Foodie Fridays: Tomato, Chickpea, and Coconut Soup

This is the time of year when nothing is more satisfying with lunch or even dinner than a bowl of warm soup!  Our weather took a nasty cold turn last weekend, and this recipe for Tomato, Chickpea, and Coconut Soup really hit the spot (of course, now our weather is unusually warm, but the cold will return eventually!).  I did not make changes to the recipe, although I chose to leave out the Parmesan cheese.  I also used the smoked paprika option and substituted dried thyme for fresh.  I decided to use the whole can of coconut milk instead of just one cup, because I  did not want to have to find a use for the rest of the can (and it drives me crazy when a half-used can sits around in the fridge).  This soup is so quick and easy to make, and I had all the ingredients in my pantry.  In fact, I still have all the ingredients in my pantry, so I easily can and will make it again!

Tomato, Chickpea, and Coconut Soup

1 T. olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1/2 T. balsamic vinegar
1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes (I used unsalted)
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
salt to taste (I used 3/4 tsp.)
1 can (15 oz.) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 can (13.5 oz.) coconut milk (I used low fat)
1 1/2 C. water

Heat the oil in a medium-sized pot over medium-high heat.  Add the onions, reduce the heat to medium, and sauté until translucent.  Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute.  Add the smoked paprika and cook for 30 seconds.  Stir in the vinegar, tomatoes, thyme, and salt to taste.  Add the remaining ingredients, cover, and simmer for 20-30 minutes.  Remove from the heat, uncover, and let cool slightly.

Purée the soup with an immersion blender.  If the soup seems too thick, add a little more water.  Taste and add more salt if needed.  Ladle into bowls and garnish as desired (I used fresh thyme leaves).  Serves 4.

Notes: This soup tastes even better the next day as the flavors get a chance to meld.  You can substitute fresh thyme (about 3 sprigs) for dried, or used dried oregano instead of thyme.  Heavy cream can be used to replace the coconut milk.  You can also stir in 1/4 C. grated Parmesan cheese to the soup before serving.  This soup is a good accompaniment to grilled cheese sandwiches.
             

This 'n That Thursdays: Smithsonian Journeys Christmas in Victorian London

From Charles Dickens Museum

Is it too early to start thinking about Christmas 2017?  Not if you are a Charles Dickens fan like me and have just discovered the "Christmas in Victorian London" tour from Smithsonian Journeys!  The eight-day trip is billed as "A Celebration of Charles Dickens" and includes a night at the theater on Christmas Eve to enjoy a performance of Dickens' "A Christmas Carol".  A traditional Victorian Christmas dinner is served on Christmas Day, and you will even learn how Christmas pudding is made!

A Christmas pudding (from The Huddersfield Daily Examiner).

The next few days will be spent taking walking tours of London locations mentioned in Dickens' novels, as well as a trip to his last London house still standing, which is now the site of the Charles Dickens Museum.  Excursions to Rochester in Kent, where Dickens spent time and owned a country home nearby, and Highgate north of London, where parts of the novel David Copperfield are set, are scheduled for the last two days.  Tour participants will stay at The Bloomsbury Hotel in London's West End for the entire trip.

The Bloomsbury Hotel (from J&K Apartments).

The only hesitation I have about booking this trip is the fact that I will be accompanying my sister to Germany in August, and two trips to Europe less than six months apart may be too much for me (I am not a very good traveler).  If I decide I cannot do this trip in 2017, then I hope it will be available in 2018, as I would really love to experience this travel opportunity!

If you have not already had your fill of Christmas, you can enjoy an excellent reading of "A Christmas Carol" on YouTube:

                

Wish List Wednesdays: Hedgehog Dryer Balls from Isabella

Sometimes even the simplest things can bring joy to life.  A case in point would be the Hedgehog Dryer Balls ($7.95 for a set of 2) from Isabella.  Sure, you could use a tennis ball to perform the same function, but this hedgehog-shaped option is not too expensive and it is infinitely cuter!  Why not add a smile to your face every laundry day with this handy little helper?
             

Weekend Wardrobe: Accessories for the Winter 4x4 Wardrobe Inspired by a Hermès Scarf

This winter 4x4 wardrobe from last week's post is desperately in need of some accessories!  Let's start with scarves and handbags, including the inspiration Hermès scarf:

Clockwise from top left: Le Donne Leather Fauna Executive Tote in Gray; Rebecca Minkoff Small Regan Clutch in Olive; Alexander McQueen Printed Silk Blend Scarf in Pink; Hermès "Springs" Silk Carre Scarf; J. Crew Italian Leather Signet Bag in Soft Blossom.

Next up is an assortment of outerwear plus a hat and gloves for nippy weather:

Clockwise from top left: The North Face Temescal Trench Coat for Women in Rosin Green Herringbone; J. Crew Double-Serge Wool Regent Topcoat in Heather Graphite; Uniqlo Cashmere Knit Gloves in Dark Gray; Scala Packable Wool Cloche Hat in Gray; Center: River Island Light Pink Satin Blazer.

(Remember that last week I added a bonus casual apparel set that included a pink bomber jacket for another outerwear option.)

Let's choose some fun jewelry now, with a few pieces featuring the gold accent in the scarf:

Clockwise from top left: Serrv Hematite Teardrop Link Necklace; Serrv Sweep Earrings; Heart Shape Rose Quartz/White Gold Stud Earrings; Artfire Olive Green Cuff Bangle Bracelet; Center: David Yurman Oval Medium Link Necklace in Silver/Yellow Gold.

The pink heart earrings would go nicely with the heart-themed pink tee shirt in the 4x4 collection!

And finally, no wardrobe is complete without some well-chosen footwear:

Clockwise from top left: Tommy Hilfiger Jayar Oxfords in Dark Loden; Trotters Estee Flats in Pale Pink Soft Nappa Leather;  Naturalizer Keela Pumps in Grey Leather; Lacoste Straightset 316 1 Sneakers in Light Pink; Center: Softwalk Rocklin Booties in Graphite Suede Leather.

⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜⚜

This wardrobe and accessories would transition easily through the rest of winter and into early spring thanks to the muted pink and grey colors.  Next week I will look at more winter wardrobe options with a completely different color scheme.
             

Foodie Fridays: Ice Cream Hot Chocolate

Last week on New Year's Eve, my husband and I decided to support local food establishments by dining at our nearby Chinese restaurant and then visiting the adjacent ice cream parlor for dessert.  The ice cream place was empty because no one wants to eat cold foods in the winter, so we felt sorry for them and decided to order something.  My husband had a chocolate ice cream cone while I had hot chocolate, which got me to thinking about somehow combining the two.

At our house, we always seem to have ice cream, but we do not always have milk in the fridge.  However, during the winter months our ice cream languishes in the freezer until it is ruined by the buildup of ice crystals.  I decided that if I made hot chocolate with water instead of milk and then stirred in some of that neglected ice cream, I could solve the problems of no milk in the house, uneaten winter ice cream, and getting hot chocolate to cool more quickly to a drinkable temperature.  The procedure is so simple it is embarrassing to even call it a recipe, but it really makes a delicious cup of hot chocolate.  Give it a try if you need to use up some ice cream this winter, and you may never make hot chocolate with milk again.  I might even suggest this idea to the people at the ice cream parlor, and perhaps they will get more business at this time of year!

Ice Cream Hot Chocolate

Hot chocolate mix, preferably good quality
1 C. boiling water
2 heaping tablespoonfuls of ice cream (whatever flavor you prefer)
Preferred topping(s)

Prepare your hot chocolate mix with 1 C. boiling water using the proportions indicated for one serving.  Stir until the mix is dissolved completely.  Add the ice cream and stir until dissolved.  Finish with your favorite topping(s) and serve.  Serves 1.

Notes: I used Williams-Sonoma Peppermint Hot Chocolate, which is normally made with milk, but any mix will work.  I like to top mine with whipped cream, but marshmallows or marshmallow fluff are good choices as well, as are crushed candies, sprinkles, chocolate shavings, chocolate or caramel sauce, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, or whatever you can dream up!  I used French vanilla ice cream because that is what we had, but use whatever flavor ice cream will complement your hot chocolate mix.  Get creative here!
             

This 'n That Thursdays: The Vivienne Files "12 Months, 12 Outfits" Series is Back for 2017!

From The Vivienne Files

Last year, The Vivienne Files, one of my favorite blogs, began a series called "12 Months, 12 Outfits", where the blogger selected six beautiful Hermès scarves as inspirations for six different capsule wardrobes, to be expanded on the first of every month for the year 2016.  It was such an informative series, and one of her most popular, plus it was very fun to watch how each wardrobe evolved over the year.  Well, to the joy of her readers, the series is back again this year, with six new Hermes scarves as inspirations!  I am already in love with three of the new wardrobes (top left, bottom left, and bottom right in the image above).  I can't wait to see how they develop.  Check it out if you have any interest at all in apparel!

The inspiration scarves for my three favorite capsule wardrobes
from the new series, in Black, Olive, and Brown (from Hermès).

             

Wish List Wednesdays: Fresh Finds Citrus Juicer

I have been looking for a citrus juicer like this one from Fresh Finds for a very long time!  I have been making an effort to eat more fresh salads with homemade dressings lately, and I like to make those dressings with fresh lime or lemon juice.  I used to have a plastic citrus juicer that would fit on top of a measuring cup, making it very simple to then add in the rest of the ingredients and whisk everything together in the cup.  Then I somehow lost my favorite juicer and could not find a replacement that would stay on top of a measuring cup, so I ended up buying one that came with its own measured cup.  It works well, but unfortunately the cup is too shallow to mix in the rest of the ingredients, so I end up pouring everything into my measuring cup anyway.  Now I can buy this Fresh Finds Citrus Juicer ($12.95) and go back to just using the one cup, which is so much more convenient!  I wish I had found this useful gadget even sooner!