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Spicy Sausage Soup with Cilantro

I found this recipe on a friends site and it’s outstanding. Yes, I did make it and loved it.

Spicy Sausage Soup with Cilantro

INGREDIENTS:
2 pounds hot Italian sausage links, casings removed, and sliced (turkey sausage worked great)
4 cloves garlic, minced (I added garlic powder)
2 (14 ounce) cans beef broth (I added a little more water to thin it a bit)
1 (14.5 ounce) can Italian-style stewed tomatoes
1 (15.5 ounce) can white hominy (corn)
1 cup sliced carrots
1 onion, chopped
1 (14.5 ounce) can great Northern beans, undrained (or whatever bean you prefer)
2 small zucchini, cubed (I used 4 stalks celery)
2 cups chopped fresh cilantro (I used about 1 cup cilantro and 1 cup fresh basil)
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS:
1.In a large skillet over medium heat, combine Italian sausage, onion and garlic. Cook, stirring frequently until sausage is evenly browned. Drain cooked sausage in a strainer to remove grease.
2.In a large Dutch oven or stock pot, combine the beef broth, hominy, stewed tomatoes, carrots, beans, and zucchini. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and boil for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low, and add sausage and cilantro; simmer for 15 minutes, or until carrots and zucchini (or celery) are tender. Season with salt and pepper and top with shredded Parmesan cheese.

Elf Yourself

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This is hysterical! You’ll laugh so hard you’ll cry. Click on “Elf Yourself” to see what I’m saying.

Snow for Christmas?

On Christmas day we drive up to celebrate the holidays with my husbands family. As much as I’m looking forward to visiting, I’m even more excited because it snowed at their house. I’ve never seen snow in the high desert before, so it will be a first. It will also be Corbin’s first snow too:) Yeah! What a special holiday.

The pictures above were sent to us by Luke’s folks. Beautiful snow!

Oh Christmas tree

Corbin was mesmerized by my parents tree. He loved the ornaments and how the lights shinned bright. These are fun times and they are only going to get better.