Hearty Chicken Chowder Soup

This soup is SO good! That is why I am posting it on here because I encourage all of you to make it. It is absolutely fabulous and isn't hard at all!

I found this recipe from watching a video on www.foodnetwork.com. I couldn't actually find a typed out recipe so I just watched it several times and wrote it out. But here it is...

Hearty Chicken Chowder Soup

2 strips of bacon

1 white onion, diced

1 jalapeno, diced

1 large russet potato, cubed

1 red pepper, diced

1 16 oz pkg. frozen corn, thawed

Salt and pepper

3 cups chicken stock

2 cups milk

2 cups chicken, cooked and cut into cubes

Cook 2 strips of bacon in soup pot. Remove bacon and drain off all but 1 tablespoon of fat from pan. Add onion, jalapeno, potato, red pepper, and corn into pot. Add salt and pepper for seasoning.  Cook vegetables down for a couple minutes then add chicken stock. Bring to boil then simmer until vegetables are tender. Test potato with fork to make sure it is tender. Puree 1/2 of soup in blender, adding 1 ladle-full at a time. Pour pureed soup back into the pot, stir until combined. Add 2 cups milk, stir until combined. Add 2 cups chicken and stir. Cook further until desired thickness is achieved. Garnish with squeezed lime, chopped cilantro, and chopped bacon. Serve with crusty bread.

Enjoy

Visitors!

The Friday after thanksgiving we had visitors! Brett and Ashley Beynon came and stayed with us! It was so much fun to have them.

We first went down to Union Square but decided to get away from there when there were way too many people. So we went over to the mission and ate at a mexican restaurant.

On Saturday morning, we went to the Haight - Ashbury area and ate at this cute little cafe called Squat and Gobble. It was such a good breakfast.

Haight Ashbury used to be the hippie mecca of American back in the 60's. Now it is pretty much full of a bunch of hipsters. Haight Street is lined with unique little shops and so we decided to walk around and explore. 

How about this store... Pipe Dreams? We didn't go in there.

But we did go into this old record/music store. There were so many records. It was really cool to look around.

We also went to the beach and explored after we discovered that tickets were sold out for the new Academy of Sciences Museum. It was a beautiful day, perfect for walking around at the beach.

So thanks Brett and Ashley! We sure had a blast with you guys! Can't wait to see you again soon.

Thanksgiving!

For Thanksgiving, I decided to take on the challenge myself! I studied all of the Food Network shows, and searched online to try and do it the very best I could. I was most nervous about my turkey. I personally think the worst thing ever is a dry turkey. So from what I learned, I just tried to apply. I put the turkey on some carrots, celery, and onion. I took the giblet bag out of the turkey (several people reminded me to do that) and filled it with onion, garlic, lemon, salt and pepper, and fresh thyme. Then I put on the outside this melted butter, lemon, and thyme mixture.

I really don't think I could have stuffed it more.

All my studying paid off! It was such a moist tender turkey! It was fabulous! I also made some side items that were also tasty. It totally paid off.

I think Dan liked it too.

I also decided to try something new and make a coconut cake for dessert in place of pumpkin pie. It turned out really good as well.

Gotta love Thanksgiving!

Day 1

Today was my first day at Tucker and Marks! It feels a little bit like the first day of school, reading/going over stuff. I am really excited to just get going. Tucker & Marks is right down in Union Square. It is really cool to work around there. Here is a picture of Union Square (this is not my picture by the way). I need to take my camera down there to show all of you the street that my work is on. It is so cool. Anyway, I am so glad to be back in this field of work. It is amazing how much I felt at home just being around it all. 

Dominos Delivery

There has been somewhat of a mystery at our house the past couple weeks. We ordered Domino's pizza one Saturday night a couple weeks ago and then after that we were getting some awkward calls. 

First of all let me explain that when someone comes to our apartment the building is locked outside. So they have to press the apartment number on this little key pad outside, which connects to our home phone number. Then we answer, can talk to the person, and buzz them into the building. 

So this is what was happening. I was home and Dan was at school and this guy was calling and saying "Domino's delivery. Pizza for Laura Chipman. $27.55. Domino's delivery... pizza... Laura Chipman.. apartment 105" (in this Latino-Italian accent). Then I would reply, "No I didn't order a pizza.  No please stop. We didn't order a pizza. No!" Then I would hang up. Well this kept happening. I eventually stopped answering the phone because I kept getting so annoyed. And a couple of times the person was even leaving messages. Well I was talking with Dan about it and we decided I should just be firm and say stop calling us the next time the guy called. So yesterday he called and I did just that.  I was like "Listen, we didn't order a pizza! Stop calling! Stop please. Please just stop!" and the guy was like "oh... ok. ok. bye."

Well when Dan came home I told him what happened. He was like hmm, good job. Well I was proud of myself and I felt good about saying no to the guy. About 5 min later, Dan was like, "Hey Laura....I'm the Domino's guy.....Domino's delivery... Laura Chipman... apt 105... pizza for Laura Chipman." I couldn't believe it! We were laughing so hard. I swear Dan is the funniest person I know.

Work-a-do

I've been getting some requests to write about what I have been doing, with regards to work. So here is the story beginning before I actually got here...

As some of you may know, my old work, Elizabeth Kimberly Design (www.elizabethkimberlydesign.com), was pretty much one of the best things that has come into my life. That job was such a blessing to me. It helped me grow and change in ways that I couldn't have imagined. The people I worked with became my best friends. So it was pretty hard for me to leave it behind. When it got closer to our moving date, my work decided I couldn't leave just yet. They approached me and offered to commute me back and forth between San Francisco and Salt Lake City, and we decided together that we would do this for the month of October.  It was a hard month to say the least. But overall, I am glad that I did it, for many reasons. (Oh and I have to give a shout out to my parents who let me live back at home Monday-Thursdays!) 

When it was finally time to leave Salt Lake for good, I was pretty nervous to find something new out here, but I knew I had been prepared well. I decided to look in the same field, interior design. So I got back here the week of October 27th and I pretty much was online looking for jobs as much as I could. I applied to several jobs. But a couple stuck out more to me than others. 

Both of the intriguing jobs were for interior design companies. One of the jobs I interviewed with proved to be less than what I was looking for to say the least. But I also got a call back on the other job. It turns out that the interior design company hires out this recruiter company called Career Group to find employees for them. So Career Group called me in for an interview and it turns out that the job I applied for was a little out of my league in some ways. They were looking for someone with 10-15 years of experience. BUT, my recruiter said that she thinks I would be perfect for the company and she would talk with them to see what she could do. Then she sent me right out to fill out forms, take computer tests, and the next thing I knew I was set up as a temporary employee and working two days later. 

It is a really cool set up. Career Group gets paid by their clients, I don't pay anything, and it is almost like they are working for me to help me find a job! So I started working temporary at this financial company called Dodge & Cox 4 days after I officially moved there. Dodge & Cox was on the 38-40th floors of the Bank of America building. The views are amazing and it is a really cool office. Well I get a call back from my recruiter and she set up an interview for me with this interior design company! I had to go out and buy some really professional clothes and last Tuesday I got to meet with Tucker & Marks. They weren't interviewing me for the job that was over my head, but more for me to be an assistant to the person who is the head of the design studio. It was amazing! I really want to work there. After the interview, I just felt I was so lucky to even interview with them. 

Well I didn't know what was going to happen so I just tried to keep busy. I kept working at Dodge & Cox up until Tuesday of this week, and then I got a call from Career Group. It looks like Tucker & Marks liked me! I am not hired by them yet, but I do get to work temporarily with them until they decide the right role for me. I guess I just have to prove it to them. I start there next Monday. Career Group said they think I will probably be temporary until the holidays and then maybe Tucker & Marks will hire me for good the beginning of the New Year. So that is where I am now! It really is a blessing. I just feel so grateful to have what I do. I'll keep you all updated. Hooray!

A little bit of what we see

We saw this tour group of Segways. It was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. There were probably about 15 people in the group. I hurried to take a picture and I was just glad I got some of it. Put it on the list for things to do when you come visit. 

China Town

On the Pier

On the deck of the condo we stayed at, when we came to find our apartment.

Inside the condo.

View from the condo.

We saw this sign one Sunday when we were walking to church. We live by China Town, and they have some of the best signs around.

Fisherman's Wharf

This is a picture of a hill that Dan and I knew we had to walk up. Gotta love the hills.

An office building.

A cute little restaurant on the corner right by our apartment.

Transamerica tower at night.

A foggy, cloudy day.

This is the view to the north, up and over a hill by our apartment.

I walk down here to go to the grocery store. Alcatraz is in the back.

Where we attend Sunday worship. Who knows, we might have protesters there tomorrow.

We walk to church. It is only about 15 min and it is actually something I really look forward to. I just put my heels in a bag, wear flip flops, and go on my way comfortably.

I hope you enjoyed the random collection of photos. Sorry it isn't in more organized thoughts, but oh well.