The Magic of Fall

I am not eager to start my homework, so I decided to blog. Not too much has been happening. This week was a lot less stressful than last week, but I'm still extremely busy, and kind of lonely.

However, I finally paid off my credit card and had some extra money so I went grocery shopping, and I bought a lot of stuff. So I've been having a wonderful time cooking for the past week.

Last Saturday I made Potato Leek Soup. Super easy! Just sautee some butter and sliced leeks and chopped onions until limp and slightly transparent. Then add super thinly sliced potatoes and enough chicken broth to just cover the potatoes. Simmer until the potatoes are soft and then mash up in the pan. Add about a half cup of milk, not a lot, you want the broth to still be brothy with a little milky colour. Then add salt and pepper to taste. SO good. Paige loved it and she doesnt even like soup.

Then on Sunday night I made chili. My first ever. Just brown the chopped up chuck in a pan with butter and onions. (Honestly butter, I love it. I've never really used it before in cooking. We always used Olive Oil. And I love Olive Oil, but man Butter. Butter you are the best.) Once that was browned sufficiently I added chili powder and cayenne pepper to taste and then a tin of tomatoes. I added some salt and pepper to get the seasonings right and then I added a cup or so of already cooked navy beans. I simmered until thoroughly heated, and viola! Delicious.

I lived off the chili for a few days and then made crab clam chowder. It was also good, but not as good as the others. Yesterday my roommates were sick (and I'm feeling it today, ugh) and I stayed home with them. I made the Potato Leek soup again but added ripped up chicken breast. It was, if possible, even better.

I bought a Martha Stewart Magazine the other day. I know that she's apparently a mean person, Sophie's mom has a first hand account. However, I love her magazines. I love it so much. I'm with Becky on this Martha is great. And even if she's not entirely original, she presents things in a way that is so lovely and so accessible. I was telling Lauren that all I want to do is move to the North East, make Martha Stewart crafts all day and be a mom. That's all I want. Again, I'm with Becky, Forget school. Just give me babies and my own house. All I need is a husband...

So, from the Martha Stewart Magazine, I made some Vanilla Apple Cider. It was so autumnal and warming and delicious. Too bad Paige thinks she's too good for Apple Cider. She missed out. Anyway, it was just some apple cider that I put in a saucepan with a bit of brown sugar, a vanilla bean, halved and seeded, and some nutmeg (I wish I had had a cinnamon stick as well). I simmered this for a bit and then added a dollop of unsweetened whipped cream. Perfect.

So now this week is over. Work wasn't as bad this week. I didn't get hired at In-N-Out, but I could've forseen that. I don't want to do my homework, though I only have a little. I'm just tired of working so hard for school. But I'm not nearly finished yet. 2 more years.

What's on the menu for next week? Tuscan Lasagna, Pumpkin Pie, Sweet Potato Mashed Potatoes, Meat Loaf? :) Bon Apetit!

Now something to laugh about:

Lana as Mr. Napkin Head.