loaded potato soup

I've never really liked creamy soups.. ever. Wouldn't even taste the stuff after I tried cream of mushroom once, and haven't touched it until I came across this potato soup. Wouldn't ya know, I just had to try it, since I love me a good loaded baked potato. And let me tell ya, I just might be converted (but only for potato soup. No other cream soup will do!). Of course I found this one on Pinterest, the procrastinator's time wasting dream. It's actually the recipe that comes straight from Disneyland's Carnation Cafe, so I was sold! I adapted the amount since there's only two little birdies eating here, and the original recipe made a huge army-sized pot. Either way, it's amazing, and I've made it twice since coming across it. It's just that good! I hope it looks and sounds as good to you as it did to me.


Loaded Potato Soup

1/2 cup (about 6 slices) bacon, chopped
1/2 cup yellow onion, diced
1 carrot, diced ( I didn't use the whole carrot )
2 celery stalks, diced
2 large russet potatoes ( I don't typically like red )
1/8 cup flour 
1 can chicken stock
Salt and pepper to taste
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
Garnishes: Extra bacon, chopped green onion, shredded cheeses, etc


In a small stockpot ( I use just a regular larger pot ) over medium heat, fry the bacon until crisp. Remove the bacon and drain on paper towels. In the bacon fat over medium heat, cook the onions, carrots and celery until the onions are translucent. Add the potatoes and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the flour and stir constantly over low heat until the flour is cooked and the mixture has thickened slightly, about 5-7 minutes ( I add small increments of chicken broth so that the flour doesn't burn ). Add the chicken stock and mostly all of the bacon. Season with salt and pepper. Bring the soup to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 25-30 minutes or until the potatoes are soft. Add the cream and simmer for about 5 minutes. If the soup is too thick, add more broth or water until you reach the desired, creamy consistency. Season to taste, and garnish with toppings. Serves 3. (Simply double the recipe for a family-sized serving, and use a larger pot!)

Spring!

Spring has sprung (even though today brought a tiny bit of snow!), and I'm so excited because that means for me, it's photography season. School is done for me in a week, and I can't wait for the warmer weather and beautiful backdrops that summer brings! For now, I snapped some pictures of the kiddies at Easter this weekend. At the end is a little dippy that shows the difference between the pictures I take SOOC (Straight Out Of Camera), and the finished product. Get ready because my blog is back!

Roxy, my curious little friend!

Little miss personality in her pretty Easter dress!

And little miss attitude playing outside!

Hey, cool dude!

Love her cheesy little smile :)

T!

The SOOC (left), and the finished edit (right).

new and improved; up and coming

First - to clarify, I have not neglected my site on purpose! I've only temporarily been on hiatus due to school. I'm in the process of finishing up my final year of my undergrad (yay!), and only have about a month left, so my focus has been on that. That, and the Game of Thrones books my boy bought me for Christmas, that have consumed any and all of my free time! I'm also finishing up the second half of the photography course I'm taking through the school, and have learned so much about Photoshop that I'm almost like an old pro. Which is what takes me to my second point.


I've been fiddling around with the idea of starting a photography business. After working with the amazingly talented Kim Chorney (check out her work here - http://www.butterfly-photography.ca/), and doing a couple of test and paid shoots, I'm heavily considering the idea. It may be just a seasonal plan, working through the spring and summer, and taking the fall and winter seasons to possibly do something else for school or find a solid job in my field. If it pans out later, maybe it will become full time! Who knows; I may decide to just leisurely do pictures for my family and for fun, and start a career with my degree. In either case though, I've been flexing my new Photoshop muscles, and created some new logos for a possible business. You'll recognize the pictures as some of my better past work. Let me know which ones you like!

Once my decision is made final, I'll be updating this site as well as posting more information about sessions elsewhere. Thanks for listening!


Carly