Huffington Post

So excited to share that Grace Warren Designs was featured on The Huffington Post.

YEAH!

Best Potato Soup Recipe

So, if you are anything like me, you hate the bad weather which seems to plague us in Chicago. Wet, rainy, sleet snow and howling winds one day and the next just warm enough to start to melt everything into a yucky sloppy mess.

The good side?
Cold weather = good great soup recipes to try out and stay warm indoors.
I found this little gem from here and made it. I adapted a few things from the original and it was AMAZING.
Not very healthy but plan to make again with 1/2 of cream and 1/2 regular milk.
Loaded Baked Potato Soup
Serves 6
1 pound bacon, roughly chopped
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 large carrot, peeled and diced
3/4 cup diced celery
10 medium red potatoes, diced (no need to peel)
1/4 cup flour
2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
Coarse salt, freshly ground pepper, to taste
4 cups heavy whipping cream
Optional garnishes: chopped chives, bacon bits, sour cream, shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese

1. In a 6- to 8-quart stockpot over medium heat, fry bacon until crisp. (I cooked mine in the oven and then cooked the veggies in the stock pot with a bit of butter and it turned out great)
2. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels, reserving half for garnish. In bacon fat, cook onions, carrots, and celery until the onions are translucent. Add potatoes and cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Whisk in flour and stir constantly over low heat until the flour is cooked and the mixture has thickened slightly, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add chicken stock and half of the bacon. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Over medium-high heat, bring the soup to a simmer and cook for 25 minutes or until the potatoes are soft. Mash some of the potatoes for thicker, creamier texture. Add whipping cream and simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Adjust thickness by adding water or stock. Soup should have a creamy consistency.
6. Season to taste, and garnish with toppings.

Cooks’ notes: Soak diced potatoes in cold water until ready to use to keep them from turning brown. To make bacon easier to chop, lightly freeze.

Very filling soup so a little goes a long way.

Enjoy!

Pinterest

Okay, I am officially addicted to it.  I can't believe that this exists for me to dream of all the projects i can fatham and most that I don't have the time for. But what's a girl to do?  Pin. Pin. Pin. Pin. Pin.

I will say that I have gotten several ideas from there that I have adapted for my needs.  From potato soup to large size canvas prints, I have officially become an addict.

And I am okay with it! I have tons of new finds everyday, so feel free to follow and see the cool things I am dreaming up!

DIY Candy kiss Printable Tutorial

DIY Candy Kiss printables

These little guys add such a cute addition to any event.  These are available in the shop in all sorts of different variations from holidays to baby showers and more.

What you need:

1. Purchase your DIY printable design from the shop.

2. Print onto full label sheets (can be found at most office supply stores)

3. Use scissors or a straight edge cutter to cut alongside one edge of the square design

4. If you are wanting mini-squares continue to cut out each square

5. If you want to use them on hershey kisses, rolos, or peanut butter cups you can use a 3/4 inch round punch to cut them out.

6. Peel and stick.

Enjoy!