Best Ever Potato Soup

I rarely post recipes on my blog, but this one was too good not to share.

My little man James has grown a full inch since September, but he's lost a bit of weight.  So, the Ukie in me comes out and I want to fatten him up.  Enter, Potato and Cheese soup.  Eat, EAT!!

Original recipe from Canadian Living

Ingredients

• 6 strips bacon, chopped
• 2 onions, chopped
• 8 large potatoes, (about 4 lb/2 kg)
• 6 cups (1.5 L) chicken stock
• 2 cups (500 mL) milk
• 1 tsp (5 mL) salt
• 1/2 tsp (2 mL) pepper
• 1/2 cup (125 mL) shredded Cheddar cheese
• 2 green onions, sliced

Preparation

In large saucepan or Dutch oven, cook bacon over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until crisp.
Transfer to paper towel-lined plate.  Drain fat from pan.  Add onions; cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until softened.

Meanwhile, peel and cut potatoes into about 1/2-inch (1 cm) cubes to make about 12 cups (3 L). Add potatoes to pan along with chicken stock and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Using potato masher, mash potatoes just until soup is slightly thickened yet still chunky. Stir in milk, salt and pepper. (Make-ahead: Let cool for 30 minutes; refrigerate in shallow airtight containers for up to 2 days. Reheat to continue, thinning with more milk if desired.)

Sprinkle each serving with cheese, green onions and reserved bacon.

Best ever soup.  Everyone in my family had a bowl - and of course, even Marley.

My Version!!

Just got home from a wonderful weekend in the city with my dreamy husband.  I wanted to share a few highlights, but I am too saddened by the news I just read.  I can't even concentrate.

Recreating an Inspiration Room

Have you ever looked at a designer room and thought "I want that!" but are too intimidated to attempt it yourself?  Well, there is no reason to be afraid!  Everyone is capable of creating the home of their dreams within a reasonable budget.

All you need to do is break down the room's elements, and piece your space together, while working with what you already have and new pieces within your budget.  I'll show you how, with my weekly post called "Recreating an Inspiration Room"

This powder room is beautiful.  And the reason I picked it this week it because it can easily be interpreted by any personality.

Patterson Construction Corp.

You can make this room yours by keeping all the elements the same, except for the wall colour.  Picture this in a soft yellow to give a more country look.  A pale grey for a little industrial vibe.  Or red, for a bold statement.  Whatever colour you choose, this powder room is designer quality, but attainable.

Let's pick it apart.

The most important piece in this bathroom is the vanity.  It's really what defines the space.  I believe this specific one is from Waterworks.   You can see how the faucets are in the wall, which means this was a major gut job.  The pluming work would have had to be done behind the walls.  Since most of us are just doing a cosmetic uplift in our powder rooms, purchase a prefabricated vanity, with faucet hole pre-cut.

Gramercy Wash Stand.  Restoration Hardware.  $1895

On to the wall covering.  This specific wall covering is a Phillip Jeffries wall covering.  I've heard they can cost upwards of $800 a roll.  So, I've looked at some alternatives.  Think wall stencil!!!

Moroccan Wall Stencil.  Cutting Edge Wall Stencils.  $39.95

And imagine all the colour combos you could do.

Charcoal & White or Silver

Pink & White

White & Gray

White and Green

Orange and White

Black & White or Silver

Beige & White

I love sconces in a powder room.  This is an easy fix if you have just a vanity fixture.  Just call an electrician and he can change it to 2 sconces.  But make sure you know exactly where you want them before you call.  I made that mistake in my Waterford house, and had the sconces installed way too high.  It looked hilarious.  Get your vanity and mirror first, just to be sure!

The sconces in the inspiration room run for about $540 - without the shade.

Source

Always shop around for the pieces you aren't willing to splurge on.

Aberdeen wall sconce.  Lighting Universe.  $199

Mirror - Big Box stores always have stuff like this for a good deal.  Always double check the size before you order.  I've also made that mistake before!!  In a powder room, get as big as you can!

Mirror.  Home Depot.  $55.99

Have you heard of this crazy new trend?  Ceramic or Porcelain tiles that look like wood.  Generally sold in 6" or 8" x  20" or 36", these tiles have the look of hardwood, but the function of ceramic or porcelain.  Perfect for a powder room, and perfect for installing in this gorgeous herringbone pattern.

6" x 20" Wood Ceramic Floor Tile.  Lowes.com

Wood Effect Ceramic Tiles

The last element in this room is the molding.  The gorgeous, over-the-top, perfect molding.  Even the window in decked out in amazing molding.  If you want molding like this room, do yourself a favour and call a carpenter.  But, if you are willing to take it down a knotch, there are so many DIY tutorials out there.

DIY Paneled Wall - Decor Chick

 

DIY Wainscoting - Karen at Home

Or you can look into purchasing these convienient Wainscoting kits (I may do this in my hallway!  Stay tuned!).  Elite Moldings has every thing!!!!

Elite Moldings

Good Luck!!

Pantone Announces Colour of the Year

The Pantone Color Institute has announced the Color of the Year for 2013: Emerald 17-5641....Lucky for me this is one of my favourite colours.

"Most often associated with brilliant, precious gemstones, the perception of Emerald is sophisticated and luxurious. Since antiquity, this luminous, magnificent hue has been the color of beauty and new life in many cultures and religions. Also the color of growth, renewal and prosperity, no other color conveys regeneration more than green. For centuries, many countries have chosen green to represent healing and unity.

"The most abundant hue in nature, the human eye sees more green than any other color in the spectrum," said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. "As it has throughout history, multifaceted Emerald continues to sparkle and fascinate. Symbolically, Emerald brings a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation, which is so important in today's complex world. This powerful and universally-appealing tone translates easily to both fashion and home interiors."

Favourite Finds Friday

One of the best parts of Christmas shopping is coming across a ton of cool gadgets!!!

I believe this pen is just a prototype, but how cool is it!!! Scan the colour you want to use, and then go nuts.

Colour Picker Pen:

Colour Picker Pen:

 

Warm and comfortable capacitive-touch gloves with a Bluetooth headset built in!

Bluetooth Handset Gloves

Seriously want one of these!!!

Batter Dispenser

Who doesn't want an electronic ruler!  That's wicked!!!

Electronic Ruler

Recreating an Inspiration Room (Special Edition!!)

Why is this a special edition you may ask?  Because I am using this inspiration shot on my own house!  And, I am going to share with you my plans on how to make my house, the house of my dreams.  Pay attention Honey!!!

Look at this house.  It's stunning.  It's my dream home.  And this is how I plan on making my home, look just like this.  One day, one day.

Here's my house.

Now, I am in no way any sort of contractor.  I have no idea if my plan is even feasible.  I am well aware that it is going to cost me as much as a new house, but I don't care.  It's my plan, and my dream, and this is my blog :P

Look, this is basically my house.  9 windows, front door - can you see it???

First thing - rip out portico and add a porch just like the one in the inspiration picture.  The porch roof can extend from the garage all the way to the other side.  Add 4 columns, and a railing.

The inspiration room has round columns, but I'd like square.

Luckily, I just got a new roof, so I can get the new porch roof to match.

There are a few railing options.  But for sure I want the railing to be black, and the spindles white.

 

See how I'd paint the railing black, and spindles white

Or, no railing at all?!?!

Next, I'd paint my shutters black and the window casings white.

Then, replace my garage doors in white.

Then I'll cover my porch floor in some white, PVC porch flooring.  Cool stuff eh?!?!
It's plain ugly concrete right now.

At this point, I'd think about either painting the brick or siding it??
I'd love to just paint the brick white and call it a day.  It would be a cheap fix, but I'd worry about "cheapening" the house.  So, I've considered siding the entire home.  It would cost a fortune, but my house would be the pimpest house on the block.

I love vertical board and batten siding.

I found these pictures on the Canadian Tire Christmas flyer!!

So that's my plan.  I know there are lots of small details to take into consideration.  The windows, soffit, facia blah blah blah.  But I can sort all of those out with my contractor.
What do you think?  I'm crazy eh!?!?