tasty, tasty tuesday- potato time!

Last night I made the most delightful dinner- baked potato soup! It was SO good! I've seen a few versions of the recipe, and the one I used can be found below. I found it on someone's blog, but I didn't link it, as I printed it, but didn't mark the blog it came from. So sorry!

First things first, here is me in my adorable Lucy apron, by Scarlet Threads. Adorable, yes? :)




Cheesey Baked Potato Soup

4 cups chicken broth
4 cups peeled and chopped potatos
1/3 cup minced onion
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1- 8oz package of cream cheese, softened and cut into chunks
shredded cheese
chopped cooked bacon

Directions-

1- combine broth, onions, potatos and spices in stock pot and bring to boil
2- boil on medium heat until potatos are fork tender
3- mash about half of the potatos so that the stock thickens
4- reduce to low and add cream cheese
5- stir frequently, until cream cheese is melted and soup is thick
6- top with chedder and bacon crumbles and try not to explode with yumminess

First off, I don't measure. It says four cups of potatos, but I used three HUGE potatos, so I think I had more than four cups, so to even it, I added about two more cups of chicken broth. I should have added more cream cheese too, but I didn't have any more, but it didn't seem to matter. It still came out really well, and was so creamy and delicious. I am also very generous when it comes to spices, ha! This recipe was super easy, though a bit time-consuming, since there was such frequent stirring :)

Still though, SO worth it! Make it, try it, eat it, love it.

The results-

Also, go check out Scarlet Threads blog. They have some new products, including a Christmas tree skirt and a new Mommy and Me apron combo and are having naming contests! If they use your name, you will win a coupon for 50% off any item! Also, Scarlet Threads does a Tasty Tuesday too! You may notice their last TT was baked potato soup! Funny though, I saw my recipe the day before they posted theirs. Great minds think alike, eh? :)

I know many people do the Tasty Tuesday posts, so I have no links to anywhere, but let me know if you've tried something fun, and if I should make it as well!

What are you cooking this week?

getting crafty!

On Saturday, I met with the DC Modern Quilt Guild for our monthly meeting. One of our new members was generous enough to open her home to us to meet at. She lives in Rockville in a 100 year old house that is so adorable. Also adorable is her two year old daughter who was there!

As always, when I came home, I was feeling a bit inspired, so I made a few things!

Here are two little holiday ornaments that I made. They were SO easy and took ten minutes each! I think I will be making lots of these little ornaments. I can use them with gifts, I think, to help decorate the packages!

Anyone want an ornament? :)

Here is a little "mug rug," as I am calling it. I suppose it could be a pot holder, but there is only one layer of batting inside. People seem to be making these to keep on their desk and put their cup of tea/coffee on. So, I suppose it is like a big coaster :)

This wonky "pattern" came from the first issue of Fat Quarterly, a new e-zine that I am loving. They have a special holiday issue coming out today that I plan to buy this afternoon!

I've also finally finished the baby quilt I've been working on, but I am not going to post pictures yet. The baby's mother sometimes reads my blog, and I don't want her to see pictures of it before it arrives at their home in Wisconsin! So, I'll be getting that in the mail soon and will then post some pictures! I am very pleased with how it came out.

The rest of the weekend was quiet. Steve was out of town, but did send me a dozen cupcakes and a vase of tulips and irises while he was gone, so that was very nice. Maybe I will post a picture of those tomorrow....

How was your weekend?

anthropologie does it again!

I know I am not the only fan of Anthropologie...yet again, I am lusting for their things!

How cute are these ladies-in-waiting dinner plates!?

I am pretty sure that I need them for happiness.

I just emailed them to Steve. He has not replied, but I am pretty sure that he will disagree with me about these :)

What are you lusting for today?

a cozy new quilt!

My mother made this gorgeous quilt for me!

It is using a type of fabrics called batiks. I've never used batiks, but from what I understand, people either love them or hate them!

It's also quite big, as you can see.

She showed it at a quilt show this past weekend, in NH. I wish I could have gone home to see it there, along with all of the others!

I can't wait until it is on my bed!

In related news, I am finished with the baby quilt that I made for my friend! I will post pictures of it later this week. I am pleased with it, despite the mistakes :)

picture book swap!

I just came across this blog, called Playing by the Book, and Zoe, the author is hosting a children's book swap! I really love this idea, so so much!

This swap is all about sending and receiving wonderful, indeed brilliant children’s picture books. It will be a way for you to spread the word about a picture book you are passionate about, and to discover another equally amazing book through a gift from someone else.

I've already signed up and I know just what book I will send. I don't know where my swap partner will be, but I am hoping for somewhere outside the U.S., as I'd love a children's book from the UK, or in another language!

Want to join? Go here and check it out. You'll have to send some information to Zoe and then she will match you up. So much fun!

So much fun, indeed.

bachelorette party weirdness

This weekend, Steve has a friend from high school who will be in town for a bachelorette party. She lives in Chicago. She asked Steve if she could stay with him, and he said yes.

Does this seem odd to anyone? Would you travel with friends for a bachelorette party, but then not stay with the party? I suppose it could be seen as a cost-saving method, but really, when I've gone to bach parties, there has been several girls, so the cost of a hotel room (or two) was minimal.

It just seems really strange to me. I wouldn't fly to Chicago with the bride and then not stay with her! Isn't she the reason why I am there? Of course, if I had other friends there, I would try to make plans to meet them for lunch or something, but if my main point of being there is for the bride, then I'd spend the majority of my time with her. If I wanted to see friends, I'd see about the possibility of staying an extra night or something. She arrives Saturday morning, and then I assume leaves Monday (long weekend!), but I don't know for sure.

Am I the only one who thinks this is bizarre? Thoughts?