Mollie's Amazing Zoodle Soup

I don't know whether to call this a soup or a one pot meal but I do know it is delicious, filling, healthy and relatively easy and quick to pull together.  

Mollie is an intuitive cook and pulled this together without a recipe to follow. Due to a number of health issues she has become adept at creating clean, healthy recipes from scratch or by adapting and "blending" existing recipes. That's really the take away from this - if you don't like a certain ingredient? Then make a substitution. Adjust the spices. Make the recipe work for you and whomever you are cooking for.

And, oh yeah - we aren't food bloggers but we wanted to share this deliciousness!

Mollie's Garbanzo and Zoodle Soup.

What you need:

2 boxes of organic chicken bone broth (32 ounces each)

2 cans organic garbanzo beans (Trader Joe's is a great source)

1 tbsp herbs de Provence (we love the one fromTrader Joe's but it is a seasonal item and you can find other brands at the grocery store)

red pepper flakes to taste 

1/4 cup chopped onion (we use TJ frozen onions and Mollie admitted she sometimes forgets to toss them in - it's still yummy!) 

4- 5 strips Applegate Thick Cut Uncured Bacon (or bacon of your choice)

4 organic zucchinis 

2 bags of organic baby spinach - 6 oz. each

4 -5 chicken breasts. We use organic free range chicken breasts.

What you do:

Bring bone broth, herbs and pepper flakes and frozen onion to boil in a large soup pot.

Pour in two cans garbanzo beans that have been drained. Reduce to simmer. 

Cook Applegate thick cut uncured bacon in saute pan.

While bacon is cooking make zoodles. Mollie uses a very inexpensive zoodle maker that she's had since college. You can also buy premade zoodles.  Mollie uses kitchen shears to cut the long zoodles into "spoon size" pieces.

Cut the chicken breasts into strips and grill for approximately 12 minutes until cooked.

When chicken is halfway cooked Mollie adds the zoodles and two 6 oz. bags of spinach to the simmering broth.

 When chicken is ready cut the chicken into bite size pieces and place in the bottom of a bowl. Cover with  soup mixture and garnish with the bacon. Mollie adds hot sauce because she is spicy!!

This is a filling and comforting meal in a bowl. It is an adaptable recipe and would be delicious without the chicken for a meatless meal- just add more zoodles! 

Enjoy!

Chinoiserie Easter Eggs

UPDATE: Post your Easter Egg GIVEAWAY comments on this post. Details on Instagram.

I'm not an over the top seasonal decorator but painting is "my therapy"

 and there's a lot of crazy going on right now so late night painting sesh it is!!

I purchased plain white plastic eggs.

 They aren't the slick, shiny plastic ones that open into 2 parts.

 They have a matte finish.

They are actually pretty realistic looking 

and the same size as a real grade A large egg, I think. 

I used a small (very, very small) paintbrush and acrylic craft paint.

This is a very quick and simple project. 

The matte finish is very easy to work with and dries very quickly. 

I painted a dozen eggs in one sitting!

If you "hunt" around you will find Chinoiserie Easter eggs 

tucked in here and there all around the house!

See my blue and white Chinoiserie Christmas ornaments here and here. 

And my Chinoiserie Pumpkins here. 

Monday Blues (and White!)

We had a sunny weekend and now I reallllly have Spring Fever!

(last Monday I posted about umbrella holders because we had so much rain in Atlanta-ha!)

So, you guessed it, my Monday blue and white post is all about 

warm weather uses for blue and white.

Last Summer my asparagus fern was very happy on my porch in a large blue and white fishbowl planter.

I added some tiny, battery operated twinkle lights for the evening.

I painted my beat up galvanized watering can with a little blue and white chinoiserie design.

 Much improved!

I planted my herbs in little blue and white pots last Summer.

Below are some blue and white touches 

I would love to add to my garden or porch this Summer. What about you?

Starting with this patio umbrella-

A super cute blue and white gingham umbrella would be so much fun over a picnic table!

I never pass up a blue and white chinoiserie planter.

 If you don't find them out thrifting then you can find new ones for great prices.

This one is from Walmart.com for less than $75.00.

I see a lot of these in thrift stores and vintage stores for  less than that

 but with out the stand.

I think this outdoor rug would make any porch or deck look amazing.

Just add a bamboo lounge chair, a blue and white garden stool and an umbrella drink!

Blue and white with lots of green plants is the best combination!

I'm ready for Spring!

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy!

Where did that saying even come from? 

But this is easy, peasy!

I love lemons and they are everywhere in decor right now. 

I've always loved lemons as a favorite flavor. Lemon Meringue Pie, Chic Fil A lemonade, I drink my tea with lemon (always!) and lemon squeezed on my favorite fresh seafood. A dash of fresh squeezed lemon in homemade vinaigrette, Citrus Sangria, and a must have when we prepare asparagus. The list goes on.

In decor my hands down favorite lemon-y item is this Schumacher design:

Citrus Garden.

Created in 1947 but absolutely a classic and timeless!

Faux lemon topiaries and wreaths are popping up everywhere for Spring and Summer decorating.

I love a good deal on a "trendy" item that won't be around forever 
and I found the lemon wreath above at Wal Mart for under $20.00.

What a great way to add a touch of Summery, sunny yellow 
to my kitchen without spending a fortune.

Yes, some of the more expensive wreaths (and topiaries) are a bit more realistic but they are 3 and 4 times the price. 

I think the quality of the Wal Mart wreath is just fine for a short term burst of yellow fun. 

I tried it with a navy gingham bow too!

Which do you like best? Plain or with a bow?

This post is not sponsored by Wal Mart. I'm just sharing a good deal!

If you can't find this one here are a couple of great looking 
faux lemon wreaths from Amazon. 
With Prime you could have it on your door in no time flat!

Click on the images if you want the details.

This wreath has a TON of lemons!

This one has a bit more greenery.

And I might have to order this cute lemon topiary for my porch.

It would be perfect in a blue and white cache pot!

So, what's your favorite citrus?