Golden Mushroom Gravy

Maybe it's the cold weather, maybe it's the fact that I have been stressed and in need of some comfort food (but my National Exam is over woo hoo!) but I have been CRAVING something smothered in gravy.  So last Sunday when we were planning our meals for the week I planned for Mashed Potatoes with steam vegetables smothered in Vegetable Gravy ...YUMMY!

Enter Golden Mushroom Gravy

adapted from: 1,000 Vegan Recipes

Ingredients:

1 tbsp EVOO (I eyeball it)

half a large onion chopped

1 cup cooked or can chickpeas (rinsed and drained if using canned)

1 1/2 cups vegetable broth

7-8 large white mushrooms sliced (recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups )

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp dried savory

1/2 tsp dried sage

salt and fresh pepper to taste

1. In a saucepan heat the oil (medium heat) then add the onion, cover, and cook until soft.  Then add the chickpeas and 1/2 cup of the vegetable broth.
2. Place that mixture into a blender (or if your lucky a food processor).  Blend until smooth and set the mixture aside. 
3. In the saucepan  over medium heat combine the mushrooms and remaining 1 cup of vegetable broth and bring to a boil.
4. Reduce to low heat and add the chickpea and onion mixture.  Add the spices (thyme, savory, and sage) and salt and pepper to taste.  Stir constantly to blend the ingredients. 
5.  Remove from heat and serve.  (This recipe should keep for 2-3 days in a sealed container in the fridge)

We put this delish gravy on our  mashed potatoes and steamed peppers and broccoli but you could put it on just about anything.  It is such a creamy, hearty gravy . It is full of protein (from the chickpeas) and the sliced mushrooms add a whole another layer of yum!

The best part?  It is healthy without sacrificing taste.  No worries about enjoying every last bit of this gravy!

We are even  planning on making this gravy for Thanksgiving Dinner!

What have you been craving now that the weather is chilly?

linked up with: http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/, http://www.homemakeronadime.com/, http://www.marvelouslymessy.com/, http://www.iheartnaptime.net/2011/11/link-party-3/

Dreaming of Projects

Who doesn't love Pinterest ....seriously?  I lurve pinterest it feeds my addiction for inspiration....
Lately I've been so busy my National Exam is one week away YIKES....needless to say I haven't had time to work on any projects or crafts. 

But they have been floating through my head so here's some thing I've been dreaming of while trying to study 8)

Source

Making a bracelet out of the vintage watches I have from my Grandma and the Husband's Grandma.

Source

I have plans to do something like this in the bedroom for jewelry storage.

Source

I have been eyeing up some globes at an antique store I can't wait to get some and do this ..how cute!

Source

I have plans to make one of these DIY yarn lights for the bedroom!

Source

We are definitely going to paint our old fridge with chalkboard paint soon...love the yellow letter too!

And some fabulous ideas for my future craft space so I can create all these things...

Source

Source

I can't wait to get started on all these projects and share them with you! But for now I'm stuck dreaming.

What about you any good Pinterest projects lately? Any awesome projects completed? Any your just dreaming about?

Linked up with: http://5minutesjustforme.blogspot.com/

Color DRA-MAAA...the saga continues

O color, color, color how I love you ....but how you drive me insane and keep me up late at night.  You my dear friend are the very reason why I have a stack of paint chips 5 inches high sitting on my desk and  a folder full of pictures decided especially to you. 

Still having issues with that dresser turned side board, you ask? Yes, o yes this color drama is directly related to the recent post on my Dresser Color Dilemma. 

For those of you that gave your opinion thanks a bunch!

The totals stand at:

 Yellow = 11

Turquoise = 3

Green = 0

and a couple just couldn't decide (I am so with you!)

All week I had yellow paint chips on the dresser and I was smitten. 

Source

So today I went off to Lowe's ready to get my paint.  I had a page torn out of Better Homes and Gardens with a yellow with a hint of orange ( I did not want it to look like a nursery in my dining room).

Since the paint chip that was suppose to match this magazine totally DID NOT!

It was like this  

this color doesn't look quite so orange in person

vs

this

I had to get it color matched.  Love the wonderful Lowe's guy he worked hard to get it right...but I came home with something that ended up looking a lot like

has a bit more yellow in it in person

this

Truly I think he got the paint match pretty close and I just did not notice how much orange was really in it.

So here I sit annoyed with my Color DRA-MAAA (name that show) staring at the 20 new paint chips I picked up at Lowe's.  Contemplating my dresser color yet again....

By the end of next weekend I.will.have.that.dresser.painted.darnit.  It may look a little like this ....

Source

Or maybe not ;)....maybe it will be this fabulous new color that is staring lovingly up at me from the paints chips spread out on the floor begging to used!

Stay tuned for the final chapter in The Color Saga...

Do you have a paint match horror story? Or just a paint in general horror story? Do you have as many paint chips as I do?

Dresser Color Dilemma

O my gosh unfortunately it's been a bit since I posted last.  Life is getting a little crazy with my last month and a half of grad school and my national exam coming up ..yikes!    Anywho on to the dilemma...

We recently moved a side-of-the-road picked dresser to our dining room to be used as our buffet table.

And now I'm contemplating what color to paint it (the hardware will be changed too). It has to be a fabulous color, there is already way to much neutral in my house!

So of course I turned to Pinterest for inspiration.

Here is what I'm thinking.

Yellow

Source

Source

Source

I lurve the yellow! The yellow in the first picture in my favorite! It's so happy and sunshiney ...word? I say yes lol.  It's grey around here so often I feel like the yellow dresser would be my sunshine. 


Turquoise

Source

Source

I love the "shabby" look of the first picture!

Green
I had to add this, green is one of my most favorite colors.  I love how organic it is.  However, my curtains in the living room and dining room are lime green so I thought a green buffet table might be too much green.

Source



Source


Ok so I need your opinions! What do you think? what's your favorite?

I linked up with: http://5minutesjustforme.blogspot.com/, http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/, http://www.tipjunkie.com/homemade-projects-1024/, http://sumossweetstuff.blogspot.com/, http://www.sweetlittlegals.com/, http://www.bluecricketdesign.net/, http://www.cleanandscentsible.blogspot.com/

Snuggle Time!

Life has been pretty busy the past couple weeks and it is easy to forget we are trying to simplify our lives.  It is important to take a minute and enjoy the really good things...

Snuggling up with Bowsy on a cold Fall Day. 




Linking up with: