Sunday, November 13, 2011

the weekend

aaahhhh soup.
veggie soup
Friday. 
Saturday. 
Sunday. 

Weekend. 
(yes, I count Friday as the weekend around here....it's like "Weekend Eve")

I am so thankful for the weekend. 
After school and work and school and more school and homework and studying and blehck, my little family is back together again. 

I am thankful for loud music during Saturday morning chores. 
I am thankful for no schedule, no routine, no nothin.
I am thankful for friends who come to visit and eat delicious pizza with us.
I am thankful for staying up way too late watching movies and eating hot cinnamon brownies by the fire.
I am thankful for adorable kiddos in their Sunday best walking to church with umbrellas. 
I am thankful for electricity!!
Oh lights and heat how I love you. 
We went about 6 hours without power today, and BOY! We really take for granted how easy it is to switch on the lights, don't we?

I realize that just one week ago I declared my thankfulness for soup, but since I can't post without a picture, why not talk about soup some more! 
I love that on "soup nights" I don't even have to think about dinner or plan anything out that day. I love that I can just look at what I have on hand, stir it all together in a pot and have hot bubbling soup on a cold rainy night. 

Fall Veggie Soup
or "Butterfly Soup" as my kids named it
1 onion, diced
3 carrots, sliced
2 celery stalks, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup collard greens, chopped
1 cup winter squash, peeled and diced (any winter squash you have on hand--I used Red Kuri squash, but butternut, acorn, pumpkin, or any other winter favorite would work great)
2 cups (or 1 can) diced tomatoes
2 cups(or 1 can) cannellini beans
3/4 cups dried farfalle pasta (or "butterfly" noodles as we call them)
4-5 cups chicken stock
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp dried thyme
2 bay leaves
S&P to taste


Saute onion, carrots, celery, greens and squash in olive oil for a few minutes. 
Add in garlic and S&P. 
Add in all remaining ingredients except for pasta, and bring to a low boil. 
When soup has reached a low boil, add in pasta and simmer until pasta is done, OR if you want your soup to simmer longer (I like to let it simmer for a while) cook until pasta is just underdone, and then turn soup down all the way and let it simmer until you are ready to eat and pasta is tender.

I love soups like this because you can add as many veggies/beans/pasta as you like for a very filing meatless soup. You can swap out the beans for potatoes, add extra pasta, or whatever your family likes. 


top with parmesan cheese and enjoy!
veggie soup

What were YOU thankful for this weekend?

6 comments:

Anna Scandinavian Cottage said...

We have a summerhouse in Sweden with no electricity, running water -or even a toilet.. :)So I'm thankful for candles!
Have a lovely Monday!

Unknown said...

I'm thankful for airplane travel as my husband and I were able to fly to CA and UT to see family and friends before the hectic holidays. So nice.

That soup looks so comforting!

SHARM said...

This soup looks good... I am thankful to you I was able feed my daughter the greens through soups... She loved it... However mine is very thick I guess I have over cooked it but it tase great... we are loving our soups thanks to you... how amazing blogging can make introducing new food and nutrients to another family...

Rachael said...

I need a weekend like this. My son and I are performing in a play last weekend and next, so an at-home weekend together sounds perfect. I'm grateful for the chance to share time on stage with my son, and for lazy mondays after a hectic weekend.

CarrieLovesKeith said...

What a perfect weekend! I love it when my kids are home from school, too...

I am thankful for normal health. After this weekend, having the stomach flu pass through our house, I realized how much I take for granted NOT throwing up! :) Sounds gross, but that's what I'm thanking God for at the moment :)

Unknown said...

im in love with the new linens.. that black is amazing-and cozy. this soup looks simply amazing! now if i can just get someone to come cook it for me, clean my house and watch the little ones while i nap :)