Potato Leek Soup - Vegan

First, chop your leeks and soak them in water.  Do not skip this step. Leeks are sandy and your soup will be sandy if you do not soak them.

Heat oil in a stock pot and add leeks.  If they start to stick you can add a little of your water to the pan.  Cook until soft.

When leeks are soft, add potatoes, water and vegetable broth and cook until potatoes are tender.

Cool soup slightly.  Place 1/3 of soup at a time into a blender and pulse, then blend.  Be very careful at this step.  Hot soup can fly out of the blender.  Do not fill past halfway up your blender.  It's better to add a batch than to treat a burn.

Add salt and peppers.

Top with Croutons and Garlic.  You can find my recipe for both here:  Recipe Links
This recipe is sooo good.  It is creamy and delicious and no one will know it's vegan.


1 T. olive oil
2 leeks, chopped
32 ounces vegetable broth
1 1/2 cup water
2 pounds potatoes, cubed
1/4 tsp cayenne peppr
1/8 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp salt


Heat oil in a stockpot over medium heat. Cook leeks until softened.

Pour broth and water into pot and add potatoes. Bring to a boil,then reduce to low and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 25 minutes.

Cool slightly, then place 1/3 of potato soup into a blender.  Cover and pulse each batch of soup a few times, then blend until smooth.  Stir in salt and peppers and reheat if needed.

Top with my Roasted Garlic and Italian Croutons

Italian Croutons

Homemade croutons taste so much better than anything you can buy in the store.  We serve them on salads and soups.  Click here for my other recipes:  Recipe Index



To make croutons:

Cut leftover bread into 1 inch cubes.

In a bowl toss with oil very quickly

Add herbs and toss again

broil 2 minutes on one side, turn and broil until golden brown on second side

1 cup leftover bread, cut into 1 inch pieces
2. T. olive oil
1 t. poultry spice

Quickly toss bread in olive oil then add herbs and toss again.  Broil for 2 minutes on first side then turn over and broil until golden brown on second side.  Watch carefully, they burn quickly.

Baked Garlic

This recipe is so easy and it can be served on top of a soup as a garnish or the way my family enjoys it best.  I make a fresh loaf of bread and when it is still warm from the oven, I combine the roasted garlic with a little more olive oil and italian herbs and we dip the bread into the oil and eat it.  

Click here to see my other recipes:  Recipe Index

To make the roasted garlic:

Chop 4 cloves of garlic finely

Make a container of aluminum foil and place the garlic inside.  Add 1 T. olive oil. 

Broil  for 3 to 7 minutes until lightly brown.  Watch carefully it burns quickly.

You will need:

4 cloves of garlic

1 T. olive oil

Chop garlic and place into an aluminum foil container with 1T. olive oil.  Broil 3 to 7 minutes or until the garlic is lightly brown.  

Minimalism, Frugality and Capsule Wardrobes

If you are frugal or a minimalist, the thought of a capsule wardrobe seems like such a great idea.  A capsule wardrobe is where you buy a few key pieces and mix and match them for more variety.  The problem that I am noticing when I am reading other blogger posts is that they are sending the reader to stores with lower quality items.  To me, this goes against both Minimalism and Frugality.

Anyone can run into a store and purchase a top for $3, but that top is probably not going to last the entire season if worn as frequently as a person would wear them using a capsule wardrobe.  Most capsule wardrobes have the buyer purchasing 9 or less tops.  A few of these tops cannot be worn alone (as in tanks), which cuts down on their usage.

I have yet to get an entire season from any item purchased from many of the favorites for capsule wardrobe creators.  As a minimalist, I want a wardrobe to last me several seasons.  I want a wardrobe where I replace a few items a year, not every single top I own because they are worn out.

I decided to purchase a wardrobe, but  running  cheap fashion stores just didn't seem right.  The first year, I hired a stylist.  I paid for four hours of shopping and I learned so much.  She helped me determine what styles of clothes look good on me and which ones I needed to skip without ever trying on.  I have a very short neck and each year, I would try on turtle neck after turtle neck and waste so much time.  She told me that turtle necks will never work for me, to walk past them and look for something with a lower neckline.  She said the lower neckline would draw attention away from the short neck because other skin was showing, and that V neck styles will look best on my body type.  She told me to stay away from sweaters with a rounded neck and instead go for ones with a lower v neck style.  Even though it was a few years ago that I hired her, I still use the information she taught me.

When I started my capsule wardrobe,   I went to second hand shops, quality clothing stores and thrift shops.  While in the stores,  I looked for quality.  I was able to purchase a lot of basics such as black pants and gray pants second hand.  The items were high quality but did not blow my clothing budget. I added one trendy item per season, and that was the only item that I did not look for great quality.  I knew I would only be wearing it for one season, so it was ok if it started to show wear later in the season.

Four years into my capsule wardrobe experiment, I've had to replace some clothing, but it has never been a strain on my budget.  I still have all the pants I purchased.  Mostly the blazers have gone out of style, but some of that is to be expected.

I love the idea of opening my closet and knowing that even though there aren't a ton of clothes in there, that I can easily find an outfit for the occasion.  













Want to create your own capsule wardrobe?  Here are a few blogs that can help you do that:
http://earth911.com/living-well-being/capsule-wardrobe
http://theblissfulmind.com/2015/01/25/capsule-wardrobe-winter-office-edition/
http://www.fastfoodandfastfashion.com/2016/04/the-ultimate-capsule-wardrobe-work.html

Adorable Pregnancy Announcement

I am not pregnant but this is SO CUTE!

Join my Facebook group for all kinds of recipes and other mom ideas like this one:  Facebook

Sunday- Menu and Grocery for Feed Your Family for $70 a Week

So as you may have noticed, I have not been posting as much lately.  I am in the process of flipping a house, being a mom and working part time, so I have not had as much time lately to post.  I have also simplified my meal plans so that I have more time.

This week Kroger had roast on sale for $2.99 a pound and some chicken thighs.  Pork spare ribs are also on sale for 1.69, so I will buy 2 of those.  Hot dogs are also on sale 4 for $5, we dont eat them often, so I am only buying one pack.  For us, hot dogs are eaten only about twice a year.  I bought the Pork a few weeks ago and split it up, so this week I plan on using some of it.  Last week pineapples were on sale for 1.99.  I bought 2 and I cut one up and froze it right away.  The other is waiting to be used, so I may move the teriyaki bowls up to early in the week so that the pineapple does not go bad. I use both zucchini and yellow squash in the bowls along with onion.  I bought onion last week, and the squash are on sale for .99 a pound this week.


General Tso Chicken (we add carrots for veg), rice
Shredded beef on noodles, green beans
Crock pot Ribs, baked potato,
Waldorf Chicken Salad on croissants, chips (I work this day and will make it ahead)
cookout with hot dogs (for the day we are at the flip house working), corn on the cob
 Hawaiian Teriyaki Bowls Rice
On the 7th day, we are working in the flip house all day and I work the next day so we are getting takeout pizza.







Shopping list:
2 roast beef packs
2 chicken thigh packs
2 packs ribs
green beans (l lb)
carrots
rice
milk
bbq sauce
potatoes
apples
grapes
mayo
potato chips
croissant rolls
corn on the cob 5 of them
Pineapple
soy sauce
garlic
oats
sandwich bread
cheese slices
zucchini and yellow squash
beef stock

Load Me Up Chicken With Potatoes

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Preheat oven to 475 Degrees.  Mix marinate of oil, salt, pepper, paprika and red pepper.  Cut potato into bite sized cubes and marinate for 10 minutes.

Drain potatoes in a strainer and reserve marinate.

Place parchment paper on bottom of 13 x 9 pan and lay potatoes on pan and cook about 45 minutes stirring every 15 mins.  If you cut your potatoes smaller, they may be finished cooking sooner.

In a skillet cook bacon. Remove and crumble.  Toss chicken in marinate then cook in bacon fat.

When potatoes are finished cooking, add chicken.  Top with cheddar cheese and bake another 10 minutes at 375 degrees or until cheese is melted.

  Remove from oven and top with bacon and green onion.

1 lb chicken breasts, cubed
1 large baking potato
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tsp salt
1/2 T. Pepper
1/2 T. Paprika
1/4 tsp red pepper
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
5 slices bacon
1/2 cup green onion



Preheat oven to 475 Degrees.  Mix marinate of oil, salt, pepper, paprika and red pepper.  Cut potato into bite sized cubes and marinate for 10 minutes. Drain potatoes in a strainer and reserve marinate.  Place parchment paper on bottom of 13 x 9 pan and lay potatoes on pan and cook about 45 minutes stirring every 15 mins.  If you cut your potatoes smaller, they may be finished cooking sooner.

In a skillet cook bacon. Remove and crumble.  Toss chicken in marinate then cook in bacon fat.

When potatoes are finished cooking, add chicken.  Top with cheddar cheese and bake another 10 minutes at 375 degrees or until cheese is melted.  Remove from oven and top with bacon and green onion.

Want more recipes?  recipe index

Sneak Peek of Cleaning Chores Week 4

I am going to be perfectly honest with you guys.  I have the list of what I would "like" to do posted below, but I am not going to be able to do much on the list this week.  Why?  Because I am flipping a house!!!  I am at the other house a lot, so my house is getting a lick and a promise this week.  I am embarrassed to say that when I got home last night, I had to run the dishwasher twice.  I am so sore today.  You will hear more about the flip in later posts...I know you will because I am so excited to do it.    I guess it isn't a "true" flip because I bought the house three years ago and had a renter in it during those years.  Boy she did a number on it.

Daily list:

Take out trash
Make sure all items for dinner are available and make a list of anything needed
Clean up all breakfast dishes. Wash them and put them away
Quick clean main bathroom: Wipe off counter and sink, wipe off mirror. Put anything away that was left out. 
Make beds 
Start a load of laundry
Fold and put away a load of laundry
Wipe off kitchen counters and sink after each meal
Sweep kitchen floor after dinner
Scoop litter box 
Go through mail and either throw it out, deal with it or put it into the decision file
Run the dishwasher
Unload the dishwasher
Close the kitchen at the end of the day
What does close the kitchen mean? Click here to find out: Close the Kitchen

Weeklies this week:

Clean out the fridge before you grocery shop
Write your menu if you do it weekly
Grocery shop
Clean out the car
Deep clean your main bathroom and change the towels out
Wipe inside and outside of garbage can
Water plants
Wash bedding
Deep clean kitchen
Dust house
Pay bills
Vacuum entire house

Monthly or more list:

Clean out your dryer vent

Clean front porch

Clean cobwebs on entire house

Magic eraser on walls

Dust Ceiling fans

Polish any wood furniture

How to Clean Your Glass Top Stove Here:  How to Clean Your Glass Top Stove

Recipe Strawberry Fool

What a perfect dish for a hot summer day.  Cool and refreshing and finished in no time.

Wash and dry strawberries.

Slice strawberries and add sugar.  Pulse with Food processor until no large chunks remain.

Whip cream until stiff peaks form.

Add 1/2 strawberry mixture to whipped cream and stir only twice.

Add remaining strawberry mixture and stir twice more.

Transfer to serving bowl and garnish

View my other recipes here:   Recipe Index
3 cups sliced strawberries (reserve a few for garnish)
1/2 cup sugar

8 ounces heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup sugar


Wash Strawberries and let dry.  Slice then sprinkle with 1/2 cup sugar.  Pulse in food processor until no large pieces remain.  Set aside.
In a cool bowl, mix whipping cream and sugar and mix until stiff peaks form.   Place 1/2 strawberry mixture into bowl and turn with a spatula twice.  DO NOT overmix.  Add remaining strawberry mix and stir twice with a spatula. Transfer into serving bowl and garnish with strawberries.

Reading Challenge - Confessions of a book hoarder

Yesterday I was thinking how nice it would be to make a blog post about a soup. I have a recipe in a book that I have modified to make it my own, and I wanted to give credit to the original author and then add my changes to it. I had one little problem. I had so many books that I was unable to find the original recipe. I decided to take a break and that is when I realized that I need a book challenge. I am a book hoarder. Are you a book hoarder?

You know what I am talking about. I keep a book forever whether I want the book or not. I have some greedy little place in my heart that thinks I need to keep all books forever. I do not. I looked through one recipe book and realized that in that entire book, I use one single recipe. I took a look on Pinterest and there was that recipe. I could pin the recipe and give the book away to bring joy to someone else.

So this is my challenge. For the next four weeks, I will start reading my books. If I cannot read the entire book, I will put a post it note in the book with a future date on it. If I have not read the book by that date, it's going out. Once I read the book, I am going to give it away to bring joy to someone else. If it is a reference book, I will take a few minutes to decide if I need to keep it, or if it is just cluttering up my bookcase.


Start date: Wednesday August 10th
End date: Wednesday September 10th (this does not include reading all fiction books, just marking them)


Goal: Make a decision about at least four books per day on average and get rid of at least 10 books per week
 Goal: To spend at least 15 minutes each day reading books that can be read and given away.

My goals are small and easy to meet. I do hope to exceed them, but this week is very busy. We are going to flip a house, which I will write about in a future post and it will need my attention also.

One Change I Made to Help Me Stay Tidy, Clean and Organized With A Large Family

There are days when I feel like a salmon swimming upstream.  It seems that no matter how much I tidy, the family can mess faster than I can clean up.  We do try to take some time each day to tidy as a family, but I noticed something strange.  Each time I would ask the family to tidy, they seemed to be able to find other people's things that were out of place, but never their own.  They ended up blaming each other for the mess that the house was in.  I want harmony in our house and I don't want a house of blaming and fighting.  I needed to come up with a solution.

I finally found the solution that works for me and my family.  We have a "Toss Bin".  The bin is the largest bin I could purchase and it sits out all the time.  I decided that having one thing sit out was better than having fifty things sit out because "This isn't mine".  So when a family member picks up an item and says, "This isn't mine, but it's out", it goes into the Toss Bin.  When we are finished tidying up the room, each person goes through the Toss Bin and picks out his or her things and puts them away.  If something remains in the toss bin, it gets tossed or donated.  If no one cared enough to find it a home, it doesn't belong in our home.

I was amazed.  I can now take a few minutes during the day and place things into the toss bin and the kids put their things away without being asked.  I no longer hear, "This isn't mine" when I am asking them to help out and in fact, they will bargain with each other to get things finished faster.  Just yesterday I heard one say, "I will take all this stuff to the garage if you put my books on the shelf upstairs".



At one time, I had a bin for each person at the garage entryway, but I had too many problems with, "This isn't mine".  To my family, if they don't claim it, they don't have to help put it away, so by creating a place where things are tossed if not put away, it united the family to help find homes for things instead of just leaving them sit.

Another thing I do to make my house run smoothly is called Close the Kitchen.  If you want to read about it, the article is here: Close the Kitchen

Sneak Peek for Next Week's Chore List Week 1

This list is not meant for you to perfectly complete everything on it, but to get into a routine that will make your home run smoothly.  By organizing spaces each month, you have a place to put the things you use when you are not using them.  If you are a mom of small kids, you may only have a few minutes a day to clean and organize and that is FINE.  If you have school aged children, they can help.  If you cant do it all, try to do something that will stay completed once you do it.  If you wipe out your sink, chances are it will be dirty again 10 minutes later, but if you organize your pantry prior to a shopping trip, you have made putting groceries away much less of a chore.  You can do it!   Feel free to join us on facebook here:  Facebook Group

Daily list:
Take out trash
Make sure all items for dinner are available and make a list of anything needed
Clean up all breakfast dishes. Wash them and put them away
Quick clean main bathroom: Wipe off counter and sink, wipe off mirror. Put anything away that was left out.
Make beds
Start a load of laundry
Fold and put away a load of laundry
Wipe off kitchen counters and sink after each meal
Sweep kitchen floor after dinner
Scoop litter box
Go through mail and either throw it out, deal with it or put it into the decision file

Run the dishwasher
Unload the dishwasher
Close the kitchen at the end of the day
What does close the kitchen mean? Click here to find out:Close the Kitchen

Weeklies this week:

Clean out the fridge before you grocery shop
Write your menu if you do it weekly
Grocery shop
Clean out the car
Deep clean your main bathroom and change the towels out
Wipe inside and outside of garbage can
Water plants
Wash bedding
Deep clean kitchen
Dust house
Pay bills
Vacuum entire house

Monthly or more list:
Clean out your dryer vent
Clean front porch
Clean cobwebs on entire house
Magic eraser on walls
Dust Ceiling fans
Organize Kitchen

Polish any wood


The entire Months worth of cleaning is here: http://emmafrancisisathome.blogspot.com/2016/11/4-weeks-to-clean-house.html

Grilled Steak Kabobs

This is a great recipe because it can be prepped ahead and frozen in the marinate.  To prep ahead, mix the marinate, cut the steak up into bite sized pieces, then freeze.    When you want to serve it, place it into the fridge to thaw then skewer and grill. 


soak skewers

Marinate meat

Alternate steak and vegetables on skewer

Grill

2 lbs Sirloin or Denver Steak
1 Red Onion, cut into bite sized pieces
1 Green Pepper, cut into bite sized pieces
Mushrooms (we omit because no one likes them)
Marinate


Marinate:
 1 cup low sodium soy sauce
 1/2 cup white vinegar
 1/2 cup brown sugar
 1/4 cup diced onion
 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil 
2 teaspoons minced garlic 
1 teaspoon ground ginger or 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger

1/2 tsp pepper

Mix ingredients for marinate.  Cut steak into bite sized pieces and marinate for at least 30 minutes.  You can freeze the steak in the marinate and let it thaw in the fridge. Meanwhile soak skewers in ice water for 30 minutes. I use a 9 x 13 pan for this.  When meat has marinated, place onto skewers and alternate with other vegetables.  Grill for 4 to 6 minutes on each side.  

 This makes five very generous servings because I have teen boys.  You can cut the recipe in half.
  

Check out my recipe index here for other recipes:  Recipe Index

Why I would never go to a church that removes its Pokestop

We all know that when Pokemon Go came out, a lot of the pokestops were at local churches.  The point of Pokemon Go is to get out in your community and visit places you have not visited before.  Some churches have embraced Pokemon Go and even allow people playing to come sit inside and quietly play their game while others have filled out the forms and had their pokestops removed.

A local church here had 2 pokestops.  One for the church itself and one for their graveyard.  While sitting in the sanctuary, you had access to both pokestops, but they had them removed.  This church struggles to get people.  It is a small, old church surrounded by new subdivisions full of young people with kids, yet it is dying and the members are clueless as to why.   This church could have had an outreach and offered pokestop bible games for kids, or had Pokestop hours, but instead, they chose to shut down the most popular game in the country.   Instead, they chose to be an old people's church full of hard benches and rules.  I am sure that will go over well with the local mom with four kids.

This is the problem with most churches.  They are so far into, "we are holier than that" that they cannot see that the people in the actual bible had real lives and real families and they had real interests that were outside of the four walls of the church.  Today is the same.  We are real people with real lives, and sometimes some of us just want to play a little online game.  I would have visited that church and sat there before and after service spinning the stop.

In a way, I feel bad for this church, because by removing their pokestops, they labeled themselves as the old people church.  Meanwhile, half a mile up the road, the church with a gym has embraced the game and welcomed anyone who wants to play.

Which church do you think is being more effective?