Tag: autumn

Friday Free-For-All – 09/22/17

6 Comments

Photo Jul 14, 10 05 37 AM

Today is the final day of United Way campaign week, and I could not possibly be more happy about it. As usual, it was a ton of stress and work, and as usual, we raised a ton of money for a good cause. I can’t wait to go home after work and have a couple of beers and just let this shit goooooo.

giphy

We met with another mortgage broker this week. The first lady we met with a month or so ago sort of ghosted on us, which is majorly not cool. The new mortgage broker is with our bank. She answered all of our ridiculous questions and gave us a lot to think about, so we’re feeling pretty good about possible next steps. Yay! Next step will most likely be getting pre-approved, and hiring a buyer’s realtor to help us find a house. We’ve contacted a couple of referrals, so we’ll see what happens.

Final long run before the half will be tomorrow. Guys. I can’t even believe this, but I’m actually trained. Like, I’ve done two double-digit long runs, and some middle distance runs, and speed work. I think I might ACTUALLY run the half next weekend. In fact, I’m thisclose to registering online today. I think online registration is only open for a few more days, so I need to make a decision ASAP, as they don’t allow race-day registration.

Today is the first day of fall. Bring on the pumpkin everything, sweaters, boots, scarves, and of course, my dearest love, candy corn and mellocreme pumpkins. I plan to eat my body weight in candy corn. They are my most favorite candy of all time. I already caved and bought a bag earlier this week, but now I’m just really going to give in and go with it.

20141022-candy-corn-vicky-wasik-1

Do you like candy corn? I know it can be a polarizing food…

 

 

Fall Bucket List 2015–Wrap Up

12 Comments

So yeah, I made a bucket list. And then kinda forgot about it. And then Lisa reminded me. Thanks, Lisa!

The good news is, I actually accomplished some of the things on this list. The bad news is that, as usual, I did not complete the list. Oh well. C’est la vie. So how did I do? Well, let’s look back at what was actually on that list:

Fall Bucket List

  • Apple picking–CHECK
  • Make apple butter–CHECK
  • Watch Hocus Pocus in my PJs–CHECK
  • Have a Starbucks PSL–CHECK
  • Come up with a good Halloween costume–SURPRISING CHECK

I guess 5 out of 8 is actually a pretty good percentage. But I really need to just get over myself and make a pie, already. I’m weirdly afraid of making pie crust. Like it’s some impossible, difficult thing. Eh, I’ll get there eventually.

Have you made a pie crust? Am I being silly?

Fall 2015 Bucket List

17 Comments

I usually make a seasonal bucket list, but I don’t think I’ve ever posted it to my blog before. After my dear friend Lisa posted hers last week, I decided to share mine as well, in the hopes that I might actually cross off one or two things this year!

Fall is my favorite season, and there are so many activities I enjoy that it can be hard to fit them all in, especially when I get busy with other things like work and theater activities. But this year, I’m DETERMINED to at least come close to completing my list. And so, without further ado, I give you my Fall 2015 Bucket List:

Fall Bucket List

Do you make seasonal bucket lists? If so, what’s the number one thing on your fall list?

Butternut Squash Soup Recipe

Leave a comment

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I made butternut squash soup for dinner on Sunday.  First of all, this soup is delicious.  Secondly, it’s nutritious.  Thirdly, this recipe makes A TON of soup.  I didn’t get any actual volume measurement, but we had it for dinner Sunday, lunch yesterday, and lunch again today.  This would be a great recipe to whip up on Sunday and have lunches all week.  Or freeze it in smaller portions for those days when you just don’t have time to cook.

This is a recipe that I’ve perfected through some trial and error, and you will notice that it’s not really seasoned all that much.  I prefer to taste the actual veggies myself, but you can certainly spice it up all you want, and I’ve included some suggestions below the recipe.

Butternut Squash Soup

Photo Apr 06, 5 44 42 PM

Chopped veggies.. mmmm…

Ingredients:

  • 2 medium butternut squash
  • 2 potatoes
  • 2 tart apples
  • 2 carrots
  • 4 stalks celery
  • 2 onions
  • 6 cups chicken broth (you could use veggie also)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1.  Peel and chop the veggies.  The pieces don’t need to be super small, but they’ll cook faster if you cut them in smaller pieces

Photo Apr 06, 6 01 26 PM2.  Add veggies and broth to a large pot.  Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, and cook until veggies are soft.  Feel free to add some salt and pepper, but be sparing here–it’s best to wait until after the soup is blended to spice it.

3.  Remove pot from heat, and using an immersion blender, puree the soup.  If you don’t have am immersion blender, you can puree it in batches in a blender.

4.  Once soup is pureed, add salt and pepper to taste.  I really don’t use that much salt because the broth is already pretty high in sodium

For a Sweet Autumn Squash Soup:  Subsitute sweet potatoes for regular potatos, add a dash of nutmeg and top with toasted pumpkin seeds

For some Middle Eastern Flair:  Add some curry powder and serve with a dollop of plain Greek yogurt

Personally, I prefer this soup with a few dashes of Frank’s Original Red Hot sauce mixed in.  There’s truly nothing better, in my opinion.

Frank's Red Hot makes everything better!

Have you ever made butternut squash soup?  How do you season it?