Fall, It's in the Bag (and the Bowl)

If I cannot yet have fall on the outside, I can fake it on the inside.

I've gotten pretty good at this, as a matter of fact. I bake. I light apple and pumpkin smelling candles. Then of course, there are the fallish fabrics now showing on the sewing machine.

First came this:

Then this:

And then a side of this:

There now, doesn't that feel like fall?

As you can see, I've gotten a little zippered-bag happy. They are so satisfying! The tutorial is so super easy, and it just makes me feel better to be surrounded by yellows, oranges, browns and olive-y greens.

I've given three little bags away, so far, and have a few more in the works for some very special friends, plus a few more for three little boys who need bags for collecting treasures on their nature walks. I'm thinking of attaching carabiners to the boy versions, so that they can hook to belt loops. I'll let you know how that works out.

It also goes a long way to creating the atmosphere of fall to have soupy smells emmenating from the crockpot all day!

Who cares if it hit 95 degrees outside today and you will break out in a sweat at the dinner table?! Eat soup, by gosh!

I have decided to declare this the "Season of Soup," and busy myself gathering up recipes - kind of a "recipe box as hope chest" type thing.

So, I'm going to post one of my favorite recipes here, and if you want to play along, post one on your blog, in the next couple of weeks, and let me know (via a comment) where to find it. I'll gather them all up into a page of soup links for the sidebar.

Sound good?

Here's our "Baked Potato Chowder"

1 pkg bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces. (It's a pound, I think)
1 cup sour cream
2 cans cream of mushroom soup
2 cans milk
1 can low sodium chicken broth
1 onion, chopped
About four cups of peeled cubed potatoes.
Lots of pepper

Cook bacon in a skillet, and transfer to a paper towel to drain.
Add onions to skillet and cook until translucent. Drain on a paper towel.

Now put the onions, potatoes, and all remaining ingredients into a crock pot, stir, and cook on high 2 hours, then on low for a couple more. Or, cook for 6-8 hours on low. When you're ready to serve, top with a little shredded cheddar.

Happy weekending everyone!

Comments

[mountain mama]

We think alike.. We had soup for supper too!! But I made chicken noodle soup because I have sick little kids right now. I have a hankering for stew and will probably end up making some on Sunday.

If you think your boys would be interested, I have a post about making dishtowel people up right now. The girls had lots of fun playing with their people today. Have a great weekend!

[Molly]

I will definitely be joining the soup-a-long. Fortunately, it feels like fall around here. Tomorrow night will be chicken noodle.

[molly]

Had to smile at the word use of carabiners. I think I might just always call them "hooky thingys"! But what a good use for those bags!

[brit]

those are awesome I wish I could sew zippers, I always make such a mess of it.

[Sarah Jackson]

I can't wait until my sewing machine comes home on Monday so I can try out that tutorial. Your fabrics are great - I adore the yellow apples. I'll do the soup thing this weekend. We make a yummy tortilla soup that should probably be made on Saturday.

[Bekka]

I agree -- I made cheesy potato soup just yesterday! Yum!

[Anne]

Now I have something to make this weekend - thanks for the recipe.

[dana]

Ooo! It does look like fall at your house. I'm gonna have to check out the zippered bag tutorial. AND, sooo gonna try your soup recipe. I'll add Pumpkin Stew to my blog soon. :)

[erin]

your pouches look amazing - i love your fabric combos.

[Tracy]

I have been doing the exact same thing! Candles and apple pie make it feel like fall no matter what. And I've been eating soup for weeks now, even though we only had one fallish week so far.

Those bags are super cute, and that soup sounds swell. I'm definitely going to make it, and will post my minestrone soon!

[kirsten]

cute embroidery on the pouches!

[Heather]

Oh how cute!!! I love your embroidery. Now my favorites are your previous truck with pumpkin and the new yellow leaf. Soup does sound good for din din... with popovers I think!

[beki]

That soup looks so delicious! This weekend I broke out the crock pot too, I made beef stew.
Your zippered pouches turned out so well, very cute.

[Marjorie]

Stefani,
I feel your pain! Maybe autumn is on it's way over to your place right now. (I told her you were waiting.)
And did somebody say popovers! Now I am inspired :)

[Inka]

Those bags are super cute! :)

Come and take part on my contest at my blog.

[cloth.paper.string]

great embroidery detailing, stefani!!

[Roxanne]

Love the fabrics you used for these bags.
The calender says fall, but here in New Jersey it's sooo hot and humid right now!!

[Knitterella]

Your bags look great! Love the added leaf embroidery. Thanks for the tutorial link.

Thanks for the soup link too. I've never made potato chowder - I might just give this a try today, sounds and looks yummy!

Thanks!
Jill

[Lina]

I'm with you on this. I LOVE soup and all the trimmings, croutons, bread, corn muffins etc. I've been sitting on the fence about a slow cooker (crock pot) for this very purpose - do I really need ANOTHER kitchen appliance? Anyhow, I'll be adding my favourite recipe to my blog later this week.

[sarah]

i made this soup today and it was wonderful! thanks for the share.