Sunday, March 22, 2009

Can't Pass Up Spinach and Pea Soup



I thought that my next post would be about a sewing project but my husband created a dinner tonight that couldn't be passed up. Bright Green Spinach and Pea Soup as it is titled in our absolute favorite vegetarian cookbook, Vegetarian Cooking For Everyone, sounds like it may not be winner but rest assured it is amazing. We have made a few alterations which I think takes an already great recipe over the top. My 8 year old daughter even loves it (the only thing my 4 year old eats that grows from a plant are bananas and grapes...so trying this soup would be quite a stretch). Here's the recipe with our adaptions:

Spinach and Pea Soup

2 tbs olive oil

2 bunches scallions, including 1/2 of the greens, coarsely chopped

1 small onion, thinly sliced

3 carrots, thinly sliced

1 celery rib, thinly sliced

1 tbs chopped marjoram or basil or 1 tsp dried

salt and freshly milled pepper

10 parsley sprigs, chopped

1 large bunch spinach, stems removed

1 1/2 cup peas, fresh of frozen

2 small red potatoes, chopped

4 cups vegetable broth (you can use chicken if not going for vegetarian)

1 1/2 cups water

Warm the oil in a soup pot and add the scallions, onion, carrots, celery, herbs, potatoes, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 cup water. Cover and stew for 5 minutes then add the broth and rest of water. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer, uncovered for 20 minutes. Add the spinach and peas. Cook 2 to 3 minutes longer or until spinach leaves turn bright green. Remove from heat and blend the soup. We use our handy Hand blender but soup can be blended in a regular blender in smaller batches. Season with salt and pepper to taste. We eat with a good crusty bread and top with either shredded carrots or cheese.

Check out Deborah Madison and her great recipes at

http://www.randomhouse.com/features/deborahmadison/about.html

Saturday, March 21, 2009

"My Cute Stamps"




I am not much of a scrapbooker so I am probably behind the times on this but today at the "Scrapbook USA" show held this past week at the South Towne Expo Center there were some especially cute things for all kinds of crafting. One of my favorite things was a cute gal who designs here own clear stamps that you temporarily stick to an acrylic block while in use. Then it peels off for easy cleaning and storage. See others have probably been using these convenient stamps for awhile but I just learned about them. Well, I see that they can be mass produced but at http://www.mycutestamps.com/ you are purchasing from an adorable mom who is selling her original designs the web which I love supporting. Her stamps were seriously the cutest things I have seen. I purchased 3 sets and I know the kids will have a blast creating with them. This gal also had vinyl wall art in her designs and they were kitschy cool also. Check them out at http://www.vinylwallart.com/. Too much.


Keep checking because in the next week I will be ready to publish posts on sewing tutorials using recycled materials, simple starter sewing projects, thrift store savvy, and many more. I have been wanting to start this for ages and am very excited. So please, friends, stay tuned.