A Mother's Love is Like a Quilt!

"There is no other role in life that is more essential than that of motherhood." ~M. Russell Ballard

    
     I love attending the UQSM the first weekend in May!  It stands for Utah Quilting and Sewing Marketplace.  I love looking at all the quilts displayed there.  Here are some that I especially admired.

 

 

     I love Clam Chowder.  It's one of my favorite things to order when I eat out.  I finally found a recipe that I like just as well as at a restaurant.

 

 

Yummy Clam Chowder

4-6 slices bacon

2 Tbsp. butter

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 onion, diced

4 stalks celery, diced

¼ to ½ cup carrots, diced

½ tsp. dried thyme

½ tsp. dried parsley

1 bay leaf

2 cups chicken broth

3 (6.5 oz.) cans chopped clams

4-5 medium potatoes, diced

3-4 Tbsp. flour

1 cup milk

1 cup half and half

Salt and white pepper to taste

Heat a large pan over medium heat and add bacon and cook until crispy.  Remove to paper towels.  Reserve 1 Tbsp. bacon grease in pan.  Add butter to the bacon grease and add garlic, onion, celery and carrots.   Cook until onions have become transparent, about 4-5 minutes.  Stir in thyme and parsley and cook another minute.

Add chicken broth, bay leaf and liquid from canned clams. Add diced potatoes.  Bring to a boil; cover with lid. Turn down heat and simmer until potatoes are soft; about 15-20 minutes.

Whisk flour in milk until blended.  Slowly add to soup mixture stirring until slightly thickened.  Add clams, crumbled bacon and half and half and heat through about 1-2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and white pepper.  Serve immediately.  Makes 6 servings.

 

 

     I read this short little book in less that 30 minutes.  I loved the message that none of us are perfect but we are the perfect mother for the children we have.