Mom!

 Moom! I go to school all day!Why do I have to come home and learn? This is what I hear nearly every day. It would seem Chao lei does not wish to learn Spanish before he goes to Spain. June is already mashing what little Spanish she has learned into her Mandajapanenglish. A CONUS assignment would have been so much easier.

On to the soup. This is one for those who complain they do not have the time to make a soup not from a can (except for the beans). This soup takes 30 minutes from start to eating. My children love it because of the tortellini.

Pasta Fazoolander

 Ingredients

        1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
 
        1 teaspoon tomato paste
 
        1 anchovy fillet, chopped
 
        4 cups chicken broth
 
        1 cup dry cheese tortellini
 
        1 (15 ounce) can white beans, rinsed and drained
 
        salt and ground black pepper to taste
 
        1 pinch red pepper flakes
 
        1 pinch dried oregano
 
        2 cups baby spinach leaves
 
        ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
 
        1 pinch red pepper flakes, or to taste

Directions

 Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in tomato paste and anchovy fillet, cook until fragrant and color deepens, 2 to 3 minutes.

Pour in chicken broth and bring to a boil. Stir in tortellini and beans; cook until tortellini are cooked through but still firm to the bite, about 10 minutes.

Stir in salt, black pepper, 1 pinch red pepper flakes, and oregano. Add spinach; cook and stir until just wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Ladle into bowls and garnish with red pepper flakes and grated Parmesan cheese.

 

Quick and easy and a great soup to prepare on a cold day

What the Heck

 June asked how she can make friends. How do you explain that to a four year old? I tried to explain it the simplest way I knew, "To make friends, one must be friendly." I believe she took me it in a way I did not intend. I came upon her waving madly out of the living room window.

 Me: June, what are you doing?

June: Oh just saying hi to a guy in a truck I don’t know.

Me: How about not doing that.

June: Then how will they know I am friendly?

Some how I must integrate "stranger danger" into that line of thought.

Lately, I do not know what her fascination with making me more self conscious. 

June: Mom, why is there hair under your nose?”

What? Really?

June was not the only one to say things without thinking. We were having a conversation  during supper about food tastes. All of us were expressing what about food we  liked and did not like. As Chao lei expressed his preferences, we all became a little... awkward. 

Chao lei: What gets me off is texture.

Me: (after spraying tea down my face)What did you just say?

Jared: Buddy, we need to talk about wording.

After a little instruction from his father, Chao lei’s face turned an adorable shade of red. My little boy grows up faster than I wish. Jared had better be home for the next chat.

At least raising kids has never been boring.

Slightly Jangled

I have been a Navy wife for 12 years. In those years, I have had many women ask of what it is like to live this navy life. It is not as easy to answer as one would believe. I could overlook the difficulties I have experienced and tell them how wonderful it is. After all, we have seen and lived in places that many only dream of. I prefer to be honest about it though. Lying would not help them be prepared. The truth is, Navy life will be a mix of a lot of good and a lot of bad. I suppose that can be said of life in other branches as well.

Every rotation results in a collection of new wives to the Navy for whom this is their first exposure to “the real Navy.” This question is on their minds, “What can I expect?” I have always thought there should be a class for potential spouses BEFORE they marry their sailor. It would put an end to much anxiety. Since there is not, it is left to current spouses to prepare and support them for what lies ahead.

There are many pro’s to Navy life to be sure.. Unlike many in the civilian world, our family has not had to worry about healthcare. I visited friends before returning to Japan and injured mt leg. I was taken to the nearest hospital was treated for a severe sprain. It cost us nothing. I am grateful for the housing allowance we receive. Unlike many that I know, I nor my husband will not have the burden of paying off student loans. And we have lived in some beautiful cities.

Some may have the notion that it is romantic. All those lengthy love letters and sweet homecomings. Maybe. But as with anything and everything, there are always a few cons. Okay, there are several cons. I have met many a seasoned spouse who have said that one simply adapts to the separation from our spouse. They also say that hobbies help during TADs and deployments. To an extent, they are correct. I am our FRG treasurer. I also enjoy a weekly bible study. Knitting is nice, as is teaching violin. Hobbies, I have. What I do not have is my best friend. If I could “get used to it” I would. I do not desire to “get used to it.” Ever.

It is heartbreaking to watch your children say goodbye to their fathers. When I dropped my husband off at the pier, our youngest was under the impression that he would only be a minute, like so many days before. As I drove away, June begged me to stop the car. Her voice from my backseat yelled “Wait for daddy, mommy! Please stop. Don’t leave daddy!” Right then, with all of my might, I had to keep myself from breaking down. Chao lei is well seasoned. Yet I still see in his eyes the upset of being separated from his father… again. As their mother, I am supposed to be their guide and who they look to for strength. So my tears must wait until much later in the day, after they fall asleep.

Our spouses perform a dangerous service. In the world today, one may not guarantee their spouse will come home today, or possibly ever. Given our next assignment, my mind is locked on the eastern Mediterranean. The events concerning the USS Carney (which is homeported in NAVSTA Rota) are at the forefront of my mind. I can only hope the tensions return to normal before our arrival so I only experience “normal” anxiety. How selfish a thought to have.

This is one of the most vital careers possible and someone has to do it. I love that my husband has chosen to be one of those that do it. I love the life the Navy has given us. I remember the pros and cons I previously mentioned but cliché or not, I would not change a thing. I would marry my husband again and again. I would do it all over again and again.

I believe the most important piece of advice I can give is to be close to your ship’s FRG. Nobody experiences what they experience. Yes, there are many ships, but my husband’s current destroyer did not just launch missiles in the Med. I cannot imagine the anxiety of the spouses of that ship waiting for a word from their sailor saying they are ok instead of a visit from a chaplain. They will need each other because no other will really understand. It is not my sailor that was involved in missiles fired in a real world event. It is not my sailor being directly threatened by those wishing him harm. And since I have not faced that personally, I cannot say how I would feel.

But that is why we all do not experience the same things at the same time. Those of us in the good time are better able to help those in the bad time. We will have a clearer mind and will better remember what all of us already know. I certainly hope there is a calm, level headed woman next to me should I ever face the same thing.

 

Saturday Soup

Not Chinese but still delicious. As I have said before, the reason I like soups is because they are very adaptable. That is certainly the case with this soup. While this recipe is for a beef soup, lamb, venison, elk, or any other meat you like can be used to change the flavor completely. It is only personal taste that limits the possibilities.

I prepared this soup for the first time the night before Jared sailed. Brave of me, right? The side dish (just in case backup?) was sunflower broccoli salad. Fortunately for me, it worked and the side dish remained that, a side dish.

This one is not a quick one but it is worth the wait. I tend to prefer foods that are slower to cook anyway. IMHO, they tend to taste better.

Beef Lentil Soup

Ingredients

·        1 pound lean ground beef (lamb works well too)

·        1 can (46 ounces) tomato or V8 juice

·        4 cups water

·        1 cup dried lentils, rinsed

·        2 cups chopped cabbage

·        1 cup sliced carrots

·        1 cup sliced celery

·        1 cup chopped onion

·        1/2 cup diced green pepper

·        1/2 teaspoon pepper

·        1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

·        1 bay leaf

·        1 package (10 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, thawed (fresh is better)

 

Directions

    In a large stockpot, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink, 5-7 minutes; crumble meat; drain. Add the tomato juice, water, lentils, cabbage, carrots, celery, onion, green pepper, pepper, thyme and bay leaf.

    Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until the lentils and vegetables are tender. Add spinach and heat through. Remove bay leaf.