Wedding Update - 15 days!!

FIFTEEN DAYS TILL "I DO"!!

Wow. Fifteen. Just, wow. I keep making myself stop and really think "it's ME getting married. ME". I want to feel and relish every moment of it.

My blog has been quiet lately with all of the stress and planning going on this month. There have been a lot of hard days, but also a lot of good moments that I will cherish.

Here are a few exciting things that have certainly brightened my difficult week:

* Dave is almost positive that he will be able to take leave on the days he requested! It's not a done deal till those signatures are collected so I'm not uncrossing my fingers yet!!

* We added some wonderful friends to our bridal party :)

* I got a mysterious box in the mail and just had to open it. It was a wedding present, and I was too curious to resist. Dave and I were given the most beautiful bath towels embroidered with "Mr." and "Mrs.". It was really fun to open a gift early and take a moment to be excited about being a Mrs soon!

* I picked up our marriage license at the town hall. Please, please, please may I not loose it!

* I reconnected with an old friend who I still consider my brother - I mean we did run around in diapers back in the day :)

* Quilt squares have been pouring in - I am absolutely loving them. This is going to make such a wonderful quilt!!

* A few weeks ago we realized that the delivery date for Dave's wedding band was a tentative time frame that could end up being a few weeks after the wedding. You can imagine my excitement when it arrived today!! I immediately drove it home from the post office and cut open the box to see it. It's so wonderful - with my fingerprint and special engraving on the inside. I cannot wait to put it on his finger!

* MINI-MOON is planned!! After the wedding we will be spending  a few days in a penthouse condo down in Destin, Florida. It has a full kitchen, balcony looking out on the gulf ocean, and a rooftop hot tub all to ourselves! I am so excited!! 3 weeks and I will be in newly-married bliss down on the beach without a single wedding detail weighing on my mind. When Dave graduates we will take our official honeymoon - another trip to have fun planning and anticipating.


My goal is to get all of the wedding planning finished before the week of... not sure if that is realistic or not, but I sure don't want to be up the night before writing out seating cards!

I would also like to gain 10 pounds in the next 2.5 weeks. However, because of my acid reflux I am supposed to avoid fatty, fried, sugary and spicy foods, so that makes the challenge a LOT less exciting.


so that's what is new in my world,
~ Kendall Soon-to-be Berry

Apple and Butternut Squash Soup

Today has been the most wonderful relaxation day my family has had in a while. We had a nice family breakfast - the first in a few months that everyone was there together. Since it is incredibly hot and uncomfortable outside, we decided to stay indoors (except poor Marina who went to pick up trash on a bike trail with a service group in this heat). Dad wallpapered the bathroom, mom prepped dinner, Gus unpacked from Alaska, and I made Apple and Butternut Squash soup. We listened to music, played checkers and enjoyed each others company. For lunch we had my soup and some homemade guacamole - absolutely delicious. It's good to have time to enjoy the last few weeks at home.

Apple and Butternut Squash Soup

(Deb O'Hanlon's recipe)

3 Tbs. Unsalted Butter

1 Lg. Onion, chopped

2 Tbs. Curry Powder

1 tsp. Chili Powder

2 1/2 C. Chicken Broth

3 lb Butternut Squash, peeled, seeded and cubed (8 cups)

21 oz. Granny Smith Apples, peeled, cored, and chopped (3 cups)

Salt and Pepper

1/2 C. Heavy Cream

2 1/2 C. Chicken Broth

1 Tbs. Fresh Parsley, chopped

or

1 Tbs. Fresh Cilantro, chopped

Directions:

In a large heavy pot, melt butter over medium heat. 

add onions and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. 

Add curry powder and chili powder, mix well. Cook, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes.

Stir in 2 1/2 cups chicken broth, squash, apples, and salt and pepper to taste.

Bring to a boil. 

Reduce heat.

Cover and simmer 30-45 minutes until squash is very tender, stirring occasionally.

Strain soup over a bowl to reserve the liquid. 

Puree vegetables in a food processor in several batches.

In same pot, combine vegetable puree, reserved cooking liquid, cream, and 2 1/2 cups chicken broth.

Bring just to a simmer.

Ladle soup into warm bowls

Garnish with parsley. 

My variation:

The squash I had made 10 cups so I added a 4th cup of apples to balance it out. (1 squash and 3 apples)

I put 3 3/4cup of chicken broth in to cook the vegetables because it didn't seem like enough liquid, and then at the end added just 1 cup of chicken broth and 1 cup half&half cream. I put a few twigs of cilantro into the soup to cook with it. 

I had no idea how difficult squash is to cut! It was very tough but cooked down nicely!

Simmering!

(straining and pureeing squash)

Our lovely lunch! Everyone gets their own portion of guacamole because it's one of those foods we have a hard time sharing. It brings out our greedy sides :)

Mrs Berry

In one month I will become Mrs. Berry! I couldn't think of a "sweeter" name :D