maria grossmann+asparagus bisque+canine crisis

look at this gorgeousity.  images courtesy stylist maria grossmann via decor8. 

i also wanted to share a recipe with you.  i made this soup last night and it was so good and healthy and green.  if you make it tell me if you like it.  you know how sometimes when you make something the next day you can't wait for lunch so you can eat leftovers?  that's how i feel.  oh, plus i even forgot to add the cream at the end, which is really a small quantity anyway.  but, the soup was good without it.  which means the only fat was from the couple tablespoons butter used to saute all the veggies.  that means you can eat a big bowl of this and still be able to eat a giant dessert because of the calorie deficit.   and, i love dill.  love the smell and taste. 

ASPARAGUS BISQUE WITH FRESH DILL

bunch of aspapragus

big leek or 2 smaller

fennel bulb

zest+juice of a lemon

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 tablespoons arborio rice (i used heaping ones)

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

2 1/2 cups veg. broth or i used organic chicken broth

1/2 cup chopped fresh dill

white pepper (i used black)

cayenne

2-3 tablespoons heavy cream

chop up leeks and saute in butter, add chopped up asparagus and chopped up fennel bulb.   add grated zest of the lemon and the arborio and 3 cups water.  bring to boil then simmer for about 1/2 an hour. 

then add the broth, dill, pinch of cayenne and pepper.

then puree this in small batches until smooth.  return to clean pot and stir in juice from 1/2 the lemon or however much makes you happy.  add the cream.  eat.

*from the cookbook Love Soup by Anna Thomas

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ok, now I don't want to overstay my welcome, but i must tell you of the canine crisis at our house yesterday.

so, i'm happily cleaning up my backyard (gorgeous day) with several trampoline breaks in between (trampoline exercise video forthcoming.)  around 3 o'clock or so i decide to pick up the tools and head inside to cook.  lola, my annoying but somewhat loveable yellow lab (i hope i don't peeve the animal lovers out there by not gushing about lola here.  i know that blogland overfloweth with pet love. however, though i love lola, she can be a major pain in my asseth.)  ANYWAY, she had been outside with me all day just sniffing around and lying down and chewing on sticks.  all good.  we don't tie her up.  so in the last 5 minutes she decides to go wandering.  i turn around, and the damn dog is nowhere.  which means that the last several hours of my awesome weekend was spent trolling the neighborhood looking for her.  finally at midnight i got a call from the PO-lice.  I had to get out of bed and go spring her from the joint.  next time i'm gonna make her spend the night behind bars.  she's such a schmo.