12 soups, 1 post. Yay soup season!

daylight-fading:

Creamy Spinach Soup 
Put 1 chopped onion, 2 peeled garlic cloves, 3 cups water and salt and  pepper in a pot over high heat. Boil, cover, lower the heat and simmer  until the onion is tender, about 10 minutes. Add 10 ounces chopped  spinach and 1/2 cup parsley leaves; cook until the spinach is tender, 2  to 3 minutes. Add 1 cup Greek-style yogurt and purée. Garnish: A  spoonful of Greek-style yogurt and chopped parsley.
Squash-and-Ginger Soup 
Substitute 1 tablespoon minced ginger for the garlic and 4 cups chopped  butternut squash for the spinach (it will take longer to soften). Skip  the parsley and substitute half-and-half or cream for the yogurt.  Garnish: A spoonful of cream.
Curried Cauliflower Soup Substitute 1 tablespoon minced ginger for the garlic, 2 cups cauliflower  florets for the spinach (they will take longer to soften), 1 tablespoon  curry powder for the parsley and coconut milk for the yogurt. Garnish:  Chopped cilantro.
BROTHY
Vegetable Broth With Toast  Put 2 chopped carrots, 2 chopped onions, 1 small chopped potato, 2  chopped celery ribs, 2 garlic cloves, 10 sliced mushrooms, 1 cup chopped  tomatoes (canned are fine), 10 parsley sprigs, 1/2 ounce dried porcini,  8 cups water and salt and pepper in a pot over high heat. Boil, lower  heat and simmer until the vegetables are soft, 30 minutes or longer.  Strain and serve over toasted good bread. Garnish: Chopped celery  leaves.
Egg Drop Soup  Beat 4 eggs. Boil the strained stock, lower the heat so it simmers and  add the eggs in a steady stream, stirring constantly until they’re  cooked, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup chopped scallions, 1 tablespoon  soy sauce and 1 tablespoon sesame oil. Skip the bread. Garnish: Chopped  scallions.
Rice-and-Pea Soup Boil the strained stock, lower the heat so it simmers and add 3/4 cup  white rice. Cook until tender, then add 2 cups fresh or frozen peas;  cook for a minute or two. Skip the bread. Garnish: Grated Parmesan
EARTHY
Bean Soup Put 1 1/2 cup dried beans, 1 chopped onion, 2 chopped carrots, 2 chopped  celery ribs, 2 bay leaves, 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves and 6 cups  water in a pot over high heat. Boil, lower the heat, cover and simmer  until the beans are soft, at least 1 hour, adding more water if  necessary. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish: A drizzle of olive oil.
Chickpea-and-Pasta Soup Substitute chickpeas for  the beans and rosemary for the thyme and add 1 cup chopped tomatoes  (canned are fine). When the chickpeas are almost tender, add 1/2 cup  small pasta. Cook until the pasta and chickpeas are tender, 10 to 15  minutes. Garnish: A few chopped rosemary leaves.
Spicy Black-Bean Soup  Use black beans and substitute fresh oregano for the thyme. When the  beans are done, add 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 dried or canned  chipotle and the juice of a lime. Garnish: Cilantro and sour cream.
HEARTY
Minestrone Sauté 1 chopped onion, 1 chopped carrot, 1 chopped celery rib and 1  teaspoon minced garlic in 3 tablespoons olive oil for 5 minutes. Add 2  cups cubed potatoes and salt and pepper; cook for 2 minutes. Add 1 cup  chopped tomatoes (canned are fine) and 5 cups water. Boil, lower the  heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Add 1 cup chopped green beans; simmer  for 20 minutes. Garnish: Chopped parsley and grated Parmesan.
Mushroom Soup  Substitute 1 1/2 pounds sliced mushrooms (preferably an assortment) for  the potatoes; sauté until they brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Substitute ½ cup  white wine for the tomatoes, skip the green beans and add a fresh thyme  sprig with the water. Garnish: A few thyme leaves.
Tomato-and-Garlic Soup Use 2 tablespoons minced garlic and substitute 2 tablespoons tomato  paste for the celery. Skip the potatoes and green beans; use 3 cups  tomatoes and 3 cups water. Cook the tomatoes for 10 to 15 minutes.  Garnish: Lots of chopped or torn basil
Notes:
All of these recipes serve four, and you’ll want about a  2.5-to-4-quart (medium or large) pot. Most can be cooked for a while —  but not so long that the freshness is gone. Most will taste as good or  better the next day, so consider making a double batch and refrigerating  (or freezing) the leftovers. But never boil a soup after you’ve added  dairy to it; instead, reheat gently. 
 If you want a supersmooth soup (and just about any of these soups can be  puréed if you like), use a standing blender — let the soup cool a bit  first — which creates a finer purée than an immersion blender does; you  might even strain the soup after puréeing it. 
 Garnishes are all optional, though herbs add a dimension that will be  lacking otherwise. If you taste as you’re cooking, you’ll be fine,  because there is really nothing to go wrong here.

(via The Cheese Thief: How to Fold Glass-like Stars)
I will never be thin enough to wear this outfit, but will continue to dream that someday it may be a possibility. <3 it!
Pretty blues! That wallpaper is to die for!
Pretty pink earrings. Handblown, hollow glass bead with amethyst, swarovski crystal ,and an artisan lampwork spacer accent. Handmade earwires.
What a great idea for a t-shirt  that may have shrunk a bit in the length. The whole list is full of great ideas, but this one  is awesome. great for kids and adults!
Click through for a list of GREAT tutorials including this one!
craftyscientist:

(via Dollar Store Crafts » Blog Archive » Roundup: Using Old T-Shirts) - this might be my favorite giant list of quality tutorials!
Learn to make your own version of this Anthropologie necklace for about $7 bucks!!! It’s like a little celebration you can wear around your neck!
Click through to Mrs.Priss Blog  and GET CRAFTY!!!
This is my DREAM kitchen. It’s vintage, and kitschy, and sickeningly pink.  It just SCREAMS “put on your apron and bake a bundt cake.”
I want to bake a bundt. I totally do.
I don’t suppose you can put an entire kitchen on your Chrstmas list, can you?
jessicastampley:

I gasped a bit when I saw this..