Yummy Potato Soup!

This is one of my absolute favorite things to make for dinner in the fall and winter, especially when it is cold and rainy like it has been here for weeks!

Potato Soup

bag of red potatoes
skim milk or almond/soy milk
butter/marg.
bundle of green onions-chopped
cup of carrots-sliced
1/2-cup of celery-quartered
garlic powder
rosemary
parsley
salt/pepper to taste

Optional:  sour cream, cheddar cheese, bacon bits or sausage (quartered)  All of these are very good added into this soup!  Or you can follow the recipe above for a dairy free (using soy/almond) and vegan friendly bowl of soup! :)

• Clean, peel, and dice your potatoes.  Boil the potatoes in water.  Leave some potatoes out to throw in at the last minute if you like your soup hearty/chunky.
• drain the potatoes, mash them up, add your butter and milk, stirring until you get it the consistency that you want.
• Add carrots, celery, and spices.
• Bring soup to a boil.
• Stir, turn down heat to low, put your lid on and let simmer for about 30-45 minutes or just long enough for carrots to become tender and spices to cook in.

• If you want to add in cheese and sour cream, do so right before adding in veggies. Or you can also top your bowl off with these instead!

ENJOY!
I always serve this with a delicious fresh spinach salad and some warm, toasted and buttered bread such as rosemary potato or a hearty grain.
Enjoy!

Dark Chocolate Cranberry Almond Oatmeal Cookies!

Now, that's a mouth full!
Trust me, once you taste these, you will have your mouth full!:)

A friend of mine made these once and when I tried them, I immediately had a new favorite healthy indulgence.  I took her base recipe and made a few adjustments to suit my own tastes and now I am going to share with you!  You'll thank me.....I think you will anyway...you'll definitely want to.....which, in that case, you should!  Leave me a comment and show some love people!  ;)

Dark Chocolate Cranberry Almond Oatmeal Cookies!!!

1 cup unbleached flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup quick cooking oats
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup sugar (you can actually 1/2 this if you so choose)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup butter/marg., softened or melted
2 egg whites or 1 egg
2 T 1%milk
1tsp vanilla
1 pkg (6oz) of Dark Chocolate chips
2 T wheat germ
2 T flax seeds
1/2 cup sliced or chopped almonds

Instructions:

• Preheat to 375 degrees.
• Mix flours, oats, baking soda, salt, wheat germ, and flax seeds.
• In another bowl, mix sugars, butter, egg, milk and vanilla. 
• Add flour mixture to wet ingredients and stir.
• Fold in chocolate, cranberries and almonds.
• Drop spoonfuls onto cookie sheet and bake 10-12 minutes.

ENJOY!  Very tasty with a tall glass of milk or my favorite, streaming mug full of Starbucks Gold Coast brew!

The World is His Canvas.....

I am always amazed at the beauty that we get to enjoy everyday....especially in the fall months.  I love the crisp air and the cool breeze, but most of all, I LOVE the colors of the leaves.
Just think about it for a second.  God, the Creator of the universe, created not just one or two different types of trees, but countless varieties of them!  And he created them in such a way that they too display His glory, beauty and workmanship....in so many ways.  The way I love the most is this.....

Isn't this tree beautiful!

....just makes me smile....

Halloween.....

...not so much.

Candy Corn.....
.....VERY MUCH!

Nothing fancy, but super fun and tasty!

We pop a big bowl of corn on the stove, melt a little butter, sprinkle a little sea salt and pour in the Candy Corn!!!!  Viola!  Fun and delicious fall treat- sweet and salty.......yummy! ;)