Sopita

You might be asking yourself what sopita is, or you may be someone who has grown up eating this tasty dish. Either way your sure to love this family recipe.

When I first tried sopita I thought it was like macaroni and cheese soup. It was so yummy and super easy to make that I instantly fell in love with this family recipe. (A big thanks to my hubby for preparing this delicious dish and for teaching me how to make it!)

The picture above shows the browning of the macaroni in extra virgin olive oil. Above is a simple sopita with a tomato sauce base, cheese, and macaroni peices. A bowl of this yummy easy soup in all it's simple perfection. Great for any rainy day or dinner in-this easy recipe is sure to be one your family will love.
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Below is the full recipe if you'd like to try it out for yourself. Feel free to add other ingredients. There are no sopita police so add whatever your taste buds desire!

Andrew & Kellie’s Sopita

Elbow Macaroni (We use Barilla's PLUS pasta)
One small can Hunts tomato sauce with no added ingredients.
One bunch of cilantro
Tillamook cheddar cheese
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt
Water

Mushrooms (optional): sauté mushrooms in extra virgin olive oil, add basil & oregano with the mushrooms. Then add the mushrooms to the sopita when adding in the cilantro.

Pour extra virgin olive oil into the pan without covering the entire bottom of the pan, but at least covering the middle of the pan. Add elbow macaroni (about 2 ½-3 cups full). Turn heat on to medium-high. While using a large spoon mix the noodles into the oil until every noodle is covered. Wait about 5-8 minutes while the noodles brown. Allow some to turn a light to dark brown (depending on your taste preference. I prefer them light & some dark brown).

While waiting for the noodles to brown open the Hunts tomato sauce & have it ready. Also, have water ready. When the noodles are browned pour the hunts tomato sauce into the pan followed by the water. *Warning* Be careful the sauce may sizzle and bubble. Pour the water until it is almost to the top of the pan. Add ½ tsp. of salt. Stir salt in. Leave heat at medium and while uncovered allow the soup to sit and cook.

While the soup is cooking wash the cilantro and cut the bottom off. Using the more leafy part of the cilantro cut leaves & stems into small fine pieces. (About 1 cup or more depending on preference). Check on sopita, stir, and add salt (about 1/2 tsp). Shred Tillamook cheddar cheese (about 2 cups full) and have it ready.

In about 15-20 minutes the noodles of the sopita should be soft. (Cook noodles to your preference of tenderness.) Salt to taste. Add cilantro and stir. (*If adding sautéed mushrooms put them in now). Put cheese on top of the sopita and make sure the cheese covers the entire top of the sopita. Add more cheese if desired. Cover and allow the cheese to melt. Serve.

Baby Blanket from start to finish!

I'm currently starting my first ever baby quilt. I recently picked up the most adorable Winnie the Pooh fabric and am all ready to quilt. The problem...my only resource on how to make a quilt is the internet. I've had no one to teach me how to quilt, hardly touched my brand new sewing machine, and in all honesty had no idea what I am doing when it comes to quilting. Thank goodness for sites like Missouri Star Quilt Company and their wonderful step by step instructions! I'm in love with Jenny! She's amazing!

Here is the first of a four part segment that gives step by step instructions on how to make a baby quilt. Wonderful information that has allowed me to hope that I can finish my little baby quilt! Thank you Jenny and the Missouri Star Quilt Company!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R685a6CDyCg

Terra Nova-Momma Approved

Set in a prehistoric time, with dinosaurs, action, adventure, and untamed land, a family is given a second chance at a better life in Terra Nova. If this show had been on when I was a kid I would have been glued to the screen!

Set in the future a family torn apart by the havoc of the world's future is reunited as they travel back in time to Terra Nova. The enchanting and beautiful land of the past is the perfect place for a second chance, but...every paradise has it's price. One point that I appreciate is that Terra Nova focuses on a strong family that loves one other. The drama and action is what is going on outside the lives of these family members not inside of the family itself. I should suggest caution to some viewers. Since there are dinosaurs, and it is an action filled adventure show there is some violence. There is also some brief intimate moments between the husband and wife, and their daughter and her boyfriend. Overall, however, I think this is a wonderful show that the whole family can sit around and enjoy together. It's a great way to go on an adventure while not leaving your living room.

Terra Nova is Momma Approved!

A Cure To Thinning Hair & Back Acne

I've always had fine hair. When I was younger I had plenty of it and never would I have thought that I would have anything less than my beautiful long flowing locks. At age 27 my hair drastically began to thin. I first blamed it on stress. Next was because of my recent weight loss. Finally, I just accepted that it was happening and it must be genetics. I tried varies shampoos, herbal remedies, and diet changes in hopes that something would help. Nothing worked.

This had gone on for 3 years. I am now 30 and just accepted hair loss as part of getting older. But I figured it out! Two months from where I was visibly thinning I now have lots of little hairs growing thickly out of my scalp. My husband noticed, and those close to me have asked how I was able to get my hair to stop thinning. It was so simple, and I'm going to tell you my secret.

A little back story before I tell you how I did it. When I began getting older I also noticed some acne showing up on my back. I never use to have a problem with this. So trying to think logically why my body had a problem now and not earlier I tried a few remedies, but it wasn't until I recalled something from biology class that made me realize what may have been the problem. As we age our body has a harder time shedding dead skin cells. Simple enough. Well what if I try to eliminate anything that makes it hard for my body to remove those dead skin cells and I do my part in removing the dead skin cells manually.

So what I did was I used a scrub brush to scrub the dead skin cells off of my back after I rinsed my conditioner. I also hold my long hair up and off my back after rinsing out the conditioner so no film gets on my back after I have scrubbed it clean. This simple procedure solved my back acne problem.

So years later after I had figured out how to cure my back acne did I realize that perhaps the same simple method would cure my thinning hair. Guess what-it worked!

2 Very Simple Steps that Cured my Thinning Hair

1). Do not put conditioner on scalp. Just on the lower half of hair or not at all if you have short hair.
2). Scrub dead skin cells off of the scalp as you wash your hair and as you rinse your hair clean. Be sure to scrub in the direction you'd like hair to grow.

For example my hair was thinning up by my forhead so I would scratch at the areas that were thinning and pull them downward toward my face. For some reason this seems to help them grow in the right direction.

My cure for Back Acne

1). After rinsing conditioner out of hair put hair up and do not allow any hair to touch the back.
2). Using a clean scrub brush that is only used for your back scrub all areas of the back that have acne problems. Do not use any other cleanser just water.

Granted these things worked for me, but that does not mean they will work for everyone. The only thing I can suggest is if this doesn't work then just keep trying. Maybe the hair loss problem you are facing is stress-related, diet-related, or just plain genetics. Keep trying. Who knows you may find a way to cure your own thinning hair problem and be posting it for all to see later.

Either way hope for a cure may be just a scrub away.

Mamma's Christmas Video Games List 2011

It’s Christmas and that probably means that a number of children are asking for video games for Christmas this year. The problem-you don’t play them. So how do you know which ones are “momma approved” and which ones should never be put into the cart? Let me help you. I’m a Christian momma who loves to play video games. Using my list of approved video games released in 2011 momma’s around the world can easily find the best video game gifts for their little ones.

Momma’s Approved 2011 Video Game List:

(Highly Recommended)

• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (available for Wii)
• Disney Universe (available for Win, Mac, Wii, PS3, & X360-multiplayer)

• Mario Kart 3DS (available for Nintendo 3DS)
• Super Mario Land 3DS (available for Nintendo 3DS)
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (available for Nintendo 3DS)

(Recommended)

• Mario Sports Mix (available for Wii-online multiplayer)
• De Blob 2 (available for Nintendo DS, PS3, X360, Wii-multiplayer)
• Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (available for Win, X360, PS3, PSP, Wii, NDS-multiplayer)
• Wii Play: Motion (available for Wii-multiplayer)
• Cars 2: The Video Game (available for Win, X360, PS3, Wii, NDS, 3DS- multiplayer)
• Lego Harry Potter: Years 5–7 (available for X360, PS3, PSP, Wii, NDS, 3DS, Win, iOS- multiplayer)
• Mario & Sonic: Olympic Games (available for Wii)

• Pokémon Black and White (available for (NDS) Nintendo DS)
• Star Fox 64 3D (available for 3DS)

(Girl Friendly)

• Harvest Moon: The Tale of Two Towns (NDS-Nintendo DS, 3DS)
• Just Dance 3 (Wii, PS3, X360-multiplayer)

Shout out to 2010 Game:

• Kirby’s Epic Yarn (available for Wii-multiplayer)
This game is simply adorable. With a world created out of yarn and fabric what else would you expect? The music is classical and beautifully arranged. With it being a multiplayer game you get more “bang for your buck” as well!

*Did I miss a game? Tell me your favorite games of the year or games your children just love to play to add to the momma approved list!*