RAINY NOVEMBER DAY

It has literally been raining for 15 (update: 26) hours straight. The grass is completely soaked, as are the bottom of my much loved boots. For some reason I get so much energy by this kind of weather. I've mentioned this before but the hot weather really drains me. So I'm welcoming this cold and moody day and crossing my fingers that it lasts. Besides a quick stop at the grocery store this morning, I stayed in and got a lot of things done.

Today I felt like getting in the kitchen to make a homemade meal. I haven't tried a new recipe for a couple of weeks so I'm glad I finally did. I made creamy potato soup and tried to make a healthier version of it but cutting out the creams, bacon, and other delicious things. This soup was just what I needed, the ultimate cold weather comfort food.

Creamy Potato Soup

2 cups peeled and diced red potatoes | 1 medium onion | 1/2 cup chopped celery | 14 oz. low sodium chicken broth | 1/8 tsp. pepper | 1 tbsp salt | 3 tbsp cornstarch | 12 oz. milk | cheddar cheese

-In a medium pot combine potatoes, onion, celery, chicken broth, salt, pepper. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
-Combine cornstarch and 1/4 cup of milk; stir into potato mixture. Add remaining milk; bring to a boil; cook and stir for 3 minutes, or until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in cheese.

Stay warm folks!

THAT FALL FEELING

So this photo was taken a couple of weeks ago but for some reason I haven't gotten around to posting. I have so much fun doing these little set ups and this one here shows a few of the things I have been especially enjoying throughout October. So since its already the last day of the month, I thought I should probably get this out before it all becomes irrelevant. Although, we still have all of November  and Thanksgiving coming up to enjoy all these autumnal goods. Fall is still in full swing and I couldn't be happier. 

SLEEPY AUTUMN SUNDAY

Sundays are for sleeping and eating in bed. Well, at least that is what this Sunday was all about. I cleaned my room which was my only accomplishment of the day. I still have a huge pile of clothes on the floor which I'm convinced will never change. If I was 13 year old me again, I can guarantee that that pile was still there. Except now the pile consists of much more stylish clothes (I would hope) and a lot more black. Also things get manic during the week and I can't deal to keep up with orderly things. So I guess Sunday is for cleaning too, and movies in bed. Today I watched Notting Hill. I had never seen it before which isn't such a surprise seeing as I'm not hugely into cheesy rom-coms but this one was so well done and I always enjoy looking at that dapper Hugh Grant, and those dreamy streets of London, I can't get enough! I also did a bit of reading earlier. I'm currently making my way through Lolita, which is not an easy task but I'm liking it so far even though it is very bizarre.  

I'm so glad I got some pictures of my room that I'm finally pleased with. I recently rearranged it so that my bed is next to the window. I've also added in a few touches here and there to make it more cozy and give me all those fall feels. I've added striped bed sheets with matching pillowcases, a floral decorative pillow, a couple of mini pumpkins, and a new plant for some greenery. 

So currently my room smells of pumpkin, spices, vanilla, and coffee and I'm catching up on American Horror Story. I'm barely on season two so I've got lots to catch up on. Sleepy Sundays are just so good for the soul. 

SWEDISH CINNAMON BUNS | FALL BAKING

When chilly fall evenings roll in you'll often find me in the kitchen with my hair lazily thrown up into a messy bun, with my favorite apron on, and listening to my fall playlist as I make food and baked goods inspired by the season. Honestly one of my main motivations to baking in the fall is for the cozy and comforting smell of cinnamon, cardamom and pumpkin spice scents that brew from the oven and travel through all corners and turns of the house. It's like burning a sweet cinnamon pumpkin candle from Bath and Body Works, only five thousand times better. So that, plus getting to eat them fresh and hot with a cup of coffee or hot tea - bliss. 

So I came across the video above recently and was immediately inspired to try and make Kanellbullar or Swedish cinnamon buns. After a second attempt at making them (the first time I overheated the yeast) they came out absolutely delicious and plump. After tasting these, I must admit I enjoyed them much more than their over glazed and sticky american style counterpart. I just love fall and all the sweet things that come with it. 

You can find the recipe I used here on Donal Skehans website.

COFFEE BY THE LAKE

Signs of fall are slowly making its way into Austin, not quite like the autumnal scene y'all have up north but we are getting there slowly but surely. For much of October the leaves stubbornly remain green but I see small amounts of yellow and red peaking through. So although it has yet to look like fall when I look outside my window the last couple of days have definitely felt like it. I've awoken to crisp cool mornings and with that comes much happiness and inspiration. 

Today I decided to skip class to make the most of the cool morning to have a spontaneous coffee date by the lakeside with my mom.  Our favorite coffee spot which isn't too far from our side of town is Mozart's Coffee Roasters on Lake Austin Blvd, a place where large wooden patios and picnic tables are shaded by large old oak trees. That, plus pretty views of the lake to go with the on-site flame roasted coffee, the place is beyond perfect. We chatted loads about fall decoration ideas and food recipes we plan to make very soon. Which I of course will document for the blog. I have so many ideas. Fall just makes me better. I've never been a summer lover and probably never will be. Fall is definitely my time. 

SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA

We made it to LA! I originally planned on posting my summer road trip posts back to back but then decided to break it up a bit since I had other things I was excited to share. Up to this point we had driven through New Mexico, Arizona, and wandered around the Northern California area where we spent most of the time in Monterey and San Francisco.

Since there isn't ocean front property in Austin I was unbearably excited to watch the sunset over the pacific ocean and dig my toes in the warm sand. The sky is widely creative in that no sunset is ever the same, each day, each sky is painted differently. Its incredible to see the sun splash orange, yellow, pinks, and purples across the blue sky and it was beautiful to see it reflecting off the sparkling ocean water. Who or what you want to attribute that to is entirely up to you but we can all agree that it's a pretty magical cycle. 

Ever since I was a little kid the ocean has always been something that has terrified me. The enormity of it and the countless sea life in it has always kinda freaked me out. But this trip along the California coast really made me appreciate it in a way that I hadn't before. Being by the ocean puts things in perspective and I never quit understood that when I had heard others say it before. When you think about it, the water that graces over your feet as you stand at the shore has cycled its way all over the world. Its waters have traveled endless miles and sustains the life of the sea creatures in it as well as our own. The ocean has this overwhelming power to make you feel so small yet so alive. I wish I could spend more evenings at the beach, but because I can't I made sure to really enjoy the view while I was there. 

"The sea is as near as we come to another world" -Anne Stevenson 

JAMIE OLIVER'S ROAST CHICKEN SALAD

As you may have started to notice there will be a lot more talks of food and kitchen happenings on this blog. Since the beginning of the year, healthy but delicious food is something I've become very excited and passionate about. With general curiosity about where our food comes from and the desire to use fresh quality ingredients, I'm teaching myself how to be a better cook. Now I have been cooking my own meals for a few years now but I grew bored of what I was preparing because I could only think of a select few things to make. I wanted more ideas, interesting flavors, and just more exciting home cooked meals. So this is the place where I will share as I continue to learn more.

I love reading through my cookbooks and sourcing recipes from all over the internet for inspiration. With time, trial and error, and a lot of experimenting I hope to improve on my cooking skills.

Now one of the most basic cooking methods that I had never done before was roast a whole chicken. So when I browsed online to see what chicken recipe I could make for dinner the other day, I thought Jamie Oliver's Epic Roast Chicken Salad looked delicious. With my "kiss the cook" embroidered apron on and ingredients prepped I was excited to get started. Everything went smoothly except for when I forgot about the croutons and burned half the batch (oops). In the end, I was really proud of my first roast chicken, I felt like a proper adult! and by the time all the ingredients came together the anticipation to eat a delicious meal had been building and I couldn't wait to dig in.

The verdict: Jamie Oliver does it again! a lovely dish filled with layers of flavor and texture. With the weekend here I encourage everyone to get in the kitchen, play your favorite music, and prepare a dish you haven't tried before.

This recipe can be found HERE as well as in Jamie's Great Britain Cookbook