Slow Cooker Lentil Soup

While it may seem like Winter is this long, cold, dry, depressing season during the year, I have to say that I totally don't believe this to be true.  From snow skiing to the entirely different wardrobe I get to take advantage of during this season, winter has a bunch of wonderful things to offer.  However, my #1 reason for loving winter would have to be Soup Season!   

I love soup and during the winter, I seem to exist off of it!  Its so warm, comforting, delicious and can be very healthy.  Speaking of healthy, I have come up with a wonderful and very healthy Lentil Soup recipe made in my beloved Crock Pot!!  Oh how I LOVE my Crock Pot.  Just set it and forget it!  The best part about this recipe?  In addition to being inexpensive to make, it's delicious, nutritious and also vegetarian friendly!  This recipe yields many servings of soup, so I love to make it over the weekend and then my husband and I will reheat it during the week.  This slow cooker lentil soup is definitely worthy of being a staple in your recipe repertoire. 

Ingredients

  • 1 Bag of Hurst's Brand Garlic & Herb Lentils (Harris Teeter and Publix carry this specific bag of lentils.  You can also order them in bulk from the Hurst's Store Website)
  • 1 Medium Yellow Onion Diced Coarse
  • 5 Stalks of Celery cut into 1/2inch pieces
  • 1.5 Cups of Carrots cut into 1/2inch pieces
  • 6 Cups Vegetable Broth
  • 2 Cups Water
  • 1 Parmesan Cheese Rind (Either Cut this off of a parmesan block that you buy or you can go to grocery stores like Whole Foods and buy a container of Just the Rinds--the rinds will keep in your fridge for months and are a staple in most of my soup recipes because of all of the flavor they add)
  • 5 Cloves of Garlic Minced
  • 3 Fresh Bay Leaves Cut in the Center (see image below)
  • 2 Dried Bay Leaves
  • 1/4Cup Fresh Chopped Parsley
  • Fresh Baby Kale
  • Fresh Shaved Parmesan

Instructions:

  1. Add the Vegetable Broth and Water to the Crock Pot
  2. Add the Lentils, Flavor Packet, Celery, Carrots, Onion, Garlic, Parmesan Cheese Rind, Fresh Bay Leaves, Dried Bay Leaves and Parsley to the Crock Pot
  3. Stir contents and set Crock Pot to High 6hrs (Stirring Contents Every 2hrs)

4.  Once the Crock Pot transitions to Warm mode, the soup should be done and ready to serve.

5.  Add the baby kale to the bowl first, then ladle the soup over the baby kale (the kale will wilt in a few minutes.  This way you will have deliciously wilted kale that is bright green in color.  **Adding the kale to the crockpot to cook with the lentils will cause the Kale to turn a green/gray color.**

6.  Garnish with parmesan cheese shavings and serve!

Selecting a Fruit Bowl

Recently I had been itching for a little updating in the fruit bowl department.  Sounds ridiculous, right?  Well, I have had the same glass pedestal fruit bowl since grad school.  Don't get me wrong, it's a classic fruit bowl that has been a wonderful addition to my kitchen countertop for years.  However, I needed a change, so the search for a new fruit bowl commenced!

As fate might have it, I was perusing through CB2 for small hors d'oeuvres bowls and came across the most perfect fruit bowl to update my space!  The best part....$14.95!!!  The large CB2 pinch bowl (pictured above) has added that much needed update to my kitchen countertops.  In addition, I have also found it to be a fabulous pop of gold on my living room display shelf and even as a vase for a few of my flower arrangements.  

Classic Fruit Bowl

  • If a classic fruit bowl is your preference, a simple white or clear glass bowl with modest decor would be the way to go.  White and glass tend to have a very clean look and are adaptable to most decor settings.  I have also included the Nambe Fruit Tree Bowl because a wood bowl can also be a classic look.  In addition, I love the aesthetic of the attached banana stand (used for prolonging the life of your bananas).  

Favorites Include: Sur La Table Cabbage Serve Bowl, Juliska Berry & Thread Footed Fruit Bowl, Dartington English Country Collection Centerpiece Bowl, Nambe Fruit Tree Bowl

Pedestal Fruit Bowl

  • I ADORE a pedestal bowl.  The added height creates a sense of sophistication and added elegance to the bowl and fruit presentation.  Another benefit is that you can separate your ethylene-sensitive (ES) from your ethylene producing (EP) fruits by storing one group in the bowl and the other group at the base of the bowl (just an idea).  Here is an article from Real Simple that breaks down which fruits are ES and which are EP.

Favorites Include: Crate & Barrel French Kitchen Marble Fruit Bowl, Williams-Sonoma Monogrammed Fruit Bowl, Nate Berkus Etched Ceramic Pedestal Bowl, Crate & Barrel Del Mar Serving Bowl, 

Multipurpose Fruit Bowl

  • Living in the city, I am always in search of space-saving solutions.  At least 80% of the items in my home need to have purpose, and I am elated my home items can serve more than one purpose.  Below are suggestions for fruit bowls (some of which I own and use as fruit bowls currently) that serve additional purposes such as: Cake Stand, Punch Bowl, Salad Bowl, Bread Basket and even Mixing Bowls!
My Nambe Butterfly Salad Bowl makes a great fruit/produce bowl when I have a bunch of bulky items that need to kept at room temperature.  

My Nambe Butterfly Salad Bowl makes a great fruit/produce bowl when I have a bunch of bulky items that need to kept at room temperature.  

Fruit Bowls with Flair

  • Let me just say, I LOVE this category of fruit bowls.  While they are not necessarily multipurpose or classic, they are aesthetically fab!  Personally, I am all about the splash of MacKenzie-Childs in my kitchen.  This large hand-painted Courtly Check Enamel Compote makes for a great pedestaled fruit bowl, while adding a touch of character and charm to your space.  In addition, I wanted to include an option similar to my gold CB2 pinch bowl in price, aesthetic and functionality.  This Threshold Hammered Bowl with Gold Finish from Target certainly fit the bill!  These are four great options for updating your space, adding a little character and of course storing your fruit!

Favorites Include:  MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Checked Enamel Compote (Large), Threshold Hammered Large Serving Bowl with Gold Finish, Alessi "Marta Sansonic" Cactus Fruit Bowl, SPI Home Twig Basket

Never in my wildest dreams did I think that writing a post on fruit bowls could be this much fun and enlightening.  There really are so many different types of fruit bowls out there that can add a great deal to your space in both look and functionality. I would encourage you to take a little time to explore and decide on a fruit bowl that best suits your lifestyle.  A fruit bowl's potential really can go far beyond it's obvious face value.  

Grilled Fig & Goat Cheese Crostini

I am all about hosting a quality cocktail hour and I believe that cocktail party success has a formula- good quality beverages, music in the background, fresh decor (even a simple arrangement of flowers), delicious nibbles with at least one or two unique and/or hot hors d'oeuvres.  

As you well know, the cheese board has become a staple for my cocktail parties.  It is delicious, has variety of edible options and easy to assemble.  In addition to the cheeseboard, I always like to have at least one or two other special hors d'oeuvres options.  This latest creation, Grilled Fig & Goat Cheese Crostini, was inspired from the ingredients I typically like to serve on a cheese board and it is the perfect small bite to serve at your next cocktail party.  So easy, full of flavor and dare I say somewhat healthy to boot!  A definite crowd pleaser!

Ingredients

  • 1 French Baguette
  • Goat Cheese Spread (Plain)
  • Fresh Thyme
  • Black Mission Figs Sliced Vertically in Half
  • Honey
  • Balsamic Glaze
  • Grapeseed Oil
  • 2 Tbs Canola Oil

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit

  2. Slice Baguette into 1/4 in thick slices on the diagonal

  3. Assemble on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper

  4. Brush the tops of the baguette slices with grape seed oil

  5. Sprinkle slices with salt and fresh cracked pepper

  6. Bake in the oven until golden brown (between 15 and 20min)

  7. Meanwhile - Heat 2tbs of Canola Oil in a skillet or grill pan on Med/High Heat

  8. Once the pan is hot, add Figs face down

  9. Cook for approx. 5 minutes (or until you start to see the fig start to caramelize)

  10. Flip Figs and cook for an additional 5mins then remove from heat

  11. When baguette slices are done cooking, allow to cool for approx. 5-10min

  12. Spread a thin layer of goat cheese on each toasted baguette slice

  13. Sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves

  14. Then add a grilled fig to each crostini

  15. Drizzle with either balsamic glaze, honey or both! 

  16. Serve and enjoy

Coffee Table Candles

I absolutely ADORE candles!  Nothing adds that intimate, inviting and illuminating touch to a space like a beautiful candle.  Candles have become a staple throughout my home.  I love displaying them in my bedroom, on my tablescapes, along the back wall of my bar and of course on my coffee table!  

Nest Fragrances Blue Garden Candle was the perfect addition to this blue and white themed coffee table.

Nest Fragrances Blue Garden Candle was the perfect addition to this blue and white themed coffee table.

As I have mentioned in my post on Coffee Table Decor, Candles are a functional staple that are versatile in shape and purpose.  The three categories of candles that I tend to use for purposes of coffee table decor are:

Tiffany & Co. Crystal Rock Cut Votives - accenting my coffee table for a cocktail party. 

Tiffany & Co. Crystal Rock Cut Votives - accenting my coffee table for a cocktail party. 

Candles

I hope this post has both inspired you and shown you how candles can really add to a space.  Whether you are enjoying a night in on your sofa or entertaining your friends, candles are a warm and wonderful addition.   

Easy Baked Brie

There are so many different schools of thought on the appropriate cocktail party menu in terms of both quantity and variety.  While I'm not a cocktail party expert (I just enjoy hosting them…a lot), one rule that I have always stuck with is that you should always plan to serve at least one or two hot hors d'oeuvres.  

This is definitely not a hard thing to do, nor should it sound intimidating.  I initially got started serving hot hors d'oeuvres because of the fabulous selection of heat and serve options available at my local grocery stores.  I now have a repertoire of my favorite heat and serve hors d'oeuvres, but as I have continued to grow (in the culinary sense), I have wanted to create my own hot hors d'oeuvre recipes that are easy to make and delicious (just like the heat and serve options I have loved for years!).  

A baked brie recipe seemed like the easiest starting point with the highest likelihood of recipe creation success.  I wanted to come up with something unique, delicious and full of tips on the best products and techniques to use so that I could share them with you!  Below is the breakdown of my Candied Walnut and Quince Paste Baked Brie Recipe.  

Ingredients

  • 1 Brie Wheel
  • 1 Sheet Frozen Puff Pastry Dough (thawed)  *Recommend Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry*
  • 2 Tbs Chopped Candied Walnuts
  • 1 1/2 Tbs Quince Paste
  • 1 Egg + a splash of water (My Brie Egg Wash)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
  2. Roll out thawed puff pastry sheet
  3. Place brie wheel centered on puff pastry sheet
  4. Spread 1 1/2 Tablespoons of Quince Paste on top of brie wheel
  5. Add chopped candied walnuts
  6. Gather pastry sheet and pinch closed over brie wheel and toppings
  7. Brush pastry with egg wash
  8. Bake on a lined cookie sheet for 20min
  9. Remove from oven and serve hot

Hot hors d'oeuvres are a great addition to your cocktail party menu and while I am still a fan of the different store bought heat and serve appetizers, I love that I now have this baked brie recipe to add to my repertoire.