Sausage, lentil, and kale soup

Talk about fall/winter soup-y yumminess!

This recipe, a la Martha Stewart Everyday Food (I searched and searched for the recipe online to link to here with no avail... the recipe below is typed directly from EVERYDAY FOOD magazine) was DELICIOUS!

If you keep up with me at all - you know that my hubby is the cook in this family - and he prepared this delicious soup tonight. The smells in the house were out of this world!

Ingredients:
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
8oz sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1/2 cup dried lentils
6 cups chicken broth
1 bunch kale, torn into bite size pieces (stems removed)
coarse salt and ground pepper
2 tsp red-wine vinegar

1. In a large dutch oven or heavy pot, heat oil over medium-high, Add sausage and cook, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, until golden brown, about five minutes. Add celery and onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add lentils, broth, and 1/2 cup water and bring to a boil. Reduce to a rapid simmer, partially cover, and cook until lentils and vegetables are tender, 25 minutes.


2. Add kale and season with salt. Return soup to a rapid simmer, cover, and cook until kale wilts, about 5 minutes. Remove soup from heat, stir in vinegar, and season with salt and pepper.


I'm so sorry for my absence this past week. There's been so much school, consulting, taking care of animals (my crazy dog, our cats, and some foster kittens!) and more that I've had ZERO time to craft and I'm just ITCHING to get down to the studio to work on projects.

I don't know about you - but I have a million holiday projects to get going on. I'll be back soon with a smattering of gift ideas...

Until then... what are YOU working on for the holidays? Do share! : )

Christmas Cards

I had some time this weekend to fiddle around with Christmas card designs and actually came up with this design that I really like! It's just a rough design... I want to experiment with embossing the main image and making several other similar cards with different color schemes / focal images to create a set. What I like about it though is that it's simple, easy to mass produce, and has a real elegant feel to it.

Are you hand-making your Christmas cards? How are your plans coming along? Do share!

If you're interested, don't forget to get registered for my Christmas Stamp A Stack in December. Check out the info HERE.

And if you need any Stampin' Up! supplies for your Holiday projects... now is the time to order! Contact me for FREE SHIPPING, or head to my demonstrator site HERE to shop online.

Finally, for all you non-stampers out there, I'll be back in a day or so with some sewing projects... so check back soon!

Merry Christmas, Noah....

Those of you in Michigan or who have a Facebook account may very well have already heard about this little boy...

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Noah Biorkman is a 5 year old boy in South Lyon, MI who is in his last stages of a 2 1/2 year battle with Neuroblastoma cancer.

Noah was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma in February 2007. He went into remission in August 2007. In September 2008, Noah relapsed with lesions in his right arm and right leg. After going through six different trials, the cancer continues to spread.

This year, his family is celebrating Christmas early, and Noah loves to receive cards.

Please take some time to send Noah a Christmas card. Please do it as soon as possible and invite all of your Facebook friends to this event so they can do the same.

Noah Biorkman
1141 Fountain View Circle,
South Lyon, MI 48178 USA

He is precious:

http://www.clickondetroit.com/video/21525126/index.html

Please see Santa's early visit to Noah and Noah's mother's request that you simply put $1.00 in your card that will be used for Neuroblastoma research and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

http://www.clickondetroit.com/video/21546169/index.html

Thanks

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Please, take a minute to watch the videos to realize the impact of this story and this Christmas card project.

I will be making a card today to send to Noah, and will be sure to put a dollar and maybe some other goodies inside. Won't you send a Christmas card to Noah as well? Let's give this boy an amazing Christmas.

Upcoming Stampin' Up! Events...

For those of you who are local, I'd love to see you at one of my upcoming Stampin' Up! events...

Quick and Easy Stamping Techniques Class - THIS SUNDAY
I am hosting a "Quick and Easy Stamping Techniques Class" at my home on Sunday November 8 from 1-3pm.

This class is ideal for beginning and experienced stampers alike and costs just $5.00 per person. I will provide cardstock, inks, stamps, and supplies, plus some snacks and door prizes! All you need to bring is yourself - and maybe a friend or two?

Stamping techniques I'll be covering will include... Masking, Stamping with Markers, Spotlighting, Shadow Stamping, Stamping with Bleach, Kissing, and Watercoloring with the Aqua Painter.

Each technique will be demonstrated, and then you'll have the chance to try for yourself - and you will take home samples that can be used as pieces for card fronts or scrapbooking pages.

Leave the husbands and boyfriends to watch football and come over for an afternoon of stamping fun!

So far there is only a couple of attendees. I'd like a minimum of four ladies to run the class. Please RSVP to me (at this e-mail address or via Facebook) if you plan on coming by no later than THURSDAY and I will make the decision to run it or not at that point - and notify everyone either way immediately. Thanks so much!


Holiday Stamp A Stack - Friday December 4 from 7-10pm
Join me at my home to create your Holiday cards. For just $20.00 each participant will create 16 cards (with envelopes) in several designs. I'll provide all the materials - just bring your own adhesive.


Have fun celebrating the season with other stampers and get your holiday cards done! I'll provide some snacks and beverages to sustain us while we work!

RSVP to me at joanneroehm@yahoo.com ASAP. Space is limited.

If you already have your holiday card supplies but want to join us to work on your cards and socialize - we'd love to have you too!


And for those of you that are far away...

Demonstrator Website - CLICK HERE
It's here! My Stampin' Up! demonstrator website is online and ready to roll. Now you can order from me any time day or night, and have product shipped directly to you! I hope this makes things very convenient for those of you who live outside of Michigan! ENJOY!

November Cupkins

Meg, my collaborator over at Mega•Crafty has been a trooper this month and has pulled through with a double threat of Cupkins - both muffins and cupcakes - since I've been sick and unable to bake. She is so wonderful! Click on the Cupkins logo to head over to her place and enjoy her treats!


I'll be back in Cupkins action later this month as Meg and I offer a "second helping" of Cupkins - since November is all about the biggest food holiday of the year - THANKSGIVING!