BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

Our friend and amazing personal chef, Kimi Reichenberg, was kind enough to share her delicious butternut quash recipe with us today. It is my favorite soup and works with almost any diet/dietary restrictions you might have -- it works with paleo and/or vegan diets. And if you don't have any restrictions, it's still just plain old tasty (and perfect for a chilly fall day)!

Ingredients: 

1 Medium Organic Butternut Squash Peeled and Cubed

4 Cups Organic Vegetable or Chicken Stock (preferably homemade) 

1 Small Organic Yellow Onion, roughly chopped

1 Organic Shallot, roughly chopped

6 Fresh Sage Leaves, chopped

1 TBS Ghee or Coconut Oil

Directions:

Heat the ghee or coconut oil in a large soup pot. Sautéed onions, shallots and sage until onions are soft and slightly golden. 

Add squash and stock. Bring to a boil. 

Turn heat down to low. Cover & simmer until squash is fork tender (about 30 minutes). Remove from heat. When cool enough to handle, purée using a hand blender (or blend in a regular blender in batches). 

Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Kimi Reichenberg is a personal chef based in Los Angeles and cooks (any and all) specialized diets. To see her food blog, or contact her for orders, click HERE. xx!

Halloween Inspiration

It's October! I've been pinning so many great Halloween ideas, so I thought I would share some of my favorites. 

Floral Pumpkin DYI by Hunted Interior

 

Gingerbread Skeletons by Donna Hay

 

Black Cat Candy Bowl by Martha Stewart

 

Sleepy Hollow Cocktail by The Jewels of New York

 

Gold and Neon Pumpkins by For the Makers

 

Salted Caramel Snickers Cake by Half Baked Harvest

I need that cake immediately. Happy Halloween season! xx

HALLOWEEN FLOWERS

Flowers, flowers, everywhere and all the time, that's my dream in life. Even though you may not normally think of flowers when it comes to Halloween, they really add a great "organic" touch. I've gathered some of my favorite uses of flowers for the holiday (including a couple of our own).

Could this dark floral skull from The House That Lars Built be any more stunning?

Such a pretty floral moon on this pumpkin by The Merrythought.

Flowers in a pumpkin? Yes! Love what Chatelaine did with this.

And... More flowers in pumpkins. By the flower queen Kiana Underwood of Tulipina

We used protea and chestnuts as two key elements for our sophisticated dinner party.

The simplicity of the white anemones with these bug (and bird) vases just works so well. Via Country Living

White tulips lent a perfectly clean touch to our neon and silver table.