Butternut Squash Soup


I really love this soup. It's perfect for fall or winter, and especially yummy with some sort of warm bread for dunking. My measurements aren't exact, because for me, this is more of a "throw it all in" soup. Feel free to splurge a bit, or leave something out all together if you don't have it on hand.

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
3 Carrots {peeled and chopped}
3-4 Stalks of Celery {chopped}
1 Large Onion {diced}
1 {very large} Can of Chicken or Vegetable Broth

2 Cups {peeled,diced} Butternut Squash
2 Medium Potatoes {peeled and diced}
Salt & Pepper
Cinnamon

Directions:
Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy pot.
Saute the celery, carrots and onion over medium-high heat for several minutes.
Pour in the chicken broth, then add the diced potatoes and squash.
Bring the soup to a boil, reduce the heat a bit, cover and cook for at least 20 minutes.
When the vegetables are tender, season the soup. I like to add a hearty sprinkle of both salt and pepper, and at least a tablespoon of cinnamon. 

**For chunky soup, stop here! For creamy, pureed soup, continue reading.**

Working in small batches, blend the soup in your food processor or blender to puree. {I typically pour the soup into a large mixing bowl, puree in batches, and return the pureed soup to the original pot over low heat.}
Taste your soup, adding additional seasoning if necessary.

It's finished! {a new blanket for the boy}


I'm so, so thrilled with the results of my second EVER crochet project, that I couldn't resist sharing it here. 

When we were home for Thanksgiving, I asked my mom to finally teach me to crochet. I knew the basics, but a couple of steps were missing... and creating a mess. So I went to work with a Q Hook {read: BIG!} and made a scarf one evening. 


After the scarf, I was craving another, bigger project. So I decided to dive right in with a new blanket for my favorite little guy. He helped me choose the colors, but he won't receive the finished blanket until Christmas. I can't wait, because I know he's going to love it, and that makes this mama so darned proud of herself.

Gluten, Dairy, and Soy Free Oatmeal-Banana Bread


I like to keep a bunch of bananas on hand, especially for our little guy, but they don't always wind up being eaten before they're looking a bit too brown and squishy for our tastes. The natural solution? Banana bread, of course!

I stumbled on a recipe similar to this one (though not designed to be allergy-friendly) and made it my own several months ago. I've made some changes as I go, but I think now, I'm finally happy with the results.

You'll Need:
1 1/4 Cups GF All-Purpose Flour Blend
1 Cup GF Oats
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
1 tsp. Xanthan Gum
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1/4 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon {sometimes I get a little crazy and add a whole teaspoon}
4 {ripe} Bananas, mashed
1/4 Cup Applesauce
1 Tbsp. Canola or Grapeseed Oil
1 Egg {beaten}
2 Egg Whites {whipped to soft peaks}

To Make:
Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
Mash the bananas in a small bowl, then add in the applesauce, oil, and whole egg.
Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.
Beat the egg whites on high {use your hand mixer} to form soft peaks.
Carefully fold the egg whites into the batter, being careful not to over-mix.
Pour the batter into a greased {I use Spectrum Shortening} bread pan, and bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted at the center of the loaf comes out clean.


This recipe shared on... Slightly Indulgent Tuesday

{this moment}



{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.