friday senses

I really enjoyed last week's senses post.....so here's another!

Making: Soup. Always making soup......that's what winter is for, right?

Roasted Winter Vegetable Soup

this is an adaption of this soup that I raved about last week. 

The best part about this soup is that you can add a combination of whatever winter root veggies you have on hand--carrots, different kinds of potatoes, parsnips, winter squashes....anything!

This time I used:

-1 butternut squash

-2 medium yukon gold potatoes

-1 large sweet potato

-1 onion

-3 cloves of garlic

Halve your veggies and brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast all veggies on a baking sheet at 400°, until fork tender (around 45 minutes, depending on the size of your veggies.) I took the onions and garlic out sooner--keep an eye on them since they're smaller.

After the vegetables are roasted, add them to a food processor or blender, and add 2-3 cups of chicken stock, enough so you can easily puree. 

Pour puree into a large pot, and add: 

-1-2 cups more chicken stock, depending on how thick you want your soup

-1/2 tsp dried sage

-pinch of cayenne

-salt and pepper to taste

Let soup simmer in pot for at least 30 minutes, so flavors can come together. 

We topped ours with toasted bread and had a simple salad of mixed greens, marinated roasted peppers, goat cheese, a squeeze of lemon, and olive oil. 

enjoy!

***

Seeing: Sunshine, and snow, and snow and sunshine. This weather is weird.

Hearing: I was up late working until the wee hours of the morning last night and listened to Jimmy Eat World's Clarity, Bleed American, and a little from Futures. 

It was awesome, and nostalgic, and awesomely nostalgic.

Smelling: Whitney's fabulous cooking each week when we shoot for the cookbook.....yum.

Tasting:  Goat cheese. I have always loved it, but the past few weeks I have become a bit obsessed....it has such a bright flavor, and it's perfect for sandwiches and salads during these winter months when there's not a lot of fresh flavorful produce.

Feeling: warm. Flannel pajama pants are the best invention ever.

Reading: Dr. Suess's Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? to the boy's class today.

Loving: Thursday date nights with Robby. Snuggling into the couch, watching our four favorite shows (ps did anyone else DIE laughing when Liz Lemon's stomach

 said "turkey wraps" last week??? love her)

Anticipating: Seeing sister SOON!

Wishing: February would just get a move on....

...seriously why does the shortest month take the longest?

feel free to play along in the comments:)

happy weekend!

don't forget to enter the Shabby Apple giveaway...it ends on Saturday night! j