September and October Meetings in Review

The months seem to slip away so quickly. I can't believe it's already November. Since I missed a few months, I'll add a little extra to this post that has nothing to do with quilting and everything to do with eating! I planned a Souper Supper at my church, and I thought all of you might enjoy the three recipes that were such a big hit.

Sausage Tortellini Soup

½ lb. Polska Kielbasa sausage, cut into ¼” half-moon slices

1 can French-style green beans, drained

1 can (28 oz.) Chunky Italian Tomatoes

1 can (10 oz.) French Onion Soup

3 cups water

2 cups refrigerated or frozen cheese tortellini

Simmer all ingredients together for 2-4 hours. Or, place all ingredients in a crock pot and simmer on LOW all day. One hour before serving, add tortellini.  Top individual servings with Parmesan cheese.  If freezing, freeze before adding tortellini.  Thaw in refrigerator.  Reheat and add tortellini one hour before serving.

Chicken Wild Rice Soup

5 2/3 cups water

1 package (4.3 oz) long grain and wild rice mix (like Uncle Ben's or Rice-a-Roni)
1 envelope chicken noodle soup mix
1 celery rib, chopped
1 medium carrot chopped
1/3 cup chopped onion
2 cans (10 3/4 oz each) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 cup cubed cooked chicken, or chopped canned chicken

In a large saucepan, combine water, rice with contents of seasoning packet, and soup mix. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in celery, carrot and onion. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in chicken soup and chicken. Cook 9 minutes longer or until the rice and vegetables are tender. Yield: 5 servings.

Cheesy Vegetable Soup

10 cups water

4 carrots peeled and sliced thin (we used packages of matchstick-cut carrots)

4 potatoes peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes

1 onion, chopped

4 stalks celery, sliced thin

4 cups frozen broccoli florets

1 TBSP chicken bouillon (we used Tone's Chicken Base)

1cup butter

1 cup flour

1-16oz. jar cheese whiz (we used 2% Velveeta because it was less expensive than the cheese whiz in a jar)

Place water and all vegetables but broccoli in a large pot. Bring to a boil. Turn heat down and simmer with lid on until vegetables are tender. Add the chicken bouillon and broccoli when the vegetables have about 5 more minutes of simmering time. In a separate bowl melt butter. Add flour to the butter and mix until smooth. Add the cheese whiz to the butter/flour mixture and mix until smooth. Add this mixture into the pot with the vegetables. Mix well. Cook on low, stirring occasionally, until the lumps of the cheese mixture are dissolved.

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

Okay, so now on to quilting news!

The Civil War blocks are coming along. Judy has done a wonderful job this year of sharing special tips on how to complete the blocks as well as historical stories from the Civil War time period.

The 2013 Block of the Month was completed so beautifully by so many of you!

Show and Tell and Round Tuits is my favorite part of the meeting each month.

Don't you just love what the ladies accomplish and share each month?

And Crystal's magic show (teaching us how to use Texture Magic) was nothing short of A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

Here are a couple of tips that Verneal shared at our last meeting:

• Put of piece of paper behind the needle. This makes it possible to see the needle's eye!
• Keep a jelly jar by your sewing machine. Drop small scraps in as you work. Then, when you need a small piece of fabric for applique, use the scraps in your jelly jar.
• You can use pins on an ironing board to make your own bias tape as wide or as narrow as desired.