What a Souper Day!

First, I need to give a very thankful shout out to Aly of It’s Been Real! Today I found out that I am the lucky winner of a $100 AmEx gift card!! Back in September, I entered Aly’s contest by letting her know my favorite 6 ingredient recipe. Check out Aly’s yummy vegan treats and learn about my winning recipe here http://www.itsbeenreal.net  Thanks Aly!!

Secondly, I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who responded to To Cleanse, Or Not To Cleanse! I really appreciate your input on the need and risk associated with cleanses. Considering I have a hard time avoiding carbs, I will not be doing a cleanse any time soon J

Now, let’s talk broccoli. This is a vegetable I always enjoy, but often forget about. Last night, in an effort to eat more greens, I made a huge pot of light broccoli soup. When I was little, my mom used to tell me, “Caitlin, trim the trees!!” and I would gobble up broccoli like a starving rabbit. Sexy, no? These mini green trees are high in vitamin C, folic acid, contains potassium & calcium AND is quite rich in fiber. What’s not to love?

What you need:

• 3 medium potatoes
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 2 giant bushels of fresh broccoli
• 2 cubes of low sodium vegetable bouillon
• ½ a white onion
• ¾ a liter of 1% milk
• Some water
• A great big pot

trust me, your apartment will smell very home-y

 

Chop n boil broccoli and potatoes

meanwhile, saute onions garlic

throw the boiled potatoes in the food processor until it looks like icing.

then put the broccoli in the food processor until it is in itty bitty pieces (not pureed)

Put all of the veggie ingredients in your great big pot, turn on the burner to medium heat. Gradually add water until the soup is slightly thicker than the consistency you prefer. Add bouillon cubes. Simmer with a lid on for about 45 minutes. Take the lid off, turn down the heat to low and add your milk. Add black pepper & serve.

 

Have a great night :)

ps - Enjoy some cute paws:

Hungry for Home

Tomorrow morning I am flying home to Canada and I am so very excited. I was originally headed home for a wedding but the dates got mixed up. It is my mom's birthday this weekend so it all worked out that I am getting to spend some extra time with her! On Friday night I am meeting up with BF and my aunt & uncle for a nice dinner (can't wait to see all of them)! Then Saturday I'll be headed home until Monday night. I really, really, really just want to get there. I love New York City, but I still need the people and the places I came from. I can't wait to see my friends. I can't wait to hold my pets. I especially cannot wait to see my family. Yay!

Last night I had a work dinner with my team and had the opportunity to go to a fancy restaurant called Mas (farmhouse). This place is very cute, tiny and is modeled after a French farmhouse. Loved it. 

The food was incredible and way more expensive than I could afford on my own. I had a 4 course meal and some wine. I had an appetizer, 2 half sized entrees and a dessert. 

Appetizer: Gently Smoked Wild King Salmon with a Dill Cream Salad of Purslane, Local Husk Cherries & Toasted Almonds (this was amazing, the salmon was prepared so perfectly it melted like butter)

1/2 Entree #1:Roasted Lobster Tail & Poached Claw Ricotta Gnocchi, Wilted Arugula & Cauliflower in a Leek Cream (I would give this dish a B+. It wasn't the best gnocci or lobster that i've ever had. but can lobster ever really be bad? No.)

1/2 Entree #2: Huitlacoche Risotto with Grilled Lobster Mushrooms Turnips, Mustard Greens & Parmesan Foam (This was so so so good and a small enough portion that I didn't feel like a big fatty. I ordered this thinking that 1. grilled lobster mushrooms were normal mushrooms filled with lobster. they were actually a type of mushroom. 2. Parmesan foam meant thick cheesy awesome ness. No, it was like frothy milk on top of my risotto.)

Dessert: Hazelnut-Milk Chocolate Mousse with Cocoa Streusel Salted Caramel Ice Cream & Chocolate Ganache (One word: Wowza)

If you ever get a chance to go, I highly recommend that you do. Will I ever go again? Probably not just because of the price!

Today's eats.....

Breakfast: I actually switched things up and got a bagel from the little deli near my office called Jazzys. That is a handmade garlic bagel with jalapeno cream cheese. This was mildly disappointing because it was cold.

Lunch: More soup! Do you find that homemade soup is always wayyyy better on the 2nd day? It was much spicier today :) 

I hope everyone enjoys their weekend! I'm out til Tuesday. Off to Canadialand!!!

I'm coming home!