Twenty-four years ago today I was blessed with this wonderful little blonde person who came into my life.  If you haven’t already figured this out, I love love love my family!  Mike, Brandi and her husband Hyatt, Brice and Kristy — they are all the total bomb and my world revolves around them.  They are IT.  So, I’m going to share a favorite food of Mr. Birthday Boy Brice today, and also some pics and memories of the journey.  This guy:

He lives in Oklahoma now, for the most part, but on his rodeo and roping journeys, and holidays, comes home to give Mom a hug(s).  He probably hasn’t gotten off a horse to read my blog yet, but maybe this will entice him.  Whenever the munchkins are coming home, I always ask for requests for food.  Next month I’ll feature another favorite of not only Brice, but his sister Brandi, whose birthday is in April.   Everyone at my house loves vegetable beef (hamburger) soup and it freezes so well, that throughout college, I sent it home in small containers to be heated up at a later date.

The whole rodeo thing kinda began like this:

and progressed to this:

Go Round and Fast Time winner at the NHSRA Finals

Many, many great memories with my kids on the rodeo trail.  Cooking in a horse trailer is somewhat similar to cooking on a boat I’ve found.  Simple, easy dishes are the best.  This recipe is one that could go from the freezer to any means that you have to heat it up:  microwave, stove, campfire.

So here’s the recipe.  I’ve actually never written this down and measured anything, so bear with me.  You will notice that I use frozen veggies – I personally don’t like green beans in my soup, and if Mom isn’t a fan, it’s probably not showing up in my recipes.  However, I do fresh carrots if I have them on hand.  You can pick what fits your cooking style and time frame best.  My friend Kristi used to throw in cauliflower and some other stuff, and man was it amazing.  Remember how your version is never as good as your Mom’s, well, same case with Kristi’s soup – I cannot really replicate her version.  So, enjoy some soup, and hug your kids today. They grow up WAY too quickly, and then don’t fit on your lap anymore.  ~Connie