SymoneF

Fall

September 9, 2013by SymoneFLeave a Comment

It seems like this week is going to be THE week to enjoy before Summer comes to an official close. I woke up and saw this picture from King5 News on my Facebook timeline:

Thank you Jesus!

As much as I’m looking forward to my uniform of leggings and boots and maybe jackets and pullovers, there’s nothing better than seeing one last week to rock out in short shorts (minus tights), to get in one last tan and drive around with the windows down to cool off from the heat. I hardly used my a/c in the car this Summer. I think I use it enough when it’s cold so unless I’m baking I won’t turn it on. And even then, once I cool off, it’s back to windows down.

I’m happy with the Summer we had here (weather wise) despite being sick for most of it but I still had a good one. The nights have begun to get shorter already but a nice evening stroll in the crisp air will be done almost every day this week. I’ll put my t.v. shows aside to take in the last bits of Summer. In terms of fashion, you can read about what I’m looking forward to here. I would like to experiment more with Fall recipes and I’ll share those as well.

I *really* hope that the temps just drop a bit and it remains sunny for some time. If it’s a sudden change to the gloomy, misty rain then I can see I won’t be moving from my couch very often during the day. That’s life in the Pacific North West… But school is back out. Fall clothing is everywhere. Pumpkin and figs and Halloween decorations and candies are on the shelves. I’m slowly beginning to like this time of the year but it can’t beat Spring and Summer just yet.

I’m just being thankful for what a wonderful year this has been so far. We’ve been to Florida, San Francisco, seen Rihanna in Concert, Dominica, home (Barbados), Norway, my sister visited, my husband’s family and college friends visited, went to two weddings and who knows what else is in store for the rest of the year?! My other blog is doing well and I’ve got an opportunity coming up with that that I’m very excited about. I got my camera to take more and better quality pics ~~(and maybe videos)~~ and I’ve been feeling more self-confident. I don’t know if thinking of Fall and Thanksgiving has me in this pensive mood but either way I’m grateful.

I’m *really* going to try to post more on this blog. I’ve fallen back on both blogs being so busy but I will definitely try to pick back up.

Thanks for reading my random thoughts.

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Squash Soup

August 30, 2013December 17, 2016by SymoneF2 Comments

My husband has been craving pumpkin soup and since I can’t find pumpkin I decided to try a squash soup and see how it goes. I’m on a low-fat diet (per doctor’s orders) and I searched for a recipe to guide me on the Spark Recipes app on my phone. I roasted two chicken breast halves, with the bone, to shred and mix in. My soup came out a little sweet and the chicken but the chicken mellowed it out to the perfect flavor. This is what I came up with:

Squash Soup

Ingredients:

1 large squash

1 med sweet potato

2 granny smith apples

4 inches of ginger

1 med onion

4 cups low fat chicken stock

1 tbsp butter

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

Method:

Cut onion into eighths and cook it in the butter until it starts to turn a little brown. Add chicken stock, squash, ginger and sweet potato and cook on a med heat, stirring occasionally. When squash and potatoes are cooked, but not falling apart, add apples, cinnamon and nutmeg. Cook until apples are soft. Puree in blender and enjoy :).

~~~***~~~

As I said, mine came out a little sweet. You can replace the sweet potatoes for regular potatoes if you want or use one apple instead of two. I was just having fun with this recipe and I’m going to continue to try different ingredients with it. Since Fall/Winter is coming, I’ll definitely post any good soup recipes that I’ve experimented with that work.

Squash soup

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I’ll Show YOU!

August 20, 2013by SymoneFLeave a Comment

My husband posted that last night. I honestly don’t remember what prompted it but he decided that he had to prove to us (his sister and I) that he can cook. Oh I remember, I showed him this kitchen towel with some others yesterday:

Throughout the day I kept checking my phone to see if he’d send me a text saying he’s going to pass on the cooking. I was waiting for him to say to me that he’d pay me to do it and say that he did it (this did come up at one point but he said he’d cook lol).

After the gym he said we have to go to the supermarket. He had shepherd’s pie on his mind but then he remembered another simple dish my mother used to do – mac n cheese but with Campbell’s Cream of Chicken and minced chicken mixed in and he wasn’t baking it and making it a casserole.

We had vegetables home so we didn’t need to get any if you’re wondering where they are. Throughout the evening we were taking pics and updating the post which, at last count, had 31 comments.

It’s like this – my husband doesn’t do any of the domestic stuff around the house, except take out the garbage. I have hinted that a cup of tea or breakfast would be nice sometimes but I’ve kind of spoiled him with just doing everything myself. It’s also our arrangement since I do not work and I’m the more domesticated one anyway. Also I’m scared of what he may whip up thinking he’s a chef – ketchup in my eggs… no thank you!

Anyhow, we came home and he said the kitchen wasn’t ready for him to start cooking. It should’ve been spotless……… Luckily he was joking because if he was serious he would’ve gotten a good chunk of my mind. I washed up a handful of things, wiped up the stove and cleared part of the counter for him to get to work.

I was a bit worried with how he was dicing the onions but I only asked if he wanted to use the chopper and he declined so I went back to tidying up the sink and all.

He asked me to taste the chicken and after I did, I kindly placed a few seasonings next to the counter and left. 🙂 We kept updating everyone on the post and added some pictures.

I gave very little input. I put my diet aside in order to not discourage him. This was his night and was going to be supportive.

I was quite surprised at how it came out. It was good! I would’ve had more but I couldn’t go crazy with the cheese. I have to go and clean the kitchen now. That was not part of the deal and I know he wasn’t thinking of doing it anyway. He says he’ll clean the stove but I’ll probably get to it before he does. Many of his friends and family had very little faith in him but to me he’s the little engine that could so I just kept quiet and answered most of the questions that came my way without any worthy input.

Don’t think this’ll happen anytime soon again (probably another 5 years) unless someone puts the challenge to him. But I’m not forcing anything on him, he has to do it in his own time. I just had to share this fun night with you. Hope you had a chuckle or two from it.