gratitude practice: day 27

when it comes to making something from scratch, i usually find a few recipes for ideas and then wing it. usually because i don't have all the ingredients called for in a specific recipe on hand or because i'm feeling impatient and don't want to follow directions. this sometimes work out, other times notsomuch. yesterday, jesse and i sat down together to plan what we wanted to have for our thanksgiving dinner for two. 

i had seen a recipe for pomegranate-cranberry sauce in a magazine and thought it would be a nice alternative to the can-shaped cranberry sauce. i had already seeded a couple pomegranates (for the sangria from sunday) and still had fresh cranberries. i switched out the lime in the recipe for orange (it was what i had) and then set to work this afternoon, making my first cranberry sauce from scratch. i took my time and enjoyed the process - i loved hearing the cranberries pop and then slowly start to break down to create a thick sauce. this time of year can feel so rushed, frantic, busy but the whole experience of being in the kitchen, making something from scratch brought me into the moment and for that i'm feeling thankful.

have you ever made cranberry sauce from scratch? 

what are your thanksgiving plans this year?

gratitude practice: day 25

it's been quite chilly here in portland the past week or so - dropping down into the 30s at night, getting close(ish) to 50 during the day. i know for anyone reading this that lives on the east coast that probably doesn't seem that bad. but for someone who spent the past four years living in the extremely temperate bay area, it's friggin' cold. and when it gets chilly, i don't feel my usual cravings for smoothies and salads. 

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to counteract the cold today, i put together a quick soup with the ingredients i had on hand - carrots, celery, onion, potato, and chickpeas. i simmered them in some veggie broth for a little under an hour. the whole house smelled delicious. so today i'm thankful for the simple things that bring warmth and joy, like sharing a bowl of homemade soup on a brisk november afternoon with someone that you love.

what's your go-to meal in the colder months? 

do you have a favorite soup recipe?