happenstance home

Next week I'm going to share a couple of really great products from UncommonGoods.  When looking through their online catalog for a item that really spoke to me, and one that I thought we would get a lot of use from I really stumbled across so many items that I'd love to own.  It was a difficult choice.

UncommonGoods is the perfect resource to turn to when shopping for unique items, and with Christmas around the corner it's a great time to get familiar with their company.  This is always a catalog I look at each year when I'm Christmas shopping.  Noah is into guitar and he has their Pick Punch.  It's a fun way to create your own guitar picks.  He is really smart and loves to have fun so this year I'm planning on getting him this Edible Chemistry Kit.  He is seriously into his Chemistry, and is taking AP Chem at school so this kit will be purely for entertainment!

Here are a few items for the home that caught my eye ... Click the links below to really see the quality and the detail that is in each item.


Thumbprint Alternative Guestbook - would be great to customize and use for any party

Sac A Plat - carry dishes and even bottles of wine to a friends for dinner

Basket Locker - I have been in love with basket locker cabinets for forever

Wood & Ceramic Tumblers - useful, handcrafted and beautiful = perfect

Crochet Dishcloths - adorable set of dishcloths - once again pretty and useful

Baseball Bat Bottle Openers - PERFECT for that hard to buy for sports fan.  I'm in love with this item!!!

Illustrated Land Pillow - despite all of the drawings this is really a great neutral pillow

Glass Teapot With Stand - this is just beautiful!

Tea Kettle - beautiful and useful is a theme :)

Cardboard Animal Heads - fun decorations for a child' room

Handmade Lidded Hamper - was so-ooo close to choosing the mint basket for our laundry room makeover - but I still have a bit more to finish in there :)

Repurposed Layered Wood Frames - STUNNING

Math Mug - great for the "smarties" in my house

Hand Painted Bocce Ball Set - the most gorgeous bocce ball set I've ever seen.  You could just display them in the house when not in use :)

So much to choose from!  For more shopping ideas click here for home and garden decor, here for art, and here for housewarming gift ideas.  Check back next week to see my super useful UncommonGoods find.  I'm really looking forward to using it this weekend!


* all photo's are from UncommonGoods website

Last night I made the most delicious tomato soup!

One comment from the table was "I don't even like tomato soup, but this is the best soup I have eaten in a long time".  The nice thing about this recipe is that it is not complicated plus it's full of healthy ingredients.  So, here it is ... and probably double it - we were able to make 3 bowls from this recipe.

Homemade Roasted Tomato Soup

1 - 14 oz. can chopped tomatoes (I used Whole Foods 365 Diced - no salt added)
salt and freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 large stalk celery, diced
1 large carrot, diced
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup chicken broth (I used Whole Foods Organic Low Sodium Chicken Broth)  also see below ...
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
(then at the end I added another 1/2 to 3/4 cup of chicken broth)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Strain the tomatoes, reserving the juices, and spread them on a foil lined baking sheet.  Season with salt and pepper to taste, and then drizzle with 1/4 cup of the olive oil.  Roast until caramelized, about 15 minutes.  Stir every 5 minutes or so.

While the tomatoes are roasting heat the remaining oil in a saucepan over medium heat.  Add the celery, carrot, onion, and garlic.  Cook until softened, about 10 minutes.  Add the roasted tomatoes, reserved tomato juices, chicken broth, bay leaf, and butter.  Simmer until vegetables are tender, about 15 to 20 minutes.

Next, remove bay leaf.  Puree soup with a handheld immersion blender until smooth.  I pureed mine on medium speed.  At the end I added around 3/4 cup of chicken broth to the pot.  I felt the soup needed extra liquid.  Garnish each bowl with some fresh basil.

I know I will be making more this week.  The texture of the soup was very rustic.  I didn't overly blend so it wasn't totally smooth.  My was it good!  We ate roasted chicken alongside, but next time I also want a warm loaf of crusty bread!


The original recipe was from Michael Chiarello.  I found it inside one of my favorite cookbooks - Food Network Favorites:  Recipes from Our All-Star Chefs.  I have made so many of the recipes in this book, and none have disappointed.  I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves to cook.

Oh, also if you are looking for an immersion blender this one comes with very good reviews, and it's made in lots of colors.  It is also at a very good price.  Mine is made by Russell Hobbs, and I couldn't find it anywhere online.  I've had it for a really long time.

The above photo's were all taken yesterday. Couldn't resist adding my cozy hound.

Happy soup making!

For awhile now I have been wanting to experiment with making spiced nuts.  There is a restaurant near me that has an appetizer of warm spiced nuts on their menu - I always find myself ordering them - and a Michigan made hard cider to go alongside.  From that inspiration I came up with this recipe - here the nuts are toasted and won't get your hands messy.  I also added cherries and chocolate for some spicy and sweet goodness.

1 T. olive oil
1/2 t. Franks Red Hot Sauce - original (for extra spice use 1 t. - I think it would be good)
2 c. pecan halves

1 1/2 t. chili powder
3/4 t. Celtic sea salt
1/2 t. black pepper (I like to use straight up McCormick)
1/2 t. ground cumin
1/2 t. powdered garlic
1/2 t. sugar
1/4 t. dried oregano
1/2 c. Ghirardelli's 60% Cocoa Bittersweet Chocolate Chips
3/4 c. dried cherries (I used Trader Joe's tart Montmorency dried cherries - they are larger and really delicious) 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Line a cookie sheet with Reynolds wrap.

In a bowl combine olive oil and hot sauce.  Add the pecans and toss to coat.  Set aside.

Combine all of the spices in a small bowl, and then add this mixture to the pecans.  Toss the pecans again to coat well with the spices.  Place the pecan mixture on cookie sheet in a single layer.

Bake for 12-15 minutes or until pecans are toasted.  Stir every few minutes.  I cooked mine for 15 minutes.

You could serve just the nuts on their own warm, but if you wait until they cool and add the chocolate and cherries I think you will like that too!  


They are so delicious I am having a hard time staying away from the bowl :)


  

For all of those who have survived cancer, and for those who are finding themselves faced with and in the middle of dealing with their diagnosis and treatment - today is a day to both celebrate and also to inspire those fighting that there is hope - and the odds don't matter.  This can be beat!  

I'm pretty sure that each person reading this post has someone in their immediate lives that has fought a cancer diagnosis.  It touches us all.  More people than ever are surviving this disease.  There are some things that we probably don't take into consideration when it is not our personal heath that is compromised.  Just a few thoughts on understanding, and being compassionate to those who have dealt with and are dealing with this battle.  I think it is very easy for us to remove ourselves from the reality that our friends are loved ones are living.

Surviving cancer is just one piece of the puzzle.  Think of the following struggles that also occur in the wake of this disease.  There are physical challenges, emotional challenges, and often financial burdens that have resulted from doctor's visits, hospital bills, and missed work days.   Sometimes it is hard to find a specialist - health insurance and life insurance coverage may be denied.   There is also the fear that the cancer will return.  We all need to remember that just because the cancer is cured, and we are celebrating it's riddance that doesn't mean that there still isn't a struggle and a lot of anxiety for the person who has been in the fight.

I personally know many friends and family who have fought and won this disease.  I would say that I know 12 people who have been diagnosed with various forms of cancer - and luckily I know 11 of them as survivors!

The following statement is from the National Cancer Survivor's Day website:  ncsd.org 

The National Cancer Survivors Day Foundation believes that more resources, research, and survivor-friendly legislation are needed to improve the quality of life of cancer survivors – during and after treatment. We urge everyone who participates in National Cancer Survivors Day celebrations to not only recognize those who are living with a history of cancer but also raise awareness of the hardships cancer survivors face beyond treatment.

I want to thank Heather Von St. James for making me aware that National Cancer Survivors Day exists.  10 years ago Heather was given 15 months to live after receiving a diagnosis of mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.   Please click here for more information on mesothelioma.  Heather says that as she stands here today overwhelmed with joy because she outlived her diagnosis she has one mission - to have as many people as possible help her spread awareness.  I'm not the most organized all the time, but this was something I wanted to take the time to write about, and to help her get the word out.  It also gave me time to reflect on those I know that have battled cancer, and to really think more about what they have gone through.  They all show such strength so it is sometimes easy to not really think about what they have endured.

Please take a moment to watch Heather's video - she is such an inspiration - and I love the attitude she possesses.  I think that really makes a difference - the positive thinking and having hope -  though I understand it sadly isn't always enough I really think it can be so helpful - even in everyday normal life when not facing down a giant like cancer.  That is something that everyone can take with them! As Heather says, "with hope, the odds don't matter"



Maybe you would also like to spread the word - if so please feel free to share this on your social media, write your own blog post about Heather's story or about someone you love.  Why not use the entire month of June to spread this message :)