3 sticks butter, softened and almost melting
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
6 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 cup butterscotch chips

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. In large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugars until well blended.

3. Mix in eggs and vanillla.

4. Gradually add flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon, beating until well blended.

5. Stir in oats and chips

6. Make into racquentball-sized balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet.

7. Bake 8- 10 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool slightly and remove from cookie sheet an dplace on wire rack.

8. Watch them disappear!

Have You Seen Me?

photo credit: Bass

MeeMom: Oh the joys of having pets. Currently we have a dog and two box turtles . . . er, one box turtle. On Friday evening one of our sons decided he would go the extra mile and let the turtles roam the back yard. . . Which was a very thoughtful thing for this son to do. However, instead of taking them out and watching them ever so closely, he placed them carefully in the grass and then turned around and walked right back in the house. It wasn't until Saturday morning when DooDad happened to peek inside the turtle's box that he noticed ZERO turtles in their home. It was easy to find Fiona (not her real name, just in case a crazy out there is searching for box turtles) because she likes to cozy up in her shell and rest. She was pretty much right where Staccato had left her. But our crazy, could-beat-a-hare turtle, Guy (name is also changed to protect the innocent), was no where to be found. this happened before. But he had only been missing for 20 minutes. Those 20 minutes have now stretched into days.

Middle C: When we went to look for our turtles Saturday morning, we went to our neighbor's house. We couldn't find him. We prayed to find our turtle but it has been now three days and we still can't find him. I hope that this is not the answer to our prayers. I feel so bad for him. I hope we find him soon.

B Sharp: WHEN WE Went To looK FOR OUR TURTLE WE LOOKed Everywhere

Allegro: We went to look for our turtle but we couldn't find him. Signed, Allegro

MeeMom: Just FYI, B Sharp and Allegro are becoming very independant and are quite determined to type their thought on their very own. The above (and I am sure everything else that is to come from here on out) was typed with their very own sticky fingers. Literally.

Treble: I really miss the turtle! (Why MeeMom named him "Guy" is beyond me. To protect the lost innocent?) He has been missing for the past many days now. He loves to crawl around. I bet he could cross 1 yard in 30 minutes. How far do you think he could be? I really hope to find him. Tomorrow I'm going to ride my bike around the neighborhood to ask neibors if they have seen him. I am also going to make fliers for everyone. I hope I find him, that little explorer!

MeeMom: So the kiddos were talking about putting up "LOST TURTLE" posters around the neighborhood to go with the "LOST DOG" posters that appear every now and again. They were mostly concerned about which picture of Guy they would use.

DooDad: I finally had to say "Kiddos, the reason why people put pics of their dog is because there are at least a hundred different types out there. How many "LOST TURTLE" posters have you seen in your lifetime?"

Bass: Ha ha. We are so glad for DooDad because we didn't even think of that.

Middle C: Thanks DooDad.  But I agree with with Treble, Guy is a little explorer. I bet he could cross the road in about 20 seconds. I think he is on the other side of the street. I don't know but the Lord does.

Treble: I don't think he is on the other side of the street. How would he get in someone's front yard whe he starts in their backyard?

Fermata: This is very sad for me. I don't like saying goodbye to pets. I still remember when our horned toad died and we buried him. I remember when the stray cat that MeeMom would not let us feed or let into the house kept hanging around and she decided it was time to take that cat to the animal shelter. I made me so sad. And now our turtle Guy (My heavens MeeMom, what kind of turtle name is "Guy"??), who we have had as a pet for almost three years minus a few months, a few weeks, a few days and a lot of hours, is gone. I am so very sad.

Mezzo: We lost our box turtles on Saturday. I wasn't surprised when the turtle, now named "Guy" by MeeMom so some crazy out there doesn't track us down, came up missing. Dad found Fiona by some cinder blocks. So boys and girls, the moral of the story is you should always be obedient to the rules.

Bass: I miss our little Guy. (Guy?) I think he has gone the way of our neighborhood, I mean the way of the earth. And I like rotissere chicken.

Staccato: No one said that it was me who took the turtles outside. But it was me. And I am so sorry about it.

DooDad: Nice to know you Fireman . . . WHAT?? I'm not supposed to use his real name?!?