Coffee Date & Link Love

Good morning! Come on in! Take a seat, would you like coffee or tea? I made some of these cookies would you like 1 or 5? How are you doing these days? What's been on your mind? My mind has been taken over with baby prep. I am getting so antsy now and I still have 9 ish weeks left. This sweet little bundle in my tummy loves to squirm about and stretch out. I am just getting so excited to meet him or her soon. Do you have any advice do you have for a first time momma? I ordered this sweet print for the nursery, I am very excited to hang it up.

Valentines is coming up. What fun things do you have planned? Or do you enjoy the day to stay in and make the day special at home? Clint and I aren't much for making a big deal about Valentines. Do you decorate for Valentines? This is a fun way to leave your special someone a love note, or what about this cute print or this one? I made some cute valentines mug cozies if you want one just pop over here. Ill even give you a special discount code 'coffeelove' for 20% off.

This past weekend Clint and I were visiting family but it was storming so our plans changed a bit.  The freshly fallen snow made everything so crisp and clean! 

All this snow and cold have me thinking about soups and warm comfort food. Want to swap recipes? I am always on the look out for some good healthy recipes. What are some of your favorites? Lately I have really been wanting to go vegetarian again. We will see after baby comes if I can manage to do it. Clint will never become a vegetarian so it makes meal planning a bit more difficult. Here are a few vegetarian recipes I want to try out.

Coconut Red Lentil Soup

Mushroom Kale Stroganoff

Greek Lentil Soup

What are your plans for the rest of the week? Anything out of the ordinary happening? I have a survey going on right now. I would really appreciate it if you popped over and filled it out. There is also a giveaway going on over here if you want to win some hooked by amber goodies. I hope that you have enjoyed coffee or tea  with me and that we can do it again some time soon. 

homemade spaghetti sauce:: recipe

cooking is something that i really enjoy doing. when it comes to eating and cooking i try to eat as naturally and organically as possible as well as eating locally grown produce. this means that i try to cook everything that i can from scratch.

spaghetti sauce is one thing that is so easy and you can make in a huge batch and freeze it. 

here is my recipe for homemade spaghetti sauce

2 jar grandmas canned tomatoes

1 can tomato sauce

10 mushrooms

1 onion

2 small zucchini

2 carrots

2 peppers

4 stalks celery

5-6 cloves of garlic

parsley

oregano

basil

red pepper flakes

pepper 

chop up the veggies and saute with garlic

pour in the canned tomatoes and tomato sauce

add in parsley, oregano, basil, pepper flakes and pepper. 

bring to a light boil then turn it down to simmer for an hour

ladle sauce into a blender (make use the blender lid is on tight because the sauce is still very hot// i may be speaking from experience, maybe)

pour into containers and freeze for future use

when making spaghetti i like to add lentils or chickpeas to the sauce or you can also add fresh veggies when warming up the sauce for more texture

for clint i will brown up some beef and add it in

enjoy!

  

My garden!

So I planted my garden yesterday.

It needed to be portable since I'm moving in two months time. Also because I can't have a real garden at my new place, which makes me sad but at least I will have a few fresh things through out the summer.
I'm my mini garden I planted a variety of lettuces some radishes and in the herb planter there is chives, savory, and parsley. I'm very excited to have fresh lettuce salads instead of store bought stuff. (I could go on and on about store bought produce but I'll refrain, for now)

Just wanted to share this with you.
Do you garden? Do you wish you gardened? What are your favorite 'fresh from the garden' veggies? I would love to know!!

And here it is my portable garden!

yumm-o fruit smoothie

so i made a really yumm-o smoothie the other day! want to know what i put in it?

ingredients 

- frozen peach yogurt

- handful of frozen berry mixture (raspberries, blackberries, blueberries)

- scope of vanilla yogurt (not frozen)

- splash of milk

twist it onto the magic bullet and vilo 

yummy goodness!

what are some of your favorite smoothies?

quick and easy lentils

as a vegetarian i need to get protein from other places.
lentils have quickly become a staple in my diet and i love them.
you can pretty much flavor them up how ever you like.here is one of my quick go to recipes

ingredients:
2 1/2 c water
1 c lentils
1 chopped carrot
1 chopped celery stalk
garlic, pepper, curry (to taste)

put everything in a pot bring to a boil let it simmer for 10 mins stirring occasionally.
if you want it less soupy use 2 c water

see super duper easy, quick and inexpensive!

enjoy!

quinoa and kale recipe

i love experimenting with recipes and new ingredients.
thankfully clint doesn't mind, although he usually cooks up some meat on the side.
this weekend clint was saying he really enjoys quinoa.
so i was looking for some yummy recipes and turned to my favorite recipe site.
i love love love 101 cookbooks site.
her recipes are super healthy, made with natural ingredients, pretty much everything is vegetarian and everything that i have tried has been delish! (huge smiley face because i love all those things)
so the recipe i'm about to share is a twist on this one.

ingredients
3 cups precooked quinoa
1/4 onion chopped
6-8 mushrooms chopped
1 cup corn
3 leaves kale chopped
2 tomatoes chopped
3 tbsp basil pesto
1/4 cup pine nuts

a glass of wine to enjoy as you cook.
1. on medium heat saute onion and mushrooms in 1/2 tbsp olive oil in a deep skillet (3-4 min or unitl they are just browning)
2. add in quinoa and corn stir occasionally (5 -6 min)
3. add in kale and tomatoes
4. stir around and let the kale wilt down, it also gets shiny once it is cooked (4-5 min)
5. once everything is cooked remove from heat
6. add pesto and pine nuts
7. stir thoroughly
8. enjoy!


happy cooking friends!

yummy hummus recipe

i have a super yumm-o recipe for you today.
i love hummus but i didn't have all the 'right' ingredients
so i made up this little recipe not knowing what it would taste like
but let me tell you it was so yummy! hummus
1 can drained and rinsed chic peas
3 tbsp water
2 tbsp lemon juice
10 olives
1 tsp garlic
dash of red pepper flakes

blend it all together and serve with something you like to dip.
i usually like veggies with hummus but grocery shopping day is tomorrow so i'm running low.
i did however have some naan bread.
i just mixed together some olive oil and parsley brushed it on the naan bread popped it in the oven under the broiler for a minute or so just to toast 'em up.
cut them into wedges and enjoy!

what are some simple quick recipes that you like?
do you like to just find stuff in the fridge and throw it together hoping that it will turn out?

simple apple cinnamon oatmeal

some super yummy oatmeal

it is super fast and healthy too!

3 tbsp quick oats
1 tbsp raisins
sprinkle of cinnamon
a bit of almond slivers
1 diced apple
1 tsp brown sugar or honey

pour boiling water over and cover for a few minutes

stir and enjoy!

have a great day!

try crepes for supper!

tonight i made crepes for supper.

they were so easy to make and super yummy.

the recipe i used

1 cup unbleach flour

1 1/4 cups milk

2 eggs

see what i mean super duper simple

heat a skillet on medium high heat

put a dab of oil in the pan, swirl it around

pour a ladle of batter into the pan and swirl it around

once the top of the crepe is looking dry flip it over

and repeat

this recipe makes about 10-12 crepes

there are also lots of different fillings for crepes

- peanut butter and bananas

- sautéed peppers with cheese or sour cream

- sautéed mushrooms

- maple syrup

- fruit of your choice

you can also add flavour into the batter by adding garlic powder or sugar depending on if you like sweet or savoury

there are so many possibilities!

enjoy and let me know what you like to fill your crepes with

punkin soup recipe

I love making a nice warm soup on a chilly fall day.

One of my favorites right now is punkin' soup!!

what you need:

1 med. onion
2 cloves crushed garlic
1 tbsp olive oil
3 med. carrots
2 cups cubed pumpkin
3 cups veggie broth (you can use chicken if you wish, but being a vegetarian i opt for the veggie)
2 bay leaves
2 tsp ginger
2 tsp cumin
1 tbsp curry

what you do:

heat up the oil on med heat and add in the onion and garlic.
once the onions are softened add in the carrots, pumpkin, all the seasonings, and broth.
bring everything to boil and let it simmer for a half hour or so.
take a little taste and see if you need some salt and pepper.
take out the bay leaves.
scoop the soup into a blender, you may need to do this in smaller batches.
blend it all up and put it back in the pot.
bring it back up to a simmer for a little while.
serve and enjoy!

What are some of your favorite soups?

Blessings,
Amber

some fall yumminess!

Good moring friends.

I found a few recipes that I want to make.

They are perfect for this wonderful fall season.

chai pumpkin loaf

pumpkin spice syrup

inside out carrot muffins

curried pumpkin soup

I am having a few friends over this even so maybe I will be serving a little bit of pumpkin yumminess.

What are some of your favorite fall treats?

Have a happy Tuesday.

Blessings,

Amber

around the house

here are a few shots from around the house this week.
nummy yummy bruschetta

dice up four large tomatoes
add some crushed garlic
3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp olive oil
as much fresh basil and oregano as you wish
(you can use dry the flavor just isn't as strong)
serve with toasted italian or french bread

mah little basil plants being happy in the kitchen window
baking cookies at 11:30 pm such fun... especially when the smoke alarm goes off.
it is so sensitive! every time we make toast it goes off with out fail!

let me know if you have any yummy vegetarian recipes!

blessings & hugs
amber

welcome fall

hello friends!

wow!

well its hard to believe that school is in full swing yet again. however there were a few changes made. i am not a student this semester. it turns out that the class that i was told repeatedly that i needed in order to graduate is no longer being offered. i had been left in the dark about it. so i get to take a replacement class that is only offered next semester along with the other two classes that i am taking.

so job hunting begins....again.

i am however living on campus with one of my friends in a basement suite and it is sweet. hee hee. we have had a blast decorating, organizing and having friends over.

pictures to come.

i am now officially a vegetarian!

i am very excited about this. this is my first tiem living on my own so that i am able to cook for myself and not be an inconvenience to cook for. so i am being a veggie. so far so good.

alot of people ask me why i would want to be a vegetarian and i say why not? i am not planning on doing it for life. i just want to try it out for a year and cross it off my list of things to do.

be sure to check out mah friend here and read about how she is following the Lords calling in her life as she is preparing to do missions in Europe.

happy fall friends!

blessings & hugs,

Amber

zesty summer salad

this is such a great summer salad
its bright
its yummy
its funwhat you need:
can of corn
red pepper
yellow pepper
green pepper
purple onion
can of chic peas
cooked cooled pasta
2 limes
fresh cilantro

what you do:
slice and dice the peppers and onion
pour in the corn and peas into the bowl (not the liquid)
add pasta
squeeze in juice of both limes
chop cilantro and add in
mix
enjoy

this is a salad i will be making all year round when i start my new journey of vegetarianism!!
if you have any recipes please share!

blessings,
Amber