Memories for Life

Memories For Life is the August featured Etsyblogger Team Member. Edi Royer is a scrapbooker and paper crafter extraordinaire. Wonderful albums. notebooks, etc. can be found in her Etsy store.

Memories For Life blog is where you can keep up with it all.

Food For Thought

August 28 Blog Carnival

1) Your favorite food. What is it and why? If it's something you make please share the recipe.

2) Back to school. What does it mean to you?

Since back to school only means I have to drive 15mph on Gowan on my way to work I will choose option #1.

I have many favourite foods so this is a toughy. I love and collect recipes for Sugar Pie, a Canadian treat that is as sweet as the name implies, and Shoo Fly Pie, an Amish delight I discovered whilst visiting a small town in Pennsylvania when I was 16. (On a side note, I also discovered what a taco was on that trip and I love those too!)

I also thought to share a couple of recipes that have been made by my mom (and now by me) my whole life. A lovely banana cake (not bread, cake) and a scrumptious coffee cake. Then there are my grandmother's Butterscotch Curls (drool) and my aunt's Cherry Wonders (which I can't make because the dough must be refrigerated overnight and I really cannot be left alone in the house with raw cookie dough ALL night.)

But you know what? Soup season is approaching, carrots are cheap and healthy, and would it kill us to talk about something that is actually good for us?? So here's a simple carrot soup I make that is delicious, easy and I've discovered, also good cold (in case soup season drags it's feet.)

FRESH CARROT SOUP WITH HERB MIX

1/2 cup minced onion
1 clove garlic, minced
Nonstick cooking spray
4 cups nonfat low sodium chicken broth (I just use powdered usually.)
1 lb carrots, sliced
1 teaspoon lemond juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
Chopped cilantro (I DO NOT use this. Cilantro....blech.)
Chopped basil (dried works fine for me.)
Crushed red pepper flakes

Saute onions and garlic in medium saucepan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray until tender, about 2 minutes. Stir in broth and carrots and heat to boiling. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until carrots are tender 25-30 minutes.

Puree carrots and broth in blender (I use Magic Bullet) until smooth. Blend in lemon juice and salt.

Spoon into serving bowls (I eat it straight out of the pot) and sprinkle each with a little chopped cilantro (again, blech) and basil. Sprinkle with red pepper flakes for spice before serving.

4 SERVINGS, EACH SERVING:

152 calories;475 mg sodium;5mg cholesterol;1 gram fat;26 grams carbohydrates;11 grams protein;1.16 grams fiber.

Where Have All The Good Times Gone?

In a few months, the holiday season will be in full swing. What are you planning for: increasing your inventory, festival hopping, networking?

Yes, the subject of the next Etsybloggers Carnival. The holidays. When I first saw this on the schedule I thought "Sh*t...the holidays? AlREAdY???!?!?!?

Well, yes and no. We're a few months away but everybody knows (except for people under, say, 20) how fast the time goes. And crafters need the time to make holiday stuff and get it out there so that it can be purchased on time for gifts and personal wear. Last year I wanted to make myself a pair of those adorable Swarovski tree earrings, but try to find the components for that in December...fuggetaboutit. So I made mine in January.

Now I'm in my "all about resin" phase so I'm on the lookout for holiday pictures and paper to turn magically into super cool bracelets, pendants, rings...

I made one pendant which is at the top of this page. I love her!!