Soup Kind of Weather

Yes, fall is upon us, even here in sunny SoCal. Today was not so sunny, but warm. Its that time of year there is a crispness in the air in the evenings. Crispness always makes me want soup and bread rolls, and anything pumpkin. So tonight I thought I'd bust out one of my go-to recipes. Its a little time consuming, but I've figured out a few short cuts that still make a satisfying soup.

My Dish w/Parmesan Rosemary Rolls

On a tangent: I received this soup 4 1/2 years ago when my friend Kellie delivered it to us after the birth of my son. I immediately called her the next day for the recipe. I must say, my friend can cook!

On another note: The Amish also have a traditional Beef & Barley Soup recipes, which are very very similar to mine like, this one at Mr.Food.com. Anyway...I'm going to share my version of the recipe. After all, I have to put my twist on things.

Beef Mushroom Barley Soup
Ingredients:

• 4 Tbsp olive oil or butter
• 1 lb. beef stew meet diced into 1/2" pieces (trust me, smaller is way better!!!)
• Salt & Pepper to your liking
• 1 onion diced
• 8 oz of crimini mushrooms chopped
• 2 carrots diced
• 3 garlic cloves minced
• 1/2 cup Barley
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 6 cups of Beef Broth

Directions:

• First off, I like to start the barley cookin, so in a large pot add the broth, tomatoes and barley. Heat up to a boil, then turn down to low.
• While thats simmering, dice your other ingredients starting with your beef. In a skillet heat 2 tsp of oil, add beef with salt/pepper and brown all sides. Remove beef with a straining spoon into the pot of simmering stock.
• Back to the skillet (don't bother to drain if you like the beef flavor), heat another 2 tsp of oil add onion, mushrooms and garlic. Cook for 5 minutes then add carrots. Cook another 5 minutes.
• Remove all ingredients from skillet in to the pot. Simmer for 30 minutes on low. Since everything is diced small, it cooks faster. Now ENJOY!

Let me know if you try this recipe. Love to hear how it goes!

>>-- Lindsay -->

P.S. I can't wait to make and share my fav pumpkin chocolate chip recipe with you!

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Make Lemonade

Since we found out we have to move I haven't been motivated to garden... like, at all.  I'm so sad about the possibility of letting go of my garden box.  It is time to harvest though.  So, I called my sweet neighbor/friend over to take what she wanted and offered her the box if I can't take it with me to our new place.  She said she'd love to have my garden box.  So, hopefully it will fit in her yard.

The other day we dug out our crop and clipped lots of lemons from our little tree. Don't worry I've left plenty for the new residence. It is so rewarding to pull carrots and beets from my own soil. I just love digging and watering and watching things grow. Jack was such a good helper this season. He takes credit for the sewing of seeds, most of the watering, and of coarse the harvesting. Thats the fun part, right? God gets the glory for the growing though. It is so amazing how much can come from one little seed.   Here is my little farmer Jack Jack:

And here is the Lemonade we made together:

I used this tutorial I found on Pinterest.  Its super easy and yummy if you ever want to try making your own.

Next I think I'll try Lemon Curd, its one of my favorites on my chocolate chip scones.  

xo,

Lindsay

 

Pumpkin Love

If it has the word Pumpkin on it or smell like, tastes like...I usually buy it!  Pumpkin is one of my favorite flavors!

How could I help but indulge in a few things this week.  It all started with these:

I found this sweet tutorial on Pintrest here.  I loved the idea of using velvet and doilies.  So classy and yet it interacts so well with my DS Quilt fabrics.  I totally scored on Saturday when I went to JoAnn's and they had DS fabrics for $3/yd.  Can you believe it?  I' had to get a little of everything they offered at that price. 

Are you addicted to Pintrest yet?  Come, join the fun!  If you haven't been invited yet, leave a comment and I'll send you one. 

I also purchased some super yummy Pumpkin soup from Trader Joe's.  I could basically drink it!  Its like pumpkin pie soup for the soul. 

As I was leaving Trader Joe's yesterday,  a new tea can caught my eye.  It was love at first sight!

 

Rooibos is my go to tea cause its caffeine free and well so yummy.  It doesn't help that my South African friends introduced me to it 8 years ago.  Well maybe it does help, tea is good for you, right?  But Pumpkin flavored,  Have mercy!

Weekend Garden

Just  a quick update on my garden:

 

We've had a bunch of growth!  I'm so proud to say my garden has made it this far.  I haven't killed anything yet.  My corn, in the back, already has one ear on it.  The carrots are hiding in this picture, but I picked a few today.  I think I may have planted the cauliflower a bit late, although they are my biggest, there is no sign of veggies.  The beats should have been harvested already, but they are the size of marbles.  So, I've thinned them out and fertilized the garden in hopes for bigger beats and carrots.  The Spinach has been my strongest yet!  Ironic, right?  Pop-eye says spinach makes you strong, probably because its pretty hearty itself.  We are able to make at least one salad for 4 each week.  It just keeps growing back.  I love it.

Lots of green tomatoes on the vines, so in a few more weeks we'll be enjoying them too.

 

Here is my sweet little Sheriff Jack.  He is strutting his new cowboy hat and badge along with a stick horse I pulled from the attic.  It was mine when I was a little girl.  My Aunt made each of my sisters and I one.  Love the calico print on it.  I love sharing my childhood toys with my son, especially the handmade ones.  I don't like however that things from my childhood are now considered vintage.  That used to be what I called my mom's things.

We are headed to Baja for a week, and I've packed a few hand sewing projects to keep me somewhat productive on vacation.  I'm looking forward to listening to the waves in the morning when I wake and taking naps in the hammocks. 

FYI: my shop will be on vacation mode until, Tuesday, July 10. 

Have a Happy and Safe 4th of July!

Lindsay

lil of this, lil of that

daffodils

In the last couple weeks, I've been catchin' up with my routine.  

Jack and I finally got those seeds in the ground last Tuesday.  I let that darn box just sit there for a week before planting.  Of course little weeds began to grow in that time.  Now I'm not quite sure how often to water.  I think I'll just stick with checking it every morning for moisture.  Sound good?

Oh, almost forgot to tell you WHAT we planted: sweet corn, carrots, red beets + cauliflower (might be to late for cauliflower), spinach. 

Unfortunately, we had some hard rain Saturday night, I hope it didn't do any harm. 

Indoors we have the tomatoes + cucumbers.  

I'm so nervous...I hope something grows, anything.

Got my second Swoon block finished.  Not totally as thrilled about this pairing, but I'm sure it'll look cute in the mix.

Picnic & Fairgrounds by DS Quilts

I'm really excited about this Little Golden Book.  Remember when I went here, and purchase this fabric panel?  Well, I finally pulled out the panel and some scrap batting and stitched it up.  Finished it in a few hours!  Its available here.

I love cloth baby books, don't you?

Especially ephalents...Yep, thats right I said, EPH-A-LENTS.  Thats what my mom says I called them as a kid.  My dyslexia apparently began before I could read, ha ha.

Just for fun, I also thought I'd share our dinner menu for the week. 

Monday:  Cobb Salad

Tuesday:  Roasted Red Pepper Tomato Soup + Strawberry Pecan Spinach Salad

Wednesday:  Lemon Honey Dijon Curry Chicken + Spinach Orzo Salad

Thursday:  Cream Pasta + Veggies

Friday:  Lettuce Wrapped Hamburgers + Sweet Potato Fries

Saturday:  I have NO IDEA...lets each out!

Sunday: Deviled Eggs, Easter Ham + whatever my family brings to share!

If you'd like any recipes, just email me.  I love to share.

<3

Enjoy your week!

Merry Christmas! :: Winner

Believe it or not, I had over 30 views on my Hot Give Away post, but only four entered to win.  No biggy.  I understand the reluctantcy in trying something GREEN for the first time.  Reminds me of one of my favorite books:

Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss

Well, with no further ado:

Congrats to Jamie Lee who wrote:

I'd love to give this a try! I am big into canning. My cousin and I probably made 200+ jars of jam this summer and then pickles, salsa, spaghetti sauce, and tomatoes, too. I've never made anything more exotic than strawberry-rhubarb and spiced tomato jam though. This looks great! 


Jamie Lee has been contacted.  Thank you for participating in my first give away. 

Merry Christmas from the Lloyds!

HOT Give Away!

Jalapeño Jelly

 My home smells of yummy Jalapeño Jelly.  I love this sweet & spicy treat this time of year.  Have you ever had it?  I know its GREEN, and that deters so many from trying it, but I just can't get enough.  I usually serve it as an appetizer with whipped cream cheese and wheat crackers, which is sooo gooood!  But just the other day, I tried someone else's recipe and they mentioned that its also a great glaze for chicken.  Hmm, I'm gonna have to try that.

As promised... I'm holding a giveaway today!  One 4 oz jar.  Comment on this post for a chance to win!  Leave your comment by Tuesday at 8 p.m. (PST).  Be sure your email address is listed on your profile so I can contact you for address info.  Winner will be announced and contacted on Wednesday morning.

  You got to be in it to win it!

Lindsay

(psst...its my 1st giveaway!)

:: Stopping In ::

Good Grief!  Its been a while.  I  miss you, my blog friends.  I so long to return to a normal life.  We are moved in, but slowly been unpacking.  YIKES!  This has been a stressful transition, especially for my hubby.  He hadn't moved in 10 years, and wasn't as accustomed to moving as I am.  Still, we learned a few lessons the hard way.  Wish I had more photos to share, but I'm pooped so, hope this will satisfy your eyeballs for now.

Tonight we enjoyed some homemade Pumpkin Gingersnap Ice Cream.  YUMMY!  Jack helped me make it last night, and he has been patiently waiting to have some. 

Recipe found here

Although I'd love to go into detail about the last 3 weeks of our moving in & getting settled, I'll spare you.  Here are my to favorite things that have happened since we moved in.

This here is a refurb from 2 miror/vanities.  I took both down from the bathrooms, took them apart, made some repairs, painted and pieced back one really sweet bath vanity.  This one hangs in the master bath.  We are looking for something else for the guest bath. 

And check out that plucking mirror...well thats what I call it.  Hey, if you had a uni-brow in fifth grade this baby would be your LIFE!  I've always wanted one, but never would splurge.  It even has a lite!  Although both have a few rust spots that I just couldn't make disappear, I enjoy using both every morning.  Its so important to have a bathroom you enjoy using, don't you think?

My second, maybe my first favorite thing of the last three weeks is this:  I went looking on Craig's list for a rocker that reminded me of my Grama's red velour rocker.  Red is not my color, but still I love, Love, LOVE Grama's rocker.  I had it in my room when I lived with her years ago.  She often sits in it and reads her Bible and other novels we pass back and forth.  Recently Grama shared with me that it actually belongs to my aunt who bought it in college.  Funny, I thought it was Grama's all this time.  Anyway, with only a few short minutes of looking I found this beauty:

I made the call and drove 40 minutes to get it for a little more than I wanted to pay, but now that its mine.  I'm in heaven!  Woo-hoo!  It is the exact same chair as my Grama's but in Yellow.  Perfect for my new master bedroom.  Perfect for my color scheme.  Its so comfy and in great condition too. 

Although our "all original 1976" home turned out to need a little, no no no, a LOT more TLC than we had first noticed, I do love it.  Mental note:  you always see more once you've actually moved in.  What we thought would be a one week project has turned into 3 and sadly, might linger on.  Pictures of the unintended "remodel" are still to come, so check back with me.  One project I took on was painting the kitchen cupboards, no regrets, just underestimated. 

XO

Lindsay

its the way Grama did it

Today, I did our weekly family outing alone, as my boys are both sick.  Every Sunday we travel about 20 minutes north to an organic produce market, and then hit Henry's Market for our bulk, meat, and dairy items.  You may find it strange that we go so far for these items when there is a farmers market here in town, but the prices and selection are so much greater north of us.  We are however really looking forward the community market that will be opening soon here in San Clemente.  Anxious really.

I've considered it worth my efforts to lessen my carbon footprint by purchasing as much un-packaged or recyclable items as I can as well.  Which means, yes...squeezing my own orange juice.  Let me tell you, its so much better fresh!  Try it you'll be impressed.  Even comparing the oranges from the market vs. the farmer's market.  WOW!  How much more juice comes from a freshly picked orange.  So worth it.  If the local dairy farm in Orange County delivered their milk in glass jars I'd be ordering that too.  But sadly they use plastic. Blah!  The bulk items are also a plus because not only can you use your own packaging, but the items cost considerably less when you only buy what you need. 

I went to visit my Grama recently and was telling her about the intentional changes we were making in our home, and how so many of our friends find it strange and not worth the efforts.  She laughed and said to me, "You know Lindsay, that used to be the way everyone shopped."  But really although I squeeze my own juice and prepare all our meals, we get a lot of family time together.  Our food is healthier, and there is satisfaction that comes with caring for my family in this way.   We recently read about two families that not only did we find we had things in common, but we were challenged to go a little further within our means.

Check out these resources and try making a few changes in your home.  Its easier than you think, and every little bit helps:D

The New Good Life  by John Robbins
The Zero Wast Home  Scott & Béa Johnson