So so so so so very very glad to be home!!! I love my house. I love my computer
The ride home was quick, and two conference call interviews kept me busy. We stopped into EarthFare to pick up a week’s worth of fruit, veggies + dairy. I iPhone-snapped a shot:
We came home to a FA-reezing cold house!! I had the heat on hold at about 50* and I think the house was even colder. We were worker bees for about 2 hours straight unpacking. Unpacking from Christmas is the worst because you have gifts to unwrap and put away too! I was going to do some kind of workout this afternoon, but I decided unpacking was a workout in itself. You’d think all that moving would have warmed us up, but we were freezing straight to dinner. ALSO, the whole house was chilled to the bone because every time I’d open a drawer cold air would puff into my face!
I was also planning a snack when I got home but my busyness made me forget to have one and soon enough dinner was on the table.
Matt picked out a celery root and a bag of parsnips at the grocery store to put into a soup.
The result was a thick root soup with a nice bite to it!
Ingredients:
- 1 celery root, peeled and chopped
- ~6 parsnips, chopped
- 1 russet potato, chopped
- 2 carrots, chopped
- ~3 cups of chicken broth
- ~3 cloves garlic
- To taste: cinnamon, nutmeg, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, maple syrup
To-Do:
- Brown veggies and garlic in large pot on high.
- Pour on broth.
- Add seasonings.
- Reduce to low and simmer for a while until veggies are tender to the bite.
- Mash with potato masher.
- Finish with maple syrup
The maple finish was stellar! OH – and that’s my new Anthropologie bowl Santa brought me!! Love those bowls.
On the side I had some Sea Salt Melba toasts, which were part of the shipment I was sent to review a while back. Also presented in a new Anthropologie dish!
Here’s its sister so you can see the design
These melbas were the best flavor yet!!
Dinner was served with tea to help us thaw
We had some packages that the neighbors captured for us while we were gone.
Guess who?!
POP!
And a really fun surprise from VeggieGirl!!
Organic peanut butter bonbons!
"Pink Himalayan salt infused into peanut butter and milk chocolate topped with Maldon salt"
I had one for dessert – HOLY MOLY this was good!!!! The salt was incredibly flavorful and the peanut butter subtle and rich.
Thank you so much Liz for your friendship!
Off to drink more water. I think the combo of marsh-flavored water and my toxifying NYE left me as dried up as a grape in the desert 
24 hours until I’m going to bed for my first full-time job week again! It’s been 2 years and I’m scared.
VeggieGirl says
Delurking from my hiatus (since you informed me that you posted, haha 😀 ) to say you’re most welcome, and here’s to continuing our friendship in 2010!!
Gracie says
Those chocolates look TO DIE. Yum.
Food Makes Fun Fuel says
Those bon bons look so good! What company were they?
Kath says
Sorry – forgot to add that!
http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/
Hillary (Nutrition Nut on the Run) says
Those Anthro dishes are super cute. What is the full-time job you will be doing?
Kath says
https://www.katheats.com/crunch/
Hillary (Nutrition Nut on the Run) says
P.S. Welcome HOME!
Kristen @ Change of Pace says
BRRRR!!! Glad you had a safe trip! 🙂 Get warm!
Lauren@ Reading and Running says
I love the Anthropologie dishware!! Their stuff is so very cute!
theemptynutjar says
You guys look so cute. Glad you got back safe and your soup is very delish looking. Your skills are beyond me.
amanda says
Yummm bon bons. They have the best combo in the world peanut butter and chocolate!
jac says
wow.. great to have presents at your doorstep!
Ashley says
That soup looks tasty–I might have to try to make it (without the potatoes, since I’ve sworn them off for three months).
Karla says
What an interesting sounding soup! I love the spice combination! Hope you have a warm night!
Jessie (Vegan-minded) says
Anthropologie has the cutest dishes! I have those bowls in green and blue and I love them. Interested to hear about your full-time job. 🙂
Katie says
Pop chips gifts!
WOOP WOOP!
Happy 2010,
Katie
Deva (Voracious Vorilee) says
Those chocolates look divine! I think you will do wonderfully during your first week back doing full-time work, just remember to breathe 🙂
Fei Fei says
Cute Anthropologie dishes! I popped into one of those stores over Christmas break and ooh and ahhed over their home outfitter section 🙂 Best of luck on your first intern position, Kath!
Eileen says
Nice looking soup! I’ve made several variations of your root vegetable “stoup” this fall/winter, and I love it. I’ll have to try this one, too.
Welcome back!
Amelia says
Love the Anthro dishes! I think that store is the best for home goods – and they’re more affordable than the clothing. 😉 I have a set of mugs from Anthro that I adore.
Jil says
Love the Anthropologie dish! so cute! Those chocolates look divine…yumm. and popchips…yess. Love them!!
Mara @ What's for Dinner? says
mmmm vosges is the BEST 🙂
Happy New Year, Kath!
Diana says
Welcome home! Good thing you guys had the cozy soup to warm you up…poor Matt looks frigid!
Those chocolates sound yummy! 🙂
Nicole says
Working full-time is so over-rated : ) Pop Chips are the best — so many flavors and way less servings per bag than other potato chips meaning you can pop way more before you should stop. That’s what I tell myself, anyways! I’m about to get some unpacking done myself…ugh!
Sharon @ What Is Sharon Doing Now?! says
Yes, those organic peanut butter bonbons look delish!
Erin says
That soup looks fantastic — I’m definitely going to make that soup this week. 🙂
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
Love the in-action grocery shot. 😉 And that warm dinner sounds delicious to heat things up!
courtney says
Wait, you turned the heat on again once you came home, right?? I think it is time 🙂 Have a good rest of the weekend, and good luck getting back to the real world for all of us…
P.S. VeggieGirl is awesome. Just had to say that.
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
Love anthropologie dishes! I almost bought those bowls myself, but had NO room in my suitcase 🙁
Welcome home, and good luck next week!
*Andrea* says
what a nice gift from the uber-generous VEGGIE GIRL!!! the melba toasts sounds yummy with a nice warm stew. i love salty things 😉
Karmen @ Fit Twentysix says
I love Vosges chocolates, especially the Mo’s Dark Chocolate Bacon Bar..probably a little too much, but chocolate and bacon are of my favorite things! Who knew they’d be so awesome together??
I’m sure it’s nice to finally be home. Good luck tomorrow on your first day!
Penny says
Ohhhh, I have been wanting to try Vosges! What a nice friend you have!
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
Nothing like a good soup and tea to warm ya up. I’m sure it’s good to be home.
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
I pretty much like sea salt on anything/everything 🙂
Glad you’re home 🙂
Chelsea says
Those chocolates look so good. The “To-Do” made me laugh-VERY appropriate.
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
it must be so nice to be home! i still have a few more days left of my vacay….
Rachel says
Those chocolates look amazing!
Cat says
Good luck at your job this week! It’ll probably be a nice change from the classes and homework you’ve had to do for the past two years.
I love your Anthropologie bowls. Very cute!
Katie says
That soup look so great and easy! And i love those melba toasts. I usually get the roasted garlic flavor, but I’ll have to try the sea salt next time.
Lisa (bakebikeblog) says
oooh that soup looks delicious 🙂 A perfect cold night’s dinner 🙂
Tasha - The Clean Eating Mama says
Welcome home!
Frogs and Men@ Paris Food Blog says
the soup looks so hearty and cozy. i need to start cooking more with parsnips! it is cold here too, i think you have inspired me to make a lentil soup.
oh i miss greek yogurt! have you tried fage? it used to be my favorite!
Jeanette says
I love your new latte bowls! Your unique dishes / placemats always make your meals look so elegant 🙂 I’m envious!!
Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says
LOL, I cracked up at “Puff of cold air” ! 😆
Cute bowl + dishes. I LOVE dishes. You guys always make the best looking stewps! And OMG, those PB bonbons 😯 Sweet + salty = SCORE!
Jenn
Madelin @ What is for breakfast? says
Hope you warm up soon! Love the plates 🙂
rungirlrunn says
Welcome home 🙂
Jenny says
2 hardest things about coming home from trips: freezing cold house and unpacking! At least you had that nice looking soup to warm you up 🙂
I went to Anthropologie and seriously contemplated buying some of those bowls yesterday! Green was definitely my favorite 🙂
Heather @ The Joyful Kitchen says
i’m feelin’ you on the freezing house thing…when we got home there was extra snow piled up around the house and we hadn’t left the heat on at all….yikes! Santa brought me a stack of those bowls and the baby ones too, and I couldn’t be more excited! 🙂
Freya @ foodfitnessandfreya.wordpress.com says
Ok I’m jealous twice already in this post!
That soup looks SO comforting and SO delicious!
And then the peanut butter chocolates…why do England not do more things like that!?
Jenna says
Glad you are back home! Soup looks like it was the perfect meal to warm you up!
I loveee anthropologie! I just bought my first bowl there a fwmew weeks ago and it I
is super cute!
Wow those pb Bon bons look so great!!
Jenna
Heather says
Those pb bon bons look so good! I’d probably eat a couple chips with one. I love a little bit salty and sweet combo.
Christy says
Perfect warm dinner for a chilly night! 🙂 Good luck with the work week!
Carolyn says
Those bonbons sound delicious!
Susie says
Your hubby sounds like a gem! It is my dream to marry a man who shares my love of health food and cooking!