About 3 years ago my mom and I were on a soup kick and decided to make up some new recipes.  On New Years day we created a soup concoction that is absolutely awesome for a snowy day like today.  It has since been named New Years Day Soup (only because of its birthday) and we now have it every 1st of the year- as well as collards, black eyed peas and stewed tomatoes, of course!

Here is the recipe:

For the stock:
1 large onion, diced
3 stalks of celery, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts
1 tsp chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 box low sodium chicken broth
salt and pepper
olive oil

For the soup: 
4 russet potatoes, diced (bite sized) I also threw in a sweet potato in this one because I had it
2 turnips, diced (bite sized)
2 rutabagas, diced (bite sized)
1 bunch kale, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can cannelloni beans, drained and rinsed
1 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme leaves

For the croutons:
one loaf crusty french bread
Salt
Thyme
olive oil

Heat a large soup pot over medium high heat.  Liberally rub the chicken breast with olive oil, salt and pepper.  Brown in the pot until a nice crust forms on both sides of the breast; remove from pot and set aside.  Drizzle pot with another tbsp of olive oil and add onion, celery, carrots, garlic, and thyme, and cook stirring occasionally until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.

Add the chicken breasts back to the pot, add chicken stock.  If the stock doesn't cover the chicken, add water until it does.  Simmer for 1 1/2 hours.

Remove the chicken and set aside to cool. Add the potatoes, turnips, rutabagas, tomatoes, thyme and kale. Cook for another 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are done. shred the chicken and add it back to the pot. Then add the beans.  Cook for another 5 minutes.

For the croutons: cut the bread into crouton sized pieces, toss in olive oil, salt, and thyme.  Cook at 350 for about 10 minutes, or until the are crispy.

to serve, top with croutons, a drizzle of olive oil, and shaved parm and enjoy!

make-ahead meals

Every time I visit Luke I try to make some dinners to freeze for him.  Since it's so cold now I would hate to have to go outside to get dinner every night and since we all know men are not the best at planning ahead, I made some yummy, warm food he can just heat up after a long day of work.   Last week I made chilli, taco soup, and bolognese sauce.  nom.

The Windy City: Last visit as a "visitor"

Last week I visited Luke in Chicago for 5 days.  It was a much needed mini vacation filled with tons of amazing food, condo shopping [exciting update on that soon!!], and getting acquainted with life in Chicago.  As you can see from the pictures below, the highlight of the trip was definitely the food (the only thing I ended up with pictures of!) When we were packing my bags to leave on Tuesday we realized the next time I will be in Chicago I will be married, a Kohler, and actually LIVING there!  Oh my goodness!  What a crazy thought. 

On Sunday while we were walking around town shopping we stopped in Crate and Barrel to get warm and ended up looking around at their furniture. We talked about what furniture of mine is coming with us to Chicago and what is staying Richmond. We talked about couch colors and shapes, bar carts, and shelves.  It made this whole starting a life and a home together thing that much more real.  We will be shopping for bar carts and couches and shelves for our home soon.  We will have to pick paint colors together and I can't paint my door bright pink anymore (yes, I lost that one)!

Chicago is definitely faster paced.  Everyone always seems to be put together and dressed nicely.  Their hair isn't as much of a mess from the wind as mine is (really! what is the secret to that?!!).  It is all very intimidating.  But in that same breath I am so excited to get to show people around Chicago once we're settled.  I am so excited to learn about it and share it, to introduce the people I love to this new thing in my life!  I want to take everyone to Pops for Champagne and to brunch at Beatrix. I may have to have grits shipped in from The South (yes, I have been advised that they do not sell grits in Chicago!) but how fun is it going to be learning what midwesterners can't live without and would have to have shipped to The South.  

So with that I will stop rambling.  Below are some pictures from our weekend. They are all from my iPhone, so the quality isn't the best and like I said before, they are very culinary focused :)

The first night we went to BBQ.  I was really interested to see if I would be able to get good BBQ in Chicago and it turns out it was pretty good.  Not the best I've ever had and definitely more expensive but I think after a year in Chicago I will love going there when I need a meal from "home". They also gave us 4 different sauces: mustard based, ketchup based, vinegar based, and their made up one that was spicy so I didn't try it.

My handsome fiance at dinner.  Sorry, I had to. 

On Friday night we had a date night to RPM Italian.  A very swanky and snazzy Italian place. Sorry for the terrible picture below of the inside but it was the only one I took!  We had rabbit and porcini stuffed pasta that was to die for.  It was perfectly cooked and sauced...omg.  And then roasted branzino (below) that was also amazing. 

On the reccommendation of a co-worker, we went to Ann Sather to try their cinnamon rolls.  They were yeasty, buttery and sweet but not too sweet.  Oh my.  They are going to be a problem! 

I also have a new obsession with Pops for Champagne and would like to open my own so I can live there all day.  What an amazing idea!  You can sit at the bar and have a glass of champagne or lounge and order a bottle!  It would be such a great place for a special event or engagement.  I will definitely be adding it to my list for when people visit us!

On Sunday we went to a bar to watch the games with some friends (Go Seahawks!!).  I have been so overwhelmed by the love and excitement from our friends in Chicago for us moving up there.  I can't wait to have them over for dinner and make something super southern!  Shrimp and grits maybe???

 

This is Beatrix, where we went for brunch on Monday.  I had fluffy lemon pancakes with blackberries and a mimosa.  They also have a fabulous coffee bar where people could just walk in and grab a cup to go.  Needless to say, I am going to have to up my workouts once I move!

So cheers to a wonderful weekend!

Recipe: Rosé Poached Pears

These poached pears turned out so incredibly well I just had to share the recipe with you.  This was  the first time I made poached pears and it was super simple!  

I started with a recipe I found from Giada De Laurentiis and modified it slightly. I used a rose wine instead of the moscato suggested sthat they would turn a pretty pink and also to cut down on the sweetness. 

First, buy pears!  They don't need to be ripe, just pretty. 

Peel the pears

Put them into the wine concoction (ingredients below) and let them simmer for about 20-30 minutes or until you can stick a fork in them easily. Keep and eye on them and turn every now and then.

Remove from the poaching sauce and let the pears cool while the sauce reduces for another 20 minutes or so.  Then serve in a pretty bowl with vanilla bean ice cream.  And don't forget to pour some of the reduced sauce on top of it at the very last minute!

buon appetito!

Sauce:

1 bottle of rosé wine
1 cup simple syrup (1 cup water and 1 cup sugar boiled down for about 10 minutes)
a couple shakes of cinnamon
a spoonful of honey
1, 3/4 inch piece of fresh ginger, pealed
1/2 spoonful of vanilla extract 

And that's it!  How easy is that? 

Let me know in the comments below if you try them and how they turn out!  I'd love to hear what other improvements you make to the recipe. 

Weekend Recap: Mom's Birthday Weekend

This weekend was so wonderful (and very busy)!  It was my mom's birthday weekend, I had a much-needed massage on Saturday morning, and I had a planning meeting with the most wonderful brides for an August wedding in Richmond.  I am also working on getting my house in show-condition so that the photographer can come in and take pictures of it so we can get it on the market in the next couple of weeks! 

On Saturday afternoon the whole family went to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to check out the modern art exhibit.  My super artsy sister had to explain everything to us but we had the best time looking and learning about everything. 

 This one is Nicole's favorite

 Andy Warhol

The modern art exhibit was wonderful, but this vintage couch area is more up my alley! It is so crazy  to look at all the furniture from that era and see the same colors still used today in decor.  This ornately carved couch, however, is nothing like anything is my house!

After our tour we went home and Nicole and I cooked a special dinner for the Birthday Girl with filets, mushroom risotto, roasted brussels sprouts, and pears poached in rose and ginger for dessert.

Here is the table we set with my new plates Luke's mom gave me.  They belonged to his great grandmother, where he gets the name DeGruy, and have ALL of my colors in them. Aren't they gorgeous???

I hope everyone had a wonderful, relaxing weekend as well! 

Pantone Color of the year 2015: Marsala

Have you seen the Pantone color of the year?!  It's marsala and I am obsessed. I actually had a moment when it was announced where I seriously thought about changing my wedding colors to it!  Then I realized everything is basically finished and that would be really ridiculous and complicated.   

Here are a couple of my favorite, most drool- worthy pictures of this rich color. 

Bride and groom and bouquet with candles: Anna Delores Photography via Green Wedding Shoes | 
Bridesmaids: Eric Kelley Photography via Magnolia Rouge | Invitation: Soumyastudio | Peonies and orchids: Google

Bridal Shower

Last weekend two of my bridesmaids and their mothers hosted the most wonderful bridal shower for me.  I am so overwhelmed with all the love and support I have felt during these months leading up to the wedding and I am so thankful to have all of these wonderful people in my life.  I can't believe we have less than 2 months to go! Last weekend everything really started to get real for me.  We are in the home stretch now and are having to make real decisions like what day we are moving, how we are coordinating all of it, and how many days we are spending on our mini-moon... not to mention putting the finishing touches on the wedding! Planning a wedding and moving at the same time is very stressful but then I take a step back and look at these pictures (and my moto for the year: grace, not perfection) and I have to smile and thank God for everything wonderful happening.  Below are pictures from the wonderful shower I am so grateful for.  Thank you to my friends and family for keeping me from going insane and for being so wonderfully supportive!

 

The breathtaking silver tea set and tea cups because what is bridal shower without tea?

The welcome table in the front hall.  Complete with a picture of me dressed as a bride in preschool.

The beautiful table (Taylor and Traci made all of the flower arrangements!!) and model Liv

The wonderful hostesses and me

The cupcakes had rings on them! They were so cute!!

Bunches of balloons and pom poms were hung everywhere!

Missy and me :)  We have been BFFs since we were 3!! SO thankful to have her in my life.

and now... the crazy faces Kelley makes when opening presents! And this is only a sampling....

My mom, sister and me after everything was over with my new bouquet.

Missy, Maggie, Traci, Taylor, Morgan: I cannot thank y'all enough for everything you put into it.  Y'all are the best!

Goals for 2015: grace, not perfection

Since 2015 is going to be such a busy year I wanted to take a step back and make sure I am starting it inspired, energized and with intention.  Getting married, moving away, making new friends, keeping up with old friends, and setting up a new home is just the tip of the iceberg of whats in store for us this year!  I don't normally spend a lot of time setting goals for the year but I hope that by taking the time to really think about where I want my life to be when 2016 rolls around that it will be helpful.  This year is going to be a roller coaster, there is no doubt about it, but I want to be intentional about my plans and learn to listen to the direction God wants me to go instead of just being along for the ride.  I want to take it all in and make the best of it.

Goals for 2015:

Grace not perfection This quote from Emily Ley is my motto for the year.  With all of the craziness approaching I need to remember that handling what life throws at me with grace is much more important than striving for perfection all the time.  Because, let's face it- perfection is not a reality. 

Daily devotion This is one that will hopefully help me discern which path God wants me to take.  I want to intentionally stay connected and make time to talk to Him so that He can lead us and show us what an awesome life He has planned for us in Chicago.

Blog three times a week  I started this blog as a way to document our adventures in Chicago and to keep in touch with loved ones in other cities. I hope it can eventually grow into a conversation in cultural differences: starting with the differences in living in the south vs the midwest.  Blogging takes time and I don't always feel that I have enough to say to make an entire post!  But if I am going to do this, I might as well do it right and I think three times a week is a stretch that will take effort but hopefully reap huge reward.

Volunteer somewhere Volunteering has been on my to- do list for years but I have yet to do it.  Whether I use time as an excuse or that I haven't found the perfect place yet, I haven't done it!  I want to find a great organization in Chicago that I can volunteer with.

The Contentment Challenge   I read about this challenge the other week on Bailey Jean's (Brave Love Blog)  goals post from last year and was instantly intrigued.  Last March, Nancy Ray posted a blog post: The Contentment Challenge.  It is a 3 month challenge to not buy anything new – clothes, shoes, accessories, home decor, NOTHING.  The challenge is meant to purge of our constant need to be satisfied by material possessions; to feel beautiful and whole when you have that new top you have been drooling over.  The purpose is to take a step back and be happy where you are, be CONTENT!  It will probably have to wait until after the wedding and after we set up our new home, but I really want to try this this year.  I think it would have a big impact on how I look at material possessions. 

Plug into the events market in Chicago  This one is very daunting for me.  In Richmond I know vendors and have relationships with people I have worked with (and for).  In Chicago nobody knows me and I have to start completely from scratch to meet vendors and get back into the wedding and events market.  I do know though that if I don't get involved once we are in Chicago I will miss it terribly!  I have such a love for events and weddings and I think I would be bored out of my mind without that creative outlet every now and then.  I need to come up with a plan to insert myself and meet people so I can start to learn the market there.  And hey, maybe they will love my southern style :)

What goals are you setting for yourself this year? 

Cheers to a wonderful new year!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!! Cheers to 2015 being even better than 2014!

The remnants of a wonderful time with old friends and new last night...