Soup Life!

I used to live by the "Live in the now" attitude.  I went to concerts, made it out for every holiday, birthday, vacation, changing of the season.  Now I have to keep another human being alive (basically two if you count my husband).  So things are a lot more slow paced.  I have to give a bit more thought to how I am gonna run my days.  I am definitely a creature of habit.  It used to be where I went out, what songs were my favorite to play with my band, drink of choice, foods I had to eat all the time!  I ate out A LOT!!!  But I ate at the same places like Roat Osha, Nico's Tacos, The Blue Door,  and Pat's Tap to name a few favorites.  Yum I miss those spots!  Well the food thing is similar.  We like food routines at the McFall Mansion.  Monday is usually steak salad, Tuesday is taco night, Wednesday is salmon, Thursday is chicken, or chili, Friday is Pizza, and the weekends are a toss up.  Things get changed around by day but we have those items a lot!  Between a mass text between girlfriends, Pinterest, sister in-law advice, and random apps I attempt to switch it up.  Lately I have been trying my hand at soups.  Last week I made a turkey burger sweet potato soup and the next day I made a butternut squash soup.  They were both a hit with the fam!  Elodie will usually eat anything.  I made the butternut squash soup in a double batch yesterday so we could have leftovers. I always change a recipe that I find online so it is a bit more simple.  I also got all the items at Aldi.  I had never shopped there before moving down here.  You have to use cash or debit.  But it is a quick in and out stop if you know what you need.  It was for sure less than $10 for everything to make a double batch.  We serve our soup with a baguette with butter and garlic or brie cheese in the oven for 5 minutes.  I love our slower paced soup season life right now!  YUM!

Recipe

Butternut Squash Soup

1- Butternut squash (cut and cubed)

2- Large potatoes (cubed)

1- Med onion (chopped)

1- Med carrot (chopped)

32oz- Chicken or vegetable stock

Sauteed 2 tbls butter in a large pot

Add vegetables

Sautee for 5 minutes

Add broth to cover vegetables

Bring to a boil

Cover and cook on low for 40 minutes

Place in blender 

Then back in pan 

Season with sea salt and fresh ground pepper

Top with spoonful of plain greek yogurt

I did add about a cup of kale with the other veggies yesterday also.  We had some fresh kale from a friends garden.  Not sure I would do this every time but it was delicious!

(Graham loves to put Sriracha on his.  He puts it on everything!)

Painting

My evenings have been spent painting the emerald city!  We knew moving into this house that there would be a lot of painting parties.  There was green, purple, pink, and blue!  All I have left to paint is the pink room, purple closet, and eventually the pink garage!  Who paints their garage pink?

Daily dancing!

Elodie and I have daily dance sessions.  This is one of the best parts about being home with her everyday.  I having been playing the song "Happy" by Pharrell since last Spring almost once a day.  Elodie has been really into dancing lately.  It's funny how babies develop their own moves.  Literally anytime music comes on she throws her arm up and starts bouncing!  She also pretends to sing the songs.  She looks like a little muppet and cracks me up!  Dancing and singing makes my soul happy!

Living in Woodstock GA!

My husband Graham, daughter Elodie, dog Jemma and I headed South to Woodstock GA a little over a month ago.  We bought a house and committed to living in the suburbs.  We wanted to give it a try.  Nice house, nice neighborhood, nice neighbors!  It is a bit of a culture shock.  Not necessarily because it is the south but because we are living in the suburbs.  I do hear the theme song to the show Weeds in my head almost every time I drive into our neighborhood.  I lived in Minneapolis for 15+ years.  That sounds crazy.  In our new house I do feel safe and I like the space.  I don't like feeling like I am spending the majority of my time in a car getting places.  I also miss the convenience of a great restaurant (delicious food, drinks, and exceptional service).  I am sure we will find some gems.  We may have to spend some more time in the car to get there.  Before we came down here I was bartending so it is nice to find good service when we go out to eat.  Here is our family in front of the new house!