Not only is it Friday... I am officially on vacation as of 4pm!

TGIF....I will be off work for 10 days....Yippee!!!! Usually, I go away but this time I am staying at home, and catching up on a million things that I have put off. First, I plan on going to visit my twin brother. I haven't seen him in a while and kind off miss him. :-) Since we just got a new king size bed we are re-decorating our master bedroom this week. We are also painting my son's room. He is going to be seventeen and the last time we did his room was when he was nine, so those skateboards on the wall gotta go. We plan on going horse backing riding, something that we have been saying allll summer we would do and never got around to it, but it is on the list now. The best for last, we will be going to my favorite place, New York City. I love New York. I love the people. I love that it is sooo alive. I wouldn't be able to live there though. Also, what I love about going to New York is going to Chile's. They don't have the restaurant here in Canada. :-( I love their broccoli cheese soup so much that I actually tried to duplicate the recipe. Let me know if you like it:

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Heat up 1/4 cup of butter in a large pot. Add 1 large diced onion and 2 minced garlic cloves. Add 8 cups of chopped broccoli florets and stems. Add 8 cups of vegetable or chicken broth. Simmer until broccoli is tender. In a separate bowl mix 2 cups of milk with 1/2 cup of all purpose flour, to safe calories and fat you could use 2 cup of low fat yogurt at this time instead of the milk and flour mixture. Which ever one you use add it to the broccoli. Finally add 1 - 2 pounds of cheddar cheese, don't use the process stuff....it is way to salty. Season to taste and enjoy.


Of course I have tried to trim of some of the calories by using milk or yogurt. The original recipe would of had cream instead. But really there is not much difference.


Tip of the day....

What could you possible do with a left over piece of chicken or steak? What I like to do is put it along with any of your favorite fresh vegetables in a blender. Once all mixed I add a bit of mayo with mustard or hot sauce and I spread the mix on a flour tortilla. It make a delicious very inexpensive lunch. Usually you have enough for six tortillas. This is a great low calorie and low fat meal that will live you pretty full.