Lasagna Soup

I made this soup last week and I think it’s now officially my favorite soup, or at least in the top 5.  It was so easy and has so much flavor.  Mr. C thought the concept of lasagna soup was just plain weird, but even he was a fan, and he told me it was even better the second day for leftovers.  If you’re looking for a hearty soup to warm you up, then look no further.  There’s even a cheesy surprise at the bottom of the bowl which just puts this soup over the top.

I do want to mention that the picture shows the leftover soup which was less brothy than the night I made it.  I meant to take a photo the first night we ate the soup but honestly it smelled (and tasted) so good that I got side-tracked and gobbled up my bowl of soup before I realized that I hadn't taken a photo.

The recipe is below and you can also find a printable version here.

Lasagna Soup

Yield: 8 servings

Adapted from: a farmgirl’s dabbles, from the cookbook 300 sensational soups

2 tsp. olive oil

1 lb. sweet Italian sausage

½ lb. ground beef

3 c. chopped yellow onion

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 tsp. dried oregano

½ - 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

2 T. tomato paste

2 bay leaves

6 c. chicken broth

4 c. pasta (I used campanelle)

½ c. fresh basil leaves, chiffonaide

Salt and pepper, to taste

8 oz. skim ricotta

½ c. grated parmesan cheese

1 c. mozzarella cheese

Salt and pepper, to taste

Heat olive oil in large pot.  Add sausage and beef and brown.

Add onions and cook until softened and translucent, about 6 minutes.  Add garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes and cook for 1 minute.

Add tomato paste, stir well, and cook for 3-4 minutes or until tomato paste turns a rusty brown color. 

Add diced tomatoes, bay leaves, and chicken stock and stir.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare the “cheesy surprise” by mixing the ricotta, parmesan, mozzarella, and salt and pepper in a bowl. 

Add uncooked pasta and cook until al dente (do not overcook pasta).  Remove from heat when pasta is al dente.  Stir in basil and add salt, pepper, and any additional red pepper flakes as needed.

To serve, place a spoonful of the “cheesy surprise” in each bowl before filling with soup.

Organization Challenge: Cleaning Chart

Over the past year I've been making an effort to organize our home a bit more.  In general, it's fairly organized, but there are those areas that need upkeep, ones that were overlooked, or areas that just some adjustments due to our changing needs.  Instead of waiting for the perfect time to present itself for me to organize a closet or drawer, I realized I needed to just do it.  One day when I opened the junk drawer I spent a few minutes tidying it up and moved out anything we didn't need.  Our "junk drawer" looks great now, and although it's full of mis-matched things, I can find exactly what I'm looking for quickly.  It's made my life easier and it makes me happy when I reach in and see how organized everything is.  Over the next few weeks (maybe months), I'll be sharing with you the areas I've recently tackled, challenging you to spend a little time organizing those troubling areas in your home, and sharing some tips.

To start out my new cleaning challenge, I decided to make a cleaning chart with daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, and quarterly tasks.  Mr. C has been telling me for years that while I can just look around and know what needs to be done, it’s not so easy for him (apparently it’s a guy thing?) so the chart was partially aimed at addressing this.  We have busy lives and I don’t always remember when I last cleaned something so the list ideally was also supposed to save time by reminding us what needed to be done and what things are priorities.

We sat down together and came up with a list of things that need to be addressed, either things that we just do so often, or things we should be doing on a more regular schedule.  I didn’t include things like laundry, linens, or trash because those things are already done very regularly and aren’t really an issue.

As I’ve begun using the list I’ve found some things that need to be adjusted, but I’m really enjoying having a list to work off of and being able to check off a box when I’ve completed a task is the best feeling!  Obviously everyone’s list will be a little different; you just have to figure out what works for you. If you're interested in a copy of my list, you can download it online here.

October '13 Loves of the Month

It’s the end of the month again which means it’s time for my loves of the month.  I have a few for you this month.

I found this stapler on Anthropologie and I think it’s the cutest thing ever.  Apparently the staples are smaller than the norm, but easy to find.  I love it, and I don't even like bugs!

Minted - After stumbling upon this site I started seeing it EVERYWHERE!  That might be slightly due to the fact that google tracks where I’ve been and seems to just suggest that I go back to the same place, but maybe it's also a sign that the site is amazing?  You can find unique prints, holiday cards, and even party décor.  I'm really excited that everything is designed by independent designers trying to build their career and get exposure.  I’ve already fallen in love with numerous prints, however I’m going to need to find some open wall space to put them.

Etsy - I’ve recently learned that not everyone knows about Etsy and I'm on a mission to correct that.  Etsy’s is a marketplace that allows people to start their own shops to sell handmade and vintage items.  Over the past few years I have purchased quite a few things from Etsy, some for gifts and some for myself.  I almost always prefer supporting an individual/family business rather than a big company so if I’m looking for a unique gift I always start here and I’m constantly surprised at what I find.  I’ve bought a lot of random things on here, from Coconut’s collar to our reusable produce bags (I get tons of compliments!)  to prints for our gallery wall.  Every seller/shop is different but because you’re buying from a real person, I’ve always had great customer service and the products are very good quality with a bit of handmade flare.  With Christmas coming up it's definitely a great site to check out.

Lastly, I'm loving the Pure Heroine album by Lorde.  I downloaded the album last week and I've been listening to it like crazy.  Her voice is amazing and the lyrics are unexpected from a 16 year old girl.   If I can put an album on and listen to it without skipping songs then it's usually at the top of my list and this album is one of those.

I'm also currently in love with the weather in AZ, but I can't really share that with you.  It's finally cool here and we were so very happy to celebrate the official hibernation of the A/C for the winter!

For the Love of Pumpkin

It’s the time of year where there’s pumpkin flavored everything and I love it!   I’ve never been a coffee fan, but if I was, I’d get in on some of that pumpkin spice latte.  Although I don’t drink the lattes, I do keep my eye out for other pumpkin flavored things and have my favorite goodies I bake at home.   Today I’m sharing a recap of my favorite pumpkin recipes.  The list is small, but I’ve found that they leave an impression.

First you’ll need to start with fresh pumpkin.

Then you’ll need something to do with all those seeds.  This year I’ve been cooking them with olive oil and a sprinkling of garlic salt and Mr. C has been gobbling them up.

This is by far my favorite bread.  During the fall we eat this with some fruit for breakfast and we’re set.

I’m not really sure what to say about these cookies other than that they impress me more and more every time I make them.  If you want to get on your co-workers’ good side, bring them these.

And finally, I saw this recipe for pumpkin roll bars and gave them a shot this year.  They were so yummy and I loved that the cream cheese flavor didn’t overtake the bars.

Halloween Mantle Scarf

I saw this mantle scarf at Pier One and knew it would be the perfect addition to my Halloween mantle, however they were out of stock when I went into the store and I thought I could probably make my own.  My fabric was all on sale and although I'm not sure of my final project cost, it was definitely cheaper to make.  The time invested was more than I thought, but I love the outcome and loved that I was able to pick my own colors/patterns.

Photo Source: Pier One

Let me begin by saying that I am definitely not a sewing expert.  For most of the things I do I don’t have much of a pattern except what I make up, and I just make things up as I go.  I’m sure there’s an easier way than this, but it’s seemed to work well for me.  So, if you’re expecting technical sewing terms you definitely won’t find any in this post!  But, if I can do this, then anyone can!  I will say that the triangles look great, but the part on the mantle definitely has a bit of a homemade look, but that part is hidden and I figure perfection is overrated :)

Here's what you need:

-sewing machine 

-1/4 yard of 3 fabrics of varying color/patterns

-1 yard (or so) of a solid color fabric for 2 triangles, backing, and the section that sits on the mantle

-black thread

-cutting mat and rotary tool (scissors work too, but the rotary tool is amazing)

-pins

-iron

For my triangles I chose to do 2 sparkly orange with a web pattern, 2 sparkly purple, 3 black with orange polka dots, and 2 plain black. 

I began by cutting my triangles and black backing by using the following measurements

Smaller triangles (orange and purple) - 8" wide x 14" long

Medium triangles (black) - 8" x 16"

Large triangles (black with orange polka dots) - 8" x 18"

***remember to cut backing of the same size for all of these**

I then pinned each triangle to the backing of the same size.  You want the "good" sides of the fabric facing inward so it looks like the triangle is backwards.  Pin.  Somehow I managed to not poke myself with a pin during this entire project.  That's a miracle in itself.

Now it's time to start sewing.  I sewed the angled sides and left the top of the triangles open.  After sewn, turn them inside out (which brings the "good" fabric on the outside).  I had to use scissors to push the ends of the triangle out.

Then I ironed the triangles so the edges were crisp and wrinkles gone.

Then I lined up the triangles in the pattern I wanted and cut a plain black piece of fabric a couple inches longer on each side (I don't have an exact measurement for this since it will depend on the pattern you lay out).  I then measured the width - my mantle is 7” wide so I cut the black piece of fabric about 6” wide, but again this depends on your personal preferences and mantle.

Hem a long edge of the fabric.

Then I pinned the top of the medium and large triangles onto the hemmed side of the fabric and sewed them on in a line.  

I added the second row of the small triangles, pinned, and sewed. 

You could just finish the ends of the black piece and be done, but I ended up folding the other unhemmed edge under so it met the edge of where I had sewn the triangles, turning the corners in, and sewing that all together.  Everything looked more finished this way and the part on the mantle was a bit sturdier. 

Here’s the end result!  I love it!

And here’s my favorite little painted pumpkin.  It still makes me smile everytime I see it!

Did you decorate or paint any pumpkins for Halloween? 

Pumpkin Roll Bars

I was searching for new pumpkin recipes on pinterest and stumbled across these pumpkin roll bars.  I made them last night and oh my, they are good!  They’re fluffy, full of flavor, so easy to make, and not too rich.  The cream cheese in the middle is perfect without being too overpowering.  

I frequently make things for work so Mr. C assumes when I’m baking something yummy and no one is coming over that it’s for a potluck or just because at work.  I gave him one of these bars and after he scarfed it down I asked if he wanted another one and his eyes lit up as he yelled “yes!”.  I guess he thought the rest were for work which made me feel a little bad because the poor guy didn't want to ask for more!  Anyhow, you should definitely add these to your fall baking list.  You may want to take some to work or church or your neighbors because I could see the potential to eat them all for breakfast.

You can also get the printable recipe here.

Recipe from: Let's Dish

Cake Ingredients:

6 Tb. butter, melted

1 ½ c. sugar

2 eggs

2 c. cooked pumpkin or a 15 oz. can

¼ c. water

2 c. flour

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

½ tsp. ground cloves

½ tsp. ground ginger

½ tsp. ground nutmeg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. baking powder

Cream Cheese Filling Ingredients:

8 oz. cream cheese, softened (I used the 1/3 less fat and it tasted great)

¼ c. sugar

½ tsp. vanilla

1 egg

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9x13” baking pan with non-stick spray.

Combine butter and 1 ½ c. sugar in medium-sized bowl and beat until smooth.  Add in 2 eggs, pumpkin, 1 tsp. vanilla, and water.  Mix until well blended.   Mix in flower, spices, baking soda, and baking powder and mix until blended.  Spread about 2/3 of the batter evenly into the pan.

In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese, 1 egg, ¼ c. sugar, and ½ tsp. vanilla until smooth.  Spread cream cheese mixture over the pumpkin batter.  Dollop the remaining pumpkin batter over the cream cheese layer and spread evenly.  Use a butter knife to swirl together the cream cheese and top layer of pumpkin batter.  Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the center of the pumpkin batter springs back when touched.  Cool completely (good luck, it smells soooo good) and cut into bars.

Polks dots and Pumpkins

Last year I had this wonderful idea of decorating our entryway with a huge spider web, little spiders, and pumpkins.  I saw a chevron painted pumpkin on pinterest and it looked easy enough.  I decided to make it and blog about it.  Do you all remember that blog?  No?  Well, that’s because it never happened because it was so horrible!  I taped my pumpkin and went a bit crazy with the spray paint.  I didn't quite understand the concept of many light layers and instead sprayed a lot all at once.  The result was a sticky mess of a chevron wannnabe pumpkin.  I ended up painting the entire thing white to disguise the failed chevron and a couple weeks later we started noticing a horrible smell.  It was the decaying scent of my white pumpkin.  I think it decayed so fast because of the very thick coat of spray paint combined with the sun.  I wrote it off as an epic fail and gave up on my Martha Stewart-like front porch.  I had also put up lights and the web but I just wasn't feeling it.

This year I decided to have another go at it, but without a chevron pumpkin.  Over the course of a week I collected a bunch of different types and sizes of pumpkins.  On Sunday Coconut and I went outside armed with glue, glitter, paint, and our pumpkins.  I've seen the mess glitter makes and I figured the outdoors could benefit from some extra sparkle. 

I painted polka dots on various pumpkins using Martha Stewart’s rose gold paint and foam pouncers.  Gold and polka dots have been catching my eye so I was smitten with these. 

This one was so pretty I put it on our coffee table.  I think it’s so pretty with the long stem too.

And then came the messy part.  I glittered some pumpkins, starting with gold glitter and moving on to a greenish glitter.  I used Martha Stewart glitters as well.  I love how fine the glitter is and the colors are really beautiful.  If you haven’t caught on yet, I really really like most of the Martha Stewart crafting products and it seems like every store is selling them these days.

I glittered some stripes using the pumpkin’s natural lines.

Tried an ombre effect that didn’t quite pan out due to sticky glue fingers.

And just covered others.  This green one is Mr. C’s favorite.  I think it’s because of the color and not because of all that glitter.

This one to the left of the pot was lightly brushed with gold glitter and a touch of gold paint.

And here’s the end result!  It’s exactly what I wanted!  We strung some purple, orange, and white LED lights around the door, put up the biggest spider I've ever seen (scared me to death when I forgot and opened the blinds), strung the web in a more fitting spot, and I hung up the wreath I made last year. 

Sources: Orange metal pots- Marshalls, Large spider, Large spider web, and other spiders- Pier One, Wreath- DIY’d, Hay bale- Joannes, Lights- Target.