Tonight’s dinner recipe comes from Roni’s new cookbook from Green Lite Bites! She sent me a copy of her new self published cookbook (more about it here!) Roni and I have been internet friends for a lonnng time (I think since meeting in person at the Quaker Living Proof weekend in 2008!?) We always run into each other – and with each other – during blog events!
The Ginger Carrot Soup with Shrimp was calling my name!
Also calling my name? My two best friends
Matt’s home version of Great Harvest Dakota. It is DA-licious, but it’s not AS delicious as the real deal! I blame the flour. Always the flour! You can’t replicate the blend of red winter wheat they spend years choosing.
The soup was amazing! The ginger and creamy roots. I actually used a small sweet potato in leiu of half of the carrots since that’s what I had. And I left out the rice since we had bread on the side. But boy this was yummy!
Especially with the shrimp toppers (something I would never have though of) along with coconut and leftover pumpkin + sunflower seeds (a total classic KERF addition!)
Mmmmm side dish!
Clearly Matt thought I needed some hydration – he brought up this massive mug of sparkling water! He also reported that we drank 5 gallons of homemade keg sparkling water in 1 week. I think that’s almost as much as the beer he’s consumed!
Still haven’t resolved my internet issues. Pretty annoyed about that.
Off to have a business meeting with Matt about our budget, and then …I am starting a new book. I’ve been giving Lonesome Dove a try for 3 weeks and barely making it through a chapter a night.
“I’m just not that into you.”
I think I’ll have to save it for a time when my mind is ready for cattle and cowboys again.
Instead, I’m going to start reading The Thorn Birds, which I have been dying to read for ages!!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
That meal sounds fabulous!
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
Gosh if I think bread using store bought flour is delicious, I can’t imagine what it’s like with GH flour! Love all the pumpkin seed studs.
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
What a flavorful meal!! Sounds delicious 🙂 So colorful too.
Shelley says
I got about half way through The Thorn Birds and ended up ditching it for a Harry Potter book. I liked The Thorn Birds, but I guess I wasn’t in the mood for it at the time. 🙂
Stacey (The Home-Cooked Vegan) says
Haha, I bet you are sloshing around with all that water you’ve been drinking! 😀 This afternoon I picked up a bottle of flavored sparkling water at the grocery store, I had forgotten how yummy it was until you mentioned it on the blog!
What an interesting dinner, shrimp in soup? sounds fun!
Enjoy your book and budgeting 🙂
Krissy - Shiawase Life says
I cannot wait to try GH bread!!!
Lauren says
That soup sounds incredible! I love the addition of shrimp in soup.
Stacy @ Every Little Thing says
That shrimp looks like the perfect topping for that soup. I love it!
I wish I had a sparkling water maker in my house (boy included, haha). They’re just too expensive to buy on their own. Nice bonus of a home brewer!
Anna says
I LOVED the Thorn Birds!!! So juicy… I read it in High School and then made one of my friends read it, she became as infatuated. And that summer we spent an entire day watching the 8-hr mini series straight through. And ate an entire carton of Edy’s drumstick ice cream in the process. Oh the days…
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
That bread looks amazing – tell Matt he can come bake me a loaf whenever he feels like it.
Ann says
Save Lonesome Dove for some time when you’re on vacation and can spend hours reading, you will get into it! I have never cried so much at a book as I did reading that one. It was also made into a mini-series with Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones – so good!
Holly @ Couch Potato Athlete says
I’ve heard The Thorn Birds is wonderful — I hope you enjoy it!
That soup looks incredible but the bread looks even better! 🙂
Courtney @ The Granola Chronicles says
That soup sounds great – congrats to Roni on her book! 🙂
[email protected] says
wow, I need to get my hands on that cookbook! It looks so fresh and creative…love the looks of that shrimp topper.
cathy b.
[email protected] says
Do you think you’d ever get tired of eating bread?! 😛 I don’t think I would…that looks so good! I can’t wait to SOMEDAY try it. when oh when?
Sara R. says
Oh boy, the Thorn Birds! It’s been forever since I read that…great book, but pull out the tissues!
Katie @ peacebeme says
Lonesome Dove is one of my favorite books of all time…I don’t know if you are going to love The Thorn Birds much more if you don’t like that one!
Lisa (bakebikeblog) says
I woudl never have thought to use shrimp in a soup like that! Must rectify asap!
JessicaEn says
I just recently re-read “The Thorn Birds.” Good. SO SO good!!
Deva (Voracious Vorilee) says
the soup looks delicious – so colorful!
judy says
the thornbirds is one of my all time fav books! enjoy! then you must see the movie with richard chamberlain.
Amy at TheSceneFromMe says
That bread topped with all those nuts looks incredibly delicious!
Emily @ One Sweet Vegan says
I picked “The Thorn Birds” up at a used book sale a few years back and have yet to start reading it. Judging from all the comments about it, I think I’ll read it soon!
[email protected] Kel Show says
I loved Thorn Birds!
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
That soup looks great!! The addition of the shrimp is so smart!
Sophie says
I had a slice of real deal Dakota with dinner and it was perfect! I know, I’ll stop rubbing it in now. 😉
Liz @ Tip Top Shape says
Btw- love the Tribute To Oatmeal!! I just saw it as my other comment loaded!!
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) says
Wow that sounds heavy:
“Off to have a business meeting with Matt about our budget”–normally I just call my husband on the phone and complain a little 🙂
The soup looks awesome! Love that you and Roni have been friends for year!
And internet issues being a time suck…I know!!! Hope you get it fixed, soon!
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
That sounds like an amazing dinner. The loaf of bread looks so perfect! It’s been a while since I found a book I could really get into, but right now I’m reading The Help and am loving it so far!
Hannah says
I’ve got to start garnishing ‘most everything with coconut like you do. Clearly it makes the world a better place to do so 🙂
rebecca lustig says
I love carrot & ginger! never thought to add shrimp though, how interesting
Megan says
Nice! Have fun reading The Thorn Birds! My mom read it when she was pregnant with me and she loved it so much she named me after the main character!!! Although my name is spelled a little differently than the heroine in the book!
megan @ blackberries for jam says
Oh my gosh, I was named after that character too!!
Meg says
Haha, me too! We should start a club! It’s sad, but I haven’t read the book yet. I have watched most of the mini-series though. 🙂
Megan says
Hahaa! We definitely should start a club 🙂
Alyssa says
Yum for creamy thick soups 🙂 I just made a curried sweet potato and butternut squash soup, so creamy and no milk. Gotta love that!
stephanie says
my mom gave me the thorn birds to read in high school. its long, but really good, i highly recommend it!
olivewineandfood says
you even make water look yum!
stacey-healthylife says
The bread looks awesome. Must be nice to have your own baker.
nancy says
The Thorn Birds is a fabulous book! I read it a couple of times back in college. The mini-series wasn’t bad but not nearly as good as the book. Enjoy!
Larbs says
LOVE the Thorn Birds…I wanted to suggest it for family book club
Josie @ Skinny Way Of Life says
I am loving the color of that soup!! I wish I had a GH near me : ( I’m going to have to track down a GH that ships!
Sarah says
le sigh! I absolutely LOVED the Thorn Birds. I would read it on the bus on the way to work and one day I ended up almost crying one morning.. an older woman put her hand on my shoulder and said, “I know how you feel, I read that book 20 years ago”.
Christine says
Let me be the 100th person to say I loved The Thorn Birds! I read it when I was in high school and couldn’t put it down. Oh, and the soup looks great!
Justeen @ Blissful Baking says
That soup sounds wonderful! So does the bread! 🙂 Actually, when does your food ever not look wonderful??
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
That soup, especially the shrimp, looks delicious!!
Laura says
The Thorn Birds is FABULOUS!!! So excited for you to start reading it!!
Abby White says
Wow! That soup looks yummy. I just started a book called Bread Alone by Judith R Hendricks and am really enjoying it. It even has some bread recipes in it. I actually read The Baker’s Apprentice first (which is the follow-up to Bread Alone) and really enjoyed it as well.
Just a thought.
Connor Bosom Buds says
Thanks so much for posting our video the other day!!!
We found a Great Harvest in Concord (right next to Trader Joe’s!!!) and had the Dakota loaf last week! Seriously, best. bread. ever.
So jealous that you have your own baker!!
Theresa says
I can’t wait to hear what you think about The Thorn Birds!!! It’s one of my all time favorites!!! Did you see the movie???
KathEats says
Nope!
Samantha says
I went to one of your above links, back to 2008. You were entering a recipe for oatmeal…did you win the Quaker oatmeal trip?
XO
KathEats says
It was a press trip, yes!
Alaina says
Love the sparkling water from the basement. A little splash of fruit juice would be great. 😉
JenATX says
you should have seen my face when I saw that soup picture pop up.. what a beautiful food pic! any that bread reminds me of the pumpkin roll at Whole Foods. it really is a good soup dipper
Kathleen says
Your Bread looks INCREDIBLE! I love all of the seeds on top! 😀
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) says
I hate when I can’t get into a book. I can never leave them unfinished, though! Hope it picks up a bit 🙂
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
The bread looks so good. I love that you topped it with pumpkin seeds.
I crumbled pita chips in my soup tonight – they were really good! Added some salty goodness without being a Saltine (and thus reminding me of being sick – ha).
Annette @ enjoyyourhealthylife says
Holy delicious- that bread looks amazing! We went out for dinner and it was incredible….sometimes you have to go out and let someone else cook for ya 😉
Runeatrepeat says
I think Roni is the best 🙂
Meagan says
That dinner looks just like all your pumpkin breakfasts! (I actually thought the post was going to say you were having breakfast for dinner, and alone, since Matt hates pumpkin!)
Namaste Gurl says
That soup looks yummy! I love the combination of coconut, carrot and ginger- best flavors and textures 🙂
I want me some Matt bread– he should sell it online! 🙂
lynn @ the actor's diet says
i love the idea of shrimp in a soup that isn’t thai!
Carla @ Will Run for Health says
Those shrimp look so nice! Where in the world did you pick them up? Also, those giant pumpkin seeks on that bread makes my mouth water!
KathEats says
They aren’t that good 🙁 I got them at Whole Foods – which had good claims about being sustainable on the front. But when I got home I checked the back of the bag and realized they were from Thailand. Not exactly local food!! I won’t be buying them again.
Rachel @ Healthy Teacher says
I really need to learn to make soups that aren’t stews or chilis. I’m thinking this might be a fun place to start.
Marina says
Yummy looking soup!
The Thorn Birds is a beautiful book, I’m sure you’ll enjoy it!
natalie @ natalietalksfitness says
man that looks so delicious..glad the cooler weather is coming to australia. this will be the first soup i make!
notyet100 says
bowl with homemade bread looks delicious
CathyK @ www.1970kikiproject.wordpress.com says
haha, i’ll chime in and say thumbs up for the thorn birds. a classic. i liken it to “gone with the wind” in terms of where it should stand in the chronicles of Great Literature of All Time.
i have 50 page rule for novels: if i’m not into it by page 50?? b’bye. life’s too short and there’s too much great fiction out there!
Katie says
I was craving soup yesterday so much, and I usually dont, Im not feeling well so I think that is why : p
The soup looks good and congrats to her on her cookbook!
I hope you and Matt had a great night! Happy Tuesday! <3 xoxo
Jenn from Much to My Delight says
I think I must have missed the post about making sparkling water in the basement. I need to go search for it, because I’ve become quite addicted to the stuff! Especially since seeing the documentary “Tapped” which basically makes me rethink ever drinking bottled water again.
KathEats says
We made a keg of it with our CO2 tank!
Stacie @ Imperfectly Healthy says
Seeing the pictures of your Great Harvest bread always makes my mouth water!
And as for books, I highly recommend The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman. I just started it about a week ago and I’m really enjoying it! I’m actually almost finished with it which is very fast for me considering I’m in graduate school and have to do other reading as well!
Kris says
Enjoy the Thorn Birds. It’s excellent!
megan @ blackberries for jam says
This post reminded me how long I’ve been reading your blog – I remember that Quaker conference!
Mimi says
I have such trouble letting go of books, even if I don’t like them. Usually I continue, stumbling along, until I just get too annoyed. I don’t know why I do this, because I have a pile of books that I REALLY want to read!
[email protected] Broken Cookies Don't Count says
You’ll get your share of cowboys and cattle (actually, I think they were sheep) from The Thorn Birds, but it’s a terrific book. I read it years ago and enjoyed it enormously. Let us know who you like it!
CaSaundra says
I bet that book is full of good recipes–I’ll be anxious to see all that you make from it 🙂
Kristen @ Change of Pace says
Now I’m on the hunt for a carrot soup recipe! Yum!!!
Jess (Sweet Potato) says
YUM! I like your additions of sweet potato and pumpkin seeds!
Jason @ Shutter&Saute says
Both the soup and bread look fantastic!
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
That soup sounds fantastic! Especially with the swaps and additions you made to it!
Amanda @ Cakes and Ale says
Have you read “Outlander” by Diana Gabaldon? It’s the first in a series, and I CANNOT put it down. Amazing.
If you love historical fiction, Scotland, time-travel, and a little romance, you would love it.
Johanna B says
That soup looks fabulous. Must order cookbook if for no other reason than that one recipe.
[email protected] says
I bet the sweet potato flavor and the shrimp play off each other so nicely!
Alyse says
The Thorn Birds is amazing in so many different ways. You’ll definitely enjoy it. The movie was also pretty good.
Tracy says
Swooon! The Thorn Birds!!!! There’s no way you won’t love that book. I think I read it 3x.
Happy reading!
Laura @ prettylittlewords says
omg that soup looks AMAZING! I love creamy vegetable soups, mmmm
Erin says
So I picked up my yard sale copy of Lonesome Dove after seeing that it had been suggested for you. I can’t get into it either. Buuuut….The Thorn Birds is one of the best books I ever read!!! I so hope you enjoy it more!
Elizabeth says
I am just beginning to follow your blog. I love it!
I have a question about the sparkling water. How do you make it? We buy seltzers and would love to make our own.
KathEats says
We pump it with Matt’s CO2 tank into a keg!
Maria @ The Fitted Apron says
I just checked out Roni’s site. WOW! What an amazing woman. Thanks for sharing her cookbook, I wouldn’t have otherwise known about it. The soup looks delicious.