Vegetable Soup | Susie Middleton

Susie Middleton gave some great tips about creating a vegetable soup in the September issue of Vegetarian Times. This is a little bit late, since the recipe is for late summer minestrone, but the method is perfection. (Open the images in a new tab to make them bigger.)

via Vegetarian Times September 2013

November Resolutions

This year has been a blur, it's amazing that it is already November. It's best not to be too ambitious during the holiday season, but I did splurge today and order a Minolta 7s on Ebay. (That site gets me into trouble!) I'm also looking forward to my sister hosting Thanksgiving for the first time and helping with some of the sides and desserts.

Do you love the holidays or dread the extra festivities?

Moscow Mules

I love glassware, so a drink that literally specifies a copper mug is right up my alley. The only decision to make is whether to go classic or a bit more modern. . .

Which would you prefer for your Moscow Mule?

Cocktail Kingdom v. Crate & Barrel

Happy Friday!

It's been a long week, but it's finally Friday. I can't wait for a relaxing weekend making waffles with my new Belgium waffle maker and working on my latest knitting project.
Here are a few links from the week:

A playlist for your weekend

Fluffy Vegan Coconut Oil Banana Muffins

8 Great Color Combinations via House Beautiful

From Walter White to Heisenberg in 30 clips | Breaking Bad starts Sunday!

This Blueberry Cucumber Gimlet looks simple and refreshing for summer

36 Hours in Lecce, Italy via The New York Times


(Come Sail Away)

Whisky Peach and Plum Galette

I googled peach and plum galette and this beauty popped up from Crepes of Wrath. The warm whisky brown sugar soaked fruit adds a lovely depth to the galette. I took a few shortcuts using a Trader Joe's pie crust and soy milk for the egg wash. . . It's a great way to use the stone fruit while it's in season.

Whisky Peach and Plum Galette
(adapted from Crepes of Wrath)

Ingredients:

Trader Joe's Pie Crust

Filling

2 Peaches

4 Plums
1 teaspoon Fresh Lemon Juice
1/4 cup Water

2 tablespoons Brown Sugar

2 tablespoons Maker's Mark Bourbon

1/2 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract

1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon

1 tablespoon Butter
Egg wash or Soy Milk for crust

Raw Sugar, for sprinkling 

Vanilla Ice Cream

Directions:

1. I just picked up a package of Trader Joe's Pie Crust, it's very buttery
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Slice the peach and plum uniformly, and toss with the lemon juice. In a small pot, bring the water and brown sugar to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Stir in the whisky, vanilla, butter, and cinnamon until melted together, then remove from heat. Pour this mixture over the peaches and plums, then let them soak in the warm sauce for at least 5 minutes.
3. Unroll and lightly shape your defrosted pie crust. Place the fruit mixture in the center of the crust; then fold the sides in. Whisk together an egg wash (or just use soy milk), brush the crust, and sprinkle with sugar. 
4. Place the galette on a lined baking sheet, and bake for 20-25 minutes, until the sides of the galette are golden and firm. Allow to cool on the sheet for a few minutes before serving with a few generous scoops of vanilla ice cream.

Punches Make a Comeback

You may have heard of Boozeday Tuesday by now and I thought it might be fun to showcase a few tidbits about the imbibements of which some of us indulge.

According to the Los Angeles Times, punch is making a comeback with it's communal atmosphere and potent combinations. Perfect for parties, punch is a low-maintenance entertaining drink. It is thought that the original punch, imbibed by British sailors in India contained five ingredients (one weak theory of the etymology of punch, is that it derives from panch, or "five" in Hindustani). The five key elements still include citrus, sugar, spirits, water, and spice. However, anything served in a punch bowl is considered punch, so the non-alcoholic variety need not be offended.

One punch gaining popularity is Pisco Punch. Pisco is a Peruvian brandy that traditionally pairs well with the sweetness of pineapple and of course the sourness of citrus. Are you ready to break out the punch bowl?

Peruvian Pisco Punch
via The Kitchen
Serves 10 to 12

1 bottle of Peruvian Pisco, 750 ml
1/2 small pineapple, peeled, cored and chopped into bite size pieces (about 2- 3 cups)
10 ounces (about 1 1/4 cup) simple syrup
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice, strained
1 small lime sliced into wheels, for garnish
1/2 lemon sliced into wheels, for garnish
Ice

In a punch bowl, combine all of the ingredients. Stir to combine, add a large chunk of ice, and serve.


(Image of Stawberry Pisco Punch via Honestly Yum)

July Resolutions

It's hard to believe the year is already halfway over, but (glass half full) we still have six months, right? I'm going to try to take my yoga practice to the next level and take some classes at the Avenues Yoga studio. I think it will be nice to get a different perspective and to meet new people.

My Poppin order is arriving Thursday to get my office in tip-top shape and I'm hoping to make that space a little more inspirational and inviting. The best project is always the one you are starting next, so I'd like to try my hand at DIY concrete planters and these apparently amazing raised waffles.

Any fun projects, or interests you are hoping to further, for the next half of the year?

Happy Sunday!

It's been a busy week, hence the Sunday post, finishing up the scanning project and a quick trip to Pocatello to visit family have me beat.  Thank goodness for Sundays to relax.
Here are a few links from the week:

Obsessed with Joni Mitchell's Blue album

Lovely inspiration for liquid eye liner

12 Fast & Fresh Vegetarian Meals via Sunset

Loving Hunter rain boots in red, black, and green

Sunset's Glacier National Park Guide

I started a tennis related tumblr Sunnies & Aces, if you are interested


(Crepe cake I made with my Mom for my 25th birthday)

Gwyneth Paltrow | It's All Good

I'll admit that I pre-ordered Gwyneth Paltrow's new book "It's All Good: Delicious, Easy Recipes That Will Make You Look Good and Feel Great."  (It was joined with "How to Travel the World on $50 a Day: Travel Cheaper, Longer, Smarter" to get free shipping.  You know how it is.)

I try to eat mostly vegan and many vegetarian cookbooks rely heavily on cheese, eggs, and processed substitutes.  Gwyneth's book, politely I'm sure, suggests no coffee, no alcohol, no dairy, no eggs, no sugar, no shellfish, no deepwater fish, no potatoes, no tomatoes, no bell pepper, no eggplant, no wheat, no meat, and no soy.  It will be interesting to see the recipes she can vouch for with such strict restrictions.

This article in the Washington Post, "Gwyneth Paltrow: We love to hate her, but we’ll buy her cookbook anyway" sums up why we will subject ourselves to the gratuitous ratio of author photos to recipe photos and lines like, "I once overnighted a batch from London to my manager in Los Angeles who was doing the clean program and was dying for a cookie! They did not disappoint."  Gwyneth offers a glimpse into the utopia of an endless food budget and time galore to worry about all these issues, while we can just skim what we like and move on.

Will you be buying Gwyneth's newest vanity project?

It's All Good | Gwyneth Paltrow

It's the Weekend!

After a few stressful days of trial preparation it will be nice to have a little holiday weekend.  I'm headed home to visit with family and maybe a trip to Ulta.  I hope you have a lovely Easter weekend.

Here are a few links from the week:

A playlist for your weekend

Tommy Haas captivates tennis world with Sony Open run

Quick guide to refinishing flea market finds

Loving this white blazer and this baseball jacket for spring

Good tips on how to enjoy traveling alone

I ordered a Zoku Duo Quick Pop Maker; can't wait to try this, this, and this


(Cucumber, Apple, Mint & Lime Pop with Pimms via The Design Files)

It's Friday!

It's been a long two weeks of the Australian Open, the 18-hour time difference is a killer.  But the final is this weekend and it's going to be a little anticlimactic, unless Federer can keep it up after his five-setter with Tsonga.  I also might take a quick trip out to IKEA on Sunday, Rast hack anyone?
Here are a few links from the week:

'Beautiful' playlist on 8tracks

I'm also planning to make this DIY Sugar Lip Scrub

These Irish Coffee Ice Pops are gorgeous

Love this video with children's book author and illustrator Oliver Jeffers

20% off sale at Good Night, Day

A mini-guide to quickly pickled veggies

(love this wedding)

Have a Lovely Weekend!

It's going to be a quiet weekend.  The only plan I have so far is to make this broccoli soup.  How about you?  Here are a few links from the week. . . 

Ryan Gosling not only likes knitting, but also says 'I’m feeling top of the pops.'  swoon ;)

Love this very easy to learn Finger Knitting Tutorial

The 46 Places to Go in 2013

Did you see this very detailed article about Lindsay Lohan's latest film?

This Coconut Hot Chocolate recipe sounds amazing

Smitten Kitchen talks Gnocchi

(Photo Credit: Hannah Davis via Miss Moss)