Lentil Carrot Soup

Several weeks ago my mom sent me a recipe for lentil carrot soup that is so incredibly simple, easy and delicious that it has become a staple of our Winter diet. With only a few ingredients and hardly any prep time, I find myself returning to this soup whenever I need a warm, nourishing, pick-me-up. Since I'm fighting off a cold, I made a batch today, and decided to share it here:

4 large coarsely grated carrots (I use the grater blade on my food processor and it does the job in seconds).
1-1/2 cups chopped onion
3 cloves minced garlic
2-1/2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 pound of dried red lentils, rinsed and drained
3 quarts water
Juice of one lemon
1/2 Tbsp. dried thyme
1 Tbsp. salt (perhaps more to taste)
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

Saute carrot, onion, and garlic in oil, until veggies are soft (around 5 minutes).
Stir in lentils, saute 1 minute.
Add water, bring to boil, reduce to simmer.
Cook uncovered over medium heat until lentils are very soft & soup has thickened, about 45 minutes.
Stir in lemon juice, thyme, salt & pepper. Adjust seasonings to taste.

This is especially good served with a wedge of lemon for an additional kick of flavor. Pair with a nice mixed green salad and some homemade cornbread. Total yum.

Wonderland

Amautik Amazing

I recently discovered (and have since become obsessed with learning about) an amazing kind of coat, called an Amautik (also amaut or amauti, plural amautiit). Unlike other babywearing outerwear that I am familiar with, the Amautik is a baby carrier and coat all-in-one. The traditional coat of the Canadian Inuit people, these garments have a built-in pouch for carrying a baby or child on the adult's back, and are as beautiful as they are practical. Just look:

Customarily made of animal skins or thick woolen cloth, the Amautik holds the baby against the mother's back inside the pouch and feature sumptuous, oversized hoods that are large enough to cover both mother and child. They look sooooo cozy. Here are a couple of modern-day interpretations that I discovered online:

Here's a cool (and adorable!) video I found on YouTube that shows a great demonstration of how to wear a swaddled baby facing out in an Amautik:

And here is a brief sequence from the film Atanarjuat (The Fast Runner) which gives a sense of the Amautik tradition. I love that the child being worn in this clip is well into toddlerdom, and also completely naked inside the warmth of the Amautik. Just lovely.

Are you like me, do you totally want one now?!? Amauti Baby is a small, Inuit-owned and operated company that creates custom-designed coats along authentic, traditional lines, for babywearing mamas. Check out their website for more information on how to place an order. International shipping available!

Image sources, top-bottom: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Our Neighbor's Deck

I took this photo from our bedroom window several minutes ago, so consider the bike and deck chairs even more buried now!

We are weathering the storm by alternately snuggling in the bed beneath the glow of our fairy lights and jumping on the bed to the tunes of Ella Fitzgerald. Good times.

Mississippi Snow

SO many people have been impacted by the Snowpocalypse in the past week, but you know it's getting serious when Mississippi gets blanketed, which is exactly what happened there today! My mom just sent me these two photos. The top one shows my parent's home, as it looks right now, and the bottom one is of my mom and her brother exactly 50 years ago to the day, having fun after another memorable snowfall. Aren't they so cute?

I'm Back + Thank You

Photo via Flickr

I'm so sorry it's been two days since my last post, and I left on such a dark note! It's been a wild week for my family. My sister is on the mend, although she is still in the hospital. Thank you ever so much for the positive thoughts and wishes and healing prayers and love you have sent in her direction. I know they are helping! I think she will be going home soon, and will keep you updated on her progress, for sure.

Meanwhile, I've been feeling the wind removed from my blogging sails -- coupled with a desire to get out of the apartment and be active and breathe fresh air with my baby boys. Yesterday we went to the playground for the first time in about two months, and it was lovely. Afterwards, we walked to one of my favorite lunch spots on the Upper West Side, Peacefood Cafe, where I indulged in some yummy vegan morsels (the boys had fallen asleep by the time we got there in the stroller and ring sling, respectively, so I had the treat of what felt like a peaceful meal to myself. And it was so delicious...I totally splurged and warmed up from the cold with a decaf latte made with homemade nutmilk, sweetened with agave nectar -- heaven!)

Photo via Peacefood Cafe

When I finished eating, the guys were still snoozing, so I went around the corner to Barnes and Noble. With two Christmas gift cards burning holes in my pocket, I made some exciting selections. Soon the boys were awake and J got into the act, picking up three books that he just had to have. It was so much fun to buy a stack of books! I can't remember the last time I did that. This is what we got (can you guess who picked out what?):

Hmmm...I wonder ;P

Today, it's snowing outside and we have lots of new reading materials, so I can't wait to dive in.

What are you reading these days?

Making Snowflakes

We've been busy manufacturing our very own little winter wonderland, as per these instructions. It's quite fun and a little bit addictive to cut each snowflake and get a surprise upon opening it up! What are your decorations looking like this year?

Homemade Snow Globes

I love love LOVE this easy-peazy tutorial for making your own gorgeous snow globes! Via Oh Hello!

What are you making/crafting/decorating this holiday season?

Happy Feet

He was tapping in the ice and snow.

Snow Day

Applesauce Muffins

Yesterday afternoon, while it snowed outside, the Kiddo and I decided to fight off the cabin-fever-blues by baking a batch of applesauce muffins.  It was really fun, and the results were way yummy!

Tea Love

One of thing that has been getting a lot of play in our home recently (what with the frigid temperatures outside and my lolling about inside) is hot tea.  Sleepytime tea, with a spoon-full of honey, to be exact. Turns out the Kiddo even likes to drink it, and can barely contain himself while it cools down to a palatable temperature.  Well, imagine my delight when I discovered these genius little teacups on Double Takes.  Aren't they just cozy-cute perfection?

Inauguration

Official, Limited Edition Inaugural Poster, designed by Shepard Fairey.  Available here.

Back in November, I posted about deciding to go to DC for Obama's Inauguration.  Well, I can't believe the time is here already!  We leave for DC tomorrow evening (we're taking Amtrak) and will return on Wednesday. 

I'm sure we're in for quite and adventure, especially since I'm now not only planning to be at this event with a toddler, but I'm knocked up, to boot ;)

T's mother, Riki, has graciously (and probably very wisely!) decided to stay at her house with the Kiddo while we traipse around in the cold trying to see something historic with our own eyeballs.  Depending on my level of nausea/tiredness on Tuesday I might end up deciding to stay home as well, but at this point I intend to be strong and summon all my fortitude for OBAMA!  

I haven't had the kind of week that lent itself to finding all sorts of juicy links for your weekend -- too much time has been spent napping -- but I did run across this beautiful and moving letter written by Barack Obama to his daughters that I thought would be the perfect note to leave you on as I head to Washington to see him become the 44th President of the United States.   I urge you to read it, and let me know what you think:

Barack Obama's Letter to His Daughters.

Decor Love

I want to be there with a cup of chamomile tea and a new book.  Via The Nerdy Fashionista.

Snow in Paris

Captured by Garance Dore.

Home Again

Photo from here.

Christmas Chillin'