Searching for Treasure

Happy Monday! In spite of this dreary, drizzly and cold weather, I have a little pep in my step, thanks to a restful weekend that included one of my favorite activities: searching for treasure at a local consignment shop!

John's grandmother introduced me to Consigning Women just after our wedding. We were in dire need of furniture, but on a tight budget. Mimi took us to this little gem, and I immediately fell in love. The store has beautiful and gently used furniture, decor items, artwork and even jewelry and bags.  We were able to get our dining room table here for a steal - $360 for the table, including a leaf extender and six chairs (as seen here and here)!

Ever since we snagged the table I've made a point of frequenting the shop once every couple weeks. A couple weeks ago I saw a beautiful jewelry armoire. I adored it immediately, as I'd been looking for a jewelry box for some time. I saw the original price, and decided I would stalk it, hoping it would still be around once the price went down. When a piece comes in, it has a set price. However, there are two additional prices on each piece. After one month the cost goes down, and after two months it goes down even further. It can be a gamble to walk away from a piece, as someone might snag it before the price drops.

First time seeing it!

Creamy Roasted Cauliflower Soup

Well happy New Year! A little late, I know, but ... better late than never, right? Anyhoo, I hope your 2013s are off to a fantastic start, and that you had wonderful holidays. I know that I've been absent from my little corner of the blog world these last few months, and while I'd love to say "I'm back!" I just can't say that yet. I hope to be - and soon! - but for now my sporadic visits are all I can commit to. I do sincerely appreciate those who continue to visit!

That being said, I knew I had to post this recipe when a) John asked me to make it twice...in one week, and b) several people at work commented on it smelling so good as I reheated it for lunch!

So, first things first, if you don't like cauliflower, you will probably still like this soup. John is not crazy about cauliflower, but says that it was so creamy and tasted nothing like cauliflower (though we couldn't figure out what it did taste like). The best part...there is no dairy in this (unless you add a little shredded cheese at the end...so worth it for my dairy-eating friends)! Roasting the cauliflower adds an incredible flavor and texture to this soup, and you will not believe how creamy it is, without one bit of cream or milk.

Please just take my word - and the fact that I am writing a post after such a long absence just because this is so tasty! - and make this. It's super healthy, low calorie and absolutely delicious!

Creamy {Dairy-Free!} Roasted Cauliflower Soup
Serves 4-6, depending on portions

Quinoa Cakes w/ Spicy Marinara Sauce

Happy Monday, friends! I hope you had a very restful and enjoyable last weekend of July. We had a wonderful time at John's lake house this weekend, and we were able to spend so much time with his extended family. We only see each other once a year for our lake reunion, so it really is a lovely time.

Now that we're home? I can't believe I go back to school in two weeks! It's crunch time, and I am busy, busy making sure everything is ready for the start of the new year. Today's agenda includes some strength training at the gym, grocery shopping, a target run, and...reorganizing our closets. We'll see how far I get on that...

I stumbled across this recipe one night while jumping from blog to blog, looking for something to stand out. I bookmarked it, and it was perfect for when we got back from vacation because I had all the ingredients on hand. Much like this recipe.

Anyhoo, this is packed with awesome flavor! John went on and on about these, even saying they tasted like breadsticks with the dipping sauce. I was crazy about a filling and tasty meatless meal. Plus, it's a pretty cheap meal, too. Let me know what you think!

Quinoa Cakes with Spicy Marinara Dipping Sauce
Recipe for Quinoa Cakes adapted from Let's Dish, via Kitchen Trial and Error
Recipe for Spicy Marinara Dipping Sauce by Call Me Mrs. Rapp 
Yields about 8 cakes