Yummy Autumn Soup

I found a recipe for pumpkin soup somewhere and I love it. It is so easy and even my not-so-much-a-fan-of-soup husband likes it!

Ingredients:
One can pumpkin
One can chicken soup broth (would prob work with veggie broth too)
One cup milk/cream (I used skim milk b/c it's what I had)
Ginger

Dump in a pot and stir!
That's it!  I added chili powder b/c I wanted it a bit spicy, and ate it with a slice of toast covered in apple butter. Yum.

You could also modify or dress it up with:
- a dollop of sour cream on top (or plain Greek yogurt, the healthy version of sour cream)
- I think drained and rinsed black beans could add some yummy protein
- Sweeten it up with some pureed pears or apple sauce, and add nutmeg instead of chili powder for a more dessert-like soup

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

... is Autumn!

Autumn includes cooling weather which means I get to wear scarves and sweaters and boots.
Autumn is when I was born! The trees are gorgeous in autumn. Halloween is in Autumn, and Halloween includes my favorite pastime, playing dress-up. (This year I made hats for me and baby so we could be Princess Leia and Yoda, respectively.  We wore white robes.  Hubby was Luke and wore goofy blonde wig and cargos. And Yoda in the Baby Bjorn.) And, last but not least, campfires!
My mom sent me these (from Papmered Chef) for my birthday so I can make s'mores without tromping through the woods to find the perfect stick.

Also in Autumn, I begin thinking about Christmas, which is of course the other Most Wonderful Time. I am thinking about crafts for gifts, decorations, everything! How much time I have to make all these things I'm seeing that look like so much fun... whole 'nother story.
Some ideas:

Garland made from paper circles, modified by using last year's Christmas cards.
Knit ornaments
Rosemary-infused salt.  I'm using rosemary from my garden and calling it Turkey Rub.

Happy Autumn, everyone!
-J

Recipe Friday

For baby's baptism, I asked friends and family to stay for lunch.  Since church was immediately before, and since I work during church (being the minister and all), I had to do something crock-pot-able and quick.  Mexican is a good option-- throw the base and the toppings on the counter and suddenly it's a buffet! Here's how I made the base...
I have to warn you I'm an improv cooker, so I use measurements like "a splash" and "a few."

1. Pour a splash of olive oil in the bottom of the crock pot.  Just enough to keep stuff from sticking. Turn it on high.
2. Add a few boneless/skinless chicken breasts.  How many depends on the size of your crock pot and how many you'll be feeding.  I have one of those big oval crocks, so I put four in there.
3. Dump a can of diced tomatoes over top.  It keeps the chicken moist.
4. In an hour or so, pull out the breasts one by one and slice the chicken.  If it's already cooked through, great! If not, it's going right back in, so no worries. Once they're sliced, throw them back in.
5. Saute a chopped onion.  Or throw it in there raw.  I think there's more flavor when it's cooked, but sometimes easy is more important than perfect.
6. Grab a can or two of black beans.  Drain them, rinse fairly well but leave some of the black sooty stuff.  It adds flavor. Add them to the pot.
7. My favorite ingredient for soups/stews: a bay leaf.  Okay, four bay leaves.  Yum.
8. Add chili powder.  As much as you want, as much as you can handle (or if you're having guests, as much as they can handle). More spice options: garlic, onion salt, salt, pepper.  Add to taste.
9. Cook it till it's bubbly. Stir whenever you want.

Options:

• Replace Chicken w/ ground beef.  Obvi you'd have to cook it first, so you eliminate a lot of time. Cook the onion w/ it to infuse the flavor.
• Plop in a can of tomato paste. It makes a more saucy base.
• Add salsa.
• Add any other veggies you want.  Red and green bell peppers come to mind.  Ooh, and corn!

Jack-o-lanterns! and yummy pumpkin seeds

Turns out it's hard to take pics of lighted Jack-o-lanterns... they're either wobbly like this one or have too much flash to be spooky (see below).

The Carving
The hubby and I found pictures of ourselves and amped up the contrast until it was mostly black and white (no gray). The we printed out the pics and traced them onto the pumpkin. Unfortunately our carving skills and giant knives kept us from the picture-perfect execution we were hoping to achieve, but we think we got the gist across.

The Seeds
We scooped the seeds and rinsed them. Then I sprinkled them with olive oil, chili powder, salt and pepper. I tossed them with the spices and spread them on a cookie sheet, trying to keep one layer. I was baking something else, so the oven was already on 350. I let them bake for a bit, stirred them around a bit (un-sticking them from the pan, mostly), and let them bake some more. I don't remember how long it took, I just kept tasting them till they were crunchy enough for me!


-- J

Attempted recipe

E, to respond to your question...

I use Closet Cooking as an inspiration and this weekend in particular tried THIS RECIPE, a pumpkin gorgonzola quiche.

I didn't have all the ingredients for the crust, so I faked that bit, but otherwise it was pretty good! We carved Jack-o-lanterns the other night and I used the cut-out bits (eyes and mouths and such) for the roasted pumpkin part of the recipe.

I'll post pics of the jack-o-lanterns soon.

J

Let Go – The Trees are Doing It

Autumn is here, and I am very happy about that. Autumn has always been my favorite season. I love the changing color of the trees; the fresh smell of wet leaves covering the ground; breathing in the cooler air; wearing fuzzy scarves and gloves; tasting the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks; and this year I have something new to look forward to - experiencing harvest and hopefully a combine ride (hint hint to all the farmers in Emerson). Autumn is filled with a mixture of nostalgia, blessings, and potential.

One thing that is hard to miss during the autumn is the falling leaves. As we watch the leaves fall to the ground, we can be reminded that nature’s cycles are mirrored in our lives. As the trees let go of their leaves, so too we can let go and release the things that weigh us down - burdens such as pride, anger, regret, guilt, anxiety, hate, doubt, and prejudice. When trees drop their leaves they are open for Nature’s creative process of new growth, and new life. When we let go of our burdens, we open ourselves to experience God’s creative process - A creative process that showers us with love and wisdom; heals our hurts; dissolves our fears and doubts; and feeds our hunger for assurance and peace. Like the trees, we are God’s creation - a creation that God calls good, and we have the assurance that God’s power is ever at work within every circumstance. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope - Jeremiah 29:11. Even as we near winter, and our days grow darker, we have the promise that God continuously makes dark places light, and empty places full. Yes, the tree may lose it leaves and be bare, but come spring, light and rain showers transform the tree with the new buds of life that bloom, and grow. A tree that has let go of it’s leaves is a tree with great potential.

There is a saying, “Let Go, and Let God!” It is a good saying. It is short and to the point. So this autumn: Let go and let God transform you. Let Go and let God heal you. Let Go and let God fill you. Let Go and let God bless you. With your hands open to receive watch what grows. The love and grace that God plants will bloom, and grow and will blow forth from you like seeds to others who also thirst for God’s presence.