Pop a la Mode

So evidently my last post made some of you want my super-secret potato soup recipe. It’s not that secret and it’s definitely not hard to make. It is rather yummy and there are a few people who read this blog that can attest to that.

So now I proudly present:

Not Yo Momma’s Potato Soup

2 Packages of Refrigerated Mashed Potatoes (one regular and one garlic)
2 Cans of Low Sodium Chicken Broth
2 Cups of Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Chopped Green Onions
Chopped Crispy Bacon

Bring the two cans of chicken broth to a low simmer in a large pot. Once there is steam, add the potatoes. Stir constantly for two minutes until there are no lumps in the soup. Add one cup of cheese and stir until melted. Turn the heat down to the lowest setting and let simmer for 10 minutes - stirring occasionally. You have to be careful the pot doesn’t get too hot because the potatoes will burn.

Serve with extra cheese, onions and bacon as toppings.

You’re welcome.

No I’m not talking about a person.

The weather today is absolutely dreadful. Rain, wind, cold and very gray. A lovely day to stay in your pajamas and work from bed but alas, that was not an option.

I am making a big pot of my favorite potato soup tonight for dinner and I have a few people stopping through to partake. My condo is going to be the revolving soup kitchen. Robyn is coming over at some point and I told her it was shift dining at it’s best. I’m just putting the bowls out and everyone is on their own. I’m a great hostess aren’t I?

So that’s my plan - put the soup on the stove, prep everything and sit on the couch under my electric throw and watch American Idol and LOST. And if everyone wasn’t coming to eat soup, I’d actually do that in bed.

Another V-Day has come and gone. As uneventfully as any other year. Que sera sera.

Robyn and I did have lunch together yesterday so you could say we celebrated in our own way. Woo for Singles Awareness Day! We went to Homewood to run a couple of errands and ran into one of my favorite shops, Three Sheets. It’s a linens and bath store and it just smells relaxing. Like lavendar and clean soap. It makes me want to go to sleep

The two ladies working in there were actually geniunely glad to see us. I don’t know if they were bored but I felt the most loved all day in that store. So thanks Three Linens ladies, you made us feel good.

But it’s a little sad that the most love we felt all day was in a random store in Homewood by two people that didn’t know us.

Homewood is cute little place but during lunch it becomes a mad house. Cars everywhere and most of them are Volvos and BMWs. The unspoken rule is that the Vs and Bs have the right of way and you better hope your brakes work well. I had three Volvos pull out in front of me yesterday with no concern for other people.

After the third cutoff, I looked at Robyn and said, “Why does the letter V have it out for us today?” Because it’s V-Day, that’s why.

Next year, maybe I’ll just stay home.

As I was driving back from Oxford yesterday, I happened upon a country station called “The Kudzu.” I never did figure out where they broadcast out of but I’m figuring somewhere in North Mississippi.

I stopped on it because they play all country classics - as in Waylon, Willie, Merle and Tammy. I love that stuff so settled in for an afternoon of country music.

My PaJoe used to listen to the country station in town. He was the only person in my family that I knew listened to country. My parents hate it and my other granddad most often had “The Trading Post” on when I was in the car with him. And if you’re wondering, “The Trading Post” is pretty much a radio yard sale. The only time my house had the country station on was when there was snow and we were seeing if schools were closed.

I digress. Listening to Kudzu yesterday, I was amazed at how bawdy country music was and how chauvinistic. Maybe that’s why my mom didn’t like it. I mean, “Stand By Your Man” might be a classic but I don’t think any woman I know would allow a man in her life that acted that way. I’ll stand by him, while he’s packing the car.

Conway Twitty’s “Tight Fittin’ Jeans” condones adultery and losing yourself for the night and openly lusting for someone else. Nice.

And of course there’s always the classic Kinky Friedman song, “Get Your Biscuits in the Oven and Your Buns in the Bed.”

Maybe I’ll just stick to listening to my iPod - the music isn’t so infuriating.

I’m in Oxford at the moment paying a visit to my brother’s family. Tonight I was able to rock my nephew to sleep. And my clock is ticking.

When D. told me that he and Corrie were expecting, I was excited of course but deep inside, it was hard for me to imagine what type of person would be joining our family. A baby? It’s been so long since we’ve had one around here and what would he be like? Would he even like me?

Well one year later, I can’t imagine our lives without the little dude. He runs on pure 110% energy all day. He plays hard, sleeps hard and eats hard. And he’s funny. He makes faces and he giggles and no matter what kind of day I’m having, just looking at him makes me feel better.

So tonight, I treasured the time I had him to myself. He curled up against me, stuck his thumb in his mouth and my heart just almost burst. He’s not even mine but I love him so much that it makes me wonder if one day I’ll have one that I’ll love even more.

That seems impossible but I know I’ll probably be proved wrong about that too.

This was produced by Fox Sports and broadcast before the Super Bowl. It’s very moving and worth every part of the 6 minutes it takes to watch it.