I haven’t spoken about the Creekhouse in quite a while.  And, for a very good reason…there has been nothing new to speak about.  But, I saw a picture recently and it made me laugh because of how I feel about….kitchens!

I never wanted a big kitchen.  I did however want a kitchen with character.  And, I am happy to say I have that.  The kitchen we built is small next to almost everyone’s…but it is just the right size for us.  There is very little I would change about it……just one set of doors to my pantry.  Not the funky orange screen doors…I still love them.  But, the only problem is that since ALL the food is in the pantry…those doors stay open all the time and I don’t get to enjoy these as much as I would like to.  Also, the other set of doors that leads out to the foyer and my studio tend to stay open for the reason of convenience to go to that part of the house.  So, I would swap the orange doors for the plain doors…and get rid of the plain doors all together.  Yes.  That is what I would like to do.  In my dreams!

This is never going to happen, however.  And, I bring it up as a matter of fact, not a matter of complaint.  My DH believes that unless something is broken, you do not mess with it.  And, it’s not broken…it was just an oversight on my part, when we were building, as to the way the doors would operate.  So—it is what it is.

And, I would not even bother to bring up kitchens at all…seeing as how it is the most unpleasant room in the house…(That’s just me, I know).  But, I saw a picture that I found purely delightful.  It is of a kitchen…to be sure…but one I think I could even grow to like!  What do you think?

Now…that’s a kitchen I think I could love! I suppose you could put your ‘kitchen’ in any room you like!   Isn’t it just the most amazing use of space?  I would imagine there would have to be a pantry somewhere to hold food.   But, honestly, it has all the things I think I would need…except maybe a freezer for necessities like ice cream and ice!

And, speaking of ice cream (we were speaking of ice cream, weren’t we?) Here is another nifty device…for those who have to contend with an infestation of ICE CREAM THIEFS at your house.  And, especially if you enjoy the ‘cream of the day’ is small carton form…this could be a necessity!

Introducing the Ben & Jerry’s combination Pint Lock, a brilliant idea for anyone who has a son or a spouse who doesn’t understand that if he eats one more bite of your Chocolate Fudge Brownie you’re totally going to do something unkind..just saying!

So that’s my post…pure fluff!  Hope it made you smile….OH!  Happy Cooking!

The Deep South is in a Deep Freeze!  It is cold!  Very cold…it was 25 degrees at 6 am, and now…at 2 pm, it is only 35 degrees!  And, it’s getting a lot lower tonight.  Why, we even had snow flurries here in our fair city this week!   Just so you know…this is not my idea of a good time!  It’s not supposed to get this cold here!  Anyway, I thought it would be an excellent day for soup.  And…that’s something I can make!  I mean, how can you mess up soup?  Can’t you just add anything and everything and stir it up and call it soup?  🙂 

Well, as you know, the kitchen is not where my talents lie.  But, I can make this soup…even I know this is not hard.  This is Paula Deen’s recipe…and, it’s a good one.

POTATO SOUP

1 bag frozen hash-brown potatoes…(30 oz. bag)

2 cans chicken broth…(14 oz can)

1 can cream of chicken soup…(10.75 oz. can)

1/2 cup chopped onion…(now, personally, I do not like to smell, touch, peel, slice, or chop onions.  Did you know that you can buy a pkg. of  frozen, chopped onions!  Isn’t that the most wonderful invention?   So, now my soup can have onions in it, too!)

1/3 t. ground black pepper…(that’s not even enough to mess with, is it?)

1 pkg cream cheese….softened…(8 oz.)

In a 6 quart electric slow cooker, combine potatoes, broth, soup, onion, and pepper.  Cover, and cook on low for 5 hours.  Then, stir in cream cheese…and cook for 30 more minutes…stir occasionally until combined.  Garnish with green onion, if desired.   But if you desire  grated cheese  or crumbled bacon. that’s OK, too!

Serves 4  

That’s it…easy enough that even Tonja can do it!  I serve it with cornbread muffins.  And, no. No, I don’t fix a dessert.  There’s ice cream in the freezer!

************************************************************************

FYI:  I wrote this earlier in the week.  The weather has warmed up a bit yesterday and today.  But, it’s heading back down now, and I am heading north for a few days.  For sure, it will be freezing there!  So, if it’s cold where you are, ice and snow on the ground or just a cold wind blowing through the trees…make some soup.  It will warm you to the bone.

One more, for laughs…

Sweet Finn, who is an impish, mischievous soul who like nothing more than  than running and jumping and playing…and he’s not particular who he plays with…just as long as they play!  He had his surgery on Monday to have him neutered.  The Vet called me and said, all went well and while he was asleep, he took out the rest of his baby teeth  (11).  So we figured he was quit confused when he woke up…hurting at both ends.  But, it has not slowed him one bit. 

His big friend, Charla, came over to spend a few days while Adam and Suze were in Savannah on a shoot.  Finn adores her….she finds him a nuisance….

When they are outside, Finn makes every step she makes…except when he is jumping at her trying to get her to run and play.  She is not interested…..

So we let her go out side by herself and keep that little imp inside.  Or Finn would possibly end up in the top of one of those tall oak trees!

We live in a private neighborhood…just one street, but we are responsible for all the repairs and maintenance that is done on our street.  So, we had a Christmas party and meeting last night.  We have had 2 new couples move in and we met them last night.  One is a young couple and one is a retired couple.  And, the house right next door to me is for sell!  Don’t some of you want to come and look at it…it even has a guest house.

Now I must go and get ready for church.  And, end this post….cause I’m already into next week.  Whew!  The weeks are ganging up on me!

PS.  Finn stole and ate one of my shoes!  One of my Toms!  I’m glad he is toothless for a while…serves him right!  🙂