Herbst

Butternut Soup / Butternut Kürbissuppe

Ingredients: ( serves 2)

1 Butterbut

1 Red Onion

1 Garlic clove

½ Cup of Creme Double or Creme Fraiche

500ml Water

1 tsp Vegetable Broth

Pepper

Oil

Instructions:

1. Peel the Butternut, cut into half, remove the goo and cut into pieces

2. Heat oil in a pot, peel and cut the onion, then roast them in the pot

3. Peel and press the garlic, and add to the onions

4. Add the butternut and 250ml water

5. Boil for 10 minutes

6. Remove from the heat and mash with a blender

7. Add 250ml water, broth, creme double and a pinch or two of pepper and boil for another 1-2 minutes

Yummy!

Ich hasse es zu kochen, und wenn Herr Moin es nicht fast täglich tun würde, wären wir schon vor Jahren verhungert. Außerdem hasse ich es Essen zu fotografieren. Ich esse es nämlich lieber anstatt ewig lange mit der Kamera davor zu stehen, wohlwissend dass ich abends bei künstlichem Licht eh kein gutes Bild hinbekomme. Und Kürbissuppe sieht sowieso nie appetitlich aus.
Mir macht Backen mehr Spaß, aber ab und zu koche ich doch ganz gerne, nämlich die paar Sachen von denen ich weiß daß ich sie gut kann, und wir nicht am Ende Pizza bestellen müssen ( findet es noch jemand super ätzend daß Joeys jetzt Domino`s ist??).
Wir sind keine großartigen Suppen-Esser, aber wenn es im Herbst und Winter draußen schön kalt ist, tut eine Suppe manchmal doch mal ganz gut. Kürbis ist sooo lecker und soll ja auch sehr gesund sein, also gibt es heute eine Butternut Suppe. Schnell und einfach zubereitet, macht satt, und schmeckt gut. Das gleiche Rezept benutze ich übrigens auch für Hokkaido-Suppe. Den mag ich noch lieber weil er nicht so süß ist wie der Butternut, und man die Schale mitessen kann.


Zutaten: ( für 2 Personen)

1 Butternut-Kürbis
1 Knoblauchzehe
1 rote Zwiebel
1/2 Becher Creme Double ( oder Creme Fraiche, weils die Double nicht in jedem Supermarkt zu kaufen gibt)
500 ml Wasser
1 Teelöffel Gemüsebrühe-Pulver
Pfeffer zum Würzen
Kochtopf, Pürrierstab, Knoblauchpresse

So gehts:

1. Kürbis vierteln, schälen, und das Innenleben mit einem Löffel entfernen. Dann in kleine Stücke schneiden
2. Zwiebel schälen und hacken, dann in einem Kochtopf kurz in Öl anbraten
3. Knobi schälen und pressen und zu den Zwiebeln geben
4. Kürbiswürfel rein, und 250 ml Wasser dazu
5. Deckel drauf und 10 Minuten köcheln lassen
6. den Topf vom Herd nehmen und den Kürbis sämig pürrieren
7. den Topf wieder auf den Herd stellen, und mit 250 ml Wasser auffüllen
8. Nun noch das Brühpulver, Creme Double und ein Paar Prisen Pfeffer dazugeben, alles ordentlich umrühren, und für 1-2 Minuten wieder heiß werden lassen

Fertig!

Homemade Sugarfree PSL

Fall is here!
Being born in October, Fall is indeed my favorite season of all. ( Well, aside from christmas time, but that is not an official season, so Fall it is).
I love when it's pouring and blowing outside, and I'm snuggled up inside with my Snuggie, my favorite pink knit socks, and a hot beverage. It can't get any cozier.

This is also the season of my favorite coffee ( aside from Peppermint Mocca Frappuchino):
PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE 

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Roasted pumpkin seeds, yummy!

Clean the seeds, then soak them in salt water, as shown here.

Once dry, drizzle with olive oil, add spices, bake in the oven.
I used sea salt only, and flipped the seeds after 7 minutes. I let them bake for 7 more minutes, then turned off the oven and let the seeds cool with the oven door open.
The result is wonderful. AMAZING taste!

Homemade Pumpkin Cappuccino

Yesterday, i carved our pumpkin, and for the first time in my life i actually wanted to reuse the filling and seeds.

The internet is full with great recipes: pumpkin bread, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin cupcakes, pumpkin everything...
And of course, the famous and popular Pumpkin Spice Latte. Latte is not my thing, but i love a good cappuccino.

Here is my version of a Homemade Pumpkin Cappuccino

At first, let's make pumpkin purree

1. Cut or tear pumpkin flesh into pieces
2. Add 1 cup of water, heat up and boil for 10 minutes

3. Let simmer 10 more minutes.

4. Blend

5. Let cool

Now let's make the cappuccino:

1. Brew hot coffee in a french press ( 2 large coffee spoons of coffee + 1/2 cup of water)

2. Heat up milk in the microwave ( 1 cup)
3. Pour 2-3 tsp pumpkin purree into a mug
4. Add spices ( nutmeg, cinnamon, sugar, cocoa)

5. Pour half of the hot milk into the mug

6. Use the rest to make milk froth and add it to the mug with a spoon

6. Carefully pour in the coffee

7. Decorate with powdered chocolate

8. Drink and enjoy!

DIY: Scarecrow Wreath

Hey Blogland, i've got news for you: it is NOT halloween yet!

How come last week everyone posted photos of their pedicured feet in front of a blue pool and a drink in their hands, and this week we see their pictures of perfectly decorated Halloween mantles. Blogland, you’re crazy, or what??

Why don't we all run to the next grocery store right now and buy christmas chocolate already. But let's not forget to bring a cooling bag to prevent the chocolate from melting on our way home...

*sigh*

Sure, the really hot days are over, but, and this is a big BUT ( and i cannot lie): it is still summer after all, and we're right in the middle of a season so beautiful, that it deserves to be a season of its own. I'm talking about what i call the "Golden Season": the transition from the last late summer days into early fall, with a color palette more striking than any other all through the year. 

The heat has gone, but it is still warm. The sun is not as bright and glaring as it used to be, and when it sets down in the late afternoon hours, it says "goodnight" to us with stunning orange and golden reflections everywhere. The leaves are slowly turning yellow and light brown, and again in the late afternoon hours, the trees seem to be surrounded by a heavenly golden glow. 

Quick and Simple Fall Decoration

This is my fall decoration this year:
A small pumpkin, wicker balls in different sizes, chestnuts in a vase, a burlap rose bouquet, dried leaves and sunflowers from my birthday bouquet and this adorable little paper ornament by madewithlovebyhannah.com

Fall Decoration 2011

Fall is a great season to decorate with natural elements that can be found everywhere outside. I combined chestnuts, acorns and leaves with items i already had: wooden crates, glass vases, straw,
candles and my new yarn-wrapped bottle.

I really like this decoration, it looks nice, warm and cosy. And it did not cost anything!

But what am i going to do with the rest of the chestnuts??

DIY: Yarn Wrapped Bottle

Today's makeover is so quick and easy that it would actually be exaggerated to call it a 'project': a yarn wrapped bottle.

I had an empty Pernod bottle standing on my desk for a couple of days now, patiently waiting for a good transformation idea. This morning i stumbled upon this pin on Pinterest et voilà, there was said idea.

Total costs: 0€
Total time: 10 minutes
Materials used: empty bottle, yarn, double-sided sticky tape, chestnuts

The look can easily be changed according to my mood or the season, simply by replacing the yarn.

Pretty easy, and budget friendly!

Beginning of Fall

Fall has officially begun and it is the time to bring out pumpkins, cosy coats and my scarfs! Most women are addicted to handbags but i am addicted to scarfs. I would buy them all, if only i could!

Fall is wonderful, but am i in the mood for rustic decoration? No, I am totally in christmas spirit already and even caught myself singing "Jingle Bells" this morning. I can't wait to hang stockings, fill our advent calender and decorate the tree! I want to listen to christmas songs all day long, light red candles and eat all those delicious christmas treats that can only be bought once a year.

So far i haven't done any fall decoration, the only thing that matches the season ( somehow) is this bouquet in our bedroom:

It is one of the paper flower bridal bouquets that i made for my Etsy Shop, but nobody buys my stuff i like it so much that i decided to keep it. The colors are just perfect for our bedroom.

So, should i just skip this season and concentrate on christmas crafts instead? I'm still undecided.
I guess i should go for a walk, collect leaves and chestnuts and hopefully see some squirrels...

cute squirrel taking a nap in the birch tree in front of our house