Tuscan Pumpkin Bean Soup

I'm experimenting here. I've missed this blog so much, but have been extremely busy to post. Trust me, I've been as crafty as I have ever been - the amount of wedding crafts to be posted after the wedding is somewhat startling, let me assure you. I am being extremely secretive about all of these project and they have kept me so busy, there has been little time to update. So, I am trying something a little new. I am blogging on the go, via iPhone. Well, not completely just yet. I am at my laptop now (about to go running 7 miles in my marathon training), but have used my iPhone to photograph and upload images of my latest food adventure. Not the best photographs... the iPhone definitely can't do what my little Canon does, but not bad? And at least it makes posting a lot more doable! So, let's see how this goes.

I was super excited while making this meal, particularly because I got an excuse to use my new 16 qt. All Clad stockpot! And let me tell you... it was love at first saute. Love!

After the onions got a little soft, I added chicken broth, white beans, a can of pumpkin, and some spices. I let those simmer for about 15 minutes, then moved them to the food processor to puree, then topped with a tiny bit of Parmesan cheese. I knew Mr. B would not be satisfied with just soup, and since we're on a diet, I tried to avoid the carbs. I ended up getting some turkey sausage, for only 160 calories per big link!

Mr. B was very pleased.

Homemade Chicken Soup

I know it's too hot for soup now. Well, at least in LA it is. In my apartment it is. But I made this soup, long ago, in February. The weather was chilly, the classes weren't as demanding, and I had a sick Brian on my hands, who had never ever had homemade chicken soup. Ever. This made me sad. Everyone should experience homemade chicken soup! But of course, I had never made homemade chicken soup. A little blog here, some google there, and a few calls to mom later, I came up with something pretty good.

Nothing to it! A turnip, some parsnips, carrots, celary, onion, and some parsley made up the base of the broth - along with some chicken, of course.

I let this boil for a few hours, and eventually got this...

Once the chicken was cooked, I removed it, along with all of the vegetables. At this point, the veggies are good to go, becuase the flavor is pretty much gone into the broth. So, I shred the chicken, added some egg noodles, and some freshly chopped celery and carrots and let that boil until the noodles were ready.

It was pretty delicious. And, I do think it made Brian feel better!

My only regret is that I wish I made more in a bigger pan, because for all the hours
it took to make, it was gone in minutes.