Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Summer White Corn Soup

Good morning!

I don't believe I have ever shared a recipe with you all and today that is about to change! This is one of my favorite summer time recipes that is perfect for this time of year with all the corn out in stores and farmer's markets. It's pretty easy to make and a delicious healthy soup perfect for any get together. In fact, I think it would be great for a Labor Day party!

Serves 6 if you make a salad and serve it with bread. Jacob and I eat it and there is a small amount of leftovers. I would probably double it if I wanted to make it for a crowd.

Ingredients:

5 ears sweet white corn, shucked
1/2 cup milk
1 tbl unsalted butter
1 tbl olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 celery stalks (I didn't have any so this time I left it out)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 large Yukon Gold potato (I used 2 Idaho potatoes to make up for not using celery but I'm not fussy about cooking and ingredients)
4 cups vegetable broth
1 tsp salt, more to taste
1/2 tsp black pepper, more to taste
16 fresh basil leaves (I do have to say that fresh basil is so much better than dried in this recipe...it's worth buying fresh)


Directions:

1. Start with 5 ears of corn (although I used 6 b/c it was 6 for $2 at the local farmer's market) and what could be wrong with more corn in a corn soup. Nothing, I tell you.



2. Here is a trick I just learned: to make shucking the corn (husking?!....I might be showing my redneck roots with the work shucking) easier-- pop it in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 min and the little strings come off easier. True story. Try it!




3. Cut the corn kernels off the cob



4. Add corn and milk to saucepan and bring to a low boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes then remove from the heat and set aside.



5. In a separate large saucepan, melt butter and olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and reduce the heat to low and cook until the onion is soft and translucent (10 min). Add celery and cook until soft (4-5 min). Stir in garlic and saute stirring constantly for 1 minute, be careful not to brown the garlic.



6. Add the potato(s), 4 cups of broth, salt and pepper and bring to a low boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the potatoes are soft. Stir in the corn-milk mixture and half of the chopped basil.



7. Ladle half of the soup into a food processor or blender after it cools slightly. Process the soup slightly (about 10 seconds or until it's smooth) then pour it back into the pot.



I serve my soup with a great wine and a french baguette and possibly a summery salad


Sprinkle the rest of the basil on top before serving and enjoy!


And just keeping it real this is really how we eat our meals. A flower or fruit centerpiece?! No. We prefer a baby.....a stinkin' cute baby at that! (Oh, and a kitty on a chair too)


Hope you make and enjoy the soup as much as we do!

Emily

Monday, August 29, 2011

Featured!


One of our newborn pictures was featured on Spearmint Baby today! Check it out here!


Thanks so much Shari!

Emily


Pretty!

Hi all!

It's Monday after a great weekend with friends and I'm pooped. Enjoy these images while I'm off to take a nap!






Emily

Friday, August 26, 2011

Happy Friday!

We have a ton of company coming this weekend and I couldn't be happier! I am stalled in my project but I plan to finish next week and share it with you then.

In the meantime, I wanted to share this photo. There are several great things about this picture: the curtains (I love the rod), the light fixture, and the cabinetry. However, the reason I have this image saved is the bar stools. I love the print and how it coordinates with the dining chairs peeking out from the corner.



We have 2 bar/counter areas in our kitchen and I'm on the hunt for 4 bar stools for not a lot of money. I love the idea of an upholstered back that is different from the seat!

Anyone seen any great deals on bar stools lately? I have been searching high and low and let me tell you they are expensive!

Have a great weekend!


Emily

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

HG Favs and A Few Great Finds


Hello!

I made it to HomeGoods the other day for the first time in months and I thought I would share some of the favorite items I found.


Well, this isn't a favorite.....but I had to share. A plush dresser (like a fuzzy stuffed animal)....
WOW...



Sea Glass lamps- these were beautiful and I could see them in flanking a bed on the nightstands



I loved this guy! Perhaps on a casual buffet in a dining room?!





This was a great gourd inspired lamp that would look great anywhere but I pictured him on a great entryway table with a mirror and some fresh cut flowers



They are still going strong with yet another (different) sunburst mirror



I love this lamp! I wish there had been two as I would have seriously considered them for our guest bedroom. It was chunky with a perfect linen shade!



A great rustic inspired mirror



Another rustic inspired item



This is fabric I'm considering for a project I'm working on. I think I need to just go ahead and pull the trigger!



And these are a few items I picked up at a local thrift store last week. The candle holders were only $3.50 each. I already have 4 mercury candle holders in varying sizes and they are perfect for everyday use (ours are on our mantel right now) and they're great for decorating for Christmas as well. The white urn was only $3 and while I don't have an immediate use for it I couldn't pass it up. I'm sure I'll think of something! :)


Lots of great finds!

Emily

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Idea Board

Good morning!

We had a great weekend with family yet again. My mom was here and we went shopping and she watched Maddie while I was able to accomplish a project or two. As I mentioned last week I have a few things I'll be sharing with you in the upcoming week or two.

One of those is an idea board for a client looking for inspiration for her formal living room. She wanted the space to feel sophisticated yet comfortable. She wanted it to look pulled together and inviting not a room that is off limits to children and guests.

We were essentially starting from scratch as far as furniture. My only parameters were that she wanted the room to have a bit of blue in it to tie in with the adjoining formal dining room.

I'm happy to say the room was a hit and she plans to get started on it immediately!

If you are interested in an idea board please email me for more information. I offer several tiers of boards to accommodate your needs including a "Board on a Budget"- you give me the budget and I will work within it to accomplish the look you want!

Have a great day!

Emily

Friday, August 19, 2011

Happy Friday!


Just thought I would pop in and say Happy Weekend!

I'll be back with a few fun projects next week!


Emily


Thursday, August 18, 2011

Neutral Obsession

Hi all!

I hope you're having a great week! I'm excited to share with you some new projects I'm working on in the upcoming week! In the meantime here are some images I love. It's no secret that I am a fan of neutrals.

I would die for french doors and a fireplace in my master bedroom like these!




Look at that ceiling!


I love the chippy dresser, frames up the stairs, and white cozy furniture




Layered rugs....interesting use here



I love the doors, fireplace, and the gold mirror


As if I could name all the things I love about this room


I love the floors, the moulding and the collection of frames


Be back soon!


Emily

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Mirror Before


I had to restore the settings on my iPhone (its dying a slow death.....can't wait for the 5G to be released soon) and when I did this picture was loaded back on my phone!

I guess that is one good thing about wiping you calendar and everything clean. I restored the settings to the last time I synced, which was last November. Oops.....guess I should do that more often.

Here is the mirror that I got for free on Craigslist!


and here is the after

more details about the mirror here


I love finding lost things!


Emily

Monday, August 15, 2011

Wallpaper

Hi all!

We had a great weekend with family. We rented a house with my brother's family and my mom and after a bad storm the power was out overnight. Let's just say that no power + 2 babies and a toddler makes for an interesting night. We are just thankful that it was cool outside and that we were able to come home and take a long nap yesterday! :)

One thing that I have been thinking about a lot is wallpaper. I would love to feature it in one room in our home but I'm just not sure where. To be honest it isn't something we would be doing soon.....it's just me dreaming.

Here are some rooms featuring wallpaper that I am drawn to:










What do you think, are you a wallpaper person?


Emily

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