Yummy Homemade Tortilla Soup

I just ate another bowl of the awesomely delicious chicken tortilla soup I made the other day and thought I might share it. I am very proud of myself, as I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out. Enjoy!

LaLa's Homemade Tortilla Soup

Ingredients:
olive oil
chicken breasts
chicken stock (I usually use the boxed, free range/organic kind, which equals out to about six cups)
water
minced garlic
chopped calabacitas (yellow and green)
chopped tomatoes
chopped onion
chopped carrots
kidney beans
chopped hot green chile & green chile sauce (505 brand is the best!)
blue corn tortilla strips/chips
salt and pepper to taste

** quantities vary according to how many folks you'll serve (plus I'm pretty free form when it comes to quantities when cooking my own stuff, otherwise I follow recipes to a “t”)

How to:
1. Sauté the garlic in olive oil until lightly browned, add the chopped onions and sauté until translucent.

2. Add the carrots and calabacitas and cook until they begin to soften (roughly 7 mins)

3. Add the tomatoes and kidney beans, cook a bit longer (about 3-4 more minutes), stirring frequently

4. Add the chicken stock, water, green chile sauce and green chile. Cover and cook on low heat for 20 mins, stirring occasionally. The reason I used the green chile sauce was because: one, I love the flavor of the one 505 makes and two, I was feeling somewhat lazy and didn’t want to make my own slurry – which I sometimes muck up because I’m too impatient to let it develop before I add more to whatever soup I’m cooking. The sauce gave the soup the perfect consistency and it was super easy! I added some chopped hot green chile just add a bit more to the “heft” of the soup and some additional flavor.

5. Put in the fridge over night. Letting almost any soup sit over night really helps to develop the flavors, I've found. It never tastes quite as good as it does the next day, or the next.

6. When you’re ready to heat up the soup for dinner, prep your bowl by crushing some blue or yellow corn tortilla chips in the bottom of the bowl (you can fry/bake your own tortilla strips, but I was running out of time preparing for my guests). Top with a heaping portion of soup and lots and lots of cheese on top!

7. Enjoy with a Mexican beer!!

Yummy Moroccan Vegetable Tajine

We are having a good friend over for dinner tomorrow night, so I thought I'd pull out one of the best recipes I've ever made - Moroccan Stew!! Enjoy!

Moroccan Vegetable Tajine

1 ½ cups of chopped onions

3 garlic cloves

1/3 cup of olive oil

1 tsp dried thyme

3 cups cubed potatoes

1 cup chopped green beans

1 red bell pepper, chopped

2 cups cubed fresh tomatoes

3 cups of vegetable stock (I substitute chicken stock because it usually makes it taste so much better)

13 ounce can of (marinated - tastes better, trust me!) artichoke hearts

½ cup of pitted black olives, halved

Pinch of saffron

¼ cup of lemon juice

Salt and pepper to taste

*************************

1. Sautee the onions and the garlic in the olive oil until the onions are translucent;

2. Add the thyme, potatoes, green beans, bell pepper, and tomatoes on high heat for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally;

3. Add the stock and brine from the artichokes and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes until the veggies are tender;

4. Add black olives and artichoke hearts and cook for another 10 minutes;

5. Remove from heat, add salt and pepper to taste and the juice of half a lemon.

And, voila! I find that the best to enjoy the stew is to make it the night before, refrigerate it and then heat it up right before serving.

I love to serve this stew with a warm, fresh loaf of olive bread and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Noir.

*Thanks to Moosewood Cookbook for this kick ass recipe! And a special thanks to Big Al for gifting me with the cookbook years ago. I had just gotten back from a visit to the Bay Area and had eaten at Masawa on Haight Street and came home absolutely in love with Ethiopian food. After hearing me rant and rave, Alyson gave me the cookbook to encourage my new passion for cooking and for African food in general. Thanks, Big Al!

Presenting the 2009 Solstice Crew

SHOW YOU: Meet the 2009 Solstice Crew!

I am moving back home this year, right smack dab in the middle of the winter holiday season, so I thought I'd get a jump on making some new additions to the Solstice Tree decorations.

Over the last couple of years, I have been making an effort to add some hand made decorations to the tree every year. And while posting this, I began to think of the very first Solstice Tree I ever put up in an apartment I lived in since being an adult living away from my mom... and remembered buying ornaments for a tree with my roommate, Jaime.















(Pic: Solstice Owl)

We were dirt poor, but both of us had a penchant for nostalgia and decided we'd find some ornaments and get a tree, that would dress up the basement apartment we lived in. We went to the dollar store and stocked up on Santa heads and glitter balls, etc. I still have the glitter balls and some of the Santa heads and they remind me of what it's like to be out on your own, trying to reconnect with those feelings of warmth, love and celebration that being with your family gives you, particularly during the holidays.

And what that then reminds me of is the kind of life I've led so far in my 33 years. During my childhood, we moved a lot because of my mom's job. I guess that sort of stuck when I struck out on my own, because I've lived in quite a few states and numerous apartments. And while the separation from those I love is really hard, particularly because they are now spread out across the country, I have come to realize that the greatest gift my mom has bestowed on me is the ability to find family wherever I am.










(Pic: Solstice Puss)

I have an expanded view of what it means to family. I don't think it really has much to do with biology, at its very core, although that's a very interesting part of what makes us related. But what I find more indicative of familial ties is the love that binds people together, no matter what race we are, what our backgrounds are, what our hobbies are - if we love each other that's enough to make us family. At least that's enough for me. (Pic: Solstice Birdie)

So this holiday season, while I am deeply saddened that I don't get to be around my biological family, I do get to be around other members of my family. I am going to sing the loudest, most heartfelt praises to the Goddess for blessing me with the most beautiful, amazing family one person could ever hope for. You know who you are! Blessed be! (Pic: Solstice Tortuga)












(Pic: Solstice Ristra)

Crafting for the Climate!

Today is the International Day of Climate Action!

People in 181 countries are coming together for the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet's history. At over 5,200 events around the world, people gathered to call for strong action and bold leadership on the climate crisis.

For all those haters out there who claim that climate change is a hoax, a lie perpetrated by liberal radicals, I have a question for you - even if climate change isn't due entirely to human impact, what would it hurt to use less energy? To buy food and other goods locally to reduce our carbon footprint and rise in rates of asthma of communities that live near our transportation channels? To give some more thought to development projects that harm ecosystems and the biodiversity that makes life on this planet such that it is today? To continue to harness the innovative human spirit to develop cleaner, smarter technologies? What would any of that harm? Why are you so afraid of moving forward?

I'm personally working to increase awareness and reduce our impact on the planet, not because I believe in some naive notion of "simpler times," but because I believe that we can move forward in ways that will ensure that the absolute awesomeness of this planet is preserved. That we can do this while simultaneously evolving the way of life of all species in positive and profoundly meaningful ways. I am doing this for the children I will someday have. They need a safe place to live, and as their parent, I am going to work hard to ensure that's possible. I am doing this for the children of ally communities. I'm doing it because I care.

Check out 350.org for more information! Be active in your community, even if it's only in small ways. Every action has an impact. Make sure yours is positive and life affirming!

Love Birds and Upcycled Sweater

SHOW YOU: Love Birds Thread Painting & Upcycled Angora Sweater

Love Birds for Sarah and Stan's wedding, 9/26/09

I've known Sarah and Stan for about four years now, befriending them when we all worked together at Rainforest Action Network. They weren't together when we all first met, but soon realized they were a match made in heaven, and now they're married! I thought I'd continue my exploration of thread painting on artist canvas. I found both of the elements separately (birds and branch), but used a light box to trace them onto the artist canvas (you can buy sheets of it in a notebook from the art store, super cheap!) with pencil. Reflecting back, I will probably use colored pencil to trace the next image I use because the pencil smudged really easily, although it was nice to be able to erase a line if I wanted to change it mid-embroidering. Something to think about...

After completing the embroidery, I custom-made the inside mat with some beautiful card stock I have, then added the red mat and framed it. I normally don't put glass over my work because I enjoy the depth and dimension not putting art behind glass adds. But artist canvas gets dirty so easily, I decided to use the glass to protect the surface for a longer period of time. I think it turned out very well!

Upcycled Angora Sweater for Weezie's Birthday, 10/8/09

I've known Weezie since we were in high school at Cibola in Albuquerque. I love her so very much and count her as one of my best friends. She is one of those rare friends, that love and encourages you to be exactly who are, no apologies. I appreciate and love her friendship and count it as one of the core blessings of my life.

So for her birthday this year, I decided to upcycle an amazing thrift store find, an angora sweater in a beautiful soft grey. I'd unintentionally felted (accidentally put it into the washer, without even thinking!?!) it on the first wash. Instead of throwing it away, I used the neck of the turtleneck for a neck warmer project I did about a year ago. Then, I decided to upcycle the sweater's main body. I used a blanket stitch to frame the sweater's opening and neck. This was an easy and quick project and I love it. Even though it shrunk during the accidental felting, Louisa has a small frame, so it fits her like a glove and it's still so incredibly soft - perfect!!!

I love crafting! Especially, for my friends. Simply put, it makes me so happy!!

Fall Blossoms

HOW TO: Wool Flower Pins

Wanna show-and-tell you about a quick and easy project I did last weekend, Wool Flower Pins.




All you need to do this super easy project is:
- beautiful buttons (I used some sorta pricey buttons I bought from Britex Fabrics in SF ages ago but never used; they are stained wood); it helps if the buttons have a shape reminiscent of petals, but not necessary.
- wool yarn
- crochet needle, size 5.50 for chunkier stitches
- felt
- needle and thread of similar color to your wool yarn
- glue gun
- pin

Here's how to make them:
1. Crochet a very simple and basic chain stitch, leaving about two inches of yarn at the beginning of your stitch; stitch about 8 inches; knot off and leave about two inches of yarn hanging off of the end.


2. Using your needle and thread, start to layer your crocheted stitch on top of itself and sew together; you can either go in a circle as I've done with one of the periwinkle flower pins, or you can do a more chaotic, random layering as I've done with the other two pictured above; make sure you end the layering by threading the end of the chain stitch down through the middle of the flower, so that you end up with the two extra ends hanging below your flower, next to one another (sort of like the stems of the flower).

3. Insert the two "stems" of the flower through the button holes and tie a firm knot, clip the ends of the yarn off so that you have two small pieces left.




4. Heat up your glue gun. In the meantime, cut a piece of felt that will cover the yarn knot on the back of the button, but not extend beyond the edge of the button. Additionally, cut out a small heart or other shape to glue over the pin backing; I do this so that it's prettier on the back of the pin and you don't have to see ugly glue poking through the holes on the pin.

5. Once the glue gun is ready, spread glue on the larger piece of felt and place over the knot, pressing firmly for a couple of seconds to ensure all corners are securely stuck to the button. Next, spread glue on the back of the pin, place on the felt tab, press firmly. Once the pin is secure, but before the glue cools, press the smaller, cover piece of felt on it and press firmly to secure.

6. Let your pin dry for about 12 hours to ensure that it's definitely secure. And enjoy!

Thread Painting on Card Stock

SHOW YOU: Thread Painting on Card Stock

For a while now I have been interested in embroidering on things other than fabric, so I took a short adventure into the world of thread painting (aka embroidery) on paper. Turned out great, but I don't think overall I love this medium for my art. I prefer something with a little give, with some more texture and flexibility when it comes to mounting/displaying it. But here are a few things I created with card stock and embroidery thread, and other things....

I love this Father's Day card I made for my papi this year. The image is hand drawn by me and the binding for the card is a twig I found while walking through the lovely neighborhood I work in down near Berkeley's 4th Street area.



















This second image is a card I made for my Grandma Dot (full image and close up). Her 86th birthday was this year and she is still spunky, beautiful and full of life! The image is also hand drawn by me.


































Finally, this is a very special gift I made for one of my favorite redheads, Sarah O. I love her so much, we've been friends for so long and I thought I'd try something new as a birthday gift this year. The image is hand drawn by me, on card stock. The frame is stained and adorned with twigs from a deconstructed wreath I bought at the craft store a while ago. I also tried something new, by coloring in the some of the "white space" with colored pencils, which I thought added a little bit more substance to the image. I finished it with a hand carved message on the frame.
















Even though the paper was fun and although I don't love using it, what I did enjoy through the experience of doing these three projects was the exploration of making something with so many different variables. I liked mixing up the elements, making it 3D and including natural elements. I've since moved on to embroidering on artist's canvas and it is my favorite medium by far. A little sneak peak of a project I'm working on right now...