Yam and Carrot Soup

About a week ago I was researching yam soup. I've never made any and I wanted to take it to a Christmas potluck. Then I lost my nerve and ended up taking a recipe my boyfriend already had ready. I was afraid people would freak out when they saw yam soup. I'm glad I didn't take it because there was way too much food and it wouldn't have gotten a fair chance. But I have all the ingredients so I'm making it right now. I found the recipe on Pinterest. The only thing I changed was to use only one big yam, and add in 3 carrots in place of the other yam. I used 2 cans of vegetable broth as well. As soon as it's mixed with a hand blender I'll take my own photos to share. If the Pinterest photo doesn't show up, you can find the recipe here: http://toogoodtobetrue.typepad.com/blog/2010/03/easy-peasy-sunny-soup.html

Just finished the soup. Bit of an acquired taste, but after the first few bites, I was into it. Very satisfying.

The yams and carrots are soft and ready to be blended.

Adding curry powder.

Adding a can of light coconut milk.

Using an immersion blender right in the soup pot.

Turning a bright orange.

Yam and carrot soup garnished with cilantro and sour cream.

Dutch Apple Pie

Tonight I shall endeavor to make a Dutch Apple Pie using this RECIPE. The only thing that seems impossible to me is the 10 min. prep time. Even if you used a frozen pie crust, I don't see how you'd peel, core, and chop 5 1/2 Cups of apples in 10 minutes, and that doesn't include all the other steps.

Mincemeat Cookies For Autumn

Now that we live out in the boondocks, we really have to use our gas wisely. So instead of frequent trips to the store, we have to plan better. So instead of running to the store when we get the munchies  I've been making my own cookies.

Last year I discovered mincemeat at Winco. It's seasonal, so I was sad that I couldn't get any more. Now they have it again! So I got 2 cups of it and made mincemeat cookies. I thought there would be a mincemeat cookie recipe on their site but there wasn't. So I got a recipe on line, and they are so delicious. They aren't even half gone and my boyfriend is already saying I should make more. Mincemeat cookie recipe.

I also got chocolate chips, but he wants me to make chocolate chip raisin cookies. I'm not so sure about that but I'll give it a try.

And I want to make an apple pie, since our neighbor gave us a ton of apples.

This heart shaped mincemeat cookie was a bit of serendipity.

Fresh out of the oven.

Mincemeat cookies make good holiday gifts.

Is it mean to show yummy virtual mincemeat cookies if you can't eat them?

Apple pie coming soon.

Wild Pizza

This afternoon I thought it was high time we had pizza. So I made the dough in the bread machine, which takes about 2 hours. Then it was time to figure out what to put on it. We ended up using black olives, shallots, anchovies, spicy dried salami, cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, and roasted garlic. Yummy! And the recipe makes enough dough for 2 pizzas, so tomorrow night we'll have something different on top.

To make the sauce, I use one can of tomato paste, about 1/4 cup of water, and a teaspoon of olive oil all mixed together. I use half for the first pizza, and save the rest for tomorrow's pizza. Nom nom. It sure was good. Pizzas are a great way to use up leftover bits of this and that.