I’ve been messing with vegetable soup recipes for awhile now, and I think I’ve finally figured it out!  Perfection in a bowl I tell you.  Not only is it easy breezy to make but it’s very low cal which makes me feel so much better when I’ve ate 4+ slices of our garlic bread.  It all balances out right?

So without further ado I give you Waiting On Martha’s Vegan Vegetable Soup and Garlic Bread (recipe below).  xoxo

I could inhale this soup!

Round Pond Garlic Olive Oil is amazing…all of their olive oils & wines are amazing!

I highly suggest dipping the garlic bread into your soup…nom nom

FOR THE SOUP…

Ingredients (I use all organic veggies, but that’s a personal preference)

2-6 cloves of garlic, finely chopped (your choice on how much garlic you use…I’m garlic obsessed)

2 cans of diced tomatoes

1 green pepper, finely chopped

1 red pepper, finely chopped

1-2 jalapenos, finely chopped (adjust for your “heat” preference)

2 bunches of green onions, finely chopped

1 bag of carrots & broccoli slaw ( if you can’t find this then finely chop 1 cup of carrots and 1 cup of broccoli)

1 bag of red cabbage slaw (if you can’t find this then finely chop 2 cups of red cabbage)

1 large jug of V8 Juice (I use the spicy hot flavor because I enjoy the “heat”)

1 Tablespoon of Curry (optional)

Salt & Pepper to taste

1-4 cups of water…see recipe below

FOR THE GARLIC BREAD…

Ingredients

1 loaf of ciabatti bread

Olive Oil (I use Round Pond’s Garlic Olive Oil)

1-6 cloves of garlic, finely chopped (again just depends on how much you like garlic)

Diced chives (optional)

LETS MAKE SOME SOUP…

1. In a large pot add all of your soup ingredients together and bring to a boil.  For the water I just add as much water needed to make the pot ALMOST full…leave enough room for it to boil

2. Boil for 15 minutes then bring to a simmer for approximately 1 hour.  Taste and stir from time to time.

3. After it’s simmered for 1 hour insert immersion blender into soup and start blending until all of your vegetables are blended making sure no large vegetable chunks are left.  A foam will appear on the top because of blending, don’t worry about it.  If you don’t have an immersion blender wait until soup cools a bit then add to a blender and slowly blend making sure it doesn’t completely liquify.

4.  While soup is cooling preheat your oven to 425 degrees.

5.  Place slices of your ciabatta bread on a sprayed cookie sheet.  Add diced garlic and chives to each slice then drizzle liberally with olive oil.

6. Place cookie sheet in the oven and bake for approximately 5 minutes then switch to broil to crisp the tops.  Just watch your bread while it’s broiling, it will likely only take 2-3 minutes to crisp and brown.  You can also do this in a toaster oven just plan on it likely taking a bit more time.

One of the absolute best things about moving to a new locale for me is hands down the food.  And I must say if I was rating Atlanta on how much I like it by the food alone I’d be in love (infatuation stage love)…and I came from Chicago a major foodie city!  A great example of that Atlanta food I can’t get enough of is No. 246 (thanks Brittany for the introduction).

Ford Fry, owner/executive chef of JCT. Kitchen & Bar (which has the best mussels I’ve ever had), and Chef Drew Belline, previously the chef de cuisine at Floataway Café, came together to open No. 246 an Italian-inspired, and seasonally driven restaurant in the heart of Decatur.

It’s farmhouse chic interior is cozy without being too close for comfort.  And I highly suggest asking for a table by the kitchen to watch the show which includes an island in the dining room where their incredibly talented sous chef puts the finishing touches on all of the plates before they reach their intended patron.  And the waitstaff is just divine…especially Kathryn our waitress who introduced us to an after dinner aperitif called “the handshake” and sent me away with a list of at least 30 other restaurants I have to check out.

Make sure you check out my No. 246 MUSTS below and enjoy!  xoxo

The bar…perfect for an after work libation or two.  {Image by Andrew Thomas Lee}

{Image by Andrew Thomas Lee}

{MUST Eat} Though I didn’t try a dish I didn’t like, for me No. 246 is all about the flatbreads, pizzas, appetizers and desserts.  The flatbreads are beyond!  Homemade, thin and crispy breads with various toppings are perched in a basket where you pile the toppings high yourself.  If you are lucky enough to be dining on a night they have this warm ball of mozzarella infused with cream GET IT!  Why I say lucky is because it’s not always on the menu, it’s sourced from a local farm and made especially for 246 so make sure you ask and if it’s available don’t pass it up.  Then dessert…oh the dessert.  My fav was a homemade waffle cone with a hint of cinnamon and sweet butter cream ice cream, chopped pistachios and balsamic vinaigrette.  I literally have been dreaming about that ice cream!  Absolutely ridiculous.

{MUST Know}  Plan time before and/or after dinner to pop into Leon’s next door for a quick drink and round of bocci ball.

{MUST Do}  No. 246 offers a 5 course Chefs Counter experience where you make yourself cozy at the kitchen bar and watch the action while enjoying their impromptu creations.  They do take dietary limitations into consideration so no worries if you’re gluten free, vegetarian, lactose intolerant, or just hate a certain food.

Hottest seat in the house at The Chef’s Counter {Image by Helena Peixoto}

As many of you loves know earlier this month I was gallivanting in NYC for 5 days…spending time with friends, shopping, eating, attending Martha Stewart’s 2 day Dreamers Into Doers Event, more shopping, more eating…you get the picture.  Anyway it’s been requested that I share some of my outfit and shopping finds with you all which I’ve always been very hesitant to do.  First off I don’t like seeing my non-photogenic face plastered everywhere, and second I am no photographer nor is my Mr. so please note that all of these pics are taken with an iPhone and either in our hotel room, elevator, or lobby…real professional I know, but it does the trick.  So without further ado I give you NYC Part 1…The Clothes (which will be followed by NYC Part 2…The Martha Stewart Event, NYC Part 3…The Shopping & trip to Zac Posens studio, and finally the Zac Posen Giveaway beginning Tuesday which you won’t want to miss).  Lastly, don’t forget you can find everything I’m currently obsessing and lusting over right here!  Have a lovely weekend my loves, xoxo.

Asos Faux Fur Coat in Ivory | Zara Zebra Print Silk Blazer | J.Crew Silk Cami| Waiting On Martha Turquoise Necklace | J.Crew Minnie Pant in Vibrant Flame (these are one of my favorite pants) | Alexander Wang Whip Stitch Boots | Vintage Fendi Zucca Bag Similar HERE

BCBGMAXAZRIA Cheetah Print Sweater (OLD) | J.Crew Denim Shirt | J.Crew Pants | Gucci Riding Boots (OLD) Similar HERE | J.Crew Pearl Necklaces (OLD) | Michael Kors Gold Watch | Hermes Bracelet

Michael Kors Faux Fur Vest Similar HERE | Topshop Stars Shirt (OLD) | Tory Burch Lapis Necklace | J.Crew Minnie Pant in Black | Alexander Wang Whip Stitch Boots | Vintage Fendi Zucca Bag Similar HERE

Marc Jacobs Sunglasses Similar HERE | Missoni Coat Similar HERE | J Brand Jeans | Celine Bag | Valentino Rockstud Shoes (these are one of my best purchases ever!  They are beyond comfortable and I highly suggest the splurge)

BCBGMAXAZRIA Wrap Dress (they also have this print in a jumpsuit!) | Bloomingdales Necklace Similar HERE | BCBGMAXZRIA Pave Armor Ring | Michele Watch | Waiting On Martha Black Tie Affair Bracelets | Hue Tights | Celine Bag | Chanel Steel Toe Heels | Essie Chinchilly Nail Polish | Addison’s Dog toy on the floor OLD