Look at the beautiful color of all those nutrients!
Oh dear, January was National Soup month and I didn’t even post a soup recipe!!
I will make up for it by introducing one here. You can make it from start to finish in about 10-12 minutes. Prep time is about 3 minutes. Take some broccoli, wash it, cut the ends off, trim the sides, cut into pieces. Then cut the stem into slices and divide the florets into smaller pieces. Steam the broccoli in a steamer on the stove for about 8 minutes. You could also probably do it in less time in the microwave. Then throw the cooked broccoli into a blender, pour in some chicken broth and blend until smooth. Add more broth to reach the consistency of your liking. Reheat if it is not hot enough. Eat!
The cooked broccoli gives the soup a natural thickener — much like cooked potato. And the broccoli is full of nutrients and fiber. It really is a perfect veggie. This soup is one of my favorites, and it is so effortless to make. I’ve been eating it a lot this winter– so warming and comforting! See recipe at the end of the post.
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On the work front, I’ve been very busy with book projects, some freelance work, and a new addiction– taking classes at skillshare.com! My friend introduced me to a lettering class there taught by Mary Kate McDevitt, who is awesome! I couldn’t get enough of these great classes, and I kept signing up for more, because there are so many skills to learn! Also, if you refer a friend, you BOTH get $10 off.
I recently took a Typography class and a Pattern Making class and have signed up for a few more. I told you — I’m addicted! The great thing is that it is something you can do at your own pace. Also, the forum is excellent. So far, I’ve been very happy with the instruction — I have learned SOOOO much. These classes can be intense, but only if you want it to be. It’s up to you. You go at your own pace. I took my time with the assignments and tried to really absorb the information. With the pattern class, I found I had to watch the video tutorials more than once. (Maybe I am just a slow learner…)
I find that the best way to learn a new skill is to just do it, and keep practicing.
I decided to do the Valentine’s Day Challenge given by the Typography and Pattern class. The challenge is to design a greeting card and a complimentary gift wrap paper pattern. Here is what I came up with — I call it “Bunny Love” — I’ve been obsessed by bunnies lately.
I really love making patterns, and I want to do more of it! I also like making these cards. It’s a different way of thinking, and it’s been fun to experiment. I had to learn a lot more techniques in Illustrator, so it took awhile to finish the course. The repeat pattern class was really a great resource for this!
In May, I am going to attend Surtex 2014 at the Javitz Center! For those of you who don’t know, Surtex is a major international licensing conference. Buyers from around the world come to buy or license work from artists and designers. I will be helping Victoria Johnson with her booth. Check out her work — it is so great–she is uber talented! She also writes about her process on her blog. I always love reading about how other artists work. You have probably seen Victoria’s beautiful designs in stores already. Some of her clients include C.R.Gibson, WHSmith, American Greetings, Tigerprint, Hallmark and Marian Heath. I’m really looking forward to meeting her and working in her booth along side Flora Waycott — another talented designer!
Perfect Broccoli Soup
One or two large stocks of broccoli
2-3 cups of chicken broth or other stock
salt and pepper to taste
1. Prep broccoli by trimming ends and coarse parts of the stems. Slice stems into rounds. Cut florets into pieces. Steam in steamer for 8 minutes.
2. Transfer about 4 cups of cooked broccoli to blender (I used two stocks and saved a lot of the stem pieces for another use). Add about two cups of chicken broth. Blend.
3. Add salt and pepper to taste and blend again. You might also want to add some more broth if you prefer a thinner consistency. Reheat if necessary and serve.
Makes about one quart of soup.
