little lovelies

Simon, you're an ass, I DO NOT look like a monkey!

Said a disgruntled American Idol cast-off. True, the guy didn't look like a monkey so much. More like Gollum from LOTR. We thought that guy's retort was particularly hilarious. Obviously we watch AI, but only until the LA episodes start. We lose interest when the train wrecks of the early auditions end. Talented folks are not nearly as entertaining and those who can't sing. I know. I should have more originality than to watch that crap. But I don't. Let me know when there is a support group for fans of bad reality tv. I might go.

On my way home yesterday I spotted a Hancock Fabrics store I haven't been to yet and stopped in. I was lucky to have come on their dollar days, so I managed to pick up two back issues of Cutting Edge magazine and some fab xmas fabric for cheap. The mags were a dollar each and the fabric 1/2 off. Coupled with ME's Home Companion, and I have quite the inspirational day ahead of me, no?

Everyone but me is sick over here, so I may take advantage of the general mellowness and get some crafting done. There are Valentines dying to be made over here! Plus, this week has been heavy on the cooking, but not so much on the crafting. Gotta change that! My pics are bad this morning, but isn't that fabric great? I'm going to make holiday pillows for next year with it.

Speaking of cooking, I promised a soup recipe today didn't I? Well, the sausage leek soup was great and super easy to make. Of course, soup is always easy to make, but you know what I mean. I even made croutons to go with it. This is definitely not a low fat recipe. Next time I might drain off more fat and add white beans. Either way it was good.

Sausage Leek Soup with Salt and Pepper Croutons

4 links of Mild or Hot Italian sausage, sliced

1 large leek, sliced

3 cloves minced garlic

2 14 oz cans of chicken broth

4 cups hot water

salt and pepper to taste

Place soup pan over medium heat and cook sausage until browned. Remove from pan and pat off excess fat (there will be plenty unless you get lean sausage) and set aside. Cook leeks and garlic in sausage fat until tender and then add sausage back to the pan. Add 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper and cover. Let cook about 15 minutes on med-low heat. Add water and broth and bring to a boil. Add more salt and pepper to taste. Simmer on med-low another 30 minutes to an hour.

Salt and Pepper Croutons

Whole Wheat bread cut into 1 inch cubes

olive oil

salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place bread in a single layer on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat. Shake salt and pepper over them. Bake for 5 minutes, stir the croutons then bake for 5 more minutes.

It was super easy and really good!

It was dark out, so the lighting is bad, it looked much better in person!