That said, a couple months ago as usual being pressed for time I threw some ingredients into a large pot for a quick soup. My whole family raved about it and said it was a “keeper” recipe. Oh dear did I begin to panic while trying to remember everything I had just thrown into the pot! I quickly jotted down the ingredients. A few days later I followed my “recipe” again and nervously waited for the responses. To my relief I was able to actually repeat one of my whims accurately and have made it several times since just to make sure. So my friends, I can confidently share my special culinary whim with you so you may enjoy and I do not have to panic whether or not I got it down right.

Chicken Kale Soup

~makes 6 hearty portions~

In a large pot place:

5 cups water

2 large potatoes, diced

diced 1 cup carrots, diced

Boil gently until almost tender, then add:

1 Tbl. Sea salt

1 Tbl. Minced dry onion

1 Tbl. Garlic powder

½ tsp. fresh ground black pepper

4 cups cooked chicken, cubed

4 cups kale, chopped

1 can (15 oz) garbanzo beans with liquid

1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes

Simmer for 10 minutes.

Great served with homemade rolls and a big tossed salad.

Enjoy!

Now for another special treat. Our dear friend Christa from Country Hearts at Home is celebrating her blogs first anniversary by having a special giveaway. These items are handmade by her from start to finish and I have to tell you from firsthand experience her work is exquisite….precise….almost perfect! (I say almost because only God is perfect in what He creates) You can spring on over to Christa’s blog (HERE). Tell her the ladies at Practical Simplicity sent you and enter to win her special creations. Read through her post as there are several ways to earn extra entries!

Spring Blessings,

I always look forward to spring, especially after the winter we had this year (yes, California did have a winter this year! YAY)!  These changing in the seasons always remind me of the verse Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:   A time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;  a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to morn, and a time to dance;  a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;  a time to seek, and a time to loose;  a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

a time to tear, and a time to sew;  a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;  a time of love, and a time of hate;

a time of war, and a time for peace.”

It was also refreshing to hear Mrs. Botkin reading it aloud as well, while my mother and I where listening to the “Evenings with Victoria Botkin” as it started this Monday!  My mother and I cannot wait till next Monday to hear her speak, it has been so encouraging to both of us!

Also with the changing of the seasons, I will be slowly adding a few things to my web-site/etsy shop!  I have already added one new item:

The crocheted All-Puropse Wash Cloth!

These hand-made crocheted cloths (made by my myself, or my mother)are the perfect cloth for many uses from washing dishes, to cleaning your face and body! Now that I use them, I cannot live without them! I sell them in color-coordinated sets of two and each have a beautiful scalloped edge to give it a pretty look!

Here are a couple photos of them below!

Feel free to stop by my shop HERE or on the side of our blog!

If you do not wish to buy through my shop, or would like to be added to my mailing list, feel free to e-mail me at : mail(at)practicalsimplicity(dot)com!

Blessings in Christ,