Spring Asparagus Soup!

SPRING ASPARAGUS SOUP:
*You can also substitute 4 cups Spring Peas for the asparagus. A hand-held emulsifier is the best way to puree the soup while it is still hot at the end.

Makes 6 servings (makes a lot, really)

4 tablespoons butter (1/2 stick)
1 medium to large finely chopped yellow onion
3 or 4 medium Yukon Gold or white potatoes, peeled & cut into 1" or so chunks

6 cups veg. broth for the first part
1 cup veg. broth for the 2nd part
1 1/2 pounds asparagus (I use 2 bunches), cut into 1" ish pieces. You can discard the rough ends & you can also run a peeler over the bottom part if you'd like.

Salt & Pepper to taste
Chopped chives for garnish if you would like, or other garnish. I picked some fresh swiss chard for mine.

I. Melt the butter in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add the onions and cook for several minutes, until they begin to soften.



II. Add the potatoes and broth #1. Simmer uncovered for 20-30 minutes until fork-tender.


III. Add the asparagus and broth #2 & simmer for an additional 15+ minutes longer.


IV. Season with salt & pepper.


V. Using an electric hand-held emulsifier, puree the soup until smooth (or in batches with a food-processor or blender).


VI. Serve, garnish if you wish, and enjoy! ^_^

I made delicious Asparagus Soup for dinner...2 night ago. I took pictures, and will post them soon. It is made without cream, but tastes like a creamy soup!! SOooo, it is better for you, and all veggies. I am not kidding when I say it is delicious.

I'll attach a picture that is not mine, but looks just like it. I'll dig up the recipe for you too this weekend. It takes about an hour, but makes LOTS. It is easy too, just takes a bit to prepare. If you have someone to help you, it is pretty quick :)

I found this from last year...gotta love R2 postbox :)

You may call me The Spackle Princess.

I can spackle so that you don't even have to sand, and when you do it is just a once-over brush-over.

I can paint a wall so it gleams. I'm talking gleamy gleam.

I see the best in an apartment, house, or studio when I walk through. Do NOT take me with you if you want to know if you should rent a place. I always rent places that are "fixer-uppers." That is not a quality you want in a place you RENT.

I am sad to say goodbye to such a big studio space, but I know he's just not the right one. He's never cheated on me, but the long-distance part of our relationship is just not working out. We just don't see each other enough. We've decided who gets what (he gets the rest of my white paint on his walls and that broken stool that was there from his past relationship when I moved in), and I've packed.

Goodbye sweet space...may you treat my friends who are your neighbors well.

It has been a long time since I have been here...3 weeks of vacation, and 2 weeks settling back in.

Australia feels like 2 years ago instead of 2 weeks ago. What a great part of the world. We were only in Sydney, but it's a good city. I'd definitely recommend it. The city is beautiful - spilling over the harbour and nestled by the Blue Mountains to the west. The Opera House is as amazing in person as you would believe it to be. It is a magnificent work of architecture - whimsical, nautical, unique. There was a lights festival when we were there, and every night the OH was lit up with a different continuously evolving "painting" by Brian Eno.

I have decided I need a pet koala. I know this to be impossible, and yet, my friends, how could one not long for a pet koala? They are truly the freakin' cutest thing you have ever seen in person. OMG.

The non-meat diet has settle comfortably into the rarely-eat-meat diet. Sometimes it just cannot be helped (as in when you are at dinner over someone's house). Word to the veg: If you are traveling to Australia, be sure that you may have to eat meat. They do NOT mess around over there with their fishes and meats. There are definitely many restaurants where you do not have any other options (and if you do it is one option which is ravioli).
..........

It is interesting when you are away on vacation, and your perspective on things change. Vacation is a breath of hope, a small insight into how happy and carefree you can be. I relax, and pieces to create, projects, plans fill my mind. I think vacations begin to fill one with hope - with the promise of the future.

OH, and then you come home and realize you will work 9-5 the rest of your life so that you can have good healthcare. Bummer. For being the leader of the "free" world, this country gives you NO options if you have any health issues...even if you are healthy. Once you are diagnosed, you are not only in the medical system, but condemed to a life of 9-5.

Right...well, it's raining & been raining for most of 2 weeks...what can I say?

I am looking forward to the weekend.

Weekend Projects

Sean trimmed up the jade plant & I planted a bunch so we can have some new sprouts! Hopefully, they will all root & then we will have new plants when we get back. If you'd like one...let me know.

These are some spiderlets we did the same thing with (and just never replanted)...works well!


And then...this weekend I also did lots of patching...here are my jeans. I also patched another shirt & replaced 6 buttons on one shirt. I feel like I have a bunch of new clothes between these & a few things I ironed. I have a few things you can't wear unless you iron them (SO annoying)...

Good for the Soul...

I went Prom dress shopping with Em (and mom). It was SO fun.

So...which did she choose??? Not the sea-hag dress...haha...which do you like?

Janell's Rug!`

Yay! So, one thing I LOVE to do whenever possible is to invest in work from my artist friends. It helps that their work is beautiful :)

Here is Janell's rug in our house. I want to get another for by the slider. It is BEAUTIFUL. I am SO happy.

Janell makes many pieces using recycled materials. She often uses tape from casettes in her weavings. When her website is up, I will post it.

Making Detergents

Turns out making laundry detergent is not only quick, but kinda fun (and super cheap!).

I used 1/3 bar fels napa, 1/2 c Washing Soda, 1/2 c Borax (and of course, lots of water). It's great b/c you know what is in (and NOT) your detergent & what is going into your water system. I also get all weirded out by washing my clothes in chemically detergent & then wearing them...how is that good for me?

There are a bunch of easy recipes online.

I also started the process for making our own dishsoap. Will finish it tonight b/c I need the bucket I was using for the laundry detergent & it has to sit in the bucket overnight b/4 I move it.

Yay for fun new projects!
PS: Washing Soda is really hard to find. It is not at walmart, home depot, or the superfresh in S.Philly. Think, "where would an old Italian grandma shop?" I got it at the Shoprite in S.Philly.

What I am now eatting for dinner (trying not to eat as much meat)...

*Hummus, tomato, and cuke sandwees - these are delicious! I'm not kidding. Perfect for lunch or a light dinner.

*Last night I made some fresh-veggie fried & then baked with an egg. Yummy.

*Night b/4 we made bean burritos - beans, rice, salsa...you can add fresh chopped whatevs too.

*Pasta florentine (spinach on just about anything is delightful, but esp on pasta w red sauce).

*We had red pizza w veggies earlier this week.

Dairy...

*I can give up milk and yogurt pretty easy (soy milk & soy yogurt are yummy), but cheese...well, I think I will always eat cheese!

PFPL

One way to stay happy - get new books! I love the Philadelphia Free Library! The main branch is totally bikeable to & from during lunch (thank you 1 hour lunches). The best part about libraries, you can try stuff out with no risk or guilt at buying new books (both b/c of the $$ and b/c of the resources). It is beautiful thing.

I highly recommend it.

AlyGIANT's Eco-List

I'm not able (ready?) to move to an adobe house which is 100% solar-powered, grow all my own food...so what can I do? The earth-situation gets scarier and scarier the more I learn and become aware. I know I cannot make too much difference (just lil' old me), but maybe this will eventually lead to something greater.

Here's my 15 point starter-list:
1. Stop eating meat. (about a week in...I had been cutting down to about once a week for a bunch of weeks, so we'll see how meatlessness goes from here - wish me luck!).
2. Take shorter showers. (I think I average about 7 minutes, but I can probably cut back to about five mins).
3. Make my own cleaning products. (we have started...all-purpose, disinfect't already. I just got some recipes for laundry-detergent & dish-soap, so that'll be this wkend, I hope).
4. Recycle. Duh. who doesn't recycle...but we can try to recycle things that are a little more difficult (like hedge-clippings, britta filters, light-bulbs)...
5. Compost. We are just waiting until we are back from our trip. Research is done. I guess we'll keep it in the basement (ah, city life).
6. Write and organize. I hate this part, but I am told this is really how you make a difference. I will have to start writing to companies, to my congressmen/women, and encouraging others to do so.
7. Stop using new plastics. This will be hard. We already use cloth bags for groceries, but packaging (for food or new items) will be tough.
8. Pay the difference for paper rather than styrofoam cups at work. This just bugs the sh*t out of me. I think it is dangerous for the environment & dangerous to drink out of. It is also LAME for an art school to have anything styrofoam.
9. Get involved. "Remedy" - does it still exist?
10. Buy organic.
11. Eat less dairy. Whew. This is hard. We've switched to soy milk (it's good!), and me to soy yogurt. Cheese will stay. I can't give it up, I don't think...
12. Pack lunch, bring silverware, bring mug. I am at about 80% here. I forget sometimes :(
13. Powerstrips & unplug. Turn them off at night, when not using. We have done this for the computer & for our t.v./entertainment stuff. Maybe there are other things too. Try to remember to unplug toaster-oven...can probably unplug microwave too...hmmm....
14.a. I'd say drive less, but come on, I hardly ever drive!...so doesn't count.
14.b. Educate myself.
15. Buy only used clothing & books (except for undergarments, of course). Just spent the $50 store-credit I had at Urban...this is going to be TOUGH. Here goes...
*Bonus* 16. Stop using paper plates, paper napkins, paper checks?.