Good morninggg, friends! Hope everyone’s day is off to a good start. I don’t know about you guys, but it’s been really chilly in San Francisco lately. Nice and sunny but really cold! There were a couple days when it has rained, but other than that I’d say this winter has been pretty weird.

Nonetheless, I have been craving soup like it’s about to go out of style. Any kind, really. Tomato, cream of broccoli, beef stew, chicken noodle, and the list goes on. I started looking up soups on Pinterest. [Side bar--GAH, Pinterest. I'm addicted. Are you guys on it? If so, follow me or leave your link in the comments and I will follow you!]

Anyway, so I decided to make this veggie chowder, and it is SO GOOD! And healthy! Unlike other creamy soups, there’s no cream, half and half,  or sour cream at all in this recipe! It just calls for milk and cheddar cheese as the thickening agent.

I will warn you though, the soup is definitely not as thick as a normal chowder but I think it’s better that way. If you want it a little thicker, just slowly add some more flour a little bit at a time (keep in mind that it will also thicken as it cools). You can really taste all of the flavors of the veggies, and this lovely meal take under an hour to make. That, my friends, is a good soup.

Top it off with some more shredded cheddar cheese, and toast a big slice of sourdough bread to accompany your meal.

Dinner is served! (And there will be leftovers for lunch!)

Cheddar Vegetable Chowder (adapted from Lulu the Baker)

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 cup carrots, finely chopped
  • 4 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 large baking potatoes, chopped (I like to keep the skin on but feel free to peel them!)
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 2 cups broccoli, chopped
  • 1 cup corn
  • 2 heaping cups shredded cheddar cheese, plus additional for garnish
In a large soup pot, melt the butter over medium heat.  Add the onions and carrots, and saute until tender.  Add garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook 1 or 2 additional minutes.  Then, add the chicken broth and potatoes and bring to a boil. After it starts to boil, reduce to medium heat and cover until potatoes are tender (about 10 minutes or so). Mix the flour and water together and add it to the mixture. Simmer until soup is slightly thickened.  Then, add milk, broccoli, and corn. Cook until broccoli is just tender and soup is heated through.  Stir in the cheese and allow it to melt. Top with some freshly grated cheese and serve warm.
Enjoy!

 

{Photo via Pinterest}

Let’s be in love today.

Maybe it’s with a special someone.

Maybe it’s with yourself.

Maybe it’s with your family and friends.

Maybe it’s with a tidy house to come home to.

Maybe it’s with your cute puppy.

Maybe it’s with how strong you are.

Maybe it’s with life. 

Whatever it is…feel it, and embrace that feeling. Because no one can ever have or feel too much love. We heal and grow with love, so today let’s celebrate it!

Let’s be in love today. 

Happy Valentine’s Day, friends! :)

Valentine's Day Round Up

Alright, I know I was a little M.I.A. last week but that’s because it was the first week at my new job! Let me make it up to you with a small Valentine’s Day treat round up for those that need some last-minute inspiration. Plus after all, it’s Monday morning. And sometimes on Mondays, we just need to sit in front of the computer and drool a little bit before diving into the work week. Who’s with me?! There will be more fun (and healthy!) recipes to come later this week! I hope everyone is having a lovely Monday morning. :) Enjoy! Valentine’s Day Round Up Chocolate Merlot cupcakes with Merlot Frosting Salted Nutella Cookies Mini Chocolate Lava Cakes Angel Food Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Rocky Road Brownies Giant Dark Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie Can’t wait for Valentine’s Day tomorrow! Chocolate and love for everyone!!!

Lemon, Kalamata Olive, and Parsley Quinoa Patties

It’s Monday! How’d everyone’s Super Bowl weekend go? Were you guys happy or depressed that the Giants won? Here’s an even better question–what’d you guys think of Madonna?! Incredible, right? Um, can she teach me how to dance and sing like that at age 53??? WOW. She rocks. So usually, I despise Mondays, but this Monday is a little different for me. Whether you hate Mondays or love them (who really loves Mondays anyway…anyone?!) these little quinoa patties will be a great start to the week! I found the recipe on Joy the Baker’s blog (she’s the BEST!) and modified it slightly. This recipe’s a keeper, folks! Packed full of nutrients and protein, these taste amazing with a poached egg or scrambled eggs (especially if you cut up the patties and put them in a breakfast burrito!). They have a slight kick from the olives and bright bursts of fresh lemon [Continue Reading...]

Tomorrow is a new beginning.

{photo via Pinterest} Tomorrow, I embark on a new beginning. Tomorrow, my skills and strengths will be tested at the next level. Tomorrow, I officially begin my new job with optimism, courage, and strive. But as I welcome it with open arms, my heart is heavy because it also marks the reality that I am not longer at my old job. Today, though, I embrace this change. Today, I celebrate how lucky I am. They say you can’t have everything and although I definitely understand this, somehow I find myself wishing–just for a split second–that it was possible. To have everything. Then I wouldn’t have to leave one thing to follow my passion for another. Then I wouldn’t have to accept that change is a constant that can’t be messed with. Hell, then I would just eat bacon all day and swim in a pool of hot chocolate! That would [Continue Reading...]

Energy Bites and Balance

Energy bites. Because we deserve to keep our bodies healthy. Because we deserve to divulge in something sweet. Because they’re delicious. Because they’re cute and small and look like they should be a truffle or something. Because they’re kind of awesome. Because we’re rock stars. I’m not very good at exercising. Period. When it comes to will power, I can think of anything under the sun as an excuse not to work out. Like shopping. I like to justify shopping as a workout–I mean, I power walk for like 3 hours straight hitting sales and as many stores as possible. Sometimes I’ll even lift my shopping bags like they’re weights while I walk to the next store. Plus, when I get a pair of shoes or an awesome new sweater as my post-work out reward, what’s not to love?! Seeee how I have too many excuses? It’s sad. But every [Continue Reading...]

Sushi, a 6-Hour Road Trip, and My Best Friend's Birthday!

In first grade, she hated me and I didn’t even realize it. I’d walk by, smile, wave at her, and she’d never really wave back! I didn’t think much of it–you know how first graders are. But then, something happened in 5th grade and a best friendship was started. Perhaps it was when she invited me over to her house after school and we discovered our obsession love for folding printer paper in half, drawing our own grids, and playing endless games of Battleship all afternoon together (why we never actually bought the real game is beyond me). Or maybe it was our ability to order two Little Caesar’s $5 pizzas (one for each of us) on a Saturday afternoon and finish it all in the same day while watching movies and ya know, just hanging out. Oh, and there was also our shared interest in making up choreographed dances to 90s pop music. [Continue Reading...]

How to poach an egg and make a deliciously easy breakfast!

It’s Monday–not always the most favorite day of the week. But here’s a REALLY quick and easy sandwich that will start your Mondays off right. I’m always in a rush before work but when I make this and take 5 minutes to inhale it, I am so satisfied and it really makes me a happier person. Trust me, my office appreciates when I come in a happier person. It’s incredibly simple too! Just an english muffin, some avocado, smoked salmon… like so… and a poached egg! “Poached egg?!” you say? Ahh, piece. of. cake. I will teach you. OK, confession: The first time I ever tried poaching an egg was two weeks ago! Gah! I’ve always want to try because 1) eggs benedict is one of my favoriteeee brunch dishes, 2) I love the runny yolk that a poached egg gives, and 3) it’s just pretty looking. But I’ve always been terrified of [Continue Reading...]

Angel Food Cupcakes with Whipped Cream

Cupcakes and whipped cream and sprinkles, OH MY! Monday is my Mom’s birthday!! She’s turning…errrr….29! (Right, Mom???) Anyway, I made her these cupcakes to celebrate. Funny story: even though she gave birth to me when she was in her late 20s, whenever we go to the store or out somewhere, people always think we’re sisters! Either she looks really young, or I look really…old? No, it can’t be the latter. It’s true, though, my mom does look really young for her age. Go, Mom! Now, these cupcakes are so much fun! Mom doesn’t like desserts that are too sweet (hence the whipped cream instead of buttercream frosting). The angel food cupcakes have just the right amount of sweetness that make it a light and tasty dessert without making you feel like you’ve developed 10 cavities from eating something too sugary. The trick that makes these little treats so fluffy, light, [Continue Reading...]

Caramelized Onion, Mushroom, and Goat Cheese Pizza

Hi, friendsss! Where did the last 7 days go?! It’s been a busy one but I’ve drinken 1 cup of coffee and 4 cups of tea today (yerba mate, the good stuff) and am feeling back on track! Here is a simple and tasty pizza dish that you can whip up mid-week or on a weekend afternoon! Remember my pizza phase? Well, that miiiight be happening again. It’s a blessing and a curse. But I’m just going to embrace it (while using whole wheat crusts to make me feel healthier, of course). This pizza actually IS healthy! With the whole wheat crust, onions, and mushrooms…you’re good to go! Plus, there’s no sauce, so that makes it a little healthier too! Add a salad on the side and you’ll have yourself a very pleasant dinner or lunch, I promise! Caramelizing onions can take a while, but I assure you, they’re well worth the [Continue Reading...]

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