Pumpkin Soup

Nothing launches me into the realization that it's finally fall like seeing pumpkins at the grocery store. I decided that this was the year to use real pumpkin more than canned pumpkin in random fall favorites. Pumpkin is one of my older sister's favorite things, and since she and my nephew came for a visit last weekend, I figured it was a perfect time to pull out my Pumpkin Soup recipe. I got this recipe from a cookbook I've had for as long as I can remember called French. 

Serves 6 to 8

1 large onion, chopped
2 shallots, chopped
2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
6 cups cubed pumpkin
8 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1/2 tsp ground cumin
pinch of ground nutmeg
salt and pepper
parsley or chives to garnish (optional)

1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the onions and the shallots to the pan and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until just softened.

2. Add the potatoes, pumpkin, broth, and spices to the pan, and season with a little salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to low and simmer covered, for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

3. With a slotted spoon, transfer the cooked vegetables to a food processor and process until smooth, adding a little of the cooking liquid if needed. You can also use an immersion blender, if you have one! Return the puree to the pan and stir into the cooking liquid. Adjust the seasonings and reheat gently. Garnish with the fresh herbs.

This is a poem for my kitchen...

This is a poem for my kitchen

so     it has to be bright

it has to be warm

it has to be clean

This is a poem for my kitchen

so     it must have counter space

it must have coffee beans

it has to have a toaster

This is a poem for my kitchen

so     if it is dirty it won't clean itself

if it is cluttered something will break

if it is cold, turn on the oven

This is a poem for my kitchen

so     let's be sure to have flour

let's be sure to bake cookies

let's make certain to invite people in

This is a poem for my kitchen

so     let it create

let it inspire

and please please please let it be colorful

This is my kitchen's poem

so it is

full of friends 

full of family 

full of love

What's in a name...

The Argyle Apple sums up my life in more ways than I ever thought possible when I first thought of the name. I am going to be a teacher soon (I will be graduating from college in May!) and what is the iconic teacher symbol? The apple, of course. No classroom would be complete without one. Ironically, apples have also been my favorite fruit for as long as I can remember.

Speaking of food, one of my greatest passions happen to be just that. I have always loved eating, cooking, baking, experimenting and creating with food from the time that I was a little girl. In fact, I wrote my first cookbook back when I was only 5 or 6 years old, complete with ingredient lists and illustrations.  Maybe someday I’ll write another one and actually get it published…

There are few things in this world as wonderful as argyle. I was first introduced to this diamantine pattern during my second year of college. I had a friend who loved argyle socks, and wore them on a regular basis. Shorty after, I went to Target (one of the best places to find them by the way) and I bought my first pair. They were knee high and consisted of the most unusual assortment of colors: teal, tan, and something I like to call papaya. They also had gold glitter thread running up and down in that well known pattern. I still wear them on occasion, even though my argyle sock collection has greatly increased since back then. 

And that is mostly why the Argyle Apple was my resting place for my blog name. Ironically, the idea was not as original as I first though, however. I found out this morning that in Australia there is an argyle apple tree. I really hope to own one someday, since they apparently can be converted to houseplants.