The Recipe Corner -Chicken and Mushroom Soup

These measurements are all approximate; it's your soup - wiggle the ingredients around to suit your taste.

1 Cup Chicken Broth (I use College Inn when I don't have home-made, which is most of the time.)

1/2 cup of cooked chicken cubed or in hunks - you can use more if you want.

1 oz of uncooked pasta (I used spaghetti when I made the soup in the picture.)

1/4 cup frozen peas

1/4 cup dried mushrooms or 1/2 cup fresh mushrooms. What kind?  Any kind you want. I have used Black Trumpets, oysters, portabella, morels,  porcini, shiitake and chicken mushroom. You can also use those uninteresting white mushrooms that you see in every grocery store. 

Basil

Olive oil

If you are using dried mushrooms, reconstitute them with boiling water to cover. Don't throw out the mushroom water; it's a good addition to the soup.

If you are using fresh mushrooms, saute them for about 5 minutes in a little olive oil and basil.

Bring broth to a boil, add basil if you are using dried mushrooms, and cook the pasta. When it is al dente, add the frozen peas, and the chicken. Bring back to a boil and add the mushrooms with the basil and oil or with the mushroom water depending on what mushrooms you are using. 

Oyster mushrooms in the wild.

Serves 1.

Recipe compliments of GoodOldBooks.

Tuesday Tinker - ManicManx

If you go to ManicManx's shop you will see an "On vacation" sign and none of her wonderful jackets, coats and vests. I'm here to tell you that this is not true - she's at a show! and shows are fun but they are too much work to be "vacations". She should be back by this time next week.

Go to her shop and click on the button that lets Etsy alert you when ManicManx is back. You won't be sorry.

Sunday Supplement - On Location with our Next Tuesday Tinker

Our Freethinker Etsy Team is made of of lots of wonderful people, all very different, with all kinds of different views, hobbies, senses of humors, and beliefs.   But the one thing we all love is a good poem or story from ManicManx.  The Freethinkers Team calls her MM, the world calls her Kristi Smart, we all call her funny!   This Sunday she has graced us with one of her poems about her beloved cat Henry:

I woke up this morning with a feeling of dread.
I found Henry’s rectum was glued to my head.

It wasn’t his usual choice of repose.
The artful arrangement, his torso, my nose.

I wont be surprised if I break out in a sty.
Due to new sleeping habits, his anus, my eye.

I hope he goes back to his chest, my ear.
My armpit is willing to snuggle his rear.

The first light of day is now up my cats butt.
In considering trading him in for a mutt.

I love little Henry with all of my heart.
I'm ever so grateful he cant pass a fart.

Kristi Smart

Henry, having a laugh.

We are also lucky enough to have Kristy write for our Recipe Corner, where she always has a wonderful spin on every yummy concoction.   Not only is she a gifted story teller, but a gifted seamstress as well.    To view her eclectic and beautiful hand made coats and vests, visit ManicManx's Etsy Shop. MM, when is your first book of poetry coming out?   Stay tuned.....

Thursdays Recipe Corner

Beachcomber Pasta Salad
Brought to you by Beachcobersgrove
Paintings and jewelry with a sandy point of view. Its only appropriate that the first ingredient in this recipe is shells.

1 lb pasta (sm shell)
1 handful black olives, pitted
  1 c. sun-dried tomatoes in oil
1 c. broccoli crowns (firm cooked)
1 bunch fresh basil
1 c. corn/peas
1/2 red onion chopped(or green onions)
1 bottle italian dressing
Optional: parmesean cheese & bacon bits
Salt, pepper, thyme to taste

Beachcombers Cove, Your Oasis of Fun , Tropical Art

The peaceful spirit of the seahorse is represented here for your wearing pleasure. Handmade in 16g. sterling silver wire and combined with natural, bone beads, it is approximately 8" long and fastens with a handmade clasp.