Tuesday, December 12, 2023

{What's For Dinner}-Dinner's Lately

We often get into a "what should we have for dinner rut" so I like to get ideas by seeing what other people are making.  Here are some of our dinners lately to maybe give you some ideas too!

Creamy "Chk-n" Gnocchi Soup (recipe coming soon!)
Leftover Harvest Salad (from a restaurant)
Taco Bowls
Thanksgiving dinner at MIL's
Our little Thanksgiving the next day
Leftover night-roasted veggies, rolls & veggie chili
Easy Peanut Noodles (recipe coming soon!)
Lunch at Panera-Mediterranean Salad & Autumn Soup
Veggie Quiche
No-Chicken Noodle Soup & Grilled Cheese
Latkes (and homemade applesauce!)

Sheet Pan Chick Pea Fajitas

Does anything look good to you? Which dinner would have been your favorite? 

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Thursday, December 7, 2023

{Soup Series} TVP Lasagna Soup

 I was craving this soup and had some TVP in the pantry that I wanted to use up. Have you heard of TVP?

This is the kind I used. TVP stands for textured vegetable protein and it's a good substitute for ground beef.  It's shelf stable and when hydrated, becomes beef like in texture.  It takes on whatever seasonings you add to it so it's quite versatile.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup TVP (textured vegetable protein) crumbles, hydrated with 1/2 cup of broth
1/2 cup diced green pepper
1/2 cup diced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can  (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
2 cups marinara sauce
1 cup vegetarian sausage crumbles (I use Don't be a Piggy brand)
4 TBS nutritional yeast
4 cups vegetable broth
1/2 box Green Lentil Lasagna sheets (or noodles of choice)-broken up
1-2 tsp oregano
1 tsp garlic powder
1-2 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper 
salt & pepper to taste
2 cups raw baby spinach
Optional Toppings: Cheeses of choice, fresh basil & more crushed red pepper flakes

To make:
  • Start by hydrating the TVP in broth.  Set aside
  • Water sauté green pepper, onions and garlic in a large pot until onions are translucent. 
  • Add the black beans, tomatoes, marinara sauce, sausage crumbles, tvp, nutritional yeast, broth and seasonings. Stir to combine.
  • Bring to a low boil an add the lasagna noodles. Let the soup come back up to a low boil. Turn down heat, place lid on pot and allow the soup to simmer until the noodles are cooked (about 20-25 minutes)
  • Add spinach when ready to serve. Let it wilt into the soup. Taste for seasoning.
  • Serve with optional cheeses and some fresh basil on top.
  • Enjoy this comforting bowl of goodness!
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Friday, December 1, 2023

November Wrap Up

 I cannot believe it is December-flippin'-first! Where did this year go? Here's a quick wrap up of my November.

I voted!
Willow says "what's up dog"?

Got my first holiday coffee.
Started to do some Christmas decorating.
We had this staircase replaced.  What a glow up!
Tried a new-to-us place with Detroit style pizza. Yum!
The first (and only) flower on my Christmas cactus.
We had a smaller group for Thanksgiving this year (and missing City Girl 2--but we got to see later that weekend).
Mr. Click had his last gig of the year.
I finished this book.
I saw my first bald eagle out in the wild--right across the street from my house! It was such a thrill. I hope they come back --there were two circling around our houses.  How was your November?  Have you ever seen a bald eagle?

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Wednesday, November 29, 2023

{Photography} Jenn's New Head Shots

It's been awhile since I posted one of my photoshoots but I wanted to share this one.
 Jenn is a repeat client and I was so honored that she asked me to do her new headshots.  I also shot her 50th birthday milestone session, her engagement photos and her previous headshots in Philly.
She's a local realtor and overall great lady.
We had such a fun day shooting together in my studio.
We went through a lot of looks and had a lot of laughs!
I wanted her to have a lot of options for her social media accounts.
Her favorite  (and mine too) was this outdoor shot. Look at those beautiful blue eyes!  Which one is your favorite?


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Tuesday, November 21, 2023

{Soup Series} Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

As I said in my last post,  I've been on such a soup making kick lately. I want to remember the recipes that I've been making and I'm sharing them with you as well. We had this soup at Mr. Click's gig a few weeks ago and I asked the caterer for the recipe. She immediately texted me the recipe from her Pinterest board which was so kind of her. I tweaked it a little to increase the protein by adding a can of cannellini beans while pureeing the soup.  It takes the protein per serving from 4 to 12 grams without any noticeable difference in taste.

The hardest part of this recipe is cutting the butternut squash in half for roasting (I *hate* cutting butternut squash and usually buy the chunks but in this case, I'd use the whole squash.) I microwaved it for a few minutes to soften it up and that really helped.  This would make a great addition to your Thanksgiving menu or for any fall event.

Ingredients:
3 1/2 pounds of butternut squash (whole)
1 TBS olive oil (or avocado oil)
1 large yellow onion, cut in half
1 garlic clove, peeled
1/2 TBS maple syrup
1 tsp salt
1 can of cannellini beans, drained and rinsed well
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground ginger
3-4 cups vegetable broth
Optional garnish: pepitas, fresh parsley, freshly ground black pepper

To make:
1. Preheat oven to 425ºF.  
2. Cut the butternut squash in half (microwave 2-3 minutes first to soften it up). The the end off first and then cut squash in half lengthwise. 
3. Scoop out the seeds.
4. Season the squash-rub oil all over the cut side of the squash and season with salt and pepper.  Place cut side down on a baking sheet. Roast for 60 minutes.
5. Roast the onion, after 30 minutes add the onion to the baking sheet, spreading some oil on the cut side and then placing them cut side down. Continue roasting for another 30 minutes (total time 60 minutes)
6. Once the squash is cool enough to handle, scoop the flesh out into a high powered blender. Remove the outer layer of the onion and add it to the blender along with the garlic, beans, nutmeg, ginger, salt, maple syrup and broth (start with 3 cups and add more to achieve desired consistency-I used all 4 cups.)
7. Blend on high for 1-2 minutes until smooth and creamy. Taste the soup and add more salt and pepper if needed.
8. Serve immediately. I like mine topped with pepitas and more freshly ground black pepper.

I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving!


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Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Loving Lately

 Here's what I've been loving lately...


SOUP:
I've been on a soup making kick lately.
Lasagna Soup

Butternut Squash Soup


BOOKS:
My BS(Brilliant Sister) recommended both of these books and I loved them!


I also read this book and it really stuck with me!



GIGS:
Mr. Click had a couple of fun gigs that I got to go to.
This one was a political fundraiser at a really cool backyard.
This one was with his Virginia band on an 80º Saturday in October (apple cider prosecco slushie was delish!)


FALL:
I've been loving my walks and soaking up the gorgeous fall weather.

HALLOWEEN:
I had fun spookifying my house a little bit.
Our 2023 very last minute costumes.  (Slytherin girl and Snape)
Willow got into the Halloween spirit too!

TV SHOW:

I loved this book and I've watched a few episodes of the tv version. Brie Larson is so good in it!

What have you been loving lately?

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Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Bazzar Cirque Du Soleil

We had one more adventure for my birthday weekend.
The Cirque du Soleil show called Bazzar was in town.  I won the ticket lottery to purchase discount tickets and the date worked out for us.
We've been to a few Cirque du Soleil shows and always love them.
Getting a quick photo before heading into the the tent.
We are always blown away by the talent of the performers.  Here's how they describe this show (from their website):

Cirque du Soleil BAZZAR is an eclectic lab of endless invention where a joyous troupe of acrobats, dancers, and musicians create an awe-inspiring display. They work together to create a quirky one-of-a-kind world under the direction of their maestro. The dynamic company reimagines, rebuilds, and reinvents vibrant scenarios in a setting where the unpredictable is anticipated in an artistic, athletic game of order and disorder. Come and take up residence in this marketplace of enthusiasm and artistic fellowship. You never know, the story's conclusion might only be the beginning!

It was a fun way to end our weekend!

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