A is for Apple!

Stud Muffin and I just couldn't justify spending tons of money to go to the OU vs. Texas game this weekend but that doesn't mean we sat around and did nothing! 

We went apple picking!

I had never been to an orchard before and it was amazing!

We went with Stud Muffin's Mother, Brother and family. It was a blast! His niece was super cute!

I had absolutely no idea there were so many different kinds of apples either! 

We picked, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Ida Red and my personal favorite Honeycrisp! Oh they are so good!! You can try them while walking around and boy did we!

I also learned that everyone seems to climb the trees while picking!

Fist Stud Muffin got in a tree.

Then his brother.

Then THEIR MOTHER!

 And they finally talked me into climbing a tree. I had a message while up there!!

You weigh your apple bags as you leave and pay. They were 60 cents a pound. Not so bad!

Until you realize you have 66 pounds of apples!! (There were 3 households involved!)

And I will leave you with my favorite pic from the trip!
Stud Muffin's mother insisted he get in the tree with me. Then she got his niece to clap and request a kiss.
Such a great picture!!

Lots more fun was had but I will have to write about it later... I am pooped!!

BOOMER!

Carrot & Sweet Potato Soup

Every Sunday Stud Muffin and I cook a new dish. This Sunday just happened to be Valentine's Day and since we were going to Brunch and then to get massages we decided to cook this the night before!!

I am sure that this doesn't sound like the best soup to some people but I really enjoyed it!!

Ingredients
 3 tablespoons butter (or in my case soybean margarine)
1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium)
2 1/4 cups peeled &; sliced carrots
2 apples
1 cup water
2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled &; chopped
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
2 teaspoons finely shredded orange peel
1/4 cup orange juice

First the chopping process (which for me is painful). So, I thought that I would post Stud Muffins beautiful chopping skills. He is a fantastic prep cook and it saves me many a band-aide.

 

 

After all the chopping has been done...
In a large Dutch Oven, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat.

Add onion and cook about 2 minutes or until tender.

Stir in carrots. Cook for 3 minutes.

Peel, core and chop one of the apples. Stir the chopped apple, broth, the water, sweet potatoes and allspice into the carrot mixture.

Bring to boiling: reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Meanwhile for garnish (I apologize, I forgot to take pics of this part). Finely chop the remaining apple. In a small skillet melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Add the finely chopped apple and cook about 5 minutes. Stir in orange peel. Remove from heat and set aside.

Cool soup slightly. (as you can see I skipped the cooling step) and blend until smooth. If you use a blender you will need to let the soup cool a bit and then blend in sections. I use a hand blender and leave it in the original saucepan. This just means less dishes for me later and fewer steps in the process.

Once soup is smooth add orange juice and simmer for about 5 minutes. Top each serving with apple-orange peel mixture and serve!

It was fantastic!!

Happy Valentine's Day! (a day late)

Hope everyone enjoyed their Valentine's Day yesterday!

I was so busy last week that I haven't really had a chance to blog! So sorry!

So since I missed yesterday's list of favorites... here is my list of 5 things we did yesterday that I loved!

1. Brunch!! Our favorite meal of the day!
2. Massages at Bliss!! Need I say more!
3. We watched a movie together! 500 Days of Summer. I really enjoyed it.
4. We made dinner together!!
5. Spent the entire weekend (not just the day) enjoying each others company. Nothing like spending the day with my favorite person in the world!!

Chunky Tomato Basil Soup with Basil Dumplings

Brian and I make soup on Sundays and this one is my favorite so far! It was delicious!!
Like last week's soup I got this recipe from Better Homes & Gardens Soup Magazine.

CHUNKY TOMATO BASIL SOUP
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons chopped shallot
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups chicken broth (low sodium)
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped red pepper
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
Fresh Basil Sprigs (optional)

In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, shallot & garlic; cook about 5 minutes or until onion is tender, stirring frequently.

Add broth, carrot, celery, red pepper, lemon juice & sugar. Bring to boil, reduce heat.

Cover and simmer for 25 minutes. Cool slightly. (do not drain)

Transfer 1/2 of the vegetable mixture to a blender or food processor. Blend or process until smooth. Repeat with remaining vegetable mixture. (I left mine in the pot as one portion and blended with a hand held blender.)

Stir in un-drained tomatoes.


Cook, uncovered, over low heat about 10 minutes. Stirring often.


BASIL DUMPLINGS
Ingredients
1/3 cup all purpose flour
1 tablespoon snipped fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
2 teaspoons vegetable oil

In a small bowl, combine flour, basil, salt & baking powder.

In a separate bowl, beat 1 egg with a fork & add 2 teaspoons vegetable oil. Stirring until mixed.

Add egg mixture to flour mixture. Using a wooden spoon, beat until a soft, sticky dough forms.

While the soup is heating, fill a dutch oven (or in my case, a saucepan) half-full with water; bring to boil. Using a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon, drop Basil Dumpling dough into boiling water.

Cook for 4 to 5 minutes (start timing after dough rises to the surface) or until a toothpick inserted into dough comes out clean.


Using a slotted spoon, remove the dumplings; drain in a colander. Rinse dumplings under cold running water; drain again.

Add 1/2 of the Basil Dumplings to soup in saucepan; heat through.

Ladle into soup bowls. Top with remaining Basil Dumplings. Add fresh basil sprigs as garnish.
We had our awesome soup with grilled cheese as well. Mmm...Mmm...Good.

And, when I tell you I am spoiled by my Stud Muffin, I am spoiled! This is a pic of him cleaning the kitchen!! Ahh....

These are a few of my favorite things...

This week's list of 5 things that make me happy...

1. Mani/Pedi: I could get one of these every single day. Really. I am not too sure why but I have always been obsessed with my nails looking good. However, I think it has something to do with a scene from Gone With the Wind. The pedicure doesn't normally last too long for a dancer and I always go through a big schpeal with the lady about why I like my callused feet but that massage feels oh so good!
2. Hot Chocolate: If you know me... you know I love hot cocoa. I normally add a little peppermint schnapps to it. And I recently discovered the chocolate candy cane by Hersheys. Use that as a stirrer and I am set.
3. Massages: I swear if I had listened to all my teachers (my mother) when I was a teenager in dance I don't think I would hurt so bad. I was horrible to my body. I would kick my face at 8am without stretching!! Now, I can't even get out of bed with out things cracking. (I am not even 30 so this is BAD.) It is not just that I love massages, I actually NEED them!
4. A Good Book: Give me a good book and I am a really happy girl. And, I would assume so are all the people I talk to death when I am bored!
5. Red Red Wine: I love me so red wine. After a long day, nothing beats coming home to a nice glass of Shiraz or Pinot Nior. Mmmmm.... think I'll have some now.
   

These are a few of my favorite things...

So I have decided that Sundays will be my day to list 5 things that make me happy. Each week will be something different and quite possibly random. I love a lot of things and really love lists so this should suit me quite well. Not too mention, you might really get to know me and my strange ways through these little Sunday Happy Posts.

Today's list of my loves... 5 things that make my sick day better.

1. Stud Muffin. Unlike most men who go running for the hills when people begin to cough, Stud Muffin goes to the store for soup and things. He also closed all the shades to make sure my eyes didn't hurt. He is a fantastic nurse!!
   
2. Harry Potter. I plan on sitting here with my 6 Harry Potter movies and not moving. I am smiling just thinking about it. Don't get me wrong, I like the books much better than the movies but on a day like today movies are the way to go.
3. Herbal Tea & Honey Bear. I have a love of most all hot beverages. I would drink hot tea all the time but today... My tea choices are Throat Coat or Gypsy Cold Care. They do not taste awesome but I swear they cure everything!! Add a little of my honey bear and we are good to go.
   
4. Chicken Noodle Soup. Ask anyone who knows me well and they will tell you that I could live for the rest of my life off of soup. All soups. Never met a soup I didn't like. I love em! In high school my friends thought I had an eating disorder because that is all I ate. Nope! It is just all I wanted. I blame to sodium for my addiction. Anyhow, chicken soup is my savior on sick days. The smell makes me feel better.
   
5. Hot Bath with Muscle Soak. I am obsessed with baths. I could really lay in them for hours and read. But when my whole body aches (which is also from hard dance days) I love to get into a steaming hot bath and pour a little muscle relax salt in. It is amazing what a hot bath or shower can do to make you feel better.
   

Well, this was not the best of my loves because I am a little under the weather today. But I thought I would share the things that make my day better. Now, off the computer and on to Harry!!