Welcome Fall

So fall is here in the midwest and I am embracing it gracefully... I don't mind fall it's just what comes after fall that I hate!!! I am trying to stay positive and keep a good attitude about myself. I just really have a hard time with the dark gray days that seem to linger forever. Winter really takes a toll on me... I am such the summer ocean girl at heart, it makes me the most HAPPY! I love the ocean because it is so free and untamed , even wild that is how I would describe myself a free untamed wild spirit!
I do love sunflowers in the fall they are such happy little smiling faces. I am embracing the wonderful smells of fall and the showering of falling golden leaves. The leaves have a nutty earthy smell about them. Mother nature is getting ready to tuck everything in for the winter. The squirrels are foraging, the birds are fueling up for their long trek south and the sun is slipping further away from the earth only to show it's pretty little face again in the spring. Fall is a time to reap all of summers hard work. It always amazes me how the earth goes through such an amazing transformation. Just when you think winter will never end spring announces it's arrival , the first daffodil rears it's pretty little head and the birds begin their springtime serenade. Somehow every year the earth wakes up from it's long winter slumber and welcomes us with it's rebirth of spring. So for now I will stay positive and dream of the first warm spring breeze. I will take this time to slow down and recharge my batteries and appreciate this fall season.
So in keeping with the fall theme and spirit I made a low fat curry pumpkin soup. I LOVE all things pumpkin. This really is a super easy healthy soup to make.

Fall is the perfect time to bring out the stockpot and make warming soups. This low fat cream of pumpkin soup is perfect on a cold fall day, or as an appetizer for a Thanksgiving dinner. I also topped mine with fresh sage, low fat greek yogurt and toasted pumpkin seeds. Of course my meal would not be complete with a little red wine, oh how I love Mr. Cab !

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp curry powder
• 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon
  
• 1 tsp cumin
• 3 cups fat-free, low sodium vegetable broth
• 1 15-ounce can pumpkin
• 1 12-ounce can evaporated fat-free milk
• Freshly ground Black pepper to taste

Preparation:

Heat oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until softened. Stir in curry powder and cumin and cook for 1 minute. Add broth and pumpkin. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Add evaporated fat-free milk and cook for 2 minutes.

Transfer soup to a blender and blend until smooth. Recipe courtesy of low fat cooking

I hope you enjoy this fall season . Get out and enjoy all that fall has to offer, whether you go for a hike or a sunday drive through the country just get out and Breathe and Enjoy life!

S~

"Don't be afraid to lean into the wind, love the earth in all of it's natural glories, and take care of each other"
Tom Brokaw~

Simple Beachy Craft

Happy Friday!!! I am so excited I am flying down to South Carolina to visit my sister today WOO HOOO!! It has been two months since we've seen each other. I have been trying to keep myself busy with craft projects and social things since she has moved but let me say it has been very hard for me. But today is a HAPPY day, in a few hours I will see her , oh and did I mention she only lives 10 miles form Hilton Head Island!!! I get to break out the tank tops and flip flops! I can't wait to walk on the beach and catch up with my sister. I have missed our long talks, drinking vino together, sharing laughs and tears, our hopes and our fears and our Sunday family dinners together. So by now you must now how much I love the ocean. I am an ocean girl through and through, So here is my latest little beachy craft project, so simple...
So get yourself some rope ....
Paint some clothes pins turquoise oh and did I mention turquoise is my favorite color??? Hot glue on some cute little starfish....
Find your favorite beachy pics and attach, and there you have it! A happy little way to display your favorite beachy pictures. Don't you just love the little "Be" I just found some shells on the beach and spelled out happy little sayings...

So back to reality ... fall is in full swing here in the midwest and you know what that means... All things PUMPKIN!!! so last weekend I was pumpkin obsessed, it was all about the pumpkin. I made some yummy pumpkin curry soup and some very tasty low fat pumpkin muffins. And I even had a pumpkin latte, yum-o. I have to say the house smelled amazing. So for the pumpkin muffins you will need...

1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 cup brown sugar or organic cane sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp of ginger
1/8 tsp of allspice or cloves
1/8 tsp of nutmeg
1 cup oats
1 1/4 cup of canned pumpkin
1/4 cup of applesauce
4 egg whites
1/2 skim or I used plain soy milk
1/4 cup of walnuts

Mix together all dry ingredients
mix together wet ingredients and blend all together.

Enjoy your muffins with a cup of freshly brewed coffee~

HAPPY FALL!!!

Bake muffins at 350 for 18-20 min depending on your oven!


For this recipe and other low fat muffin recipes go to ...http://www.suite101.com/content/pumpkin-muffin-recipes-a73082
Hope you have a super weekend, get out and enjoy the sights and smells of fall...

"October's the month
When the smallest breeze
Gives us a shower
Of autumn leaves.
Bonfires and pumpkins,
Leaves sailing down -
October is red
And golden and brown."
- Can Teach Songs

Poblano White Bean Chilli

Happy Friday!!! it was a beautiful fall day here in the midwest... My heart is happy and my spirit feels free... I love this little sunflower doesn't it look like a happy smiling face. It sure puts a smile on my face. I love sunflowers in the fall and daisies in the summer, both are happy little things.
Now for a little fall inspired meal Poblano White Bean Chilli
Recipe courtesy of Vegetarian Times Magazine

3 cups cooked white beans 1 recipe for Rajas
2 cups vegetable broth
2 tsp oregano
1 tsp cumin
1 cup fresh cilantro
1 cup corn
1 cup black beans
1 tsp lime juice
1/4 cup low fat milk
3 oz goat cheese
1/4 cup roasted pumpkin seeds

Rajas recipe :

6 poblano peppers
2 tsp olive oil
1 medium onion
2 cloves garlic thinly sliced
1 tsp dried oregano


Roast and peel poblano peppers on burner of stove top,then peel off charred skins
heat oil in skillet add onion, garlic cook for 5 to 9 min add oregano and poblano strips season with salt and pepper

Bring beans, rajas broth oregano and cumin, bring to a simmer and add corn black beans, cilantro and lime juice cook 15 min. warm milk in sauce pan , add goat cheese and stir until smooth
Serve chilli garnished with goat cheese and pumpkin seeds.

Pour yourself a glass of vino and sip and savor..

Have yourself a HAPPY little evening... Seeing that happy seems to be the the theme today what do you think of this wine glass? I just painted it with chalk board paint, so simple and so HAPPY Hope you have a super weekend... we are tearing windows out this weekend fun fun, the last house project and then every room has been re done. Stay tuned I will be posting the sun room make over, gonna have a warm beachy feel, can't wait until it's done!

Think HAPPY. Be HAPPY.