Monday, October 13, 2014

California Italian Wedding Soup


It's a chilly and rainy Fall day here in the Midwest.  I was scrolling through Pinterest looking for soup recipes to make this coming week.  Then I remembered this soup, which I haven't blogged yet!  It is sooo very good.  They whole family loves it!  I am not sure why it is called "California" Italian Wedding Soup, but it is filled with bright flavors from tons of lemon zest, basil, green onions, etc.  Nothing like a fabulous soup recipe to get me bloggin' again.  Let's just say it's been awhile, ahem.  I originally found this recipe on Allrecipes years ago.  It has been a family favorite for awhile now.  I think I added the carrot to have more veggies and color.

Here are the ingredients you will need:

Finely chop and mix up all the meatball ingredients before adding the meat...

Mix in the meat until just blended...

Make tons of the tiniest meatballs you can make!  About a 1/2 inch at most...

Drop them into some boiling broth to cook...

Add the zest of an entire lemon to the broth...

Along with one finely sliced carrot and the orzo to cook for a bit...

Finally add some baby spinach at the end of cooking...

Heaven in a bowl!  So comforting, and it is amazing what the lemon zest does for it!  Garnish with a little shredded parmesan if desired.  

California Italian Wedding Soup

1/2 lb. Extra Lean Ground Beef
1 Egg, lightly beaten
2 Tbs. Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs
1 Tbs. Grated Parmesan Cheese
2 Tbs. Basil Leaves, shredded (chiffonade)
1 Tbs. Flat Italian Leaf Parsley, chopped
2 Green Onions, sliced thin
5 3/4 Cups Chicken Broth
2 Cups Baby Spinach, coarse chopped if desired
1 Carrot, peeled and sliced thin
1 Lemon, zested (Or the zest of an entire lemon.)
1/2 Cup Orzo (rice-shapped pasta), uncooked
Grated Parmesan Cheese, for topping

Mix together the egg, bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, basil, parsley, and green onions.  Add the meat and mix until just well blended.  Form as man tiny meatballs as you can.  Try not to make them over a 1/2 inch in size.  The tinier the better!  Meanwhile heat up the broth in a large pot over high heat.  When boiling drop in the meatballs.  Stir in the orzo and carrot.  Return to a boil and reduce heat to medium.  Cook at a slow boil for about 10 minutes until the orzo and carrot are tender.  Add the spinach in the last few minutes of cooking.  Serve sprinkled with more cheese if desired.

Enjoy!

Pin It


Thursday, March 27, 2014

Valenties 2014


I had fun hosting our Life Group for Valentines this year.  I was totally in my element picking out a menu and decorating for the night.  Of course I had help with some of the menu items from the gals in the group.  We even planned a fun Valentine "Photo Booth" and the talented Hailey Fast took our pics...lucky to have a great photographer in our group!  These photos are all taken by her... :)

Menu...

Decor and Food...





Photo Booth fun...Chris and I...




Gardiner and Natalie...



Nathand and Hailey...

The group...

New Years Eve 2014

We had a blast at our Life Group's New Years Eve Party this past December 31st.  Natalie hosted a great get-together.  Fun paper bags with surpise activities for the kids at each hour.  So fun!

Chris and I with our "new years" hats...

Family pic...

Happy New Year!

With the Rynnes...Gardiner and Natalie... :)

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Christmas 2013

Finally getting around to blogging the past 3 months. Ahem.  Here is a look at our Christmas.  It was great to have my parents here for the week!  The boys love their Papaw and Grammy.

Chris was able to be here through most of Christmas Eve before he had to go to work...

Someday we will get a non-goofy family picture...boys! ;)

The boys with their Papaw and Grammy...

My boys...

A sweet angelic moment...

Fun new suitcases!

Coming out to see the tree...they got a Wii! 

I said dart gun... ;)