butternut squash soup

Everyone loves a good soup.

While i am actually cooking up a quick broccoli soup today, i thought i would write about my semi-recipe for butternut squash soup. i say "semi-recipe" because while i never actually follow recipes i do have a some general rules about how to make this and just switch a few things each time- depending on my mood.

So, start with one butternut squash. Stick the knife straight through the middle and then either yell for someone stronger who can force the knife through with his (yah, i use Ben) strength or tap the end of the knife with a hammer/mallet/whatever. Kudos to you if you can get it through yourself!

Scoop out the seeds (save them!).
Cut it into halves again, and again, and then again.

Season with salt and pepper. You can throw on some butter or olive oil.
Bake at 400 about 30min. Just until it's soft enough to scoop out.

Scoop out the flesh into a large pot.
Add 3 cups of broth.
Okay now go crazy and put in there some chopped onion, different spices, whatever.

It will cook down a lot.
Like this...

Now, hopefully you have a handy dandy handmixer thingy. Because you'll need it here.
Stick that mixer in and blend all of the ingredients until the soup is completely smooth.

Now add in about a half cup of heavy cream or milk- whatever you've got.

Last, you might want to grind in some fresh nutmeg. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

Remember those seeds you saved? Rinse 'em off. Dust them with some sea salt and bake until they're warm and crispy. They are better than pumpkin seeds- so much flavor!

our grinder broke- giving out huge chunks of salt!

This really is the simplest recipe and is soo yummy. Feel free to mix it up whatever way you feel like! 

oh my sucre

i have to share something with you

i just have to. right now. get excited, i am.

it is Sucre. sitting at 3025 Magazine Street is a haven of amazing sweets.

First, there's gelato. Really good gelato with the best flavors i've ever found. I'm serious.
Then there's chocolates, all kinds. There's bars- chocolate with pretzels in them call to me.
There's little truffle chocolates. A ton of different kinds of little chocolates.
Sucre has coffee, wine, smoothies, shakes. They turn their gelato into shakes!
It has pastries- decadent pastries. Amazing.
It has french macaroons that are famous.
It has big square vanilla marshmallows.
It has these huge cookie things that I'm dying to try.

All of these things Sucre makes themselves daily.

Sucre makes cakes. They hand sculpt gorgeous cakes- when I get married I want a Sucre cake! On my birthday I want a Sucre cake! On Saturday I want a Sucre cake!

Okay, now, what I've been trying to get to are their cupcakes.

See that? That is Sucre's chocolate and salted caramel cupcake with a chocolate fleur de lis on top and their signature sparkle.

The salted caramel buttercream frosting is inside too! It is soo good.

AND, they ship! You can order them and send them to loved ones!! go to www.shopsucre.com or call them up at (504) 520-8311

do it. right now. don't waste any time and order yourself some sucre goodness. it is so worth it, thank goodness i live about two blocks away!

Here's my review of Sucre on Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/biz/sucre-new-orleans#hrid:Fejv65uBGFmnxSxV03BFjw

festivus

This weekend, like many in New Orleans, there were festivals to keep my spirits up while Ben was busy. This one, however, marked the first one that I have been to where it wasn't too hot to enjoy it, and it wasn't too chilly either. It was just perfect outside for a day of live music, pups, and beer.
Saturday was Nola on Tap- An event put on by the Bulldog (bar/restaurant) and the LSPCA to benefit the LSCPA. Ben was busy until the afternoon but then we got to go together! The festival had free live music by a band that I really like- Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes! They also touted more than 200 brews- and you could get a tasting for $1! Once again, all moneys going to help rescue nola's dogs and cats.

Jim Hart's "singing oak"

$1 for a kiss!

Sunday Ben was busy studying for block two exams and I went for a bike ride thinking I was headed to Audubon park. Instead I stopped when I heard music and smelled yummy smells. Right on my path all of a sudden was a festival! This was the Magazine Street Blues Festival to benefit the police. I got to see another two great band this day too!

great local businesses

basil, tomato, mozzerella crepe

Beaucoup Nola Snoball!! The only one made with fresh juice- not syrup!

fun for kids!

bend or you'll break

Sometimes the path you start out on is not the one you end up on.  I am sure learning this!

Moving to New Orleans was never something I imagined could happen to us in this life. I was finishing my masters program, going on to the doctoral program, going to live in Brookline or another lovely Boston area for a while. Get a dog. That whole deal. Now I am in the South, jobless, trying to figure out what I'm doing on a day-by-day basis.

There is a yoga quote that goes, "Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape."

I am physically flexible, but not so flexible in any other way. I set my goals, I meet them. I know what I want...okay, not so often but when I finally decide what i want... I always get it. I am a little controlling because I know that the consistency and stability that come with my control gets things done, and productivity makes me happy. When things don't work out the way I want them, however, I get a little "bent out of shape." That's just the way I am.

The other day I set out to make a new cakeball flavor for my friend's birthday. I thought strawberry would be interesting so I mixed up the strawberry cake and strawberry frosting.

mixing in the frosting

This is when I tasted it and should have turned back. But, I thought it wasn't that bad, just different. Fun. And the great pink color was flashy. So I kept on going. Forming the balls.

refrigerating

Getting the red vanilla candy melts to the right temperature and dipping them all in. And, finally, decorating them with white vanilla candy melts. I thought a dark chocolate candy melt outside would be a good flavor match for the strawberry inside so I saved half of the cakeballs to make the chocolate ones the next day.

And voila! They were done! They looked bright and pretty.

I was happy. Until I tasted one. Blech. I think they were like fruity pebbles (my sister used to loooove fruity pebbles). Ben says they're like captain crunch berries. I think both of those fake, sugary, yucky cereals are way better tasting than these.

So, I threw them all in the garbage and was grouchy for a while.

After ten minutes of being frustrated, I took a deep breath and decided to bake a snack.

Which led to me baking my provolone/parmesan/chive popovers, but this time I made them huge. An hour later I had cheesy, oniony, warm, lovely popovers and took a break from all the "doing."

mmm 

I settled down with a few popovers, and then went to yoga. 

Things hadn't exactly gone as I planned. I wanted those cakepops to be done and waiting on the counter to bring out to dinner on Friday night. But, life doesn't always go as you plan- even if I truly believe that it always will. When it doesn't, I'm totally surprised and angry and thrown off-guard. 

It may seem silly, but little things like cakepops not working out bend me out of shape. This time, however, I decided to just let it go and make something else.

So the next day I whipped up cappuccino brownies, put a little white vanilla candy melts on top, and went out to dinner with friends to celebrate a birthday. I even used a box mix (from WholeFoods) because you don't always have to be "perfect."- another lesson I am slowly learning. 

Life is too short to cry over cakepops. 

a little inspiration

Second run, done! 

Yup, that sounds totally ridiculous to be celebrating running twice this week, but I am. Both times I ran 1.30 miles around my neighborhood. My ankles are aching and every muscle is sore, but I am happy. I can do this. 

I also find that my home yoga practice is a little more daring after my runs- that's a perk.

But in my last post I forgot something important to this whole running business. Inspiration.

I don't know how many people know about "Ben does life" on YouTube. Well, the other day I stumbled upon a video of a man running his way out of obesity and depression. I couldn't stop crying! I actually just watched it again and the waterworks came. To be honest though, Taylor Swift's new video where she gets the cute family at the end made me cry today too. 

Although the video does have to do with someone running, I believe that the idea that you can do what you want to if you just do it can be applied to many situations. 

Watch this video and then go make that change that you've been thinking about:

INSPIRATION (click here)

becoming a runner

our lovely bikes

It is so nice outside right now. October in N'awlins is like a Boston summer- the days are warm and then the nights are the teensiest tinniest bit chilly. Maybe I can wear long pants! But, my jeans can barely stretch up my thighs and then are two inches away from buttoning (no joke).

I am baking and eating desserts daily. I am also sitting on my butt on the couch searching for jobs, writing a blog, reading, watching tv…you get the picture. Which brings me to my new resolution: I am going to become a runner!

Let me first tell you: I hate running. I can honestly say I hate everything about running. I hate the thought of it. It just seeeems stupid, running around. I’m laughing now because I’m remembering Will Farrell in Anchorman talking about jogging and calling it “yogging.” But, back to my point- I really do hate running.

I actually have a long history of hating running. In middle school while the gym coach (who was a teacher my aunt and uncles had) screamed at us to do the President’s Challenge, or whatever it is called, I walked the entire mile. In high school I guess I may have jogged outside around my fathers house, but that was mostly because it was pretty. In college I did no physical activity until a roommate made me go to the gym with her and follow her strict routine. So, by the end of one summer I could work the elliptical or the treadmill for as long as I wanted and feel comfortable.

I don’t know who that girl on the treadmill was or how she came to be. But she definitely does not exist now. I know this because a few weeks ago I decided that I had to do something with my time and tried to go jogging around the neighborhood. Oh my goodness, it was hard. So, I gave up.

But becoming a runner has a lot more to it than just working off the cupcakes. I wrote my entire thesis on the mental health benefits and physical benefits of cardiovascular exercise (although I focused on children). I know that running will send some endorphins my way and lift my spirits. I think that will really help as I transition to living here. I also know that I dislike not being able to do something and for a long time I’ve wanted to be able to say that I am a runner. I just want to be able to run a few miles and not curl up in a ball on the side of the road. I want to accomplish this goal.

So, I decided to go running with Ben today. I've actually tried to start running a handful of times and after a few weeks I fail. This is why I need to go with Ben. He was kind enough to start the beginning of his normal run with a slow jog with me. (After we were done he ran for another hour +). While we “ran” he talked to me about how to run properly and kept a slow pace so that I didn’t overdue it. He also only took me a short distance so that I didn’t do too much the first day and give up tomorrow. We ran around the Garden District, looked at the great scenery, and went 1.30 miles. Not very long huh? But I had to stop halfway through because my lungs felt like exploding and I felt nauseous. YES, that is what kind of shape my body is in.

When we got home I felt great. The run was short and slow enough to get me going and not leave me exhausted. I went home and did my own yoga practice that left me feeling euphoric, peaceful, strong, and ready for anything.

I'm not sure I should have started today, but I really wanted to. The only problem was that yesterday we biked seven miles and then walked five. My poor leggies.

Now that I have put it out there that I am going to do this, I guess I have to. I'll probably run every other day at first and continue with a daily yoga practice. I'm excited that now I have to do this because I said I would. I'll keep checking in with my progress.

First day: 1.30miles.

audubon park

Cookie Cupcakes

~RECIPE~

If you love chocolate chip cookies,
and you love cupcakes....
why not combine them!

A cupcake with a cookie on top and cookie dough inside!

I'm not sure where I originally got this idea (may have been on another blog) but it's fun and simple and yummy. Last night I decided to make this easier by buying the cupcake mix, frosting, and cookie dough! You don't always have to make everything from scratch and these are so yummy using mixes.

Okay, first gather a package of already-made chocolate chip cookie dough, a package of cake mix, and some frosting. I like to use vanilla cake mix and chocolate frosting.

Step 1: separate the cookie dough into quarter size pieces and roll them between your hands so they form a ball. Place the balls of dough on a cookie sheet and put them in the freezer.

balls of cookie dough freezing

Step 2: make the boxed cake mix as directed by the package, mixing together the ingredients and setting it aside.

Step 3: line the cupcake "tin" with papers. Now, pour a little bit of the mix into the bottom of each cupcake paper.  (i bought theses cutesy papers at Michaels but i'm disappointed with how they fold in on themselves).

mix, cookie dough, all ready!

Step 4: now, retrieve those balls of cookie dough that are in the freezer and bring them out next to the cupcake "tin." Drop one ball of dough into each cupcake.
NOTE: if you don't want the cookiedough to sink to the bottom of the cupcake you can dust them in flour- this works for all add-ins including fruit. But, i think it's fine without that step.

drop em in

one cookie dough ball for each cupcake

Step 5: when each cupcake has its cookie dough, use the rest of the cupcake mix to fill each one to 3/4 full, using the rest of the mix. The cupcake should have more mix on the bottom, then the cookie dough, then just enough mix to just cover the ball of cookie dough.

cover them up

Step 6: bake as directed on the box. about 350degrees for 15-20 minutes. When they're soft but not raw take the cupcakes out and let them cool.

Step 7: use the rest of the cookie dough balls to make the cookies that are going on top of the cupcakes! just bake the rest of the balls to make tiny cookies. these should only bake for a few minutes because they're so tiny they may burn quickly.

bigger works better but small is cuuuute!

Step 8: Open the package of frosting and, with a knife, stir it around. you can also put it in a bowl and whip it- aerating it adds fluffiness and you'll double the amount your originally had! But, I just stick my knife in there and mix it for a few minutes. Then, pour the frosting into a small plastic bag (like a ziplock) and cut off one of the bottom edges. Only make a small cut. Now you have a pastry bag and can swirl the frosting on to each cupcake.

Step 9: Once each cupcake is frosted all you have to do is add one cookie to the top of each. Or, make smaller cookies and add two to each!

this photo does not do them justice bc i had refrigerated it hehe! 

Baked inside each vanilla cupcake should be raw cookiedough- but even if the cookiedough bakes a little it will be great, just like a cakey cookie!

Baker Bidaboo

All set to go to a potluck dinner with friends!!

If you do try these, let me know how they turn out!