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We went through it all. My niece and her new husband brought friends for the visit. Even, moi, the twin didn't get take out.
Had a great time. My sister leaves for Europe (France, Italy, Britain) on Thursday. Her travel partner, her best friend, had lunch with us. Was fun to hear the plans, the places they plan to visit, etc. Their practice on rudimentary Italian (her friend speaks fluent French) and British terminology was a hoot.
they want pasta the night before. I am not even sure this really helps but it's something they don't wish to challenge. ME? I want protein the night before and the morning of! I am not running this one, so I'll probably eat a leftover burger from yesterday's cookout. 
I used home made vegetable stock.
Carrot and Sweet Potato Soup
The natural sweetness of this low fat carrot and sweet potato soup is complemented by the spiciness of curry powder and cumin. Full of beta-carotene and a good source of fiber, this is a wonderfully nutritious beginning to a meal or a perfect lunch. Enjoy with whole grain bread or crackers.
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 tsp cumin
• 2 tbsp curry powder
• 1 pound bag of baby carrots
• 1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 1/2 cups fat-free, low sodium chicken or vegetable broth
•
Preparation:
Heat oil in a large Dutch oven and saute onion until softened. Stir in cumin and curry powder and cook for 1 minute. Add carrots, sweet potatoes and chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.
When cool, transfer vegetables to a blender and blend until smooth, working in batches. Return to Dutch oven to reheat.
Over a big bed of lettuce--frisee', red leaf, and microgreens from my patch. This is going to be an easy dinner to make.
Now this afternoon, I am cooking up six lbs of tomatoes for spaghetti sauce and roasting six lbs of yellow bell peppers. I just washed them all and will start chopping shortly.
Callalily, the color of that soup is to die for!! Love your pics!
Cher
Green beans
Mashed potatoes
Salad
Rice Pilaf stuffing in my Dad's hen because he doesn't like potatoes
Chicken stock gravy
Buttermilk biscuits (My mom loves them and elected to cook them just like I elected to cook mashed potatoes and green beans)
I did the chicken stock gravy, the green beans (traces of Trappey's sauce, bacon and seasoning), Mashed potatoes (pot on the stove, will have butter, 1% milk and love in them, and the hens.
Mom's up for the biscuits and salad . Should be a family meal.
if anyone is interested after I take a walk off of all of this huge amount of food we cooked.
It was intended to be a huge family thing, but nobody ended up making it, so we ate it ourselves.
Oh well. Life goes on, and I need to stick on my running shoes before I have coagulating in my veins 
I personally think my mom makes it more complicated than it is, but she does make some good creamed carrots. It's sweet and filling stuff .
It's in the cooking and baking aisle for my store
Good Luck!
Sliced tomato on the side.
