Fresh and Easy Meals - Apple Butternut Squash Soup

Okay... so this soup is SUPER EASY and SUPER CHEAP!!!! 

The total cost of the soup is: $16.02 

It should feed a family of 5, plus leftovers! 

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons good olive oil
• 4 cups chopped yellow onions (3 large)
• 2 tablespoons mild curry powder
• 5 pounds butternut squash (2 large)
• 1 1/2 pounds apples (4 apples)
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups water
• 2 cups good apple cider or juice

Okay... so you start with these SIMPLE Trader Joe's ingredients!
HINT: I have purchased the items as whole (not pre-cut) ingredients,
thinking I would cut them up and save money.
Honestly... the onions, apples and squash SIT in my fridge for months!

 I just "can't be bothered" to cut them up!
So... here is my suggestion.
 Go withe pre-cut items!
Yes... they are more EXPENSIVE ...
but the process is quicker and the item's won't go bad!

Here's what you will need: 

• 1 pack of pre-cut Diced Onions: $1.59 
• 6 bags of pre-cut Butternut Squash:  $1.99 per bag
• 1 bag of Granny Smith Organic Apples: $ 2.49

Plus, some pantry items like: 

• Olive Oil
• Butter
• Curry Powder 
• Apple Juice
• Water  

So... here is the process with pictures. 

I LOVE recipes with pictures!

Start with your pre-cut Onions, Olive Oil and Butter on MEDIUM/LOW heat.
(I'm not a Chef, but I think adding the Olive Oil and Butter together, helps the butter not to burn?) 

Add your Curry Powder. (I used a Garam Masala Spice Blend)
Since I have English family, I tend to stock up on different curry blends when visiting the UK.
 However, a simple curry powder will do the trick! 

Now... turn the burned on low... I have an electric stove so I set the burner between 2 and 3.
You'll want it to be low enough and cook it slow enough
that the onions and curry powder turn into a paste. 

Awe... there it is! It will take around 30 min. I know it seems like A LOT of time,
but I washed the dishes and fed the kids while it cooked. 

Now you add the butternut Squash, Apples and Apple Juice or Cider. 

I used 2 Cups of Apple Juice and 1 Cups of Water.
If you prefer it less sweet, you can less Apple Juice instead. 

Turn up the heat until it's at a low boil.
Then turn it down to a low simmer and let it steam for 30-40 min.

Okay, check the Butternut Squash and Apple with a fork and make sure they are soft.
Now take your Emulsifier and blend the soup.
It will still have some small chunks, but should be mostly liquid.

Okay..., Here is the final soup!
(Add Salt and Pepper to your taste preference)

It's one of the most incredible soup you will EVER taste.
People will ask you, "What is the flavor?" It's the Curry powder!

It's takes the SWEETNESS of the Butternut Squash,
the BITTERNESS of the Green Apples
and the SAVORY flavor of the curry powered...
and it make it the most FLAVORFUL soup you will every have! 

Cheers! Until we meet again. 

Debsx 

Valentine's Day Boxes - Revealed!

Well.. my Valentine's Day was a BLAST! 

I had SO much fun making Valentine's boxed lunches. 

There were a TOTAL HIT and I can't wait to do it all over again next year! 

So... do you want to see how they turned out? 

I'll show you! I took a ton of pictures. 

It's amazing how something SO simple, 

with some small details and lots of LOVE 

can turn out SO special!

I started by personalizing some of the products I purchased.
It's the little touches that make a HUGE impact!
I printed labels and attached them down with good, old fashioned elmer's glue.
I'm sure there's something easier, but that's all I had and it totally worked! 

Aren't these SO cute?
I attached an adorable poke-a-dot straw
with some red and white twine, giving them such a nostalgic feel. 

The more... the merrier!  

I had three types of cakepops:
Vanilla, Peppermint and Chocolate Truffle.
They matched my "Red, White and Pink" color scheme! 

All the boxes are lined up and packed with the items.
 I had to find the PERFECT fit, before I added the food.
(Yes... I'm THAT O.C.D.)
Poor Mr. Giles... he walked into the house
to find ALL the couches covered in boxes and nowhere to sit!
Thank God I married a VERY flexible man,
 who loves my creativity and will sacrifice for the greater good of his wife.

 I labeled every box with the name of the recipient.
using my alphabet red ink stamps.
They turned out perfectly!
Yes... the middle box says, "Benny Boy"... it was for by Brother-In-Law.
As fellow Melancholies, we are ALWAYS using inside jokes
and I knew he would think it was funny!

Here is a view from the top.

I placed a menu on the inside cover of the box.
When they opened the box, they would what was on the inside. 

Here is what it looked like. 

A Box Tour:
Left Side: A personal drink, straw and cakepop.
Middle: The plastic container held a salad.
Right Side: The white container held the soup and the stripped,
red and white wax paper, held the sandwich.
Bottom: A red napkin held the gold silverware and
it was tied with twine and a label.  

Here is the top of the box.

  So, on to the BEST part... the food! 

THE SALAD: 

California Salad 
Salted Pecans, Cranrasins and Blue Cheese Crumbles with a Raspberry Vinaigrette

All packaged up! 

THE SOUP: 

Organic Tomato Bisque
This was really simple to assemble... UNTIL the containers started leaking!!!
Thank God I noticed it BEFORE I put them in their boxes.
With some quick thinking,
I used leftover containers from my old food business and saved the day!  

Don't you just I love 'like items' lined up!
Yes.. it REALLY makes me happy!
No wonder I love Crate and Barrel's kitchen section.
Everything looks so clean and all the 'like items' so neatly stacked!  

THE SANDWICH

San Francisco Grilled Cheese
sharp cheddar cheese, roasted turkey, avocado and spicy mustard
Unfortunately, this is the only picture I took of the sandwiches.
Some of them had avocado, turkey and cheese and others were just plain grilled cheese.
I used a thick, rustic french bread and a spicy mustard.
 It was divine!

HINT: Between us girls, if I had to do it over again, I would make a cold sandwich.
 Even though they came out of the oven all toasty and delishous,
I'm not sure if they lasted as long in the delivery process.
I'm sure some people received them luke warm and had to reheat them.
So... you live and learn.
Next year, I will make a Classic BLT or a Chicken Salad Sandwich.
YUMMY.. my mouth is watering just thinking about it!  

Here is the final package.
Elegant, simple and perfect in every way!
I tied the box with more red and white twine.
It helped to keep the lid shut and all the goodies inside. 

Off to deliver the packages... all stacked in my Swagger Wagon!

On a side-note: 

I SURPRISED Mr. Giles and show up to his work in THIS! 

To my very "BRITISH" husband (who NEVER wants attention)
I knew it would be OVER THE TOP for him.
I was right!
When he saw me walking up to his work in this shirt,
he hugged me and asked if I HAD to come inside?
To which I responded, "Absolutley!"
Makes me smile even thinking about it.

Mr. Giles received a box too!
NO... not every box had LOVER BOY on it. 

Here is the box with food in it!

Mr. Giles enjoying his drink! 

Mr and Mrs. Giles
8 years ago, Daniel flew me up to Scotland and we had our first kiss!
What an incredable memory we shared.
Every Valentine's Day is special and we love to celebrate it!
Some years, we've booked beautiful hotel rooms or dinner cruises,
 other years we've stayed home and had a beautiful, romantic take out dinner.

No matter how big or how small we celebrate,
We love spending it together.

Here's to 40 future Valentine's Days!!!!

Cheers, until we meet again,  

Debsx 

Lunch Boxes for Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! 

I just received an order to make SURPRISE Valentine's Day Box Lunches. 

My friend is going out of town for Valentine's Day

 and wanted to do something special for her co-workers and family. 

They're going to be SO fun to make and even MORE fun to give! 

Wouldn't you LOVE to receive a special package on Valentine's Day? 

If you're like me, I'm SO last minute when it comes to Valentine's Day! 

Gifts are NOT my 'Love Language' 

and it's the LAST thing I think about on holidays. 

 Sad to Say, I'm usually running to the store the night before 

 trying to find something special that doesn't look like I got it at Rite Aid. 

So if you're like me and want to do something EXTRA special for Valentine's Day...

Let me create and deliver a 

Boxed Lunch for you on 

Valentine's Day!

How EASY is that! 

Okay... so here is what will be in the Box Lunch you order: 

Valentine's Straws 

Personal Martinelli's Bottle 

A Cup of Tomato Bisque 

A California Salad 
Salad topped with Feta, Cranberries, Walnuts with a Raspberry Vinaigrette 

A Golden Gate Grilled Cheese

Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Turkey, Avocado, Swiss Cheese and a Spicy Mustard   

A Valentine's Cake Pop 

The box will look similar to this,
with a "special delivery" theme. 

All you have to do is choose a:   

Soup/Sandwich OR Soup/Salad 

You will only pay $20! 

(For only $5.00 more, we will deliver it to your Valentine's home or workplace!*)

Order Today!

Pick Up between 11AM - 12PM, at a Roseville Location.  

Deliveries between 11AM - 1PM. 

Pay with Cash, Check or Credit Card.

Order 2 or more... FREE delivery! 

Please call/text Deborah @ 916.580.4764

or email deborah_giles@me.com 

Are you FASTING? 

We can take the cheese off the salad or double the amount of soup!

*We deliver to Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Granite Bay, Citrus Heights  

(Other locations may be delivered to,  for an extra fee. )

valentines day, food, picnic, delivered, simple, budget friendly, handmade, baked goodies, hearts,