Emmy Gowns!

Happy Autumn everyone! This is the time of year my autumn jasper pieces start selling regularly! This eyeglass chain is available in both gold and silver in my shop.

If you watched the emmys last week you saw all the fabulous red gowns!

Kerry Washington wore this amazing Zuhair Murad runway gown! It is so sexy with the sheered bottom.

Kate Winslet always looks classy and did not disappoint this time in an Elie Saab number!

Nina Dobrev's was my favorite red gown of the evening in this Donna Karan stunner!

Kathy Griffin did a beautiful job showing off this Oscar de la Renta dress!
My favorite dress of the evening however was not red. I love, love, love this gown which Heather Morris wore.

Oddly enough I was unable to find the designer on this one. I just love the neckline and the diagonal ruffles. The understated color is beautiful with her hair and skin tone.

Jim and I made a fantastic vegetable hot pot that I would love to share with my readers who love tasty, healthy, hearty meals!

The recipe calls for the following:

2 tablespoons oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 onion, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon mild chili powder
1 pound potatoes, roughly chopped
1 pound celery, roughly chopped
12 ounces of carrots, roughly chopped
12 ounces of leeks, roughly chopped
8 ounces of mushrooms (halved if large)
¼ cup all purpose flour (optional)
2 ½ cups vegetable stock
14 ounce can of chopped tomatoes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
14 ounce can kidney beans, drained and rinsed

What is great about this recipe is it can be modified in many ways. We actually left out the garlic and onions because my body does not digest them easily! We added a roughly chopped zuchinni and sprinkled in curry powder and coriander for heat. We substituted sweet potatoes in place of regular potatoes for better health benefits. The sweet potato is fantastic with the hot spices!

Sauté the onions and garlic in oil for 5 minutes or until brown. Then stir in the chili powder for 1 minute. Add the potatoes, celery, carrots, leeks and mushrooms cooking for 3-4 minutes. Then add the flour and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the stock, tomatoes, tomato paste and thyme (other seasoning you would like to add too). Then bring to a boil while stirring. Then lower heat, cover and cook until the veggies are ready! This is a great fall and winter dish! Makes 6 servings!!!!

Have a wonderful week! ~Val