Soup, Football and Boxes

I love fall! The leaves are turning colors, the air is crisp, and soup is on the stove! A week ago I made potato soup for Paul and me. Most recipes I found use a can of cream of chicken soup, or lots of milk or sour cream. If you know me at all, neither of those are in many of recipe books. However, I do follow some vegan blogs, and Peas and Thank You had this version of a lower carb, vegan baked potato soup. I decided to try it, and it turned out really good. It was thick and creamy still, but hopefully a little healthier.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

• 1 T. olive oil or organic butter
• 1 1/2 c. chopped onion (approx. 1 medium onion)
• 5 c. cauliflower florets (approximately 1 lb.)
• 1 large baking potato, peeled and diced
• 1/2 t. salt
• 4 c. vegetable stock
• 1 1/2 c. non-dairy (plain, unsweetened) or organic milk
• 1 c. non-dairy or organic shredded cheese
• salt and pepper to taste
• garnishes: smoked paprika, additional cheese of choice, sliced green onions, non-dairy or organic sour cream

Place a large stock pot over medium-high heat and add oil or butter.  Add the onion and saute for a few minutes.  Add cauliflower, potato, salt and stock and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.  Set aside to cool slightly.

Using a blender or immersion blender, puree the soup.  Return the soup to the pot and add milk of your choice.  Bring to a low boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.  Add cheese and lower the heat, stirring until the cheese has melted.

Adjust seasoning to taste.  Serve immediately, passing desired garnishes at the table.

This is Paul's - we added sour cream, cheese, and bacon to his. This was the second batch of bacon. The first batch didn't make it to the bowl.

This is mine. I added oyster crackers and cheese to mine. No bacon. 

Definitely a repeat recipe. I had the left overs for dinner the following evening, and it was just as good, if not better.

On another note...


Way to go Tigers!
Clemson beat NC State 62-48. The scores were a little high, but a win is a win.

Still the best 25 seconds in college football.

And yet still...

Paul and I have been visiting churches in the area trying to find a new church home. We've tried two so far - both pretty different though. They're both small baptist churches, but one is a traditional southern church and one is a new contemporary baptist church. We started going to the Sunday School class at the traditional church because we know the teachers. Greg and Paige were our College Sunday School teachers at Taylor's First Baptist where we first met. They kinda helped push us together, and were there for us through dating, engagement, and wedding.

This was at our engagement party. Greg and Paige are on the left with us and our other SS teachers on the right. 

Anyway, the Sunday School class organized and planned a Thanksgiving Ministry of preparing and passing out boxes to local families. So last night, Paul and I went to help put all the boxes together. The class had a goal of making 80 boxes, the church had a goal of 130. Initially, they received 135 orders, and then within a weekend, and after already shopping, received 40 more! So we put together just about 135 Thanksgiving dinner boxes! We enjoyed the time and had fun meeting new people, serving God and the community.

A stack of boxes, pre- put together. 

Nothing beats an assembly line. 

Paul and I were charge of organizing the boxes in numerical order for passing out. Each person who ordered a box was given a number that matched a number on a box - that way when they come to pick it up, a "runner" can go retrieve the right one. The boxes didn't come to us in numerical order, so it was quite the task figuring out how to line them up. It was a good lesson on team work for us! :)

Here's the whole team who worked hard to put these boxes together. 

Other than that we're staying busy working. We've just bought all of our Christmas decorations and I can't wait to put them up! So lots of pictures will be coming AFTER Thanksgiving of our house decorated for Christmas.

God Bless!!