Friday Loves
1. STOUP! Alright…I have fallen in love with this recipe from Rachael Ray. It is called Black Bean Stoup. Nope. That is not a typo. This is a mix between a stew and a soup, so Rachael calls it “STOUP!”
This soup is so easy to make and mainly contains ingredients that you can find in your pantry. All I can say is that it was sooo good. I almost ate the whole pot in one day (keep in mind, my stomach can’t hold that much food…I definitely had a headache the next day from overeating).
You can get the recipe for this delicious soup HERE. She also includes a recipe for Southwestern Monte Cristo sandwiches (so make sure to read the directions before picking up the ingredients at the store if you’re only making the soup). Technically…the ingredients for the soup end right before the white bread part.
Some things to keep in mind…don’t freak out if you don’t have ‘ground coriander’ in your cabinet. Another name for it is CILANTRO. Check to see if you have cilantro in your spices first before running out to get the same thing that says “coriander” instead.
I also do not buy soup stock. I buy bouillon cubes. It’s cheaper and easier to store (doesn’t take up a lot of space). Just follow the directions on the side of the box/jar. It should tell you how much water to add per cube.
Another substitute I use are onions when I don’t have garlic. Onions and garlic are in the same family and basically will have similar effects in a dish.
Also, I decided to use Roland’s Srirachi sauce instead of hot sauce in the recipe (Roland’s brand is a little sweeter and not as spicy). I think switching to the Srirachi instead of regular hot sauce was what made a world of difference in this recipe. It was so flavorful and amazing.
This is a recipe you have to try out. I’m making another pot this weekend. It was just sooo good. It definitely blew my other favorite soup (Martha Stewart’s Vegetarian Tortilla Soup) out from my #1 favorite soup spot. This soup (especially if you use the modification in hot sauces) will have you coming back for more and more and more.
It’s spicy…but oh, so good.
2. No More Tubes! So this may be a little weird that I’m going to talk about toilet paper. Don’t worry…I have a point.
When I ordered my groceries a month ago, I put in for whatever brand toilet paper was on sale. They brought me Scott Naturals tube-free toilet paper. Of course, I thought…well that’s weird…but I’ll give it a try.
After one month, I can’t help but think how brilliant this concept is! No more tube litter! People keep doing upcycling posts on what to do with toilet roll tubes…just to keep things green. Really…most of them still make me think it’s just stupid trash. Now, we can just get rid of the tube altogether. It’s so much less waste!
3. A New Favorite Blog. I stumbled upon this blog on Pinterest last week (after I already wrote up last week’s Friday Loves). I realized I’ve not been sharing new blogs as of late, and that’s a bit of my fault really…I’ve been reading so many of them that I forget to mark them as a favorite and go back to them! Lesson learned, especially after I stumbled across “Can You Stay For Dinner?”
If you’ve ever struggled with weight loss…this site is for you.
After reading how Andie Mitchell lost half of her body weight, I couldn’t help but feel like she was my long lost best friend. I could relate to her on so many levels…the struggles, the unhappiness, the depression, the fears, etc. She made me realize that you don’t have to kill yourself to be thin, you just have to make steps…by getting out there and making them.
She inspired me to start moving and keep moving.
What I also love is that she loves to cook…just like I do. She shares recipes and gives you ideas on what to make, what to buy at the grocery store, and so on.
For those who have ever struggled to be healthy, lose weight…or you’re trying to now (like who isn’t?)…this is the blog for you. Andie is currently writing her first book on her weight loss journey, as well as designing a cookbook filled with recipes she’s developed over the past few years on her journey to being thin. You can take a glimpse into her world while she writes. Her blog will not only educate you and give you ideas, but it will inspire you. It’s also a great way to see that you’re not alone in how you feel.
Oh, and just to give you an idea of how much she weighed…she was 268 pounds before she made it her mission to lose the weight and get healthy.
4. Knock Off Decor. Imagine all of those catalogs you peruse and wish that you could own all of those little items you see in there. Well, what if someone showed you how you could make it yourself?
Knock Off Decor does just that!
See that photo? When I saw it, I knew that looked identical to the Moroccan Headboard from West Elm. You won’t even believe how this headboard was made…try DOORMATS! Unbelievable, right?
The tutorial looks so simple (like my DIY simple loving ways). If I hadn’t already splurged for a headboard from Horchow (Neiman Marcus’s home furnishings site), I would be doing this myself. Although, this may be a perfect way to create the same style daybed in the second bedroom. Hmm…That may be my next DIY project.
Check out the site. You’ll find so many things on there and how to make them…you won’t have to worry about spending so much money on the real thing when you can just Do It Yourself!
5. Spotted on Pinterest…
This kind of goes right along with the last blog post!
I always tell people…stop dreaming about one day traveling to your dream destination. Just pick a date and book it!
I love the idea of a stoup! I think I will try this for my weekday lunches
Great post