Recipe: Anthony’s Mushroom Soup

Tags

anthony sedlak, Christmas, holidays, Meal Ideas, pizza, recipe, Soup, Winter

Eeee only 5 more sleeps until Christmas and I have been sipping on wine and bubbles before laying my head down every night to a winters nap… oops.

Tis the season.

I’ve been having a wonderful time spending the last little while with family and friends who are like family. Dinners, concerts, markets and parades. Here’s just a few snaps!

Me and Jenna at the Main Street Christmas lights parade!

Me and my Mom at the Loew’s Christmas Market!

So much fun but so, so cold. When I get home from all of these activities I love a hot bowl of soup to warm up. My favourite is a mushroom soup I learned how to make while watching a Christmas Special on the Food Network Canada featuring Anthony Sedlak.

Anthony Sedlak passed away in the summer of 2012. He was way too young to go and such a talented chef (and easy on the eyes while watching cooking shows). I still love every recipe I have made of his, but especially this soup over the holidays. Here’s his exact recipe, nothing needed to be changed. Warms my heart and soul.

Anthony’s Mushroom Soup

What You’ll Need

• ¼ cup butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 white onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, finely diced
• 2 leeks, whites only, finely chopped
• 2 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 sprigs fresh tarragon
• 1 cup white wine
• ¼ cup sherry
• 2 cups mixed forest mushrooms (buttons, Crimini, Oysters and Chanterelle mushrooms)
• 2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons dark soya sauce
• 1 tablespoon sherry wine vinegar
• ¼ cup parmesan cheese, grated
• coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

What To Do

Combine the butter, olive oil, onion, garlic and leeks in a large soup pot. Sweat for about 2 minutes. Add thyme, tarragon, white wine and sherry, cover and place over medium-high heat. Allow the mixture to cook until the onions are soft and translucent (about 7 – 8 minutes). Remove the lid and add the mushrooms. Cook the mushrooms, until they begin to sweat and loose volume (about 2 – 3 minutes). Add the stock and whipping cream and bring the mixture to a simmer. Add the soya sauce and allow the mixture to cook for an additional 10 – 15 minutes. Add the sherry wine vinegar and season the soup with coarse salt and freshly ground pepper. Blend the mixture in a standing blender until it is uniform and smooth. Serve hot with a bit of bread on the side.

Related Posts:
Recipe: Chorizo Soup
Recipe: Beet Soup 
Recipe: Tomato Fennel Soup

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The Amazing Race Canada 2

Tags

Argonauts, Auditions, Canada, CFL Cheerleaders, Knee Surgery, Season 2, The Amazing Race Canada, Toronto Rock

Hi everyone! I rarely do a post with just an update on my life but here goes nothing.

On Saturday morning I got up bright and early to shoot a 3 minute video with my best friends! Gian and I are auditioning to be on season 2 of the Amazing Race Canada… AHHHH!

We are a tad excited. Gian and I met when we were Argos Cheerleaders and have always fought the “dumb cheerleader” stereotype. Gian is a Lawyer, yaaaa GiGi, and I am a Social Media Manager. While on the Argos we always had to explain that we didn’t have marbles where our brains should be, and we often still face that stereotype.

So long ago…

Besides overcoming that stereotype, and Gian’s allergy to the cold (she’s Jamaican born) and my fear of heights and so on and so forth, I also had the pleasure of having knee surgery last year. I had my right kneecap lowered and screwed in, so fun! If you’ve been reading my blog for a while you know it’s been an uphill battle. I still haven’t taught myself how to run again, and TARC has a lot of running in it.

I picked a non-graphic image 🙂

Last but not least, in case you needed another reason to put us on TV, Gian and I have won sports Championships with 2 professional teams: me with the Toronto Rock, and Gian with the Argos – time to win one ourselves!

A big thanks to my main gal Casey Nolin (check out her website for all her photography work) for shooting, producing and editing our video for us. We couldn’t have done it without her!

We’ll be posting every once and a while about how we’re preparing just in case we get the BIG CALL! Follow me on twitter @shankell and use the #RaceCDA hashtag.

Fingers crossed for us 🙂

The SHANNON KELLY Burger

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Burger, Harveys, My Burger is Better, Shannon Kelly

Harvey’s ILU! Thank you for making my burger a reality.

Do you have your own way of making a burger? Better copyright that. #myburgerisbetter

Happy Friday everyone 🙂

I’m bringing lazy back…

Tags

2014, busy, glorification, lazy, schedule

YA!

Ok, maybe not lazy per se… but definitely bringing back unbusy. For some odd reason we started glorifying busy. Everyone is busy these days and I’m so guilty of this I should be imprisoned for 25-life with parole at 10 (with the bestest behaviour).

Chloe is NOT impressed.

Either should we. Why are we so concerned with being busy? I have thought about this a lot lately. Far too many friends tell me I should slow down, that I’m the busiest person they know. I used to take that as a compliment.

#werk

Now I just wonder what on earth I am doing. Do I like being busy? Sure?! Do I love when I come home and my condo looks like someone hulk smashed around it tossing laundry and filling up my PVR? Nope, not particularly. Do I love crashing on a Friday night because I’ve been to hell and back all week trying to make every grand opening, birthday celebration, class, girls dinner, date (hahaha), or appointment? Hells no. I remember when going out for dinner was a treat, not a necessity because I didn’t schedule time for grocery shopping.

So, I’m bringing lazy back.

Consider this one of my New Year’s resolutions. I am keeping my Kate Spade agenda clear. I am actually hibernating like a little bear this winter. Like a cuddly little teddy bear who is so anti-social she doesn’t want to see you – like, ever ever ever. This may sound a little extreme, and I can appreciate that sentiment, but c’est la vie. I’m a Libra and tend to balance out my life by going from one extreme to the next only to arrive at a middle ground.

Why go from glorifying busy to glorifying hibernating? Well, there will be a few exceptions:

• school
• the gym
• Jay Z and JT concerts
• a couple charity events

That’s where I will be, feel free to come and play.

Instead of feeling FOMO, why not trying just missing out. No fear, just do it. No one needs to know you’re at home every night, sitting on your couch, marathoning Millionaire Matchmaker, because I hate to break it to you – no one cares anyway. Instagram won’t miss you, Facebook events won’t have their feelings hurt when you decline their invitation, and your friends will get over it.

2014…

…see ya in the Spring!

Holiday Luxe List

Gift giving is stressful and shopping for a luxurious lady isn’t always easy! But hopefully I can help. These are a few of my favourite (or most coveted) things. I wouldn’t mind any of these under my tree on Christmas morning – *hint hint*

1. Under $25 – Butter London in Union Jack Black

Nothing says luxurious nail lacquer quite like Butter London. Their 3 Free non-toxic polishes come in a variety of colours but I have my eye on this one. A glossy jet black that looks like patent leather? My claws can’t wait. Retails $17

2. Under $35 – Chanel Retractable Lip Brush

Lip brushes are a little luxe, but if your lady wears a lot of lippy, this is a perfect stocking stuffer. Plus, it’s Chanel, and with a cap, it’s ideal for traveling. Retails $35

3. Under $50 – Kiehl’s Limited Edition Creme de Corps

Kiehl’s is my absolute favourite skincare line. I swear by their products, and this one is a cult classic for a reason. Limited Edition for the holidays, 100% of Kiehl’s net profits from the sales will support the Canadian Association of Pediatric Oncology Camps (CAPOC). Body butter and giving back during the holidays? Win, win. Retails $45

4. Under $100 – Molton Brown Golden Solstice Three Wick Candle

When I was traveling in Scotland we stayed in a beautiful flat through airbnb which introduced me to Molton Brown products. Addicted, I visited the store in London only to fall in love with their fragrances. A fiend for candles, this tops my indulgence list. Retails $74

5. Under $200 – Le Creuset Square Skillet

Le Creuset is purchased when you know how to maneuver around a kitchen. If your lovely lady spends time whipping up recipes, may I recommend a skillet in Caribbean blue? Plus it promotes healthy eating, a check mark for 2014 goals. Retails $168

6. Under $300 – Clarisonic Plus Limited Edition Glossy Red

Why gift one facial when you can gift a facial every day? Clarisonic Plus is perfect for a woman who loves to take care of her skin and pamper herself at home. The Clarisonic Plus also works at a body buffer, and in glossy red, it’ll be a welcome addition under the tree! Retails $259

7. Under $500 – KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer

If you’re going to bake all year round you need the equipment. KitchenAid’s Artisan Stand Mixer comes in an array of colours and will bring delight to a kitchen counter. Plus, if it’s on sale there’s a little left over in the budget for all of the additional attachments! You’ll also get baked goods, lots of them. Retails $499

8. Under $1,000 – Sydney Evan Rose-Gold and Diamond ‘Love’ Ring

There isn’t a better way to show her a little love than with rose-gold and diamonds. Sydney Evan jewels are worn by some of my favourite starlets like Lea Michele and Mila Kunis. A little twinkle in her eye and on her finger, happy holidays indeed! Retails $860

Merry Christmas and Happy Shopping xoxo