Showing posts with label autumn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label autumn. Show all posts

Sunday

Easy peasy pumpkin soup (vegan)

Summer is fading and even though we might never grow tired of wearing flattery floral dresses, sandals and daisy dukes we are certainly already looking forward to a new pair of booties, a cape and wearing hats. While it is still warm during the day chances are that we throw ourselves in warm leggings, oversize sweaters and woolen socks when we get home in the evenings.

And what suits better to get in the right mood for autumn and cosy evenings on the couch than preparing a homemade meal which is packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber?

When I saw the dark orange little bugger in the vegetable section of our local supermarket I could not resist. Even though I am not kitchen goddess I decided to try making a pumpkin soup.

Pumpkin soup is not only a vegan suitable dish which is low in calories (100 g have ~ 26 kcal) but keeps us healthy with its anti oxidative beta carotin improves our immune system and helps to prevent infection. 

To also make this easy peasy pumpkin soup you will need:


1 Hokkaido pumpkin 
~ 3 medium sized carrots
~ 3 small potatoes
vegetable stock
1 onion
coconut milk
oil
salt 
pepper
1 orange
pumpkin seed oil

- serves 4 -

Start cutting the pumpkin into bits, which approximately have the size of 3 cm. I bought a Hokkaido-pumpkin, and here the peel can be processed as well. Remove the seeds.  

The amount of pumkinny little bits depends on the size of your pumpkin. 
Now prepare a few carrots, also cut them into bits so that they easily can cook and soften.

Peel the potatoes and cut them into bits as you have already done with your pumpkin and your carrots.
Put them in a bowl together with your pumpkin and the potatoes.


Take your onion, remove the peel and cut it into little pieces.

Now take a big pan to make your soup. 

Take some oil and roast your onions.
I took peanut oil as I really like that flavor but you can of course also use olive oil, sun seed oil or other, just as you like. 

I used my asparagus pan to make the soup.


Add your vegetable bits.


Cover it well with vegetable stock, let it cook for a few minutes, then let it simmer away for about 30 to 40 minutes. Add salt, pepper and your coconut milk. How much you add depends on how much you like coconut; I do like it, but prefer the pumpkin to be the dominant flavor here, so I added about 200 ml. Also add your orange juice.
Taste and adjust with your spices, I also added a bit of chili to my soup. 

Stir from time to time.

When all the vegetables are soft and it turns into a soupy texture you are ready to serve.

Add a little bit of pumpkin seed oil on top of the soup. It looks great and gives a little extra flavor.
If you like add coriander.

You can serve the soup with some baguette.

Enjoy!

Tuesday

All about fall

Hi,

hope everyone had a good start to the new week. Half of September is already over, autumn is coming quickly and with that the shops are full with fall fashion.

I am not such fan of bordeaux red which is hitting the stores everywhere (it kind of reminds me of the times when we went to our first ballroom events, and all girls where wearing the same kind of horrible, horrible bordeaux red dresses. Sorry. But I am not sorry. You may judge me now. I don't care - It's just a matter of taste and I will not become friends with this color. ever.)Anyhow, another color is BIG this fall and its dark GREEN!! Woohaa, love it!! It gives me a warm comfortable feeling of cosy and classy(if that makes any sense at all)., you know this Barbour and Jaguar green. Dark green goes perfectly well with brown, which I also love. And black. And dark blue (my all time favourite) Voila - Perfect! *Necessity mode on*. For the rest, I am not such a huge fan of this fake fur / leather stuff, but I love plaid. And hats, luckily I still have a few from last season. 

Uhh, to overcome the summer-is-over-blues I have just discovered something incredibly awesome: There are special offers available for Euro-city trips at airberlin and I am almost - almost about to book something like Rome, Paris or Vienna or Barcelona for just below 100 EUR - return. Difficult one. To quote Oscar Wilde, I can resist anything, but temptation; I defo need to check out when I can have a few days off. And who is going with me, since city trips are so much more fun when spend together! Exploring the place alone is also delicious, but visiting the dodgy ends is a bit cooler when not alone. Defo something to escape autumn blues, don't you think?


xx




Wednesday

Tartan chic

Among other things such as knitwear I am absolutely delighted that everything tartan is back to high street fashion this season.

Whether it comes as a scarf, as a skirt, coat or blouse it is always classy and chic to wear to any occasion at fall / winter 2012. 
It adds some country-ish flavour to the outfit which I personally really adore. 

Here are some of my favorites:

Tartan scarf, olive / grey /burgundy - fabulous with the olive pants:





Classic tartan pencil skirt.









Green based tartan - poncho.
Goes well to black and grey.



Big tartan scarf. 
Looks superb with the cream jumper.






Tartan blouse:





I know, that knitted bow is cute ;-). But look at the navy-based tartan blouse:




I do have some tartan items as well. I might as well put them up...

How about you? Anyone else addicted to tartan this season?

Love,
Svenja
xx