1. this stuff. don’t even. i mean. i can’t. it’s so good. steve jokes that he should put it in a trough for me when i eat it. i say WELL WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, STEVE? no, but really. trader joes has done it again and it’s dangerous. with their classic potato chip? well, 9 pm at the hunts has never been so fun.
2. we’re reading this book in book club–one of my mom’s favorites–and so far, i’m totally liking it. any of you read it? it’s fiction, but based on a seriously interesting bit of history.
3. i love, as you already know, stews and soups and chilis. do you have any i should know about? in other words GIVE THEM TO ME NOW. also, i made the most amazing white chili the other night and i will share the recipe soooooon.
4. i went through a major brian andreas phase in college. do any of you love him too? i used to go to his ‘pick a quote for me’ page, almost daily, and read through them. i love his stuff.
5. i feel like i should begin christmas shopping, but i’m not sure where to start. sometimes i don’t think we need more stuff and other times i’m all, “it’s christmas! let’s swim in presents!” and, as always, i’m totally stumped as to what to get for steve. what do you guys get your husbands/significant others???? please help.
6. normally i have already started addressing my christmas cards by now. this year? don’t even have a family photo. need to get on that! it’s practically keeping me up at night!
7. enough about christmas and enough of this list. have a good weekend!! and oh! i think i’m gonna try my hand at these tomorrow morning!
Yikes! I haven't even thought about Christmas cards. In fact, I'm still in denial that it's November.
Ps… your love for that dip is hilarious, and probably justified. Trader Joe's knows what's up.
I was just thinking about Christmas cards today.
ohh… right. Christmas cards. I guess I should get on that. And we definitely need a picture this year because I'm visibly preggo 😉
Man gifts? I'm looking for a cocktail shaker for mine, ha ha. Does Steve like any particular magazines? One year I got my hubby a subscription to This Old House (he's Mr. Handy) and I've enjoyed it at least as much as he has, actually.
And I must say that no matter what else I buy him, there's always lingerie in some form tucked into the package…
Me and my boyfriend were going to buy a Crock-pot recipe book yesterday at the bookstore, but for whatever reason, didn't. We've got a Crock-pot sitting in our basement, dying to be used. Not to mention, my boyfriend loves all things cooked in one and is patiently waiting for me to make something. Besides chili though, I'm pretty sure I've never eaten anything from a slow cooker..
Shopping for my husband is the worst! Not because I hate giving him presents–I usually get it right–but he is always up-to-date on deals and the like, so he will have ordered for himself something I was planning to get him before I even know it! And if I do get something to surprise him with, he will guess it! He still builds with LEGO, so I typically get a LEGO set he wants along with some other goodies that I have to plan and scheme and hide so he doesn't know…
I keep meaning to read One Thousand White Women…I can't believe I haven't yet!
@rebekah daphne, lingerie! that is always a winner 🙂
@bree, you must get it out! the crockpot meals i make are some of our faaaavorites.
@ashley, steve is NOT up-to-date with things, but he hardly wants anything. boooring.
I could not agree with you more about Christmas. Husbands are the hardest too. I have not read that book but love Sandra Dallas (read every single book) who is mentioned on what "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought". Another good read Daughter of Fortune. I love women suffrage books, I ewonder what that says about me:)
stew/soup/chili discovery of the last 2 weeks: slow-braised chicken verde. normally, things a little scratchier in my kitchen, but this is the closest thing i get to "jar of sauce" dinners. check it: sear 2lbs. chicken on all sides, remove, saute awesome veg (onions, pepps, carrots, turnips, whatever) til soft, some cumin-y spice mix, (optional: deglaze pan with a shot of tequila), add chicken again, and, READY: a jar of legit salsa verde (meaning: it has to have tomatillos in it–none of this "green tomato" BS). turn down, cover, simmer for about 35 mins. serve over rice, or in tortillas w/ cabbage and unconscionable chunks of cheddar.
why do you have to tease me with TJ purchases?
Annnnd I just added a TJs trip to my weekend agenda to pick up the dip!
I have the same thoughts about Christmas. Every year I 1) think about starting shopping early 2) never do it 3) waffle between buying practical gifts and "fun" gifts 4) always overspend on my "budget"
This year…maybe it could be different? Perhaps?
Let us know if you find any awesome gift ideas!
Oh, Story People! I love Brian Andreas. I've been in that phase for years. 🙂
normally i do my christmas cards early too to get them out the way and then post them at the beginning of december but i can't write them as instead of two we will probably be three and i dont want to tempt fate incase anything happens. that makes me sound really irrational 😉
I love this time of year! 🙂 And speaking of chilis, my mom used to make this sweet potato chili that was SO GOOD. I'm not even sure how it was made, but it was different and delicious. And I could definitely get that recipe from my mom and email it over to you, because I feel like you'd love it.
I think we're making that Chicken Tortilla Soup that you posted a few weeks ago, so I'm pumped about that.
and I just ordered our Christmas cards a few days ago! With the whole wedding thing just a few months ago, I'm totally going the cliche newlywed route and using some of those pictures, with me in a white dress and Ben in a suit because Christmas cards deserve to be fancy, I say! And also, those are all the pictures we have.
and husband Christmas gifts? I think one of Ben's is going to be a massage. Not orginal in the slightest, but always appreciated.
Yes, that dip is awesome! Thanks for the book rec, I used to love anything "pioneer" when I was younger! Totally forgot! Adding this to my holiday travel stack!
This year I am doing something different with my kids for Christmas. They get (and have) too much stuff. So from me they are getting 4 things…a want, a need, a wear, a read. And that is it. Oh and stocking stuffers too. We (my 2 older kids and I) have also signed up to volunteer at this woman and childrens shelter here in our town. Plus a food bank. This year we are going to be more giving then we have ever been and less receiving. They seem ok with it for now.
P.S. my 12 year old sons "want" item is a $300 pair of headphones. Is that not crazy?!? He wants a pair of those stupid beats headphones. Let me know if you find a good deal on them. LOL!
http://www.recipeforcrazy.com/2012/11/roasted-pumpkin-soup-recipe.html
@alice, thanks for the recipe – and i love that idea: a want, a need, a wear, a read. so great.
My husband and I pretty much had Christmas this month. He got a new car, and we just spent a lot of extra money which we rarely do. We live in a 650 square foot home, so I always am in panic mode when Christmas comes and we have to receive all of these gifts that family got just to get us something (because you can't just forgo gift exchange! the horror!) and then we have to find a place to put the gifts that we really didn't need and I'm getting anxiety just writing this right nooowwwwww.
So this year, I already decided that instead of exchanging gifts with each other, we are donating to this guy: http://www.indiegogo.com/Charliesbrain-campaign and asking our family members to do the same. We just don't need anything.
I'm waiting to feel old enough to send out Christmas cards. I'm almost 30 and I have two kids. Maybe I'm there?
I just made some vegetarian chili that rocked my world. I posted the recipe on my Crazy blog on Monday if you're in the market for some veggie chili 🙂
just posted this yesterday and it sounds right up your alley! 🙂 http://www.thesweetslife.com/2012/11/slow-cooker-sweet-potato-cauliflower.html
As a matter of fact, I do happen to have some soup recipes that you should know about (and try!). http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/01/cauliflower-soup/ (it's soooo bad for you but soooo good!) AND http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/jamie-oliver/superb-squash-soup-with-the-best-parmesan-croutons-recipe/index.html Enjoy!
@andrea, so funny, i've actually made her cauliflower soup before! delish!
I read A Thousand White Women a few years ago for book club – it's totally brilliant, crazy at times and heartbreaking.
Also, cooked an amazing chilli recently. Google Jamie Oliver's pulled brisket chilli – super delish!
OK, I made Jenni's split pea soup this week and OMG…it was a HUGE HIT. My boyfriend said it might be the best thing I've ever made (since starting cooking only about a year ago. hehe) Anyhow, check it out! So good and so easy! 🙂
http://storyofmylifetheblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/a-weekend-for-good-eating.html
P.S. I always have a hard time shopping for my BF, ugh…
That book is amazing! And stays with you in thought for a while. Loved it so much that it's back on my list to re-read!
I need a new book to read, you'll have to let us know if it's good once your done. And that TJ dip looks yummy.
http://shannonhearts.blogspot.com/
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/butternut-squash-soup-with-fontina-cheese-crostini-recipe/index.html
Best butternut squash soup. Hands down.
I am a huge soup person, too! Here are some of my favorites…I promise that none will disappoint!
Cheeseburger soup:
http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/soups/cheeseburger-soup/
Lentil soup – this one is also really good pureed…I do that so my kids will eat it in spite of all of the veggies (or, because of all of the veggies!)…would think Parker could enjoy it pureed? Oh, and one more note on this one…I was buying my ingredients at TJ's and they had no dried lentils, so I tried the steamed, refrigerated ones from the produce section and they worked perfectly! Just add them in at the end instead of the beginning:
http://bleubirdvintage.typepad.com/blog/2012/01/soup-love.html
Best tortilla soup I've ever eaten:
http://3peanuts.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-perfect-fall-soup.html
And I think my favorite tomato parm. soup was actually originally found here on your blog, but just in case the one I have is different, here it is…it is so, so good, and I never make in the crockpot, just on the stovetop:
http://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/2009/03/day-56-tomato-basil-parmesan-soup.html
Finally…this is one for corn chowder and it is super good! I didn't use any sausage, but did add 2-3 shredded chicken breasts and it was a good addition:
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Hearty-Corn-Chowder
Give these a try! Hope you find something you like!
agree with you on that highly addictive dip! and yes, i have a couple recipes you'll love. first for Moroccan chicken stew, if you haven't already tried it. i made a few changes from the original recipe, here is link http://nineandsixteen.blogspot.com/2011/11/food-family.html
scroll to the end of the post, the recipe is there along with a not so great photo, but trust me, it is realllllly good. I also love rachel ray's chicken curry. you'll have to google for link, but it's good and fun b/c everyone can make it their way with the toppings. happy cooking!!
tessa
Loved Brian Andreas in college too…and in his school. So good.
Bridget, this
Salsa Verde Dumplings with Herbed Cornmeal Dumplings is so good! Your kids will love it.
http://www.pink-parsley.com/2011/01/salsa-verde-chicken-and-dumplings.html
oh my goodness, everyone. thanks for the recipe suggestions! stews galore here at the hunts!
I keep a running tally in my head of things that he says "one day I really want one of these", but we're at a different point in our lives than you are perhaps. This year he is getting a one of a kind, hand carved wooden peppermill (they are so amazingly interesting!), some new button up shirts because he has lost a lot of weight, maybe some new vibrams, some cuff links, and a little toothbrush cleaner from brookstone (he makes me so upset running the water until it's crazy hot every morning to "sanitize" his toothbrush.
Of course, these are all things that will be parsed out to my family to buy for him, not just me. What are your thoughts so far?