Butternut Squash Curry Soup

I made the yummiest soup last night, it is made from Butternut squash and so healthy.  My friend Julie sent me this recipe and it totally rocks.


The recipe came from Prevention magazine from a few years ago, she made a few alterations to the original recipe.  (imagine that!!!!) The bosc pears add a spicy sweetness to the soup that gives it a perfect mix of flavors.

1 Tbsp Olive oil
1 tsp butter
1 onion chopped in chunks
2 bay leaves
1 large butternut squash peeled and seeded chopped into chunks
2 peeled and seeded bosc pears
1 tsp curry powder
1/4 tsp red pepper
1/8 tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp white pepper
5 cups chicken broth
1 large potato peeled and cut into cubes

plain yogurt or lite sour cream as a garnish if you like

Melt oil and butter together in a soup pan and saute onion and bay leaves stirring often.
When onion becomes soft add the squash, pears and spices and cook stirring occasionally until squash and pears begin to brown.
Add broth and potato bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer until squash is very soft.
Remove bay leaves and puree soup.  Return to pan and bring to a simmer.  Serve and enjoy!


*Julie's note*  before you puree the soup taste one of the potatoes.  So tasty I want to make just a vegetable curry today using the same recipe, no pears.

While the veggies were simmering  I stole little bits of yumminess out of the pan, the vegetables had the best flavor.  

Puree the soup in a blender, then I ran mine through a sieve, it was silky smooth and ready to eat.

As a garnish and to add a little texture, I toasted some pumpkin seeds, in the same saute pan from the beginning of the recipe, (bonus for not cleaning up after myself).  The seeds picked up the flavor from the onions.

Bon Appétit!

My Voyage Home

I am on a Voyage Home this year, I will be making this little book of scraps to document my journey.    Many little bits and pieces of beautiful little memories waiting for a place to go.

 I was looking at pam's blog and was inspired very much by her use of scraps and was introduced to a fabulous new  artist Mary Ann Moss, she teaches  an online class called remains of the day.  


 I have been spending my days lately sewing paper and some fabric onto the pages of a book I took apart, in the shape of a house.  I  am just using the bones of the pages to sew on.

the class inspired me to use this beautiful crepe paper ruffle that julie gave me last summer for my birthday.  It reminds me of birthday wishes from my dear friend.

 remains of wrapping paper and of little bits of fabric from my art journeys. Little notes from my children will be added as well as my place for bits and pieces that need a design home. 

art nest 2009

What a great time I had at the art nest this year at the little chalet in the mountains of Utah. It was a magical time for all to gather and enjoy art, food and friendships.

as i returned home from this wonderful experience, i had to get right back to school, family and other things i had neglected for a bit, but i had new renewal and vision. It was the people who came that made the difference.  The amazing artists and teachers who were open to learning about themselves and made time to visit and listen to each other.  I learned we are all very similar in that we process emotion through our art, that living and being thrown around through the hard knocks of life leaves us volnerable and open to life's changes. I opened my eyes to others grief and sadness, to hard things we all have to deal with.  I saw happiness and creative energy seeping out through paint strokes and messy hands.  I was amazed at the amount of talent that each of our nesters had, and the way the teachers were able to help us to let go and enjoy the moment.

 

the art was amazing...........

this is a view of the paintings from Kelly Rae's class

people came from all over the united states.  Here are our two gals from California, can you tell they have that glow.

Here is Kelly working hard on her piece from Maty's class. 

creative bliss................

look at the smiles on their faces..........



Heidi working hard on this masterpiece.

Lorie Garver's lovely work.

Art Work from Maty's class

Maty Rose  the queen of whimsical Boho.

Jane Wynn got us in the zone for perfect sodering, can you believe this was her first trip flying by herself and she didn't get her luggage until the second day and was still  calm and beautiful.

Cassondra and her darling bird.   Our little helper doing more than she should have, serving and taking care of us all. she did more dishes than one gal should do in a lifetime.

 My "Know yourself" piece from Kelly Rae's class. 

more work from Kelly Rae's class

a few odds and ends that were left in the study as we packed up to leave. It was hard to pack everything up and go back home after another art nest, but my heart was full and my creativity blooming thinking of each of the nesters going home to their very different lives but feeling connected to each other in a way that doesn't seem real.  So, I say to each of you  fly and use those wings to soar to new heights, and hopefully  you will find your own nest of gratitude, safety and happiness. That is my wish.

xoxoxo

candice

p.s. i promise to blog more

Once Upon a Time there was a Little Forest

This Little Forest page is for the Haunted and Mysterious Swap group that i am  involved in.   The backdrop is a piece of canvas, that i attached to the photo album page. I used  ripped velvet, tiny felt pieces and little twigs.

The bottom page has a tiny plastic  skeleton that i attached, to this photo album page of Cassondra's.  Her book s really amazing, she put a raven's wing under some mesh wire that you can barely see here.  

Happy Haunting

Summer orange and the moon

this is my ten year old daughter's idea of a dream room. She really wanted the color orange, i was a little surprised how much i liked it when it was all done.

This project is one of our summer projects finally checked off the list. All it needs now is a vintage leather orange sling chair that i am still looking for.

or maybe something like this............


They love to go down to their room now...before it was not so fun for them to just hang and enjoy themselves.

Go for the kids ideas......... they rock.......and in the end it makes them happier knowing it's their idea.......besides they'll change their mind in a few years anyway.



as for summer............i am surviving some days and letting myself enjoy the sticky floors the next. I go between getting everyone up and things getting done to sitting on the porch and literally watching the clouds go by.............one day last week we went for a late evening walk and the moon was gorgeous, just hanging in the sky, my hand was in the hand of my little Gracee. She looks at me and says "mom can we get closer to the moon if we hiked up our mountain?" It's worth a try little one.......... it's worth a try.................

Beautiful Memories

to remember those who have gone before with love and admiration. On Saturday our family spent the day helping my sister in law Carmen with her yard. It is kind of a family tradition that we do service for someone who has gone before. This time my brother who died two years ago last February. We weeded, then mulched, and shared memories and fun while the kids helped right along with us. His boys twelve, nine, and three, with our kids, and all the neighbors joining in on the fun. It seems working can be fun and extremely rewarding. Much to their surprise. As we shoveled mulch out of the truck each child taking turns dumping the buckets it healed us, remembering uncle Stan and his love for life, his love for service and his wonderful light personality. Afterwards we went to his grave sight and the kids jumped, played, and even made crayon rubbings of the gravestone. Children know how to grieve in their own way..............the memory of such a wonderful man goes on in his children.



Happy memorial day to all of you as you think of those who you have gone before ..........i give you my love and peace this day.