flea markets & winter white vegetables

At last Sundays flea market in Irvine, California I found quite a bargain!  A complete set of china for $75.  Twelve 6-piece place settings and lots of fun serving pieces.  I was absolutely thrilled.  It was wrapped in clean bubble wrap and in two plastic bins.

The set includes a full tea, coffee, cream and sugar set, two covered butter dishes,  covered serving bowls, a soup tureen, several serving platters, bowls and plates.   I also found the adorable silver ornament and tree topper set, for $5.

I have been searching thrift stores for shallow soup bowls...this set came with 12.  Today I made a winter white vegetable soup that will be perfect for a holiday dinner party.  Recipe below.

Knowing that my kids will probably not go for the winter vegetable soup, I went ahead and made some mashed potatoes and picked up a rotisserie chicken at the market.  I love the way they look in my new china bowl!

Winter White Vegetable Soup

1 onion, chopped

1 head cauliflower, cut into pieces

2 medium turnips, peeled and cut into 1" dice

1 medium celeriac, peeled and cut into 1" dice

2 russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1" dice

2 medium parsnips, peeled and chopped

1 large fennel bulb, sliced

2 cloves garlic, skins removed and cut in half

2 TBSP butter

2 cups whole milk, heated (be careful to not let it come to a boil)

4 cups water

Melt butter in large heavy pan like a Le Creuset and add onion.  Cook until tender and add the rest of the vegetables and the 4 cups of water.  Add 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil.  Then let it simmer for about 45 minutes or until vegetables are very soft.  Off the heat add the hot milk and blend with an immersion blender or in batches in a regular blender.  Garnish with fresh chives and roasted beets cut small.  You can roast beets, but as a time saver I prefer to buy them at Trader Joe's already roasted.

Advent Calendar + decorating with old familiar things

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I started thinking about decorating for the holidays with planning this year's advent calendar.  I decided to stick with things I have around the house, my recent thrift and flea finds and my usual color palette of natural, black, white and silver with touches of green.  The first thing I did was paint a 4' x 4' piece of 1/4" plywood with chalkboard paint.  Then I emptied my candy jars, washed and filled them with holiday treats.  I used my black and white ticking stripe pillows from Juxtaposition to wrap around little trees I found at a local nursery for $5 each.  The entire project including the supplies for the chalkboard were less than $50 and it's a whole new look from last year. (You can see last year's advent calendar here).

I used lunch bags and twine and filled 24 bags with little presents for Madeline and Patrick...12 each.

I can never have too much candle light...especially when the days are shorter.  I found all my old jars that were large enough to hold a votive, wrapped twine around the top to give it a little something...my favorite jars are the ones that have writing in the glass like the Bonne Maman jam jar and the De Cecco one.  The candy jars are filled with things from Trader Joe's.  I wish I had not sampled the waffle cookies with chocolate and peppermint...I can't stop thinking about them.

I searched my cabinets for anything silver, gold, black and white and a little green.  The little match holder is also from Juxtaposition and it is a reclaimed apothecary bottle that has been scored on the bottom so that you can strike a match. 

I filled silver Revere bowls with pine cones and silver balls tied with black ribbons.  My favorite bowl is one that my husband won in a ski race.  I remember seeing it shortly after we met on a shelf in his book case...Salt Lake Area Corporate Ski Challenge Series, February 4, 1984, 3rd Place was engraved on the bowl.  I said, "You are such a good skier, I would think you would have come in first."  And yet he still married me...I know....

So are you decking the halls?  Are you using old or new or a combination of both?  Enjoy the season!
 
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I just noticed that this post is featured here today: blog.holamama....Thank you! And at ABCDdesign today-- Thank you Amy!  and here:  Momjeanz.  and The Corson Cottage.
  Thank you Paula  at Two Ellie!

Trader Joe's + Lentils

 My sister was telling me about this salad she made with French green lentils, but by the time I stopped at Trader Joe's I knew there was no way I was going to make it to actually cooking green lentils and then tossing together a salad.  I'm trying to make healthier choices all day long so when I saw Trader Joe's steamed lentils...I knew this was the short cut I needed to stop me from veering off the healthy eating trail.  I still had to chop a few things, but the steamed lentils ready to eat right out of the package was just what I needed.  I did warm them, but that only took three minutes in the microwave.

Shallots, carrot, yellow bell pepper, fresh parsley and arugula.

I sauteed the thinly sliced shallots in a little olive oil until soft and then added my diced carrot and bell pepper.  Season with salt and pepper.

Cook until all the vegetables are tender and add them to the lentils.  Add the parsley,  arugula,  a little more olive oil and a splash of balsamic.  Toss together and then add a small amount of crumbled goat cheese.  I freeze my goat cheese for a couple of minutes, then crumble it into the salad and toss gently.  This way the cheese does not melt too quickly.

Enjoy!

Available at Trader Joe's for $2.99. 

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