Get Your Soup Bowls Out.

That's right boys and girls.

Soup Season.

Yes, indeed, it is the best time of year.

I admit. I am usually not a recipe user when it comes to soups. I am typically the type of person that grabs all the veggies that I have and immediately cook them all together, maybe process one half of the soup and make it spicy, add some crushed tomatoes...voila! Soup!

This season will be different. This is the season for something different.
This season I do the nerding-out with Soup.

For my first recipe, I introduce to you African Sweet Potato and Peanut Stew.

Holy crap.

This is awesome. Here is the recipe.

Here's what you need:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 med sized yellow onion, chopped
1 med sized green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 large garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp light brown sugar
1 tsp peeled and grated fresh ginger
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp cayenne (although I always add more.)
1 1/2 lbs sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes.
1 14.5 oz can crushed tomatoes
1 1/2 c vegetable stock
salt
1 15 oz can dark red kidney beans
2 tbsp smooth natural peanut butter
1/2 c chopped unsalted dry-roasted peanuts

Here's how you make it:
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, cover and cook until softened, about 5 min. Add the bell pepper and garlic, cover and cook until softened, about 5 min. Stir in the brown sugar, ginger, cumin, cinnamon, and cayenne and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the sweet potatoes and stir to coat. Stir in the tomatoes, stock, and salt to taste. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer until the vegetables are soft, about 30 min. About ten min before the end of the cooking time, stir in the kidney beans and simmer until heated through. Place the peanut butter in a small bowl and blend in about 1/4 c of the broth, stirring until smooth, then stir into the stew. If a thicker consistency is desired, puree one cup of the stew in a blender or food processor and stick back into the pot. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Sprinkle with the chopped peanuts.

Okay, now go make it!

And now, Austin.

Well, after over 7 years in San Marcos, Texas, I made the move. That's right boys and girls, I finally did it. Almost every San Martian didn't leave me with a "Goodbye" but rather a "You'll be Back."

Bad news guys. Probably not going to happen.

Don't get me wrong. I love San Marcos. I miss the river and I sometimes feel as if the energy that the river provides has now been taken from my body. There are more things that I learned in the last 7 years from living there than I feel like I could have taken from anywhere else. The River and it's people hold a very special place in my heart. But, it was time.

Now, I am in Austin. Living on the East side. Living with my love, a kitten and my neurotic border collie/sheltie. Nico Morning Glory Biscuit Hurt-Smith, my kitten, and Roadie, my lovely canine companion. We all share a cute little 2 bedroom back guest house in a great little neighborhood on the East side. Close to breakfast tacos and coffee. Both of these are a big bonus.

I am working in coffee. Who is surprised? Yes, yet another coffeehouse. I do love where I work though. I started at Flipnotics Coffeespace about 3-4 months ago. So far, I love it. I love the people I work with and being a part of the barista community here in Austin.

I ride my bike everywhere. How lovely living in a place where people are used to seeing bikes. San Marcos, you are almost there, but now quite. One thing San Marcos does have on Austin, you can bike home from the bar in less than 10 min, wherever you live, and its flat. My first time riding home from the bar in Austin? Hell.

Did I mention how much I love my new space? Our extra room is just waiting to turn into an art studio. Once we remove the extra mattress, and move in a large table, it will be on. There are several projects that I want to start working on. Of course there is my long running goal of finally putting together an art show. I haven't ever done that. I WILL create a collection of painting and various art projects and I WILL have a showing. Then there is the 2 twin mattress couch that I want to be in my living room. A quilt. An elaborate bird costume for Trevor and my own enjoyment. I feel that if I create my room, my room will create inspiration in me.

Trev wants to start brewing beer. When I say "wants" it's more like I am saying that he has been consumed with the thought of brewing beer. Once he got it into his head, the nerding-out began. He reads all the blogs, listens to all the podcasts, analyzes every beer he drinks. It's kinda adorable. It's kinda nutty. Every time we order beer I learn why it tastes the way it does, what temperature it has to be at, what kinda barley, on and on and on and on. But, no really, it's adorable. Hopefully, all of the nerding-out is helpful and we can have amazing beer! We both have our projects. We both are trying to inspire each other. Trying to figure out how to make our creativity come alive. I hope I get to taste his creativity coming to life soon! Hopefully is first beer is a stout. hint. hint.

So, here's to creativity. Here's to movement.