We are almost there!

Well, it has been some time since I have had a chance to sit down let alone blog something new!!! "The Soup King" has been very busy. Paint is on the walls! Who knew that I would get all of this new experience in a variety of fields! The tile floors look beautiful as well. The gentlemen who put the floors in did a great job. "The Soup King" picked out cool shirts for everyone to wear including our new guests!! (just some of our surprises for the Grand Opening!!) We are waiting for all of the large equipment to arrive so we can really get cookin'!

We also ventured out to a food show in Tampa two weeks ago and WOW! There is so much info out there and so many different ways to go in the food industry! Unfortunately we did not have the entire day to spend tasting and talking with all of the vendors, the little ones were done school so we had to go.

I am excited to say that I think we are going green with our paper goods! We have tried so many products....Some too hot to hold, some pop open when dropped, and some with lids that just would not seal properly! "The Soup King" wants everyone to get home or where ever they need to be with their soup warm and ready to enjoy!

And The Work Goes On!

Well, things are moving along swiftly these days. Last Thursday we met with a supplier for breads. Nothing beats having fresh baked brick oven Italian breads to complete your homemade soup! The little ones demolished all of the samples that they left with us...who knew that they liked bread so much. The electricians have completed their work and the inspection has been done...Dry wall, well I am off the hook because I left town for the week! Besides the subs are basically done. The counter tops have been chosen and "The Soup King" is happy with the pricing so the template will be done tomorrow.

The menu is under construction and waiting for the right touch to really draw you in and make you want the soup now! "The Soup King", as I have said in the past, is very picky and only accepts perfection so I can not conquer the menu until I am in the right mood for writing! He just doesn't get it!

If all goes according to plan we are looking at an October 1st for our "soft opening". Remember, a working progress! "The Soup King" and I have plans for a great "Grand Opening" celebration.

During all of this work "The Soup King" has been left with the five little ones for the first time ever in fifteen years! And I think that is really funny! Running from one activity to the next, homework, and transporting everyone back and forth for school. It sounds like he is doing an okay job but the little ones are anxiously await my return this weekend! I miss them desperately! Of course I cannot deny that I am having fun visiting with everyone in my family...running from one soccer game to the next, bouncing babies and playing with nieces and nephews! Leaving again will be hard!

The Work is Underway!

So "The Soup King" has begun the next phase of construction for the store. Framing is not on my list of things to do!!!! He is on his own for that phase. Call me when I can shop for things for the store! Drywalling is next and I have already been informed that this will be a team project. Oh my! I think that "The Soup King" just wants to see what I can do so he doesn't have to support me any more.

We have also met with a food distributor sales rep which just did not seal the deal! "The Soup King" was not impressed with his presentation and half way through the meeting just stopped paying attention all together!! So needless to say we called his competitor and we have set up our account. It's all about presentation, says "The Soup King". He is the boss so what ever works!

On a personal note all of the little people are adjusting well to their new environment but mom is homesick! There has been a new baby back home and birthdays, it just is not fun missing everyone! I come from a very close family and do not handle change well on a good day, let alone 1200 miles away! So mom is taking a trip home alone, leaving all of the little people with "The Soup King" for the first time ever! Wish them luck!

FABULOUS!!!!

So not only did the "The Soup King" make a fabulous chicken noodle soup but he made an amazing split pea soup with ham! It was unbelievable. Now if we could just get all of the little people that we live with to like soup! We can't even get half of them to taste the soups!!! So it was soup for dinner that night!

Today I was roped into laying concrete with "The Soup King". I told him that the only labor that I should have to perform was in the delivery room! It worked out though! It proved that I am definitely out of shape and need a personal trainer!!! Maybe "The Soup King" will see fit to get me one for a job well done. Now that the plumbers are done their work we can move on to framing and setting up the electricians. We are looking at a four week window!!! "The Soup King" would like to be up and running by September 29th! I guess we can start the count down!

It smells great!

Today brought about paperwork, phone calls, and banking. Not much fun in my opinion.
I really want to get started on my homemade Key Lime Pie but I had to pretend to be "The Soup King's" assistant. After running around to gather all of the children the big soup pot made its way to the stove. The broth is simmering and smells wonderful! The key will be how he finishes off the chicken noodle soup. What will make it the best? Only "The Soup King" will know what little things he did to make it just right.

"The Soup King" has returned!

So, "The Soup King" has returned and is anxious to get started again...He has already ventured out to visit the store. I hope that the plumbers made a significant amount of progress over the last week or "The Soup King" will be very disappointed. A meeting with the electricians is scheduled for Monday morning, so things are moving smoothly, for now. More ideas are floating through the house from everyone. And you thought we were joking when we said that the "family" will help make your visit enjoyable. So far the children have come up with specific things to do on certain days of the week. I think that sounds good and we will give it a shot. We want to keep you guessing every time you visit. The same old thing everyday gets old quick. We want to keep life exciting! Besides, "The Soup King" lives by the motto of, "live for today because tomorrow was never promised!" Yes, a good way to view life but sometimes challenging for the rest of us that live with him!

Now that "The Soup King" is back today brings the adventure of perfecting his homemade chicken noodle soup! We will all be in the kitchen tasting and adding to make it just right, well suggesting anyway, "The Soup King" is the only one who really does anything with the soup! Hands off for the rest of us! This soup is always good but we want to find away to make sure it offers the best flavor for you! My favorite soup that "The Soup KIng" creates is his Southwestern Black Bean Soup. Maybe next weekend I will get lucky!

Cookies? Are they really that hard?

So today brought about the challenge of perfecting my homemade chocolate chip cookies. As I have already said,"The Soup King" strives for perfection so even the cookies must be just right. Well, I have struggled in the past with funny looking cookies, glob like looking cookies, and just a little too white cookies. How to fix it? Call the big sister! She had all the right answers....What ingredients to use and what not to use! Our youngest has a bash at the beach for school and we need to bring a family dish. Well, whenever the little ones come home and ask for cookies, we bake them! That is our family thing! So today, I perfected the cookie! Just the right sweetness, just the right color, just the right shape, and just the right taste!!!!! Love it! I feel ccomplished for now! I guess that's one more step in the right direction for "The Soup King"!