Trip to Seattle

We went to seattle this weekend to visit my cousin & her family. We are supre close since we are the only two girl cousins of 9 on that side of my family. It was really fun.


We saw Cooper play a football game:

Calvin took his stance very seriously...
We hung out with Cassidy & the whole family:

Corn dogs for all the kids!!

Cassidy helped Oscar learn a few computer games & how to play Wii. Oscar was shockingly quick at picking it all up.....

Our boys w/ the Buchholz family...
While there we had dinner w/ more family to celebrate my grandmothers 88th birthday. We do that annually! It was a super fun weekend!

Applesauce day

We have a HUGE apple tree in our backyard. So every year, since we moved here we have picked the apples, made and canned applesauce. This year was no different. This was our 5th year doing this & we set records! Our supportive family always comes over to help & w/o them we would only be able to do a fraction of what actually gets done. Today we canned 80 quarts of applesauce. Yes 80. Now my mother tells me that on the farm she grew up on her & her mom used to can 100 quarts of each fruit annually. But for a pregnant city girl 80 quarts is amazing. And in case you are wondering.... yes we will eat them all this year. Over the years we have quite a system figured out.

First we pick. Take a close look at this loaded tree. This shot was after we picked 14 grocery bags full. There are at least 6 left Darren says.

Then we core, slice & peel. Darren's job this year.

Then we cook and season the applesauce. My mother & mother in law who self-lessly slave away for us.

Then we can it.

Not bad huh?

Fall... Sept 1st or Sept 22nd?

If you ask me, September 1st. If you ask Darren September 22nd.

Fall is my favorite time of the year. Cool mornings and nights, yet warmish days. Pumpkins. Colored leaves. Boots. And best of all soup. So. This year, I've decided to wait to pull out the fall decorations until Sept 22nd in honor of my husband (since the weather is also clearly on his side this year). However, I am going to start to cook like it's fall.

Yup that means soup, artisan bread & green salad for dinner. Yes - I know it is 80 outside & I'm in a tank top cooking this soup but I'm SO ready for fall. So tonights special is called Tomato Orange Soup. I discoved it last spring when my friend Jen & I took an epicurian walking tour of portland & we were led into Elephants Deli downtown in the fox tower. We sampled this soup. It has been in the back of both of our minds ever since. I think Jen must be moving into fall early too becuase she made this soup also this week & was kind enough to email me the recipe. It sounds strange but it is SO SO SO good. And it is available on the web so I'll go ahead & clip it below. Enjoy!!

ELEPHANT TOMATO ORANGE SOUP
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
1/2 medium onion, diced
2 (14 1/2 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 cup heavy cream

In a saucepan, melt butter; add onion and sauté until translucent. Add tomatoes, salt, pepper, baking soda and thyme. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer uncovered about 15 minutes or until slightly thickened.
Puree in a food processor or blender; strain through a sieve or food mill. (The Soup Lady likes a little texture and uses a hand held immersion blender for this.)
Return to saucepan and stir in orange juice. At this point, the soup can be refrigerated until ready to serve.At serving time, add the whipping cream and heat gently, stirring constantly, bringing to a simmer and adjust seasonings if necessary. Extra cream maybe drizzled on top of the soup immediately before serving for decorative effect.

Annual Vacation to Cannon Beach

We have been fortunate enough the past three years to spend our summer vacation at my parents condo in Cannon Beach (thanks mom & dad!!) It is right on the beach, walking distance to the main street of town & has a spectacular view.

Look behind the boys for the view... Yes that is haystack rock!!

The weather was great too & our week was filled with beach trips...

Tide pool hunting trips...

Visit to the Tillamook factory...

Checking out the local bunnies...

And some good family time. This is too cute not to share...