curry pumpkin soup

I love using the application "All Recipes" on my iphone. It's so easy to access simple and delicious recipes right at my finger tips. I can be on the bus on the way home and have dinner planned by the time I get off the bus. If no i-phone, simply go to allrecipes.com

Here is one of my new favorites: curry pumpkin soup

Ingredients:

-2 tablespoons butter
-3 tablespoons of all purpose flour
-2 tablespoons of curry powder
-4 cups of vegetable or chicken broth (*i used chicken broth to add more depth to the soup)
-1 (29oz) can of pumpkin
-1 1/2 cups of half-and-half cream (* i used coconut milk...so delicious!)
-2 tablespoons soy sauce
-1 tablespoon white sugar
-salt and pepper to taste
*i also added one yellow onion for extra texture and taste. :)

Directions:
1. Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in flour and curry powder until smooth. Cook, stirring, until mixture begins to bubble. Gradually, whisk in the broth, and cook until thickened. Stir in pumpkin and half-and-half (or coconut milk). Season with soy sauce, sugar, salt and pepper. Bring to just a boil, and remove from heat.

That's it! Super simple and tasty beyond belief! Go try it...now! I know you will love it.

Happy eating,
Sarah :)

starting now.

Here I am. Blogging...again. The first time didn't work out so well for me, so I have revamped the blog and we are starting new. starting now.

My last blog focused mostly on starting my new life in Hong Kong. Last year was an excellent and very exciting year for me. I started my career (gulp) doing what I have always wanted to do and what I love more than anything, teaching. I lived an ocean away from my friends and family and learned how to cope and found that there are many challenges living in Hong Kong. Yet, I fell in love with my life here and learned to embrace it. Now, here I am in my second year in Hong Kong and I love it each and every day (well, almost.) After I returned from my summer in the states I found it very easy to settle back into my everyday life in Hong Kong. I am content with my life here. My job is rewarding. I have great friends. I get to travel so many amazing places. Overall, I can say that life is good. Life in Hong Kong is always moving. There is always something new to do, see, or eat. (Eating is very important.) As I look forward to this new year I am ready to discover more about life and myself. I want to challenge myself more this year. Set goals and not stop until I reach them. I want to stop making excuses that always seem so easy to make and face life head on. There are so many things in life that I want to explore and I think that now is the time. Here are just a few things that I want to explore more of in this new year...

• cooking: i really love cooking, but it can be challenging in hong kong. my new apartment has this amazing open kitchen though (minus oven...hence, the challenging part) and i'm ready to put it to good use. i want to make is a goal to try at least one new recipe a week. in fact i've already started! yesterday i made an AMAZING curry pumpkin soup. it was so simple, delicious and reward to make my own homemade soup.
  
• fitness: last year i was super proud of myself because i lost a little over 20 pounds. i've found that this year i've been more complacent with my working out schedule. which means, it's non-existent. no longer my dear friends! i'm teaming up with jillian michaels and looking forward to getting back on the right track. if i did it once, i know i can do it again!
  
• pottery: in october i took a beginning pottery class and i loved it! it was so rewarding to learn something new and create my own pottery. i found it so therapeutic. i would really like to continue learning more about pottery and dig in and get my hands dirty again!
  

There you have it. It's just a start, but I'm exited about this year and looking forward to what is in store. Why wait any longer? Starting now...my life will be anything but, ordinary. Welcome to the journey!

peace,
sarah

(I must give credit to my inspiration: Kaity "Weaver" Weigang. My best buddy from kindergarten began a blog and I've been following her as she discovers that her "Ambitions never go out of style". She has completely inspired me to get on board and discover more than just the ordinary in life. Thank you dear friend....you have inspired me to really start living again!)