Recipe: Easy Pumpkin Soup

I started making this soup around Thanksgiving, when I had leftover pumpkin from making pies! This is a nice soup for cold weather - comforting, with a hint of sweetness.

1 small can pumpkin purée
1 large container (32 oz) chicken or vegetable stock or broth (home made if possible!)
1/2 white or yellow onion, finely chopped
1 small shallot, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 small piece of ginger, grated
1 TBS agave or maple syrup
1/2 C milk or cream or soy milk
1 TBS Olive oil
Salt, pepper, cayenne pepper

Heat olive oil in pot. Add onion and shallot and cook until translucent (not browned). Add garlic and ginger, cook another minute.

Add stock and cook 10 minutes. Add pumpkin, agave and spices. Stir together and cook 30 minutes covered. Add milk or cream at the end.

Serve with a dollop of creme fraiche if desired.

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Montserrat Mountain - Barcelona, Spain

While in Barcelona, we took a day trip with friends up to Montserrat mountain. The view was incredible! We felt so far up, and the view seemed to go on forever... According to our friend, the mountain is named after the teeth of a saw, which it resembles when gazing up. 

The mountain was a place of spiritual pilgrimage. While at the top of the mountain, we visited the Benedictine abbey, where we heard a boys choir sing, and visited the famous statue of the Virgin Mary. 

It is quite an amazing place, and a recommended day trip for those visiting Barcelona!

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Trees in Spain - Like Being Inside a Painting

While in Barcelona recently, we took a drive up Montserrat mountain. Afterwards, we ended our day with a late lunch at a hidden restaurant, nestled amongst olive tree groves. There I was delighted by these beautiful trees in bloom!


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Happy Valentine's Day from Paris!

Happy St Valentin Day from Paris! Such a charming place to celebrate this romantic day!

Hope you are all with the ones you love on this day!


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NYC Bagel Brunch Delivery! Russ & Daughters

My BEST FRIEND sent me this lovely gift for the New Year! We met in college at NYU and have had so many years of fantastic adventures in the city. One of our favorite weekend activities was getting delicious NYC bagels (with lox, of course!)

So what a fun surprise to receive the "NYC Brunch" special delivery gift package from Russ & Daughters located in the heart of the city on Houston Street. Perfect bagels, smoked salmon, rich cream cheese, chocolate babka (so chocolately!!), flavorful coffee from Brooklyn Roasting Company, a coffee mug, and a cute insulated tote bag that will be perfect for picnics for 2 in the future!

In true NYC brunch fashion, we served all of this with mimosas, and sliced up some tomato, red onion, and lemon wedges to go with the bagels.

Order your own gift package to share tasty NYC anywhere in the US!


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Happy New Year!!

Wishing everyone all the best in the upcoming year!!


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