Pinterest MUST DO List

So, I know that the Pinterest train is already well on its way. And I'm not late hopping on board -- I've been riding along for quite a while.

HOWEVER, I feel that my "make" to "want to make" ratio is, well, terrible. I think I can count on two hands how many of the recipes/trick/tips I've tried. It's just EFFORT, man! You have to WANT it.

But I'm going to give you guys a few of my MUST DO items -- because I've done them and they've become part of my every day (or every week/every month, etc.) life.

HOW TO GET RID OF MOLD FROM (OR JUST REALLY CLEAN) YOUR BATHROOM GROUT
If you've ever had mold growing along the grout lines of your tub, or if it's just dirty or old or gross or NOT WHITE, do this. So easy. SO VERY EFFECTIVE.

HOW TO GET RID OF REALLY CLOGGED DRAINS (WITHOUT CHEMICALS!)
No picture needed. No chemicals, either.

BEEF AND BARLEY SOUP
OMG. My kids FLIP for this. It's so easy, so inexpensive and so, so delicious (and healthy!). It takes me back to my childhood and makes me feel like I'm cooking one of those meals that my kids will come home for ... something only Momma can make. Aren't those the best kinds?

BANANA BITES -- FROZEN. WITH CHOCOLATE. OMG.
So, this isn't rocket science. This really isn't even cooking. But this IS delicious and the perfect way to quell a chocolate craving. Or a sweets-of-any-kind craving. Sliced bananas. Frozen. Dipped in chocolate. Kept frozen. Oh, yes. She put peanut butter on hers, which is FINE. But I'm a purist. Really, though, you can't go wrong.

BEST CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE RECIPE EVER.
And no, I'm totally not exaggerating. Although, technically, maybe this doesn't count as a Pinterest find because I pinned it from a recipe I first tried in college. I think. Regardless it's just ... it's just so good, guys.

OK, so those are all for now. I recommend all of these over and over and over, cross my heart. A lot of things on Pinterest ... you just don't know. But these, I keep coming back to. Enjoy!

Spicy Tuscan Soup ... For your SOUL

I hate to do back-to-back food posts, but today's thrifting adventure was a BUST. At Goodwill, they have a "color of the week" -- if your item is tagged with that week's color, you get the item for 50% off. So I've tried to make thrifting extra hard fun by only buying things that are currently on sale.

Which, sometimes (like today), poses a problem. I just couldn't find anything I wanted so badly I was willing to bash my head against the wall use my sewing machine for.

So SOUP! This is my all-time, never-to-be-beat, absolute FAVORITE soup. It's my version of a Tuscan soup served at a certain Italian chain restaurant that rhymes with Schmolive Garden. It's spicy, smooth, hearty and warm. So very good.

Spicy Tuscan Soup

Stick with me, folks. I'll get better at pictures :)

Ingredients:
1 pound Spicy Breakfast Sausage
1 whole Medium Red Onion, diced
2 slices Bacon, chopped
3 cloves Garlic, minced
3 whole Potatoes
1 quart Warm Water
3 cubes Chicken Bouillon Cubes
1/4 bunch Kale, roughly chopped
1/2 cup Heavy Cream
Salt & Pepper to taste


Directions:
Crumble sausage into a Dutch oven and heat over medium-high heat until cooked through. Drain and set the sausage aside.
Chop onions and dice bacon; add to the Dutch oven. Reduce heat to medium and cook until onions are clear. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Slice potatoes in half lengthwise and cut into 1/4″ slices. Add warm water, bouillon cubes and potatoes to the Dutch oven and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes until potatoes are almost done.
Add remaining ingredients as well as the sausage and simmer for 5 more minutes. Let cool and serve with warm garlic breadsticks.


Please make this soup. It will warm your heart and, in the words of my daughter, dance in your belly.


Enjoy!!