WINTER DECOR AND SOUP RECIPES

There is a chilled bottle of champagne in the fridge, just
waiting for a celebratory toast.....wonder when that will be?
That makes life so exciting doesn't it?
The sheer anticipation of something wonderful
to come along totally unexpected!
Or, is it enough to be content in the day to day ordinary routines?

White woods, pine needles, sparkling clementine
with spiced cloves....the scent of a winter's day.......

Frozen Eucalyptus, Snowy Spearmint and Winter Lavender

One of my all time favorites. Originally launched in 2012..
a blend of slow rising dough, crispy crust fresh out of the oven aroma

White Barn room sprays

 freshens up  a bathroom or bedroom

The garden called for a new garden flag
and this one features winter New England saltboxes......

Necessities of winter....
velvet slippers, warm and pretty socks, a fluffy throw
lavender and chamomile lotion, flannel sheets on the bed,
hot cocoa, homemade chicken soup, a bubble bath before bed and good books to read!

Over in Atlanta, Miss M left out a few of her Winter looking décor,
to add a touch of green, white and gray to this cozy corner!

Winter Food Fare

My Broccoli Cheese Soup=for two

¼ STICK OF BUTTER

½ chopped green onion

1 stalk of celery, diced

1 T. minced garlic       

3 T. flour

1 cup chicken broth

1/4 cup evaporated milk

¾ cup whole milk

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

¼ cup Pepper Jack cheese

3 sliced American cheese

½ package of frozen broccoli flowerets

1 t. Ranch seasoning

Pepper to taste

 Melt butter in saucepan. Sauté onion, celery and garlic for about 5 minutes. Stir in the flour to make a roux. Stir in the chicken broth, evap., milk and whole milk.

Blend until smooth. Add the cheeses and continue to simmer, stirring well. Add the broccoli and heat through. Season soup with Ranch seasoning and top with extra shredded cheese and green onions.

Many of you requested the recipe
that I had mentioned in a previous post
which was a light soup recipe featured in Southern Living
years ago...my parents loved this soup and always
took it with them when they went camping in
the Smoky Mountains...the broth uses
carrot juice and it's so delicious and healthy!

 Light Vegetable Soup

 1 (46-ounce) can vegetable cocktail juice

          1 (12-ounce) can carrot juice

          2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced

          1 medium onion, chopped

          3 stalks celery, sliced

          1 cup broccoli flowerets

          2 medium zucchini, sliced

          1 cup cauliflower flowerets

          1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

          2 carrots, scraped and sliced

          1/2 teaspoon pepper

          4 cups torn spinach

 

Combine first 11 ingredients in a large Dutch oven. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Add spinach, when ready to serve.

A day in January of Texas snowfall