Chunky Potato Soup June 18, 2007

I made a home made potato soup one day last week and was surprised that it turned out and was very tasty. It didn’t take very long to put together and cook and the ingredients were simple which is what I like.  Here is a picture of it in a bowl and i will post the ingredients if anyone wishes to try it. I am going to have a soup and sandwhich night once every week.

Ingredients

3 Medium red potatoes

2 cups water

1 small onion ( I used celery instead)

3 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Crushed red pepper flakes

Ground black pepper

3 cups milk

1/2 tspn sugar

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup cubed cooked ham

1. Peel potatoes (if you wish) and cut into 1-inch cubes

2. Bring water to a boil in large saucepan. Add potatoes and cook until tender. Drain, reserving liquid. Set aside potatoes. Measure 1 cup cooking liquid, adding water, if necessary; set aside.

3. Peel and finely chop onion. Melt butter in saucepan over medium heat. Add onion to saucepan; cook, stirring frequently, until onion is translucent and tender, but not brown.

4. Add flour to saucepan; season with pepper flakes and black pepper to taste. Cook 3 to 4 minutes.

5. Gradually add potatoes, reserved 1 cup cooking liquid, milk and sugar to onion mixture in saucepan;stir well. Add cheese and ham. Simmer over low heat 30 minutes, stirring frequently,

We need to get out of here! June 18, 2007

From the first day we moved in here, we knew we had made a mistake in taking this place. For those who don’t know the story, Paul lost  his Electrical Engineering job because the company moved to Mexico. Because the job moved to Mexico, unemployment paid Paul to go to school. They paid for his classes and gave us an income for two years. He graduated from the technical college with a degree in computer programming and then got a job in Waukesha just recently. Just as he was accepted for a job, we got accepted into low income housing here in our home town. We thought with his income, we wouldn’t qualify for low income housing anymore but because of the size of our family we were still accepted but had to pay the maximum rent. So then we were in this situation where we had to decide if we wanted to take the low income housing and try to save money and pay off bills. This meant that Paul would have to drive an hour and a half to work. Or do we move to the Waukesha area and pay ALOT of money to rent because it is very expensive up there? Either way, we are going to be paying out lots of money but which scenario would be cheaper? We thought taking the low income housing. Bad choice! It is costing us about 500.00 dollars a month in gas just for Paul to drive back and forth. That’s not including the wear and tear on the  already old and cruddy car we have. It is three hours less we get to see him as well because he is on the road driving. When we moved in here (low income housing townhouse) the manager said that there was 142 children in the units around. WOW! But she said, we get the unit that faces away from everyone and it much quieter here. That is not true at all! Our neighbors that live right next door to us are in their band at church  and practice in there basement. Let’s just say that when they are playing, I cant listen to music because it over rides what I am listening to. You can only imagine the naughtiness in the children around here to. I keep a close watch on my kids because there is a lot of fowl language and bullying that goes on. Everything I was trying to get away from, I moved back into except WORSE! Is it worth staying here and putting up with this and having the kids around those children just to try to save a few pennies. Are we really saving money? I am so confused. Please keep us in your prayers. That God would show us what we are suppose to do. That he would open doors for us and help us find a decent place (area) that is in our price range. Does God want us to move closer to Paul’s work or stay here? I need to do what is best for our family and I don’t think this place is in our best interest. Am I wrong in thinking this? Would God place us here to be an example for the children and broken families around here? I am so wore out physically, mentally and I  just want to run!!!!! I looked on the internet today for some places in and around Waukesha just in case. Now, all I can do is talk more with my husband and pray and wait for God’s leading.

Ta Ta