Cream of Mushroom Soup with Balsamic Glaze & Crispy Potato Croutons

image1 (2)

First and foremost, happy September!.. .Autumn weather has arrived here in Seattle and I am definitely craving soup this year! And yes my friends, it is gluten-free and vegan… [and!] it’s entirely fat-free. I promise you, the best thing you can do for your kitchen is invest in a Vitamix. If you are eating more plant-based meals, or happen to already be a vegan – the Vitamix will most certainly change your world. Yes, your world! Not only will your smoothies and juice creations become an entirely new experience, but the Vitamix can puree just about anything until it is silky smooth (as if there was something fattening in there to make it creamy!) It will not disappoint, and more importantly this soup does not disappoint. It’s perfect for chilly Autumn evenings or as a base to a mushroom stroganoff! Continue reading

5 Must-have Kitchen Tools

There are a couple things in my kitchen that I cannot live without… Okay, I COULD live without them, but I just don’t want to…! :) You see, having the right tools and knowing how to use them is essential to the cooking experience. Trust me on this.

Disclaimer: I am not receiving compensation from these brands, I just love their products and want to share them with you!

1. Shun Knives (made in Japan)

714JxDXUsgL._SL1500_
My husband got me these knives about 4 years ago for Christmas and let me says this, they don’t look or feel a day old. These knives are professional and the quality is outstanding. There are a few reasons why these are my favorite, but let me start by saying they are beyond SHARP. When I first started using my Shun knives I remember cutting myself time and time again…lets just say it took some time getting use to them. Not only are these knives sharp but they are lightweight – making slicing, chopping, and mincing easy work. Shun knives are known for the simplistic, but sleek design too. And another great thing to note is that Shun’s headquarters is located in the U.S. (Tualatin, Oregon) and  I mention this because they will sharpen your knives once a year, for free! Yes, for free! So every year when we go on vacation, we send our knives away for some R&R too. I have the Shun Classic 7-Piece Block Set but if you want to test the waters first, I would suggest this smaller bundle, Shun DMS300 Classic 3-Piece Boxed Cutlery Set.

Continue reading