it's fall y'all!

It's finally feeling like fall around here!  I have been fall break this week.  Hence my absence from the blog!  To kick off my fall break, David and I took Hazel to an apple festival in North Georgia!  We try to go up there every year around this time, but this was her first trip.  She had a big time.  Hazel quite literally slept ALL day to recover from all of the excitement.

On our way, we stopped at Burt's Farm to find a pumpkin.  And not only did we find a pretty pumpkin, but also some butternut squash!  We decided to get a couple since we love butternut squash soup.  As expected, farm fresh butternut squash soup is yummy!

Later in the day, we went apple picking!  We picked 1 peck of apples.  It was really fun to pick them from trees ourselves.  I whipped up several loaves of apple bread for David to enjoy this week while I was gone and also to take to my family!  At the festival, Hazel made a lot of friends.  I picked out an adorable candle in a mason jar from Ellijay Candle Company.  They are made with soy and burn 45-50 hours.  I smelled all of the scents while David let some kids play with Hazel.  Then, I made David smell all of the scents all over again.  We chose Egyptian Amber.  I highly recommend you check them out.  Our house smells amazing!

We are kicking fall of right with all of these yummy recipes!  I hope you will check the soup and bread out.  We are excited about fall being here, because now eating soup feels perfect.  Sitting on the porch with Hazel is pleasant, and she enjoys standing in a breeze.

butternut squash soup

This Monday is finally coming to an end.  

We are wrapping up the evening by watching the debate, of course.

The hubs and I fell in love talking politics, so what else would we do.

But earlier tonight...

Let me just tell you... I outdid myself.

I mean I'm seriously impressed.

I made a soup.

And not just one with tons of beans, but something yummy and healthy.

Husband ate two bowls, so I know I'm not crazy, it's REALLY good!

Butternut Squash Soup.

YUM.

And it gave me an excuse to buy an immersion blender.

What goes in it?

1 large butternut squash (3-4 cups cubed)

2 carrots peeled

2 celery stalks

1 small onion

7 cups of fat free chicken broth

4 sage leaves

1/2 cup skim milk

salt and pepper

How do you put it together?

Get out a big pot and lid.

Cube your butternut squash.

Chop up your celery and onion.

Peel your carrot.

Throw it all in the pot.

Add chicken broth and sage leaves.

Boil for 10 minutes.

Cover and simmer for 40 minutes.

Remove sage leaves.

Puree with immersion blender (while on stove).

Add milk, salt and pepper to taste.

Puree, puree, puree.

Add some parmesan cheese to the top if you like.

Trust me, you won't regret it.

I hope you ENJOY :)