Hidden Veggie Chicken Noodle Soup

 

Not only tasty but results in a gorgeous vibrant colored broth! Veggies are blended into the broth after being cooked so you have minimal chopping to do and less whining from picky eaters :)

8 cups water or chicken broth (or ½ and ½)*

1 small to medium onion (whole, peeled)

2 carrots, peeled and cut into a few pieces

2 celery ribs, cut in half

3 cloves garlic

1 teaspoon salt

2 small to medium chicken breasts or 1 extra large (or 1 large split chicken breast)

¾ cup orzo or equivalent of small noodles (or 2 peeled and cubed potatoes)

Herbs and seasoning to taste**

Add everything (expect pasta and herbs) to large pot on stove or slow cooker or to electric pressure cooker (on low/med saute or slow cook setting). Bring to simmer and skim foam top if fat from chicken accumulates. Let simmer for at least 40 minutes, covered, or until vegetables are soft and chicken shreds easily. 

Remove chicken and shred. Remove vegetables and add to blender with 1-2 cups of the broth. Blend until completely smooth (or use immersion blender). Add back to pot and stir. Add chicken and stir.  Bring back to simmer and add orzo or pasta of choice. Simmer until tender (about 9-11 minutes for orzo)

Season with salt and pepper to taste. 

*When I used all water I had to add 2 teaspoons of Tones Chicken Base for added flavor

**I added ½ teaspoon dried oregano and ¼ teaspoon dried cilantro. You can add whatever herbs you want!

Slightly adapted from https://www.themodernnonna.com/hidden-veggie-chicken-soup/

Kitty Cat Face Cake

 

8 inch round cake with triangle ears from cupcakes. 

Scooter Birthday Cake

Baked in a large loaf pan, froze it, then carved out the ramp. Made scooter out of cookie painted with frosting paint and stick pretzels and small chocolate cookies for the wheels. I used a glue gun to assemble the scooter. 

 

Alladin Magic Carpet Cake

 

Free hand cut a sugar cookie for the lamp and baked it with a wooden skewer or popsicle stick so you can stick it into the cake. Coated with glaze and crushed graham cracker mixed with gold sprinkles. 

Mermaid Barbie Cake

 

Used a cream cheese mint recipe to create the tail and the star fish (star fish used a mold, tail I free handed formed) and the green stones. I painted the fin and stones with my edible frosting paint and crystal sprinkles. Used a barbie that already had a swimsuit painted on. Used crushed graham cracker for sand. Vanilla wafers for clam shells. 

Harry Potter Birthday Cake

 

I warmed a caramel in the microwave to soften it (about 10/15 seconds) and wrapped it around a pretzel rod for the wand. I used a fruit by the foot for the scarf and piped stripes with yellow stripes of frosting. The glasses were purchased from Amazon. The snitch is a ferrero rocher with paper wings glued to it. 

Easy Ramen Broth with Non Fried Noodles

 

I finally perfected a tasty diy ramen broth with non fried noodles! Should be able to find all the items at most grocery stores :)

2 cups water (+2 teaspoons chicken bouillon paste) or 2 cups chicken broth

1 teaspoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon Knorr tomato bouillon

½ teaspoon go chu Chang sauce

2-3 oz dried ramen noodles (non fried from Asian section of grocery store)

Add protein/veggies/egg if desired!

Simmer broth add noodles and cook for 2-5 minutes depending on package instructons and desired tenderness. Serve immediately!