The above smoothie was consumed while wearing my down jacket and gloves, but boy was it good!! Ingredients were 1 cup of milk, 1 clementine and about half a cup of frozen banana slices. I’m really into simple smoothies these days. This really tasted as good as any milkshake!
Topped with some wheat waffles
I accomplished SO much today!! In addition to today’s house post, I have two more typed up and ready to go. One likely tomorrow and another next week. Then the house tour will be complete! I’m hoping to do a video too, since lots of you have requested that.
Dinner tonight was a pleasant surprise
I had plans for leftover soup on the menu, but that just seemed soooo boring.
Doesn’t this win the award for food photograph of the year!?
So I decided to cook up some brussels sprouts on the side at the last minute!
These were sliced, sauteed and then topped with about a quarter cup of delicious blue cheese that melted into a sauce. YUM!
Served with the Great Wall of Rosemary Garlic
And the Lentil Coconut Soup leftovers. Complemented with yogurt and sriracha!
With dinner, Matt brought up a freshly shaken bottle of sparkling water! We used to have it on tap, but somebody prefers to keep the kegs full of beer now. Imagine that!? So a solution he recently came up with after Seamane and Rob brought over this 2 liter bottle was a mini version. He just fills the bottle with ice-cold water and then takes his CO2 tank and applies 40 pounds of pressure (in some special technique that he said “is complicated unless you’re a homebrewer” – well huff!) and then shakes it for 2 minutes and we have the best water around!
Love it. I don’t know why the bubbles make it taste so much better than still water, but I can guzzle a liter of this a day no problem!
After dinner we drove over to Karen’s house to take her her car (which I brought home after running to the medical center and dropping her off). And we gave her her Christmas presents! Her house is always so cozy at night thanks to a nice gas fireplace.
Back home now, hoping to get cozy in that down comforter upstairs and get some reading done. I’m in the middle of two books (She’s Come Undone and The Hunger Games 2) and I don’t know which one to read first! I also have a book club coming up in 2 weeks…
Is the smoothie as thick as it looks with just those ingredients?! Good luck deciding on the book – and staying warm!
No, it’s not very thick at all. they just float!
Love your house posts, btw.
I like to make my lentil soups with red lentils, they look more appetizing! But either way, they taste great.
sometimes i find the foods that photograph the worst taste the best! and anything with brussels is delicious in my book 🙂
I am so ready to get under my down comforter! We just bought new flannel sheets the other day and our bed feels like heaven. I can’t wait for Saturday to sleep in! Have a great night Kath!
It’s so funny how sometimes our cravings contradict the weather. I crave smoothies in the dead of winter just as much as the summer!
doesn’t it feel GREAT to get stuff done? i made a long list today, checked everything off – including meditation!
I love She’s Come Undone! Great book!
My husband bought me a Soda Stream for Christmas just so I can make my own carbonated water. I fell in love with it in Italy on our honeymoon and I agree I could drink a liter a day. I love that I can make my own “flavored water” like La Croix which I love but is super expensive. If you wanted to make your own Soda Stream sells the flavorings which you add to the sparkling water. I haven’t even made actual soda yet.
I love the idea of clementines in a smoothie! Never thought of that!
Sparkling water always looks so good to me, but I still prefer still water. I think it’s probably because bubbles generally just don’t make me feel well. Who knows though? Glad you got some more though! 🙂
Kath! Either turn up your heat or stop complaining about the cold–if you won’t take the medicine, don’t complain about being sick!
The heat was up to 70! Smoothies are icy.
I live in the same area as Kath. I don’t know what her heating/cooling system is, but heat pumps are very common. They work by somehow extracting heat from the outside air, and don’t work very efficiently below about 30 degrees. (Since we live in a pretty moderate climate, this is really only an issue for about a month a year) When I woke up yesterday, it was 18 degrees out. My heat pump thermostat is set at 67, and was running constantly and struggling to get to 60 degrees in the house; therefore, turning up the thermostat wouldn’t make any real difference. Just a thought.
YES! Thank you for that excellent explanation, Tina! When we had the 14 degree morning this week, my house was *freezing*, even though I could hear my heat working and it was set on 68, which is usually plenty warm. I probably have a heat pump (old house) so that makes sense.
Mmmm that soup looks good to me! I love pureed soups!
“Doesn’t this win the award for food photograph of the year!?” <– hah! Nothing like trying to photograph brown, warm, soft food…gravy, casseroles, beans and lentils…not easy!
I bet that smoothie tastes like an orange creamsicle or something close with the clem in it. Yum!
Those Brussels sprouts look so delicious! As did that smoothie!
She’s come undone is my very favorite book! <3
I wish that I could convince my brain that bubbly water is as good as Diet Coke! Sorry, but I just can’t seem to understand how carbonated water can taste as good as diet coke! 🙁
Dont drink too much CO2 water. Carbonation gives you reflux. Ask me how I know!
How do you know Sandy!?
Brr, I’m cold for you! And we had brussels sprouts for dinner tonight, too. 🙂 Mmm.
When I stopped drinking soda, I started drinking seltzer and could easily go through a 2 liter bottle in a day or so myself! Bubbles make it so much better 🙂
I just started the 2nd Hunger Games book too – it’s so good and hard to put down!
That smoothie sounds delicious! Did it taste like a creamsicle? The soup looked much better once it had its toppings 🙂
I very much loved your house post today and can’t wait to see what else you have in store. Those curtains covering the “three closets” are SO pretty.
Enjoy your books lady!
I try to drink as much water as I can everyday. However, trying to drink eight, 8 ounce glasses of water each day is a little hard. I will say, though, that if I had sparkling water at my discretion, I might be inclined to guzzle it as well 🙂
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
We have a collection of marshmallow throw blankets to help combat the chill in our house after we settle in for the night. We keep our heat between 65 and 68, so it’s chilly in the morning, and warmer in the evening – just how I like it!
That soup looks incredible! Have fun reading!
complicated unless you’re a home brewer… cute!
That smoothie looks yummy!
Same with the brussels sprouts, but doesn’t the blue cheese make it salty tasting?
Yes, but in a good savory way!
I gave up Diet fizzy drinks as my new years resolution…soda with lots of lemon is really helping the cravings!
She’s Come Undone is one of my all-time favorite books! You’ll love it! It’s one of those stories you can’t stop thinking about a week after you’ve finished it…it’s that good 😉
I always find soups to be so unappetizing to photograph. The soup does look so delicious, though 🙂
I’m convinced that the outward appearance of soup is just meant to deter people from its actual deliciousness 😀
Regardless of the time of year, I can’t live without my down comforter! I hope you warmed up!
I cracked up at the food photography comment about the soup, LMAO!!
Love the Brussels and the bubbles! Seltzer is so refreshing to me, I love it!
So, I’ve been lurking on your blog for years (hi!) and finally feel compelled to comment today. I got a thing of Trader Joe’s floral salt mix in my stocking, and I opened it today to use on my lunch salad. Amazing! Now I get everything you said about the lavender salt. Thanks!
HI!
I gotta look for that!
We call those waffles you have your smoothie “Shreddies” in Ireland! Love simple smoothies, even on a cold day! Not surprised you got food photographer of the year, you’re amazing! Have to give that lentil soup a go some day soon, looks so comforting.
I drink seltzer water all the time. It is just more fun to drink!
I liked She’s Come Undone very much. Haven’t started the Hunger Games yet. Hope to soon!
I am really excited for all of your upcoming home/organization/etc posts! I really need some good tips and ideas as we are preparing for our first baby (we live in a 3 bedroom w/ limited storage).
I love how soup tastes so good but photographs SO BAD 🙂 LOL!!
Brussel sprouts and blue cheese…what a great combo! I just purchased a Soda Stream that makes bubbly water…love it! The kids like that they can add flavours to make a Sprite like drink…can’t wait till the summer to make my lemon syrup for a refreshing bubbling lemonade!
Woo Hoo on your productivity this first week of the year!
While you’re all bundled up in the south, I’m counting my blessings re. our mild, snowless winter in the midwest. We’ve yet to have a significant snowfall -compared to several feet of snow last year at this time – and our temps have been hovering in relatively balmy 40’s w/bright sunny skies more often than not. It felt like springtime yesterday, and I couldn’t bring myself to come inside to get work done. Such a mood booster!
Per usual, Matt’s antics are cracking me up…such a character, that guy.
Oooh can’t wait for a video house tour! Your house is gorgeous, Kath 🙂
We had brussels last night too! My current new obsession!
I need to just don my down jacket and gloves and scarves so that I can enjoy a smoothie too. Looks delicious. 😀
Some foods look so yucky, but taste so good! Have you read The Maxe Runner? If you like The Hunger Games, you might like that book too.
i haven’t, no
I did the same thing with brussel sprouts the other night only with feta cheese! SO SO good. I also love to add hummus to them cause it gets all melty and delicious 🙂
Glad you have those hearty dishes to keep you warm in these chilly days. Looking forward to your house posts!
Are there more hours in your day than mine? 🙂 You’ve inspired me to be more productive today…as soon as I finish my coffee (first things first!).
Can’t wait for all the house posts! And those brussel sprouts look delicious, great addition to the meal!
The Hunger games 2! I just finished 3 and both 2 and 3 were amazing!!
I am reading Catching Fire right now…slowly but surely. 🙂 The first one kept my attention very well—so excited for the movie.
I started reading the hunger games last weekend, and i’m halfway done book 2… sooo good!
Kath:
What happened to the sardines ? LOL !
Happiest New Year 2012
What do you mean!?!?!
Shes come undone mmmm, well ive read it twice. The frist time I really didnt like it much, the second time was better, but what a complicated person. Im on the second book of the hunger games .
Bubbly water definitely tastes 10x better than just plain water. We ended up getting sucked into the Soda Stream, and it’s been a great investment! We can have sparkling water without the waste of plastic (if we were to buy it)!
And Hunger Games is amazing! Which book are you on? I could not put it down, even though it’s definitely not my regular reading area.
She’s Come Undone is INCREDIBLE. A little (a lot) sad and depressing, but so is The Hunger Games (though slightly less realistic, so depends what you’re in the mood for).
They’re both amazing though so enjoy!
So, I’m thinking of making the plunge and getting the Vitamix. I’ve been waffling on it for awhile and they are setup with a demo in our Costco this weekend. Quick question on your smoothie above…did you include the peel of the clementine or do you normally peel beforehand?
Thanks for the insight, I appreciate it!!
I peeled it!! I peel oranges for my juicer too, but I don’t peel lemons..
Sounds so good! Do you also segment it or just throw the whole clementine right in?
Just throw it in!
Thanks for the response, I appreciate it. That sounds so easy!!