Light up the Night

I bought one of these cute little lanterns about a month ago at IKEA.  With just a simple little tealight it really reflects back a lot of light!  Hubby and I sat out on the porch last night with our little lantern sitting on the table, and decided that it would look much better hanging on one of the porch support posts - and that we needed another 3 - one for each support.

Back to IKEA we went.  At $3.99 each, it was a pretty affordable deal!  We stopped at our local Ace Hardware, and found these perfectly matching hooks in the garden section.  They were only $3.69 each, so all 4 lanterns and hangers for just under $32!!

I can't wait until tonight when we can light them all up! 

Upstate Minestrone Soup

This is really the only homemade soup that I make on a regular basis.  While I like soup, I'm not fond of making it - except this one, as there is nothing that tastes quite like it, and my family requests it often during the cold winter months of Chicago.

Here is the cast of characters, otherwise known as the list of ingredients:

1 lb. mild Italian Sausage

1 medium onion - diced (about 1 cup)

3-4 carrots - peeled and sliced (about 1 cup)

2 zucchini - sliced

1-2 cloves garlic - minced

2 cups shredded cabbage (or coleslaw mix)

32 oz. beef broth

1 can Italian stewed tomatoes

1 can Great Northern Beans

1 T. olive oil

1 tsp. basil

1 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. black pepper

Begin to heat olive oil in stock pot (got mine at Target - it's the Paula Deen one, and I love it!)

Cut the sausage into 1 inch thick slices (you can use bulk sausage if desired)

Brown in the olive oil then add the following:

onion

carrots

garlic

basil, and let cook for about 5 minutes.

Add zucchini

tomatoes

beef broth and shredded cabbage (oops, forgot to take a picture of the cabbage!)

salt and pepper.  The whole mixture will look like there is not enough liquid, but the cabbage will cook down and there will be plenty of liquid.  Bring to a boil, then lower temperature and simmer covered for about an hour.

Add the can of beans (undrained) and cook for an additional 20 minutes.

I like to serve with parmesan cheese..  Enjoy!!

Makes about 8 servings

Porch Retreat