Onion Soup Please!

K when I first found this recipe on Pinterest I wasn't too sure about it. I've been against onions most of my life, but I'm continuously learning now how much they can change your cooking for the better! Still, this was a big step. But it paid off! Can't really go wrong with a recipe adapted from Olive Garden, can you?

Ingredients

• 4 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 lb baby (pearl) onions, fresh (or ½ frozen bag, thawed)
• 1 medium red onion, sliced thin
• 1 medium Vidalia onion (or other sweet onion), sliced thin
• 6 cups (48 fl oz) chicken stock (but a little more isn't a bad thing)
• Salt (to taste)
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/2 lb angel hair pasta, broken in 2-inch pieces (We like them left long though too. And 3/4 lb of pasta makes it even better.)
• 4 sliced bacon, cooked and chopped into ½" pieces
• 1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
• 4 tsp grated Romano (or Parmesan) cheese

Procedures

PLACE oil and all onions in a large sauce pan over low heat and saute, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes, until onions are golden. Add stock and salt to taste. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes and simmer for about 1 hour.

ADD pasta, bacon and parsley and cook until pasta is just al dente.

LADLE into soup bowls. Sprinkle with grated Romano (or parm) cheese 

"SAAAAANNNNTAAA!!!! I know him, I know him!"

Even though we got married a week before Christmas last year, this feels like our first Christmas since we were opening all of our wedding presents and getting our new apartment put together last Christmas. This year we stayed home and opened presents all morning and then went to Lewiston to eat with Levi’s family and talk to Braden, our missionary brother.

Santa sure spoiled us this year!

A few things under the tree included:

New boots for me, in brown. So that my toes won't freeze on Sundays anymore. :)

And another pair of church shoes in black. Levi has EXCELLENT taste!

And he surprised me with an iPod too. Woot!!

I knew Levi really wanted a new coat for Christmas, but wasn’t sure if he wanted black or brown. So… I got one in brown:

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(Mom says it's his race car driver coat. Ü I think it reminds me more of Wolverine though.)

And one in black. Nicer, for church and things.

(Picture soon.)

Levi has also been wishing for a nice frame pack to take hunting & hiking for a long time. Santa found one on Amazon thankfully, where there were lots of reviews and tips to help pick one that he’d like:

As you can tell, he was so excited that he had to try it on right away. Just to make sure it fit. I don't think it really goes with the bathrobe though. ;)

After opening up all the other wonderful gifts from our family and each other, the aftermath sure wasn't pretty...

Luckily my husband's OCD kicked in and the house was clean in minutes so we could enjoy the rest of the day with family and talking to Braden in Mexico! So thankful for the Christmas season. :)

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We also were fortunate enough to go to Island Park with several friends for New Years! It was a GREAT time! The boys rolled and played in the snow, the girls watched movies, everyone cooked and played games. What more could you ask for? Thanks to Colton and Brandie for the invite!! Hopefully soon I’ll be able to get some of the pictures off our camera; today it does not want to cooperate. Happy New Year to all!