What's cookin?!

Cooking from scratch gives such an incredible sense of accomplishment! I enjoy cooking any way ... but to know I didn't just tear open a box & throw it's contents in to water, is awesome!!! Having a house full of sick loved ones, I decided to make chicken noodle soup. I also decided that a pot of chicken & corn chowder was necessary. Both soup turned out delicious & my entire family raved about them.

Chicken boiling ... with a pinch of salt, some pepper, garlic and some Lawry's ... YUM! I took half the chicken for the chicken noodle & the other half for the chowder. Unfortunately I didn't have boneless, skinless so I just boiled it on the bone, until the meat was almost falling off.

Making the soups motivated me to do another BIG cooking day. I would have done it last night but I just didn't have the energy. I have had about 6 hours sleep in the past 72 hours ... from taking care of everyone here with the sickies. I seem to be recovering well from the flu ... a 10 day battle with half having a fever of over 103* Crazy but that's not as high as a few of my children. Fevers reached 105.6* in one child. Another was 104.6* .. we're treating with vitamins & herbs.

A project I'd been doing the day before we had rebound illnesses, was organizing my cupboards. That seems to be a weekly job here. Apparently we (read - kids) take things out of the cupboards but don't put them back where they belong. This picture was taken a few days before some friends called to see if we had any room for some canned goods that they didn't want. What a blessing to my budget!

My current project is making the menu plan for next month ... that will require input from all my other little cooks. Each child gets one day to plan/cook meals. They are responsible for all three meals as well as a snack. Each one has been able to take on that responsibility at a different age ... and each one very excited to their day arrive.

I'll be pulling another all nighter ... it's 3:45 a.m. & baby is still waking off & on with a high fever. I really hate giving Tylenol & Motrin but he can't have a fever! It sounds like his nose is a bit stuffed too ... so Vicks Baby Rub it is. (I can't rub him down with it though, as I'm allergic to it). Very little sleep in the past 3 days, less sleep tonight, cuddling my little guy, trying to soothe what ever it is that makes him cry ... tiring? Yes ... but there's nothing better than being a mom!