Crockpot Tortellini Minestrone Soup

I found this crockpot recipe on my friend Kymm's blog.  With the temperatures dropping down into the low 90's (ha!) it seemed like a good time to start with the crockpot soups.

This lovely recipe called for zucchini, beans (I used white tepary beans from our CSA) and a few other veggies.  You can use either frozen or dried tortellini, I used the multicolored dried cheese tortellini from Trader Joe's.  Of course we topped ours with shredded Parmesan.

I love doing anything in the crockpot so this recipe was already destined to be a winner!

If you want to try Tortellini Minestrone go here for the recipe.

Fisher Price Friday - 2012 Ornaments

This week on Fisher Price Friday I'd like to show off the 2012 Hallmark Fisher Price Ornaments.  I wrote about prior Hallmark Ornaments here and wanted to update with the newest releases.  Hallmark has been making Fisher Price Ornaments since 2007 and there are 14 total.  Sadly this is the last year that they will be producing ornaments since they couldn't come to an agreement with Mattel (FP parent company).  Boo!

The last two ornaments are adorable.  They are the Corn Popper and the Two Tune TV.

The Corn Popper retails for $12.95.  It looks a lot like the full size except it has beads (with visible holes).  It looks the most like the 1980 #788 version to me with the gripper handle instead of a knob.  The #788 was made from 1963-1989.  There were other poppers made before and after it.

The ornament "pops" when you push it.  It has sweet little lithographs around the base and red wheels.  I don't have a full size popper to compare it too, sorry!

The second ornament this year is the Two Tune TV which is a small version of the Giant Screen Music Box TV #114.  This ornament retails for $17.95.  This ornament is "magic" and it requires 2 tiny batteries (included).  It plays music when you wind it and the screen image moves as you're winding (not on it's own).  The dial can be a bit touchy and I've heard it breaks easily.  I had to return the first one I bought b/c the image didn't turn.  I also noticed that the display one at the store was broken, so go easy on this one!

Here it is next to the full sized toy.  They look exactly alike!  So adorable.

The lithographs match on the sides and the top.  

The sides are the same except the original has a wooden base and the ornament is of course all plastic.

Here is a view of the other main screen on the tv.  The tv plays two songs: Row Your Boat and London Bridge.  The images are exactly the same!

So cute, you can't help but love it!

The ornaments are sold at Hallmark stores of course, but I bought mine at Kohl's.  I was able to get a discount with a $10 off card (came in the mail) and you can also use the 20% off coupons they frequently have.  Just don't wait too long, since this is the last year for Fisher Price Hallmark Ornaments I have a feeling they'll be going fast!

I bought a few more of the ornaments from prior years so I'll be posting about those soon.  For a list of the other 12 ornaments and the ones I've already shown look here.

Chicken with Chickpeas and Olives Recipe

Last night I was looking for a recipe to use up the Chickpeas I'd cooked up from a recent CSA box.  I'd used about 1/2 of the package making roasted chickpeas (look here for that recipe, crazy good my 1 year old eats them like candy), and had about 16oz left.  The rest of the ingredients were in my pantry or refrigerator so it seemed like a great one to try.  The recipe came from Fitness magazine and was called Chicken Tagine with Olives.  I preferred to reference the chickpeas. :)

Chicken with Chickpeas and Olives 
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon minced ginger (I used 1/4 tsp ground ginger since I didn't have fresh)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 14 ounce can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1/4 cup coarsely chopped pitted kalamata olives
*optional: 1/3 cup raisins
10 ounces cooked chicken breast, diced (about 2 cups)
15 ounce cooked chickpeas (or 1 can, drained and rinsed)

Directions
1. Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat.  Add the ginger, onion, cumin and cinnamon and cook 4-5 minutes stirring frequently.
2. Add the tomatoes, chicken broth, peas, olives and raisins (we skipped this part).  Simmer 7 to 8 minutes.
3. Add the chicken and chickpeas, cook 3-4 minutes or until chicken and chickpeas are heated through.

Note: To cook the chicken quickly use the poaching method. Place the chicken breasts in a pan with 2-3 cups water.  Cover the pot and cook for 9-12 minutes or until no longer pink inside.  Easy peasy!

Looks good right?  So healthy it almost makes up for the fudge covered in heavy cream I had for dessert last night.  What?  You don't cover your fudge in heavy cream before eating it?  You are missing out. :)  Ha!

Review of Cable Mountain Lodge at Zion National Park

We spent 5 days up in Zion (National Park in Utah) in the end of August.  Our reservation was for only 3 days and then we would have gone to Bryce Canyon.  However, after checking into our room at the Cable Mountain Lodge we decided to extended our stay there.  It was that lovely!

Our room had the most amazing views of the mountains, the Virgin River and the pool.  We had a corner room right above the office which made it more quiet.  I also didn't feel as bad about our baby crying at night since our closest neighbors below had to be up all night working anyway. ;)  Although I did ask the next morning and they said they couldn't hear anything.  I guess the rooms are well insulated!

All of the rooms are suites and we selected one with a king in the bedroom and a queen pull out sofa in the living space.  Our suite was very spacious and included a kitchen with a microwave, dishwasher, refrigerator and stove top.  I'm told that some of the other suites have full sized refrigerators, but we did just fine with the smaller one.  The kitchens had high end cabinets and granite counter tops.  They were also equipped with dishes, utensils and such.  They even had salt and pepper shakers, which I often forget to pack!

The bathroom had granite counter tops and a sink/shower.  It was spacious and well lit.  The master bedroom had windows on two sides and access to the large covered deck.

The property had a (heated) pool and hot tub.  It is also right on the Virgin River, which you could ride inner-tubes on (we didn't, ha!).  I did enjoy watching it rise and fall with the summer rain storms, amazing! 

At the end of the property is a lovely walkway with quite a few sunflowers growing.  Beautiful!

Cable Mountain Lodge is right at the entrance to Zion National Park.  You literally walk from the parking lot to the bridge entering the park.  It is actually closer to park at the resort and walk to the Zion Visitor Center than to walk from many of the Visitor Center parking spots, ha!  From the Visitor Center you can catch the shuttle bus into the park (the only way in during the summer and busy months).  There is also a short hike that I took the girls on right by the Visitor Center.

Even closer than the Park is the stop for the shuttle into the town of Springdale.  We had our own car but I saw people catching the bus all during the day and evening.  

The Lodge is also across the street from a grocery store, ice-cream shop (SO good), restaurant, movie theatre, bakery, art gallery and gift shop.  Just a couple blocks up (in the same parking lot) is another restaurant.  Let's just say this resort has location-location-location working for it!

We loved the location but we'll return for the comfort and beauty of the resort.  Both inside and out.  You just can't beat those views.

Until next time Cable Mountain Lodge!

Look here for photos of hiking in Zion with kids.  And here for the best Zion Hawaiian Shave Ice.  And if you want more summer storm photos from the lodge look here.

Lemon & Butter Baked Cod

This recipe proves once again that you can't go wrong with butter.  I was trying to find a way to make our wild-caught cod the other night and this recipe seemed like a good risk.  It turned out plate licking yummy and oh-so-simple.

Lemon & Butter Baked Cod
Ingredients 
4-6 Cod Filets (I had 1.3 lbs)
1 lemon (cut in half)
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
Seasoning Salt (or Old Bay seasoning)
Sea Salt

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375.  Cut up fish into 4-6 pieces and place in a baking dish.  Pat filets with a paper towel to dry.
2. Squeeze 1/2 of the lemon over the filets.  Slice the other half of the lemon and put aside.  Pour the melted butter over the top of the filets.  Sprinkle with seasoning and sea salt.  Top with lemon slices.
3. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes.  Fish will be white, flaky, tender and buttery.  YUM!  Add extra sauce over the top to serve.  We also used the sauce over potatoes because I'm a good Norwegian.  Ha!

If you like fish check out these easy recipes:
Ono with cilantro-butter sauce (yes butter again!)
Salmon Cod & Corn Chowder