Pretty festive soup~

My mom's Crown Ducal soup bowls and her silver soup spoons~♥

A home in our 'hood♥

Don't they look like mischief personified?♥

We had a wonderful beautiful snowfall..with very chilly temps mind you but all is calm all is white..♥

The day it fell from the sky this magic..I took a short walk and this pretty home caught my eye..I live in a neighbourhood of many pretty homes..they are all different..bungalows..cottages..all quaint and charming and many are historic.

It's a fairy tale village you know..old as the hills~

Anyway this one just popped out w/ the lights inside and out..I took several other pics of other homes....but this one was my fave..this home..:)

I am loving felt on our tree more and more..especially after shattering many glass ones bringing an upstairs bedroom tree outside..no one sleeps up there anymore..so one could be sent outside..I get lazy and left the balls on the tree dragging it out of the attic nook..the lights didn't work..blah blah blah and my laziness shattered glass balls:(
So yes..lovin felt w/my clumsiness this year.

Calendars are coming to an end..I loved this Shutterfly one this year on a stand..have to look into making a new one..and making 2 books..our trip to Provence..and one of Christmases past..I have pics..but I'd love to take out a book every year:)
Too late for this year..
By the way the cute little add ons to the last pic are from..here..

Christmas cards have started to arrive..one always includes a photo of the year of their daughter:)♥




Again in Ricardo's magazine..I liked a presentation he made for shooter/verrine soups..it was a cream of cauliflower.

I am not an entertainer per say for groups apart from family anymore..
but I wanted the pretty presentation for just J and I..

Just brussel sprout leaves and pom seeds..how to dress up a bland looking soup..but not bland tasting..

I didn't use his recipe because I make soups ..w/ a little bit of this and a little bit of that..

Ma recette..enough for 6 servings..at least..

1 tbsp of butter

1/2 onion chopped

1 clove garlic chopped

1 clove of garlic confit crushed through the garlic press..

(I love that stuff..I first discovered it at one on my fave Instagrammers Teri Turner..No Crumbs Left..I follow her blog too but her stories on IG are so refreshing..she's so real..and fun and talented and knowledgeable and generous).

1 large baking potato cut up in chunks  about 1 cup
about 2 cups cauliflower florets

ap 2 1/2 cups of chicken stock..
1/2 cup cream
salt and pepper
1 tbsp maple syrup
fresh herbes de Provene..to taste..

I say fresh because we bought some at a market in Provence..and they taught me that mine were getting old..Adieu old bonjour new.

So..melt the butter ..sauté the onion and garlics..don't worry if you do not have garlic confit..

add potatoes..cauliflower and stock..cover and simmer until fork tender.

Using an emulsion blender ..blend all..adding the maple syrup..s and p(taste taste taste..nothing worse than a soup that tastes like nothing),the cream and finally the herbes de Provence.

Your consistency should be like a delish cream of soup..and it is delicious.

Top w/ that festive garnish..It's Christmas outfit♥

Perfect holiday soup:)

Have a lovely day~