Nothing like a warm coup of soup

Disney’s Loaded Baked Potato Soup is Amazing.  Perfect for this time of year. The air is crisp and fall is here. This weekend I’ll decorate for Halloween and blog about that next.  Meanwhile, there’s nothing like a warm cup of soup.

 

Disney's Loaded Potato Soup

While sipping on a glass of Moscato. In an 8 qrt stock pot, over md. heat, I fried 1 lb. of bacon until crisp. Removed the bacon and set it aside.

 

In bacon fat, I cooked 1 md. diced Onion, 1 Lg. peeled and diced Carrot, and ¾ cup Celery until translucent. And took a sip of Moscato…gulp.

 

I added 8 peeled and diced Potatoes and let cook for 4 min. I Whisked ¼ cup flour and stirred over low heat . About 5 min. And took a sip…gulp.

 

Then I added 2 cups chicken stock and half the Bacon. Salt and Pepper to taste and let it cook over md. heat for 25 min. And sip…gulp.

 

Added 4 cups of heavy cream and simmered. While the soup was cooking, I took potatoes from the soup and pureed in the blender in batches, returning it back to the saucepan. You can also use a food processor. I continued doing this until about half of the potatoes were smashed.  Sip …Gulp, gulp.

 

Garnish with remaining Bacon and serve.

 

Disney's Loaded Potato Soup is my favorite, and completely blog worthy.  Might just be the best potato soup you ever tried. Delish!

 

9/21/12 window treatment mess ups...

It's my fault... I should have followed my own advice. 

Earlier this year, I saw a picture of a window treatment on the cover of VERANDA magazine.  And fell in love.  I was redoing my daughter's room.  Found a pretty pink French Satin fabric at $1.25 p/yard; it was perfect.

If it were for a customer, I would have done a purchase order, cut a sample of the fabric, stapled it to the picture and drawing. Written down the dimensions of the window, the size of the treatment, the return, etc.  Boring...right?

I've known Sylvia from the workroom for 10 years, she's done many jobs for my clients.  But this was a small job, for my daughter’s room.  Figured it was ok to show her the picture, tell her the dimensions.  “She knows what I want”.

My parents came to visit and I wanted Mom to see how pretty everything would look put together.  But when she got here the room still wasn’t finished .  I thought... perfect, now there was no rush.  More procastinating.  The summer came and went. And last week I finally went to pick up the Valance.

After numerous calls from Sylvia and procrastinating for months, the treatment is finally on the wall.  Pretty, but not what I wanted. What a surprise?  Really?  Too late. I never did a purchase order; procrastinated and never followed up.  Bla Bla Bla. 

Never followed my own advice on avoiding window tretment mess ups.  Now I can't complain.  Ultimately, it was my fault. 

 

Here’s what I originally wanted....

 

 

This is what the treatment looks like...

 

 

 

 

 

 

I Dress Windows

I dress Windows.  There’s something about it that makes me happy.  Yes you need privacy too.  And blinds are fine.  But those should be special too.  They don’t have to be expensive, but they should be special.  In my house, I have 2” faux wood throughout from Lowe’s.  They’re by Levolor at $40 to $50 per window.  Great price with some good options.  Like cordless, with easy lift, eliminating unsightly cords.  Giving it more of a custom look.    

So now you have privacy.  What comes next is my favorite.  Dressing the Window.  Whether you need some framing around the windows like a Kingston Valance, or Swags and Jabots on a board, or Pleated Drapes on a board, flanking the window, making it appear larger.  The possibilities are endless.

Ahhh then fabrics.   So exciting.  Mixing plaids and stripes, or florals with stripes, or solid rich Satins with trims, fringe, tassels, beads… It’s eye candy.  Almost as good as chocolate.

Window treatments set the stage for the décor in the room.  Mixing complimentary upholstery fabrics, pillows, accessories, art and lighting bring it all together.  It’s an art!


One Kings Lane

Homegoods

I love Homegoods.  Today I bought 2 Red Buddhas to put on my Dining Room server.  I have a little bit of a religion theme going on in that room.  A beautiful Bible holder a plate with a cross and now the two Buddhas.  I feel it gives the room a real positive vibe.