soup for supper: chili + cornbread

last week

the patriots were playing monday night football

so i couldn't resist cooking up a chili

adapted from self's better body chili

it's hearty and loaded with flavor

(my husband doesn't even mind the lack of meat)

not to mention super healthy (excuse the cheddar topping!)

Just throw the following in a slow cooker:

(on heat on stovetop until simmering in french oven, transfer to oven and heat, lid on for 6-8 hrs. at 200 degrees)

1 Tbs. Canola Oil

4 cloves Garlic, peeled and minced

2 cups chopped onion

1 Tbs. Chili Powder

2 tsp. Oregano

1 tsp. Ground Cinnamon

1/2 tsp. Salt

1/4 tsp. Black Pepper

1 Green Pepper + 1 Red Pepper, diced

1 lb Carrots, cut in 1/4" slices

1/2 lb Sweet Potatoes, diced

1 can (15oz.) Crushed Tomatoes

1 can (15 oz.) Diced Tomatoes

1 can Black Beans

1 can Kidney Beans

1 Tbs. Cocoa Powder

...

served with green onion cheddar cornbread

seriously, insane.

make some.

ladies who lunch

we have had more than our fair share of temperate fall days here in rhode island

(eeek! my bulbs are coming up!!)

and on one such afternoon

my dear friend meredith and i

popped into duck+bunny

for a leisurely lunch

in their garden

which, of course, ended with a cupcake tasting!

yum.

their cozy-glam interior

leaves you craving a girl's night out!

looking forward to more visits this winter!

day trippin': zimmans

a spur of the moment trip to the north shore

left me the opportunity to hit my favorite resource for interior fabrics

zimmans in lynn, MA

packed with ev-ry-thing under the sun

the latest designer faves

and inspiration galore

(excuse the iphone blur)

i left with two perfect picks...

soon-to-be roman shades
for the guest room
...
and some thing punchy

for tay's room

soup for supper: mushroom barley

this week's soup:

mushroom barley

with p&b boulangerie multigrain loaf

perfect for this chilly, rainy evening!

...

thanks to blair for the suggestion- delish!

wellfleet beach days: fall edition

during the summer

we try and make it to the outer cape

for a day on the beach

and in the waves

every sunday

this weekend

sun blazing

we decided

why let a chill in the air stop us?!

off-season bonuses:

the dogs can join in on the fun

rarely seen starfish!

barefoot in corduroy

crowd free!

...

how did you spend your weekend?

weekend knitting

i know, i've said it a millions times lately

but i am really, really

loving fall

bulky, cozy yarn

+

chilly, dark afternoons

=

heaven

this is my second autumn hat

(i made a seaform version for myself late last winter)

it was a quick one-day-knit

for a very deserving mum

xoxo

soup for supper

i love fall

crisp air and cozy nights

the farmers markets brimming with greens and root veggies

not to mention a pantry loaded with organic canned tomatoes

so

i've been making a weekly soup

we get at least a dinner, two lunches and two servings to freeze out of each pot

not bad for a hour in the kitchen!

so far...

roasted butternut, leek and apple

topped with crisp bacon

served with homemade whole wheat pumpkin bread

...

tomato fennel

served fireside

with cheddar dill scones

...

chicken stew

(the recipe from my high school- this was one of my favorite lunches!)

over cous cous

...

and

lentil

topped with a drizzle of balsamic

served with seven stars country loaf

...

i love this part of our week's menu

and plan to continue throughout the winter...

next week i think i'm going to give blair's suggestion of mushroom barley a try!

have any favorite recipes to share?

birthday beanie

yesterday was my husband's 31st birthday

we celebrated first with my 'rents on cape

with breakfast at a favorite joint

and then

dinner in providence

with his fam

topped off with cake, a cozy fire and presents at home

...

his big surprise has yet to arrive

but i also knitted him a cozy beanie

to add to his collection

...

this was a great

back-at-it-knit

for my first project of the fall

and the yarn

uber-soft-like-cashmere

yum.

happy birthday, my love!

xoxo

fall tunic

my list of sewing to-dos these days is loooong

but with the color wheel commission successfully off

and a few halloween gifts sewn and shipped

i needed a day

to dive in my stash

and get creating

for me

i caved and bought wiksten's tova tunic pattern

knowing i could draft something myself

but not wanting to get in my own way

i used alexander henry's "dasha"

...

a few hours and one tunic later!

the pattern was simple to follow

my only change was taking 1" off the hem

i love that it looks polished with dark jeans and a blazer

or comfy with black yoga pants

i haven't taken it off since i finished topstitching

eventually, i'll have my husband snap a few pictures of it on me and share

...

now, i'm even more inspired to keep sewing

more tunics to come, for sure!