Creativity, and a pleasant surprise.

I pride myself on being a decent cook. Like my photography, I am self-taught, with some help and collaboration with friends over the years. Although I can hold my own, even I have had a kitchen experiment go very wrong, and we end up eating cereal. So this evening, as I was starting at the pantry blankly, I got inspiration, and hoped for the best. This soup turned out delicious. If I were to work from a recipe, there are a few things I would add, but just by using items on hand 1) I saved money and a trip to the store, and 2) I surprised myself and am thankful for my culinary growth over the past 12 years.

Ingredients

Meatballs
1 pound ground beef
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp chili powder
Up to 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce

Soup Base
1 TBSP coconut oil
2 Stalks celery finely chopped
1 onion, finely chopped
2-3 cloves minced garlic
19oz can coconut milk
8 cups water
3 tbsp. Better than Boullion 
As much chopped kale as you can stand
Garlic Chili Sauce to taste
1 cup jasmine rice, cooked separately

For the Meatballs

Heat up dutch oven over med/med-hi heat.

combine all dry ingredients into ramekin or small bowl, and pour over ground beef in larger bowl along with the sweet chili sauce. Using a melon baller or spoon, make about 30 small meat balls. Place meat balls into dutch oven, and DO NOT TURN MEAT until it easily releases from pan. Cook meat balls thouroughly. Remove the meat and set aside. 

Soup Base

Add the coconut oil. If going for a lower fat version, drain some of the beef fat first. Add Vegetables and garlic, and saute until cooked through. Add coconut milk, and water. Dissolve beef bouillon in a bit of water before adding it to the soup base. If you don't, you could end up with a clump of beef base at the bottom of the soup. Stir in the chopped kale and chili garlic sauce, and rice. Simmer for 20 minutes to an hour depending on how tender you like your kale.. Serve!

ADDITIONS
If I were to make this soup again, I would add:
Lemongrass
Thai curry powder
Lime Leaves
Squeeze of lime

As I have explored photography, all the different aspects, I am almost certain newborn shoots are my favorite. There is something so relaxing spending an hour or more being quiet in a warm room shooting the most beautiful, new creatures on this earth. Keira's shoot was not exception. My neighbor brought this sweet girl over for a session, and here is a sampling. You can find more at my FB page.

Lily's 6 month shoot

 This girl! Her family has been richly blessed with one of God's great surprises. Six months old, little miss Lily is sweet and smiley. She has three older siblings who love her to pieces, and there are always open arms ready to scoop her up.

 I love this stage of babies. They are sitting up and getting everything into their mouths! It makes for some great shots. I am in love with bright black and whites. Especially for babies. This is just a sampling of her extra fun session.

 Her grandma hand made this dress for her to wear. The details on the cuffs and the ribbon make it something special.

Nothing like tulle for an afternoon snack

.