Studied, tested, home and fed. Whew. Now just have to blog!
Lauri and I walked for over an hour (at a strolling pace) studying for our Community test this evening. We eventually got quite pooped in the legs and finished the last 45 minutes or so relaxing in a pair of rocking chairs on the porch of a building. The studying paid off – I’m pretty sure I aced the test. (Knock on wood!)
Class came and went and I snacked on these two items:
An Apple + an ota.bar
Our professor also brought in some peanuts and I had a few of those too!
I got on the highway going the wrong direction after class. I’ve driven to Winthrop for 2 years and have never done that! And then I noticed that the opposite direction there was a horrible car accident blocking all the lanes, which mean I’d probably want to take back roads to get back up. Thank goodness for the iPhone + Google maps because I was able to easily find my way.
While I was hard at work in class, Matt was home cooking up a storm –
Root Vegetable Stoup
I left the house with the instructions that he was to make a soup with the butternut squash, parsnips and box of Pacific Butternut soup any way he liked. He even provided me with the recipe and took some photos!
First he roasted the following tossed in 2 tablespoons canola oil, 2 tablespoons brown sugar and salt for 40 minutes at 400*:
- 1 big butternut squash
- 2 parsnips
- 3 carrots
Then he added this:
Plus 1.5 cups veggie broth and about a cup of water and the following spices:
- 1 cm3 fresh ginger, grated
- Cinnamon
- Chili Powder
- Cayenne pepper
And then mashed away –
I enjoyed it with extra cinnamon and Food Should Taste Good chips for scooping. It was SOUPer thick – more like a root veggie mash than a soup.
I also got my new 50mm f/1.8 lens!! I have to say, while the aperture setting is pretty darn cool, the macro-ability is pretty bad. Bad just meaning I can’t get close ups much at all. The macro distance is 1.5ft., compared to 0.8ft on the lens that came with my camera. Guess that means I do need a macro lens in my future, but I can’t afford that right now.
Check out the blurriness coolness –
It does seem to be much better in dim lighting than my other lens.
***
Focus On Breathe
My fall Breathe Magazine article on grocery shopping is out! L.O.V.E. the cover this quarter 🙂
Plan More, Spend Less
So very tired again tonight – hoping to get a good night’s sleep this time!
Food Makes Fun Fuel says
Those camera shot just keep getting better! Lol I like you’re little friend there.
And that dinner sounds delicious. I was disappointed when carrot ginger soup was not in the dining hall tonight like it should have been
emmy - eatventures says
Congrats on the article!
Courtney (The Hungry Yogini) says
Gotta love when the hubbies cook dinner. Looks like Fall in a bowl. YUM!
Congrats on the article…that’s amazing!
Night!
Jen says
hey kath! Congrads on the spread. How can I get my hands on that mag!?
I was just curious what time you wake up and have breakfast? I ask because I wonder how long a hearty bowl of oats keeps you full till 1?
Thanks 🙂
Lee says
That dinner just screams fall.
Can you use the Aperture Priority setting and then turn off the flash using the lens that came with the camera? I don’t have an SLR, but I have a Canon so I figured it’d be the same.
Eileen says
That soup looks incredible. WHAT a guy. I can’t even believe how nicely chopped all those veggies were. Beautiful!
angieinatlanta says
Yum! That soup looks perfect for a fall night!
whitney says
that soup looks so good. Where did he learn to cook like that??
Do you shop at Trader Joe’s much anymore? If not is there a reason??
Runeatrepeat says
I do need to plan more, spend less! I will check that out 🙂
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
What an awesome soup! I love how thick it turned out… almost more stew-like! Such healthy, yummy ingredients. 🙂
Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries says
Just read the article, great job!
The mash/soup looks delicious!
stacy says
can you get the article online?
Mara @ What's for Dinner? says
What a great fall soup!!!
Jaci says
I love that your husband can cook such a great meal!
Cara says
Awesome article; I love your food philosophy!
How do you get such great photos of your food?? Mine are mediocre at best…
Tips would be great!
Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says
I love SToups! The thicker, the better. Yum!
Loving the orange-y fall colors and flavors, too. I love seasonal foods. 🙂
Jenn
Cara (Cara Craves...) says
You can never go wrong with a good fall soup!
It’s one of the best things about the season I think.
Ashley says
Oh my goodness. That ota.bars is old!!! I hope it was still okay 😉 That mash/soup looks awesome!! Will be making it soon for sure! Just made a spaghetti squash lasagna for my CO family and they loved it =)
Hallie (Healthy Twists) says
That soup/puree looks amazing! I can’t wait until it’s actually fall in Southern California….which might not be until, you know, February. I eat soup and chili year round, but it’s SO comforting when it’s cold out.
Leianna says
Soup looks amazing, need to teach my hubby to cook!
Brie (The Fit Bride) says
Mmm, that stoup looks great. I love butternut squash!
MarathonVal says
So glad your test went well! 🙂 And I think it’s so cute how you give Matt “instructions” yet he is such a fantastic cook!
BroccoliHut says
What a fantastic soup! Although, I must admit that I have never had a parsnip…is that weird?
MQ says
Great article! Very well-written and informative in a fun way 🙂
My favorite line:”Remember: The price per weight isn’t as important. It’s what you spend overall that matters.”
So true!!! And yet so hard to pass up the economy-sized packs of produce!
christie, honoring health says
That soup looks awesome!!
Kirsten says
Yum that looks like such a cozy autumn soup. We are having such cool weather up here in Boston already I am so ready for warm foods!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
How yummy that soup looks! So nice your hubby can cook like that. 🙂
Lauren says
I’m a fan of that Pacific soup, and I love how Matt “beefed” it up with more veggies. Delish!
Julia says
I love the colors of that soup, so autumn-like!
xxx Julia (Taste of Living)
Naomi says
Hi Kath
Your blog ROCKS, I love hearing about your life and your yummy eats! Matt is awesome and quite the little chef himself, I am sure he learned fromthe best : )
I am trying this soup soon it looks amazing! i love butternut squash!
shawna says
I hope you learn to love that lens as you use it more. It does take some time getting used to, as you are the zoom engine. And yes, the flash on your camera should only be used in extreme conditions. It’s really not the best. (my current SLR doesn’t even have a flash!) Use that 1.8 aperture in low-light conditions. As you play more, you’ll see that the photos you don’t use a flash on look much better/sharper/cleaner.
I LOVE that soup!!! It looks fantastic 🙂
Whitney @ Lettuce Love says
I have to agree, that soup looks yummy!
JENNA says
your soup looks yummy!!!
I always pick up breathe at our local library. I love the cover too its v. pretty. and color coordinated.
Pam (Highway to Health) says
Great Idea for the soup.
I love all your new pictures! Your new camera is awesome
CaSaundra says
Loove the article–great job!
Kath says
Jen,
http://www.readbreathe.com has a “where to find us” section.
I usually eat between 7 and 8AM, and a normal bowl of oats (appx. 400-500 calories) holds me 4-5 hours.
Lee,
Yes, the AV setting doesn’t use a flash.
stacy,
I think eventually, yes, but right now it’s print only?
whitney,
I do shop at Trader Joes still (was there just a few weeks ago) but shop there less when I just need produce, as their produce section is horrible.
Cara,
Look back a few days to my KERF Pro. 2.6 post on my new camera.
Ashley,
It was a bit crumbly but just as good!
BroccoliHut,
No because it’s a weird veggie! But they are sooo good. Kind of like fennel in root veggie form.
Naomi,
Thanks!!
shawna,
I never, ever, ever use a flash!
Kath
Anne [email protected] New Weigh says
I hope you did well on that test!
Jenna says
the hubby did a nice job on dinner!!
breathe magazine looks like a great magazine 🙂
jenna
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
i love mixing the boxed soup with fresh veggies.
Anne says
the 50mm is my fav. its fast and takes great portraits. your right though, its definitely NOT a macro and i think a lot of people for some reason think that’s what they are getting. i hope you have fun with it! mine rarely leaves my camera:)
Deb (SmoothieGirlEatsToo) says
I adore parsnips= they are sooo sweet! And so underutilized (in the US anyway).
Call me dumb but I looked back at last night’s post and can’t for the life of me figure out why you called it stoup. I hope I’m not being horribly stupid!
Kath says
Deb,
Stew + soup = stoup. It’s a Rachel Ray term.
Kath