Hi there!
Hope everyone has had a good Wednesday. I’ve had a pretty positive day despite the fact that my camera charger is MIA and my camera is slowly dying on me. I have managed to keep everything pretty much organized throughout this crazy moving process but the ONE THING I cannot find anywhere is that dang charger. I’ve torn apart my whole house, my suitcases, my old place, my car, Adam’s car…its totally vanished and makes me want to pull my hair out in frustration. Gahhhhh š I did get in a 45 minute walk outside while chatting with an old friend on the phone so that was good.
Honeycrisp & goat milk cheddar cheese (love this stuff!) for a snack while cooking:
And then, potato leek and bacon soup!
I picked up three lbs of leeks from the farm stand yesterday….they had just been picked and their flavor was intense. Love those leeks! I always feel so French when I cook with leeks for some reason.
Mmmmmmmm especially with our 05 Cab. Yes please.
So, I made this awesome soup with leeks, potatoes, bacon and chicken stock…..it was a pureed soup and was thick and delicious (sorry, no recipe to give away!). After tasting it though only one thought crossed my mind: I NEEDED CHEESE! Good cheese and bread would totally make this meal so I headed out to my friend Doralice’s cheese shop and picked up a little Ardi Gazna, which is a sheep’s milk cheese made in the Pyrenees. Melted some on a thick piece of sourdough bread. Peeeeerfect.
I nibbled on some apple and pear slices at bible study and then busted out my special dessert later at home:
A dark chocolate covered piece of english toffee sprinkled with sea salt. This tiny little thing was $3 but so worth it. I looooove chocolateeeeee!
Currently: folding MASSIVE amounts of laundry and about to call it a night. I don’t have a washer or dryer here, which sort of stinks, but my neighbor let me use hers and I’m thankful for clean sheets on my bed tonight. Not that my sheets were dirty, but I’m one of those people that is a stickler about washing my sheets once a week. I have a theory you sleep better when your sheets are fresh and clean.
G’night!
Michelle
October 21, 2009 at 10:53 pmIt’s nice to have nice neighbors for sure. I don’t have laundry at mine..so I can feel your pain.
Cookie tip: when chocolate chip cookies are RIGHT out of the oven sprinkly a little salt on them. HEAVEN.
~M
Diana
October 21, 2009 at 11:14 pmYep, same here. I change my sheets once a week, I MUST. š
That soup does look good, but I prefer vegetable-only soups š
Hmmm, chocolate š
Marina
October 21, 2009 at 11:18 pmI love when my sheets are all clean. It’s so good to just hop on the bed and enjoy the smell of the freshly washed sheets.
I love leeks, in all kinds of ways.
Anna
October 21, 2009 at 11:29 pmMmm, cheese – the delicacy I’ve learned to eat sparingly but savor every bite. Now that you’re in NorCal you should gind yourself some Humboldt Fog. It’s a soft cheese by Cypress Grove
with a ribbon of blue through the middle – it’s my absolute favorite.
Take some on a morning hike on the coast and watch the fog burn off the ocean as you sit on a hill and have a snack of Humboldt Fog with some crackers or slices of pear – divine (check out Sonoma open space district and/or landpaths.org for Sonoma hiking trails).
Aww, now I wish it were the weekend already so I could wake up tomorrow and do exactly that!
Mama Pea
October 21, 2009 at 11:36 pmYou are SOOOO French! Only nicer, and with less hairy armpits.
Madelin @ What is for breakfast?
October 21, 2009 at 11:42 pmAwesome dinner, it looks so yum! Love cheese on bread, it is the best. Sucks about your camera charger though š I hate that. Iām always losing my phone charger.
Tara
October 21, 2009 at 11:43 pmMmm. Clean sheets. So delightful.
I totally washed my sheets RELIGIOUSLY once a week during college. People in my dorm thought I was nuts. But clean-sheets-night is my favorite day of the week! Haha.
Ellen
October 22, 2009 at 12:50 amlove leeks! i really wish they were be more commonplace in american cooking.
Rachael
October 22, 2009 at 1:10 amWow, I thought I was the only one that looked forward to “clean sheet” night once a week! So refreshing!
Potato Leek is my favorite.
Jenny @JennyLikesToRun, on a mission to run a marathon for charity!
October 22, 2009 at 1:10 amI had leek soup today aswell! I had leftovers from last night’s dinner for afternoon tea. It had leeks with potato and other yum stuff, but I didn’t cook it, my Grandma did so I don’t have to yummy recipe details.
I love chocolate TOO!!!! SOOOO much. I have it very rarely because I’m such a huge fan that if I have it frequently, I’ll overindulge. Just can’t help myself when it comes to chocolaty goodness š
Sorry to hear about your camera charger š that sucks… I hope you find it soon!
christie, honoring health
October 22, 2009 at 3:24 amI totally agree that you sleep better with clean sheets!
have an awesome day today!
Chelsea (Chelsea's Chew and Run Fun)
October 22, 2009 at 3:50 amAs bed bugs are super common where I live, I understand the need to keep a fresh set of sheets available. Sleep tight, and REALLY, REALLY don’t let them bite.
Thanks to the influence of your dinner post, I’m thinking some homemade soup is in order this weekend.
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is
October 22, 2009 at 3:56 amI love making soup. So comforting.
Deva (Voracious Vorilee)
October 22, 2009 at 4:10 amThe soup looks really delicious š I also believe that you sleep better on clean sheets, and try to wash mine once per week – I love putting fresh, clean sheets on the bed š
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope
October 22, 2009 at 4:23 amThat homemade soup sounds SO good! Hope the camera charger turns up soon. š
Stephanie
October 22, 2009 at 4:32 ammmmm yummy soup! and so nice to have kind neighbors š i love clean sheets too, i’m not as good as you with the once a week though :/
Jac
October 22, 2009 at 4:36 ami heart leeks! so delish.. should try them stir fried!
Eats and Exercises
October 22, 2009 at 4:40 amSo much bacon! You’ll have to promise to make us some veggie alternatives because it all looks soooo good.
I wish I was a stickler about once a week sheet changing…my boyfriend and my theory has always been that we shower in the morning so who cares if we’re dirty at night?!? hmmm…doesn’t sound so good when I type it…off to do laundry š
Sarah (Finding My Balance)
October 22, 2009 at 4:52 amOooh, that soup looks good! Cheesy toast+soup is definitely one of my favorite comfort combos.
I hope you find you camera charger soon! Definitely check weird places–behind the toaster, in your sock drawer, on top of the fridge. Whenever I lose something like that, it is in a totally bizarro place!
Britt
October 22, 2009 at 5:11 amAhh two of my favorite things….. cheese & clean sheets. š
Cheese is a given. Clean sheets, I LOVE climbing into bed with clean sheets, sometimes I even take a shower first just to enjoy all that clean.
brandi
October 22, 2009 at 5:25 amthat soup sounds great! I’ve never cooked with leeks – I should get some.
Simone P:T
October 22, 2009 at 5:29 amI’m the same way about sheets. Nothing like sleeping on crisp, clean and fresh smelling sheets!!
Also, you know you’re a real foodie when you run out to get good cheese and bread just to compliment something you’ve already made.
Glad you had a great Wednesday!
Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries
October 22, 2009 at 5:36 amI’m a queso fiend, too. I can’t relate to the chocolate love–cheeeeese over chocolate–but I respect it š
Estela @ Weekly Bite
October 22, 2009 at 5:40 amLove potato based soups! So comforting!
Daria @ Daria Can Cook
October 22, 2009 at 5:46 amThat soup looks beautiful!
lexi.
October 22, 2009 at 5:49 amHoneycrisp apples are my favorite! sounds so good with cheeeeeese!
Carolyn
October 22, 2009 at 5:59 amFabulous looking meal! Does your camera use a plain ‘ole USB cord? If so, you should be able to get one at any electronics store.
MelissaNibbles
October 22, 2009 at 6:10 amSoup looks great!
Matt
October 22, 2009 at 6:12 amThat soup looks awesome!
I have to have clean sheets too. Actually, I have to have everything clean. I am a clean freak!
Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca)
October 22, 2009 at 6:19 amThat soup sounds delicious, and I want to bite through the screen to get to that chocolate š
Island Girl Eats
October 22, 2009 at 6:34 amI would change my sheets everyday if I could. I love that clean feeling when you get in. It is true that it makes you sleep better.
I am going to try and google a similar recipe for that soup that you made. It looks amazing! And that cheese – yummy!
Kelly P
October 22, 2009 at 6:46 amExpensive chocolate is so worth it. I would much have a sinfully delicious piece of really good chocolate than a whole Hershey bar anyway…instant portion control.
Megan
October 22, 2009 at 7:05 amI wash my sheets once a week, too š Your soup sounds and looks delicious and I am dying over that piece of bread and hunk of cheese on top!!! yum!
How was bible study? I hope it went well!
Happy Thursday! Oh, and I hope you find your charger š
Anne Marie@New Weigh of Life
October 22, 2009 at 7:16 amAww I hope you find your charger soon!
Paige (Running Around Normal)
October 22, 2009 at 7:18 amThat soup looks delicious! I need to find me some leeks. I’ve heard they’re awesome for ya!
Tina
October 22, 2009 at 7:18 amI’ve never had just plain leeks, so I don’t really know what they taste like! I love the black pepper on top of your soup though.
Stephanie
October 22, 2009 at 7:32 amWhen you make it to Los Angeles, check out Mignon chocolates – try the Ginger Sea Salt and Saffron Marzipan. H…E…A…V…E…N…L…Y CHOCOLATES!
Ann-Margaret
October 22, 2009 at 7:35 amI completely agree with your clean sheet theory!!
Whitney
October 22, 2009 at 7:39 amBook deal much? š
Hope your charger turns up.
skinnyrunner
October 22, 2009 at 7:48 amthat chocolate just made my day. looks delish. ill lend you my phone charger for a chocolate like that.
Pamela
October 22, 2009 at 7:49 ami agree! sheets must be washed once a week! and you do sleep better when they are fresh!
Jil
October 22, 2009 at 8:05 amMust be nice to have a friend who owns a cheese shop!! haha Everything looks so yummy! Good luck in finding your charger! I always misplace those things — it’ll pop up somewhere!!
Anne
October 22, 2009 at 8:31 amI’ve never tried anything that has leeks in it, but i’ll have to give this recipe a whirl!!
Cynthia (It All Changes)
October 22, 2009 at 10:00 amSometimes you just need a good cheese. I love Machego with my apples after my time in Spain.
I really enjoy leek soup but I’m terrified to make it because of the grit in the leeks and not knowing how to properly clean them.
Jenna
October 22, 2009 at 10:17 ami am the same way about changing my sheets!
i hope you find that charger soon girl š
jenna
Meredith (Pursuing Balance)
October 22, 2009 at 11:10 amI love chocolate too!
Lisa
October 22, 2009 at 12:39 pmThat delicious looking chocolate square reminds of Poco Dolce Chocolates. Have you tried that? They make these bittersweet chocolate tiles that are to. die. for. The burnt caramel topped with grey sea salt is my fave. And…Poco Dolce is made in your new home, Nor Cal!
Sarah (Oc2Seattle)
October 22, 2009 at 1:50 pmIsn’t everything better with cheese? Would love the soup recipe – cookbook in development perhaps?
Arica
October 22, 2009 at 3:13 pmIt is so encouraging that you have found a Bible Study already! I have found through college and post college the thing I needed most was the consistency of Biblical community like I usually have, but its easy to “forget” to get involved during a move, etc.. So thanks, you’re encouraging!
linda
October 22, 2009 at 3:29 pmI love anyone who eats chocolates and cheese in a matter of hours. Go you!
Meghan@traveleatlove
October 22, 2009 at 7:45 pmYour wood floor is very pretty! I love nice hardwood floors!
andrea
October 22, 2009 at 9:31 pmJust polished off a cup of bacon potato chowder here, for lunch! your bread and cheese look like a great addition…however wasn’t to be for me today! the toffee looks so yum…one of my favorite things of all time….havent seen here but now am going to keep my eyes open..i had to settle for a hot chocolate chip cookie..as i made a batch for cultural day for my son’s 4th grade class…I would say choc chip cookies count as american culture? you think?
Gabriela
October 23, 2009 at 10:30 amLeeks remind me of France, too…my Francophile mother used to make them all the time when I was a kid, but they were never as good as when my friend’s grandmother cooked them when we visited them in Montpellier. And of course that chocolate is worth it…hello, you’re talking to a girl who will spend 6 bucks on a Crumbs cupcake!