Hunger
I’m just back from Feast 2017, and am trying to find the words to describe my weekend away. Just like last year, I am in awe. I went with an empty belly and one goal: To try as many things as I possibly could. Good … Read More
Tag: wine
Feast Portland-Get Ready to Eat
There are few moments in life where I have been completely and utterly full, but still longing to eat more, to savor just one more bite of congee, or perfectly cooked lamb, or just one more sip of rum punch out of a fresh cracked … Read More
Blue Cheese Butternut Squash Soup with Chicken and Mushrooms
Fall hit here pretty quickly in Seattle; cool winds replacing the abnormally high summer temperatures. The leaves are changing and starting to fall and this week promises rain. I’ve been scurrying around the gardens, picking the last of my tomatoes, hoping that whatever is still green has time to ripen. The air is crisp and the sun is setting earlier and earlier, which means it’s time for soup. Enter: my Blue Cheese Butternut Squash Soup with Chicken!
This recipe is flavorful, easy to make, and while it tastes rich, is surprisingly low in calories. You can add more ingredients to make it more hearty, but it’s perfect in its’ simplicity. I usually make a double batch, freezing half, to enjoy late into the winter when I am too tired to make a batch of soup. Roasting the vegetables in advance brings depth of flavor to the soup, but isn’t necessary if you’re in a rush for a bowl of warm, creamy comfort.
Let’s start by gathering our ingredients:
4-5 lbs of butternut squash, cut in half with seeds removed, and roasted (see prep notes)
2 lbs chicken thighs (breasts, if you’re wanting less fat/calories), cut into bite size pieces
1 cup white wine
64 ounces chicken stock
1 lb mushrooms
1 green apple, diced
3 medium yellow onions, diced and roasted (see prep notes)
1/2 head of garlic, peeled and roasted (see prep notes)
1-2 sprigs of rosemary
1 large bay leaf
1/2 lb of bacon, chopped, drippings reserved (substitute 2 Tbspn olive oil if you do not wish to use bacon)
Salt and pepper to taste (about a teaspoon each)
Low fat sour cream, for garnish
3-4 ounces blue cheese, sprinkled on top
Optional: 1/2 lb chopped kale for more heft and nutrients
Prep:
Roasting makes everything better-the flavors become more pronounced and it brings out a richness to the squash you wouldn’t get otherwise. To do this, coat a cookie sheet with olive oil and lay out your squash, roasting at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. While that cools, roast your onion and garlic for 10 mins at 350 degrees, or until they start to turn golden. Set aside.
Cook:
In a heavy bottomed pot, fry the bacon until crispy, removing from the oil when done. Add your chicken pieces, and cook until browned. You can avoid using bacon and instead brown your chicken in 2 Tbsp olive oil if you wish (I love bacon, but this does add fat, sodium and calories to the dish). Pull out your chicken and set aside with the bacon.
See all those delicious bits on the bottom of your pan? You want those. All of those tasty bacon-chicken bits add flavor! Add 1 cup of white wine and scrape the bottom of the pot-the finished soup (and your belly) will thank you for deglazing everything!
Add your roasted squash to the deglazed pot by scooping the meat of the squash out of the skin. Add your onion, garlic, apple, salt, pepper and stock to the pot and let simmer for 20 minutes until everything starts to fall apart, stirring occasionally. At this point, you have a choice-you can use an immersion blender to make everything creamy and smooth, or leave it as is for a soup with a little more texture-I prefer to blend the base, personally. If you do opt to blend, pull out the rosemary and bay leaf.
If you’re using kale, now’s the time to add it, cooking for 15 minutes. If not, move to the next step.
Add your chicken, mushrooms and your bacon and continue to simmer for additional 20 minutes, or until your chicken is cooked through (no longer pink, registering 165 degrees, if you want to get technical).
Ladle into a deep bowl, adding blue cheese and sour cream. Enjoy!
That’s it! This soup will taste like you spent hours making it, and will fill that craving for a warm delicious soup to warm you up as the weather changes. What could be better?
Note:
Some people do not like blue cheese and I get it! It can be strong and for some, overpowering. If you fall into this camp, substitute Parmesan, adding the rind in when you’re cooking your kale and chicken and pulling out when you’re done cooking. Top with grated Parmesan at the end.
I want to thank Foster Farms for funding this post. Their Simply Raised chicken are raised without antibiotics, hormones, or steroids, which is important to my family. Additionally, they are American Humane Certified and local to WA, OR, and CA, so there’s less impact on the environment! Foster Farms also has organic options, which are available at most larger grocers and Costco (again, who doesn’t love Costco?!). For more information on Foster Farms, their products or their practices, check them out here. Again, this post is sponsored by Foster Farms®, the opinions expressed are my own.
Yours in delicious fall flavors,
Raina
On the road to Feast Portland
I’m heading to Portland, y’all and I couldn’t be happier. 4 days solo, eating and drinking my way through Feast Portland, and visiting with friends. I can’t think of a better way to spend some hard-earned time off. I’ve been waiting for feast for months and … Read More
Finding your tribe
No matter what you do, or where you go, having or finding your tribe helps. Wait…What’s a tribe? You know that group of people that get you, and you don’t have to explain what you’re up to? That’s your tribe! It’s a group of people … Read More
You really are beautiful.
Did you know that you’re beautiful?
You are. You really are. There’s days where you know you look good, and there’s days that you hope you don’t look like a two year old throttled you all night. Through the damn fine days, and the damn hard days, know that you’re always beautiful. Anyone that tells you otherwise isn’t worth your time and energy-forget em. Those that support you and make you feel good? Well, keep those folks close by.
I also trust organizations who support that concept too. A few months ago I heard about a new company, Don’t Call Me Ma’am, who was producing beauty products with a message of empowering women and feeling beautiful. The concept is simple-The products don’t have all of the ingredients that aren’t good for you. The product packaging is minimal and made from recycled materials. The last and best part? The company supports finding your beauty and loving who you are- at all ages, and all places in your life, without abandon. You can read their manifesto on their webpage, here. See? It’s awesome!
When I got the invite to go, it encouraged people to come as they were, clean-faced, no make up. Umm. Dang. I wear make up most days, and usually always in public. I was down for a challenge though, and I am so glad I did. This is a great group of gals, and I was able to mingle with other bloggers. Tell me this doesn’t look like fun? Here I am signing the manifesto, and with other bloggers (hint, I’m the tall one). There was also wine, glorious wine!
I had a chance to chat with the owners and awesome ladies behind DCMM. They are wonderful and friendly-they come with a wealth of experience. Ileen Ruvinski comes with a background in marketing and product development and paired with Kathleen Spitzer’s background in skincare and working in managment for some big companies, you have a power house. If you put that aside, and just chat with them, you learn that that want happiness. They want women to find that happiness and know that they are beautiful. They are excited about their products and what they mean for women-no marketing ads exploiting women, and no using images that damage self-esteem. It’s skin care you can get behind. We talked about who were are, and why it is so important to have healthy images for beauty-as a mom to a little girl, I can’t get behind this idea enough.
So, what products are there? There’s a lot! There’s washes, lotions, creams, serums, and toners. There’s something for all skin types and the fact that it’s free of pthalates and parabens and other toxic chemicals makes me feel good about using it. I had a chance to try out three products: the Wash It Away Cleanser, the In Balance Toner, and the Face Love Moisturizer.
As with every new product, I am skeptical until proven otherwise, and after spending the past three years either pregnant, breast feeding, or waiting for my hormones to finally figure it all out, my skin is a fierce judge. When I first used the wash, I didn’t get it. It wasn’t foaming, and then it occurred to me-it shouldn’t! It was quick-put it on, rub gently and rinse off! The toner was nice and refreshing, a nice change to my normal routine (oil washing, and a touch up with almond oil under my eyes). Lastly was the Face Love moisturizer, I squeezed a bit out and put it on, only to realize I squeezed way too much. Guys, a little bit of a good product goes a long way! After two weeks, I am happy to report that I am enjoying it! My skin isn’t as well, hormon-ridden, and it’s just as quick as my oil washing routine. No time lost and I get to mix up what I use? Yes!
So…Are YOU ready to sign the manifesto and give Don’t Call Me Ma’am a try? Here’s your chance! You can win your very own set of three products, the Wash It Away Cleanser, the In Balance Toner, and the Face Love Moisturizer. All of you have to do is comment on this post and tell me why you’re beautiful. Share this with your friends, and have them say that you sent them for an extra entry! If you REALLY want to get crazy, go to my Facebook page, located here and add another comment that you “liked” me, for an additional entry! I’ll pick a winner end of day on Saturday the 28th!
Here, I’ll even go first! I’m Raina, I am beautiful because I am loved, I am strong and I am one hell of a momma. You can call me by my name, you can call me Momma. Call me what you will, but Don’t Call Me Ma’am. 😉
Here’s to all of us and finding your beauty!
Raina
Please note: While I wasn’t paid for this post, I did receive the goods in exchange for the write up. Also, the pictures in the post are from DCMM and Revel Creative Marketing Group, who were wonderful in providing all images from the event and of the products-thank you, ladies!!!!
You should get out more!
Sometimes you just want, no NEED to get out. You need to have conversations with adults that don’t involve Daniel Tiger and to relax, eat good food and have a fun time. That well needed break came in the form of Seattle Food Tours. I recently … Read More