Another List; and Soup!

Wish I'd Done That: Develop a real talent for listening to your kids. You know them better than anyone, and it's vital you listen carefully to what they tell you: both verbally and physically. LA was complaining about something one time, and I said, "That's not important." She replied, "Well, it is to me." I learned a valuable lesson that day: LISTEN. Really engage in what your little one is telling you. It's a great investment in your family, and those listening skills might come in handy in other places, too!

Italian Sausage Vegetable Soup

Here it is, Pam and Sally!

2 lbs Italian sausage

2 medium onions, chopped fine

5 cloves garlic, minced

4 carrots, peeled and diced

4 small zucchini, diced

2 green bell peppers, diced

11 cup chicken broth

2 28 oz. cans diced tomatoes

2 tsp. dried basil, crumbled

1 tsp. dried oregano, crumbled

1 cup uncooked orzo (cooked according to pkg. directions)

1 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Brown the sausage in a heavy Dutch oven until no longer pink. Remove sausage and drain. Spoon out most of the sausage fat and discard. In remaining fat, add the onions and garlic. Cook until soft, but not brown. Add the carrots, zucchini, peppers, broth, tomatoes, basil and oregano. Bring to a boil. When soup is boiling, add the cooked orzo and cook for 20 more minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. To serve, put in soup bowls and top with Parmesan. This soup is best if cooked the day before serving. May also be frozen. Makes 12 - 16 servings.

Where to Go Next

1. Grand Canyon

2. Australia

3. San Francisco

4. Yellowstone

5. Washington, D.C. (again)

6. New York (again)

7. New England

8. Charleston, S.C.

9. Mediterranean

10. ITALY

Where would you go, if you could go anywhere?