A Soup to Share with the One You Love

Tomato soup is easily one of my absolute favourites. Hands down. A good, and I do mean GOOD, tomato soup will warm you from the inside out, like a full body hug. It will make you want to push the bowl to the middle of the table and insist that everybody try some. It is hearty, inviting, perfect as a chilled side during a summer picnic or as a meal on a cold winter's eve. Tomato soup is a staple in my diet.

Until recently, I had not ventured far beyond the soup-in-a-can variety. Then, I went to Marisol in High Point, NC, and had the most. Amazing. Tomato Soup. Ever. It was rich without being overwhelming, aromatic with an interesting combination of flavours....mmmm, just thinking about it makes my mouth water....slurp!

From that moment on, I was hooked. No longer could I eat the poor substitute-in-a-can. I became obsessed with finding the perfect tomato basil soup recipe. I needed to not only find it, but make it my own.

Now, one thing I need to point out here. Folks who know me already know this, but I am not a professional chef. Far, far, far from it. I do not claim to know a lot about food. What I know is what I like. What I like, is the tomato basil soup from Marisol. When I am tweaking a recipe, it is entirely possible that what I will come out with is a pile of ick, but every so often, I come out with something that is absolutely delicious. That is my goal here.

Today, I decided to be adventurous and begin working on a tomato basil recipe. I found a recipe for La Madeline's Tomato Basil Soup. I am using that as my starting point and changing it to suit my needs. Where it will end up, well I don't know just yet.

Until I do, here's a teaser.

Til next time! -Erika

Water, Water Everywhere

We all know that water is good for you. The Mayo Clinic (by way of the Institute of Medicine) states that the average adult male should consume about 3 liters of water a day, while the average adult female should consume about 2.2 liters a day.

That's a lot of water to consume. Especially if you don't particularly like the taste of water.

I kind of have to drink a lot of water because just about 2 years ago, I had kidney stones. They were about as much fun as being kicked repeatedly in the back by an MMA fighter. I started adding lemon to my water because the citric acid will help to prevent kidney stone formation. The only problem is I don't like the sour taste. It needed a little something.

That something was mint. It made the water refreshing and zingy all at the same time without necessarily having to add sweetness to it (at least for my taste.)

Here's the recipe that I use. It's so easy!

• 2 gallons of water (this is just the size of the pitcher I have, so adjust appropriately based on how much you're making and how strong you want the flavour)
• 2 lemons
• Three peppermint tea bags (I use Twinings brand Pure Peppermint, but there are others available or if you have a peppermint plant, cut a few leaves off and drop them in whole)

 Slice the lemons, removing any seeds, and drop them into the pitcher. Fill the pitcher with water and put in the tea bags or peppermint leaves. Stick it in the fridge and let sit for about an hour to let the flavours combine.

If you like it a little sweeter, add some stevia (yay for no extra calories!), then pour and enjoy!

Til next time! -Erika

Today's Lesson

Today I experienced a wonderful act of generosity.

A little piece of beauty showed up unexpectedly in my in-box, shared with me by an amazing designer. She did not have to send it to me and she did not ask for payment.

I am floored. Completely floored. Something so unexpected has brought me an immense amount of happiness today. It has put a smile on my face that cannot be erased. I want everyone to feel that same bit of happiness.

Today's lesson is simple: pay kindness forward. When someone shows you kindness and asks for nothing in return, take that bit of kindness and pass it along to someone else.

Til next time! -Erika

Blank Book Mania!

There's something about me you should know. I love books. Especially blank books. There is something wonderful in the promise of filling a book with thoughts, secrets, ideas and inspiration.

Like any good artist, I carry a sketchbook with me. I used to insist that the book be unruled, but as I got older, I started to not worry as much whether the book was lined or not. It was more about whether the book itself met my needs...and of course whether it was pretty. I sometimes worry about completing a book without having a standby waiting in the wings. For this reason, I am always on the lookout for new, lovely (and preferably inexpensive) sketchbooks and journals to keep handy.

A couple of weeks ago, during one of my regular jaunts to Goodwill, I found a three pack of journals that were seconds from a well-known retail outlet taped together and being sold for $1.99 (well below what they originally retailed for.) I couldn't resist the cuteness!

One problem: they were taped together. With packing tape. And trying to get packing tape off a paper backed book usually ends...well, not so well. Part of the cover tore. What's a girl to do?

This girl got some lace fabric (recycled from an old tank top I never wear anymore) and some gel medium and recovered the book. 

To do so, I  cut the fabric larger than the book. I used the gel medium as a glue to adhere the fabric to the book, letting each side dry thoroughly before moving on. Once both sides were glued and dried, I trimmed away the excess.

 So simple and now, you can't tell that the book was ever torn. 

Til next time! -Erika

New and Improved

Greetings, fellow thrifters, crafters, thrifty crafters and crafty thrifters!

This is the inaugural post of my new and improved blog. In my previous blog (over on another blogging website and long since abandoned), I focused primarily on my knitting. The last post I made on that blog was probably, oh, about 3 years or so ago.

Since then, I have embraced new crafts, began working more found objects and upcycled materials into my art and become quite adept at thrift store shopping. In this blog, I will share my experiences and insights, my projects, my advice...and occasionally my flubs.

I hope that you find some help and inspiration in my words and pictures. I'll be having a blast bringing them to you!

Til next time! -Erika