MMM...MAMA! : "WHATEVER-YOU-GOT" VEGETABLE SOUP EDITION.

i stated in my last post that i made homemade vegetable broth. well i did. and then i proceeded to make "whatever-you-got" vegetable soup. i call it that because i literally use whatever i have in the house. actually the soup i originally made has evolved over the past couple days. i started with the basic vegetables. then leftover philly chicken with onions and peppers got added. then i thought the leftover wild rice should really be used, so it got added. then i started putting in spinach for some color. and lastly i avocado was sprinkled on top. so this seriously is "whatever-you-got" vegetable soup (with leftover chicken, too).

it was really nice to make soup on that particular saturday. the snow was falling, my apartment smelled like fresh broth, sam came over for a bit, aaron woke up earlier than usual to go to work. but then sam left to go back to school. and aaron left for work. rorie couldn't make it to 5:15pm.

so i finished cooking it and had soup for one. whatcha gonna do?

"whatever-you-got" vegetable soup (the original)

onions, diced
carrots, diced
celery, diced
potatoes, diced
vegetable broth
seasoning (salt, pepper, rosemary, parsley, basil, oregano, garlic powder, whatever)

first i saute the onions, carrots, and celery in some oil. then add the potatoes, seasoning, and broth. bring to a boil and simmer until vegetables are soft. then consume. or add a whole bunch of stuff and make it a whole different soup.

it's seriously the best thing. soup, that is.

I'VE BEEN SICK.

if you're wondering what i've been up to... it's been this. i'm still sick. but now it's a throat, nose, and head cold. aaron's got it. and even my brother, sam. rorie seems to be the same old ball of energy, so she might be fine. ah, whatever. we've got three nights with aaron home and we plan on resting and enjoying each other at home. nothing big. nothing fancy. but lots of this tea. it's really the only thing i've found that helps drastically with soothing my throat naturally. so i'm completely hooked. sometimes i'll add a tea bag to the mix, but i also just love the simplicity of water, lemon, cinnamon, and raw honey. i highly suggest trying this warm beverage whether you're sick or not.

RORO FOOD.

Rorie has been eating solid foods for a few weeks now. She's loving it. And it's showing... because she's growing! Last night, Aaron and I were looking at pictures of her when she was sick. We worried for so long about her gaining weight and being healthy.- we are finally there! I can't even believe it, but I am SO glad we are here. Even if it means she's a big girl now.

The pictures above are from when I made sweet potatoes. It's pretty easy and doesn't really take that long. It took me a night and the next morning to complete- only because I started before dinner time, continued after I put little miss down for bed, and then pureed  the next morning. So far I've made: sweet potatoes, carrots, acorn and butternut squash, bananas, and today's task is apples and tomorrow is green beans. Yesterday she tried avocado... apparently it's not her cup of tea. She's also had prunes, but I'm not going to attempt to make those myself right now. I'm ok with just buying those from Gerber (:

HANDMADE. HOMEMADE. 2013.

Aaron and I have been talking a lot about what we want our life to be like, what we want to do with our time, where we want to live, the kind of family we want to be, etc. We are all getting to that age where we decide the kind of life we really want to have. We have the ability now to make choices and changes for ourselves and for the world. 

We want to eat well, buy handmade, make homemade, and support America. 

We aren't really into resolutions, but we have decided (coincidentally it's new years resolution time) that we want to make a conscious effort to change the way we eat. Now that Rorie is getting the chance to try her first foods we are understanding how important it is to eat clean, healthy, organic food. It's an expensive challenge in this city-we are finding. Jewel and Dominick's have a very limited amount of organic produce. Most of it is going bad on the shelf I've found. That takes the fun out of shopping. I love going to Trader Joe's, but it's quite a hike to get there. Whole Foods is just down the road from us, but I'm a little overwhelmed by the prices. Maybe when I have a bit more time I can better navigate the store and find success there. For now, it's been mostly Dominick's. After just getting home from the grocery story I can tell you- it's possible at Dominick's. We created a budget for food and I have managed to come in $20 under budget for this week- which makes me grin from ear to ear. Not to mention I managed to buy all organic produce. Yay! I have successfully made Rorie organic squash puree and plan on making more foods for her soon (she loves squash! and it tastes good to me too!!!). I'll be writing more about her food a little later. 

I think it's very important to support people. As an artist of sorts, I understand the hard work that goes into making something with your hands. That's why I have tried to buy Rorie toys and stuffed friends that are handmade. Specifically, handmade in America. I've loved shopping on Etsy. It's addicting because our fellow Americans can make some pretty awesome stuff. Way more awesome than a machine can. And no plastic. Which mama likes a lot. Rorie has collected handmade rattles, wooden teethers, stuffed animals, and handmade dolls. And I love everyone of her things- so does she :)  She plays on quilts made from women at Aaron's church in Ellsworth. She sleeps on hand sewn sheets. It feels good to support people in this way. To make conscious shopping decisions and to make her things with my own hands. Of course, sometimes it's easier to go to Target and pick up something- which we do. Or a gift comes from a big box store, or overseas, or is made of plastic. And it's not a bad thing- it is what it is. 

But we do make an effort to support other people, make our own, and buy American when we can. 

I challenge you to do the same this year.