{My Chicken Noodle Soup. Simply follow Anne’s recipe and replace rice with some egg noodles}
So the past week and a half has been a slow, painful blur of pregnancy complications, chasing a toddler who can climb just about anything, and valiantly trying not to resort to begging Chris to just bring home dinner every night.
Nothing too horribly serious happened on the pregnancy front – just enough to throw everything else out of whack, you know? It started when I – full of that deceptive energy and enthusiasm that strikes so many happy pregnant women in the second trimester – decided to vacuum, sweep, and mop almost every floor in the apartment.
Apparently moving furniture and trying to potty train are a deadly combination for over-worked pregnant back muscles, because that endeavor laid me out on the couch for the rest of the week.
Those of you who have ever attempted bed rest while mothering a toddler can sympathize with the hopelessness of the whole situation. And those who are thinking of having children someday, let me offer a word of advice.
Don’t hurt your back. Just don’t even go there.
In case you need some proof, I’m going to share with you the words of my mother that will forever echo in my ears every time I‘m about to lift with my back instead of my knees or move furniture while pregnant.
{Cheesy Broccoli & Carrot Soup – recipe still in the testing phase}
When I called her last week, begging for advice on how to stay in bed while a little boy was running around our house climbing across the table and trying to grab that banana from the fruit basket (we’re still learning what “no sir” means), her reply burnt into my memory.
“It’s impossible.”
So I’ve done my best. By some miracle I attribute to God and my awesome attentive husband, my back has mostly recovered. We got over the fever/virus that hit us over the weekend, and I battled (more like whimpered) through some recent hormone headaches.
Somehow throughout all of that, cloth diapers got washed and we have managed to stick to our grocery budget without caving in to buying take out or frozen pizza. Two successes in a long, hard two weeks.
I feel bad that those of you who have popped over here from Dave Ramsey’s website haven’t been getting a very accurate view of the blog, since the last few posts have been mostly guest posts, and I haven’t written in a week.
Welcome to the blog! And please stick around – I promise, it’s usually a lot more active than what you have been experiencing. However, I am so thankful for all of you wonderful, fabulous readers and bloggers who contributed your delicious recipes and tips to the Frugal Soups & Stews series.
I realize now that there is a sad lack of stews in this round-up, but maybe I can do an update after I’ve had more successful stew experiences. At this point I‘ve only attempted beef stew once, and it tasted alright, but nothing exceptional that I would deem worth of sharing with you.
Actually, if I can be entirely honest with you, it reminded me of dog food.
Yeah, not going to share that sucker.
It was, however, a pleasure to share these delightful little dishes throughout the last few weeks. While the weather flirts with us between being warm and balmy and cold and rainy, I hope this series gives you a dose of inspiration.
Frugal Soups & Stews: The Series
1. Frugal Nutrient Preservation (& Fire Roasted Tomato Soup) – from Dawn
2. Chicken & Brown Rice Soup – from Anne, of Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy and When Food is Dangerous
3. Homemade Chicken Broth: An Update – from me
4. Cauliflower Soup – from Erin
5. How to Make Delicious Frozen Soups – from Sara, of Charity Crafts and Candles and Thriving Mama
6. Southwestern Bean Soup – from Erin
7. Chicken Vegetable Soup – from my mom
I’ve really enjoyed learning and communicating with all of you throughout this series, and I was especially thrilled with the recipes submitted from non-blogger readers. Way to go for speaking up and trying something new while blessing us with your recipes!
Also, just because the series is over doesn’t mean I’m no longer accepting guest posts. If you have a fabulous recipe, tip, or story about frugal cooking, feel free to email me. I love hearing from bloggers and readers who have something to teach or share.
Now if you’ll excuse me – and if my back doesn’t suddenly give out again – I’d like to try and work some Southwestern Bean Soup into next week’s menu.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Which posts or recipes in this series particularly caught your eye? If we do another soup series next winter, what kinds of posts would you like to see?
Cheers,
9 comments
2 pings
Cate
03/10/2011 at 4:43 PM (UTC -6)
Oh, wow…your week certainly does sound trying. I’m glad you’re starting to feel better!
Steph
03/10/2011 at 4:52 PM (UTC -6)
Thanks, Cate! I’m grateful to be feeling a little more normal…. On the bright side, I’ve started to feel the baby kick! Coolest, strangest feeling.
Tara
03/10/2011 at 8:31 PM (UTC -6)
I am so very excited to actually make my own chicken broth. I have yet to do that in 10 years of marriage. I absolutely hate chicken on a bone…I hate to see it, hate to touch it, and definitely hate to cook it! But I finally bought a whole chicken and can’t wait to make some broth! Thanks for the inspiration!
As a side note, I ordered Dave Ramsey’s envelope system wallet today. I am so excited to start working our way out of debt!! Thanks for the inspiration with that too!
And (kind of a mom thing to say but) take it easy!! You don’t have to be a super woman, lifting and moving things! I learned this the hard way with my 5th pregnancy! You’ll have time to be super mom when the baby comes! =) I think the greatest part about being pregnant is feeling the baby kick!
Steph
03/11/2011 at 2:10 PM (UTC -6)
Tara – Way to go!!!! Your comment helped make my day. Honestly, I don’t prefer working with bone-in chicken either. However, I think the health benefits of homemade broth coupled with the how much less expensive a whole chicken is compared to just breasts make it absolutely worth it for me.
Anne @ Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy
03/11/2011 at 6:32 AM (UTC -6)
Goodness, you certainly went through the wringer this week! Hope you start to feel better. And good for you sticking to your budget! I have been there – trying to do too much in pregnancy. I was anemic from 12 weeks on w/ my last pg and it just totally did a number on me. Some days just washing my hair was too much. I hope you’re able to somehow take it easy for the rest of the pregnancy!
Susie Bee on Maui (Eat Little, Eat Big)
03/11/2011 at 1:44 PM (UTC -6)
Aw Steph, so sorry to hear about your week, but (somewhat) relieved to read it was “just” your back. Take it easy and I agree with your mom-impossible-
Kudos to hubby for helping!
Rebecca Burgener
03/11/2011 at 4:51 PM (UTC -6)
Steph,
I’m so glad you’re feeling better, and super bonus points for sticking to your food budget while feeling so awful.
I love the feeling of baby kicking! It’s such a wonderful reminder of the blessing growing within.
Do you have a room that’s basically baby proof that you can trap yourself and Mr. Monkey in during those rotten days? Hopefully something with a recliner? That helped me while recovering from a C-section with an eighteen month old running around.
Thanks for the recap. It will help when I’m planning a “I just want a warm and full belly” kind of meal.
Continue not over-doing it.
Rebecca
Erin @ epiCURIOUS ERIN
03/17/2011 at 6:57 AM (UTC -6)
Good luck with your back Steph!
Steph
03/18/2011 at 4:56 PM (UTC -6)
Erin – Thanks!
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