Butternut Squash and Pumpkin Soup!!

I love soup!....It is one of my favourite food groups...? well besides tacos...but I don't believe tacos are really a food group?  I'm sure soup isn't either?!? LOL....However, my youngest, Paige, uses soup as her main staple... Perhaps learned ;-)))

The presentation on this soup is for an upcoming 'judged' dinner party...that I'm really looking forward to, so please add in your input!  I will be using a garnish of diakon, curls of romano cheese and a dollop of plain greek yogurt (as opposed to sour cream - for health reasons)

Please let me know what you think...of the recipe (which is an amazing dinner (served with sides ( or by itself)) or for a ladies lunch!!   It is tasty, filling, and extremely low in fat (having only 4 TBS of EVOO in 12 servings...you do the math ;-))    Also you can use this easy dish as your creative outlet...I will let you know how? down below on the steps!

Prep Time: As long as it takes to carve your pumpkins plus 45 minutes roasting time ;-)

Preheat oven on Roast at 325'

Peel and cube squash and pumpkin.  Toss in 2 TBSP EVOO with seasonings.  I used garlic powder, seasoning salt, smoked paprika, and chilli powder.  Spread out on cookie sheets.  Peel extra layers of skin off of two whole bulbs of garlic, slice of tops, drizzle with EVOO and place on cookie sheets with squash.

Roast all together for 45min.

While that is roasting, chop and saute 2 Wala Wala onions.

After roasting is complete, place roasted squash, roasted pumpkins, sauteed onions, and garlic bulbs in the slow cooker.  Add 1-2 cartons (depending on desired consistency and how much roasted squash you have) of Campbell's low sodium chicken broth.

Slow cook for 4 hours on low.

Let soup cool slightly, then with a hand blender, puree soup.

Serve with fresh ground pepper and sour cream.

ENJOY!!!

My Pie pumpkins and butternut squash!

Roast your cubed butternut squash (without peel) in the oven on 325 for 45min on the middle rack, after tossing in 1.5 TBSP of EVOO season with a light dusting of seasoning salt, pepper, and I used smoked paprika (other seasonings can be cumin and curry, or cinnamon and nutmeg)...be creative!

I used an ice cream scoop on my pumpkins, so I could use for presentation!  Peel extra skins off of your garlic cloves, then cut off tops, drizzle with oil and roast with the squash and pumpkin...if you forget add only 2 cloves of fresh ;-))

While my pie pumpkins, squash and garlic were roasting,  I cut 2 large Wala Wala onions...use less if that is your preference, also if you are trying to stay away from salt use an onion that isn't as sweet ;-))  Brown in 1TBSP of EVOO.

Add browned onions, de-skined roasted garlic...you can squeeze the 'bum' of the garlic and it should pop out into your your onions or squash!

Add 1-2 cartons of Cambells, low sodium chicken broth

Let soup cool slightly, so that it won't splash when you use a hand blender to puree. 

If you prefer soup with texture, refrain from blending

Serve hot with a dollop of sour cream (I used plain yogurt!) and a whole wheat garlic brushed bread...  ENJOY!!!

West Coast Pitch

I think that is why I didn't end up posting these pictures...because I couldn't remember the full story of the tree...and that is the magic behind such beauty I wanted to capture with this amazing tree...when Ted returns with the age of this beautiful tree that oozed it's sticky sap I will update this ;-))

The Butterflies and Bees!

Theses were the pictures I took the same day as A bouquet of colours!  I can't believe I didn't post...I must have moved on with something else...and forgot!  The last one with the bee and the butterfly is on my gallery wall ;-))

Changes

I have changed my archive list.....as it often interrupted with photos.  If you are wondering please just click on BLOG ARCHIVE..and then your desired post.


Thanks

Please Excuse Me!

Please excuse me, as I'm sorry about my total lack of posting!!!  I have been very busy with my husband out of town...and my brother and SIL visiting...and totally distracting me from all responsibilities and to do's!!!   Anyways...I have been tackling my extremely, very extremely, long TO-DO list!!   (Do those things ever get shorter??!!)

So the project I did today - part of it has been on my TO-DO for 2 years!!!!  I bought these old cupboard doors before we moved in...and with the tangle on whether to re-build or not?,,I held off!!   Well now that we have decided to stay...for at least another 6 months ;-))  I decided to do it while Ted was away and surprise him with the end product!!!  I can't wait...as it is one thing he has been waiting for!   I also filled the middle frame in his office....so although I haven't been taking or posting photos, I have been very busy picking, organizing and printing photos...I have three clients awaiting disks as well...so I really must focus ;-)))

This is my feature wall...I have 20 photos (so far) that I will rotate according to the season...Summer is my fav collection of photos...and I will take a photo of each season to be displayed so far...hopefully tomorrow!  (I guess that is why TO-DO lists always grow ;-)))  But I love the tones and the moods in my fall collection!!!

Left to right :  Canuck Storm,  Allergy Season, My New Trike, Tutus and Pearls, The truck...I did not post!!  Oops - this was one of my fav random photo days....another thing on the TO-DO list!!, Pitch...another non-post..Ahh!!!,   Russian Sage,  And Finally another one I haven't posted...but was taken with A bouquet of colours!

This is my walls of the girls!!!   Yes it will rotate as well...but probably only once a year!...all of these are within the last 6 months... except for 1!!  So I may change more often ;-))

Sorry Christina!

I'm trying to get to your photos!!!   I love the vibrancy in this set...the rich green against the deep blue sunny ski from their roof top patio!!!

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

So tonight for dessert..Paige made Oatmeal Raisin cookies...her absolute favourite at Subway!   What a cookie to live up to....however, she did it!!!  They were moist, chewy flavourful, "and even Taeya....who only eats chocolate chip cookies ate one mommy"..Paige Rippel!!   Once again we went 'healthy' and it worked!!  We used all whole wheat flour and organic cane sugar by SWEETCANE...they turned out soft, chewy, flavourful, and in my words.."they taste like my Nan's cookies!"

The final photo is with my 'antique, milk jug'  it is a part of Kelowna history! ;-))


Enjoy, with a cold glass of milk!


Ingredients/Procedure:

Preheat oven: 350 BAKE

COMBINE IN LARGE MIXING BOWL

1 C softened butter
1 C packed brown sugar
1/2 C White Sugar * - Or sweetcane
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla sugar

Mix on Medium Speed until smooth and creamy!

COMBINE IN MEDIUM MIXING BOWL

1 1/2 C All purpose flour ( I used whole wheat)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp salt

Stir together,

Then add to sugar mixture, stir into mix well

Stir in
3 C rolled Quaker Oats
1 C Raisins.

After all is mixed well, spoon mixture in TBSP or (for perfect cookies...use melon baller)  Do not press down - this will lead to a more moist cookie.

Bake for 8 min ( no longer....as oatmeal will burn)  re-grease and wipe cookie sheet in between each batch.

Perogies!


So we are back on individually picked and inspired themed dinners....This is something I do with the girls to teach them about the foods they love!!  They are encouraged to research receipes, facts, traditions, music and decor, and then apply as many elements as they can.

Taeya was first up, and as my eldest daughter is a total CARB FEENE!!  This is her dish!   Flour pasta filled with potato and cheese!!,

So I tried to do a healthy twist...and I'm not one to admit when I have pushed the envelope...however, I think if you choose to make your own perogies...use white flour!   I loved them, but the reviews were that they 'although amazing...and not as gluey as white floured peorgies...they were missing something!'

So have fun..add whatever you like...spinach. ricotta, try a batch of each white and whole wheat!!!...mushrooms, sundried tomato?  The world is your Perogy!!

Have Fun!!!

Taeya, did not have time to research and execute decor ideas so she found 'fun' facts...although 'she found it hard!!'  and if any are incorrect - please excuse...this is just for fun!!

1.  They have to pay to use the restroom in public
2.  The capital city is Kyiv (Kiev)
3.  Summer temp is 17' to 25' C
4. Winter Temp is -8' to 2' C
%.  They don't smile at you or say Hello when walking around.


Thanks T!!!!





Ingredients:

-Cut & peeled 4 lbs (10 lg) potatoes
- 2 shallots diced
-2 cloves of garlic diced
- Cheddar cheese to taste (we used Strong, reduced fat)
-3 C all-purpose flour (Your choice...do the challenge..you are in it already...try both)
- 1 tsp salt


Procedure:

Filling:

Dice garlic and shallots, add to pot with boiling water.
Peel and dice potatoes and add.....boil until soft.   Drain (save 2 cups of water for filling)

WHILE BOILING>>>MAKE DOUGH

Dough:

On clean surface pour out 3 cups of flour add 1 tsp of salt...make volcano like mound and slowly (while mixing) pour in luke warm water...1.5 C in total (or until ball sticks together, and is easy to roll)  White flour, will most likely take less water.
Place covered with plastic wrap in fridge...while preparing Saute, and boiling filling

PREPARE SAUTE & CUBE CHEESE

Saute:

Slice onions, and garlic sausage (or bacon)...saute until flavours combine...and get ready to add in your hand made perogies!!!

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER!

After draining potatoes, add cubed cheese...and mash until smooth.

Creation:

Roll out lengths of dough, wide enough - '4"' to fold over filling mounds.

scoop out filling, spaced.

Fold over dough, and cut using shot glass, or other small circular object.

Drop perogies, into boiling, salted water.  Once floating, remove and place into saute mixture.

Serve hot, with sides of sour cream (we used plain greek yogourt, grated cheese, and green onions.


Great recipe for kids to help and learn many cooking techniques!!!

I'm so Excited!

I did a maternity shoot with my girlfriend, Christina, in Phoenix!   I just downloaded...and I have so much other work to do first...but I can't wait to dive into these!   Enjoy!!

...and again the calm!

I get where the saying comes from...witnessing storm after storm there is always a quick 'calm' before it rears up again!   This was just minutes after the huge rain storm....then 15 minutes of beautiful calm before mother nature unleashed the rain again!!....Our backyard looks more like an infinity swimming pool rather then a grassy run!!

Bring on the Rain

WOW!   I thought the storm was over....but at 6:40 tonight the rain came....and came with vengeance!!!  The most amazing rain storm I have witnessed...crazy looking down on Phoenix from afar!