goblin soup!

GOBLIN SOUP

2 tbsp olive oil
2 onions (1 used 1 large red)
sea salt to taste
3 cups water
1 vegetable bouillon cube
4 cloves garlic
1 head of broccoli

- over medium heat sautee onion in the oil

- when onion is translucent add salt

- add water and bouillon cube, stir well

- add garlic and broccoli, bring to a gentle boil

- reduce to simmer, cover, and simmer until broccoli is tender, approx 15 mins

- puree soup with handheld blender or freestand blender until soup is smooth

- if your gang likes 'spicy', you can season with cayenne pepper and or cracked black pepper (to taste)

- this soup only yields 2 medium bowls, next time I make it I'll triple the above recipe

* to add substance I added freshly cooked brown rice

Happy Hallowe'en!

Happy Hallowe'en!

We carved two more pumpkins this morning, so we officially carved three pumpkins this year. Hopefully this morning's two will be spared until tomorrow A.M. - the one we carved at Riverdale Farm's Carving For a Cause Fundraiser last Saturday officially has no face, it's been eaten by the voracious squirrel who also ate two of our minis. tsk tsk little dude!

Both kids are having an impromptu nap. Woo hoo, me time! When they wake up we'll marinade the pumpkin seeds in sea salt, a pinch of sugar and a cocktail of olive, pumpkin and hemp oils, then bake.

In case it sounds all Pleasantville & giggles, let me fill in some blanks: both kids have snotty noses, one's running a fever which includes bouts of whining, wailing and screams; last week jr cookies monster missed all three days of preschool due to his cold; did I mention that there's been loads of whining. The sounds made by sick and fighting children are very hard for me to deal with on a day to day, Groundhog Day like basis. It gets to me, a lot. Last week, without wanting to sound Hallowe'en ish I actually said 'I'm just about to put a pitch fork in my eye'. Yesterday we attended a Hallowe'en lunch, and I came home feeling fantastic because all the mother's there were crabby, tired and many of their stories included phrases like 'I can't take it a-n-y-m-o-r-e'. Thank gawd for coffee and red wine.

It's much too early for wine, but that reminds me, must start thinking about, dinner, hmmm. Probably a buffet of carrot sticks, cucumber coins, green pepper wedges, rice crackers, hummus, and a hearty bowl of dark orange red lentil soup. We baked kick a*# apple crisp yesterday, and sinful chocolate cupcakes frosted with velvety orange icing which we'll have no problem polishing it off tonight.

Whatever you're up to, enjoy and delight in the creative spirit of the night.