New Year Resolutions

I received a MacBook from Santa this Christmas. 


Santa must want me to stop whining that it's too lonely downstairs at night to sit alone at the computer and blog. And stop complaining that when I want to blog, the twins are usurping the computer - ("Homework is more important than BLOGGING, Mom!"). Or stop insisting that I absolutely, positively NEED to bounce my ideas on chicken fricasse off of someone who really KNOWS and UNDERSTANDS my passion for cooking. 


Or someone who can at least NOD and SMILE when I am going on and on about the beauty of gorgonzola dolce. 


Apparently, I can only be inspired to write when there is a warm body next to me to talk to. Or talk at, depending on who you ask.


Not the body who occupies the space from 8pm - 9pm these days, requesting the Wonder Pets instead of a book (where did I go wrong parenting this child?!), but the big one who flips back and forth between English League Soccer and guy flicks on TNT. 


So he bought me a MacBook. 


Hmmm...he must really like it when I talk at him...


Now I can blog whilst under a down comforter.


Truly, no more excuses.


And since I have no more excuses,  I thought I would make a few resolutions.


Resolution #1


Blog 3 times a week. Or at least once a week.


Which in turn leads to...


Resolution #2


To make food that would be interesting to blog about 3 times a week. 


Resolution #3


To continue on my quest for tiny, packable, salad dressing containers so that my children can eat freshly sliced veggies, packed in cute, little resealable "snack saks" every day. (Michelle Obama would be proud!)


Resolution #4


To make more soup. Soup like this:

Pasta Fagioli

(Ramen doesn't count.) 


P.S. Ramen, like udon, is not in my dictionary. However, it is in the common japanese-american vernacular, so it counts in Scrabble. Hear that, "Santa"?


Resolution #5


To NOT make spaghetti with meat sauce more than once a week.


Resolution #6


To help my children fully understand the complex flavor and subtle nuance that is frozen creamed spinach. Help them God, for they do not know the joy that each spoonful brings. 


And to add more fresh green spinach to things. Like soups.


Resolution #7


To not have every hot breakfast include Mary Kitchen Corned Beef Hash. 


Not every. Just most.


Resolution #8


To only buy apple juice made in the good ol' US of A. I am not a jingoist, but come ON Juicy Juice! Why do you have to import your apples from China? Isn't that what Washington State is for?


Resolution #9


To feed my family healthy, nutritious meals with whole grains and vegetables (especially green ones) that taste really good.


And completely get rid of red meat and sugar. And white flour. And 10 lbs. 

Mwaaaaahaha! No chocolate for YOU!

Just kidding about the red meat and sugar. And the white flour.


But not the 10 lbs. 


Resolution #10


See Resolution #1.


Happy New Year!


Quick and Easy Pasta Fagioli

Ingredients

• 4 sprigs fresh thyme, finely chopped
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 1 cup diced celery
• 1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
• 6 cups  chicken broth
• 2 (14.5-ounce) cans great northern white beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 cups baby pasta shells, cooked to al dente, in a separate container
• Freshly ground black pepper and kosher salt, to taste
• Pinch red pepper flakes, optional

Directions

Heat olive oil  in a heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot and celery and saute until they are tender, about 8 minutes. Add the broth, beans, and tomato sauce. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat, then decrease the heat to medium, add the bay leaf, and simmer until the vegetables and beans are very tender, about 10 minutes. Add the thyme and cook 5 minutes more. Season the soup with ground black pepper, kosher salt and red pepper flakes. Add cooked pasta shells and cook until pasta is warmed through, approximately 2 minutes on simmer.

Ladle the soup into bowls.