I don’t know what it is, but when it comes to following trends or making changes to my life, I never do it when other people are doing the same. New Year’s resolutions? Pah. I either already started in December or I’ve waited for the New Year’s failures to leave around March and make room for me at the gym.
For some reason, I always see the short month of February a chance for me start fresh. Maybe it’s because it coincides with the Lunar New Year and I always see that as the beginning of the year instead of January.
Take that, Julian calendar. Old time moon ways are the way for me. My body (aka my uterus) only believes in the moon clock, why can’t the world?
So I’ve been making the effort to go to bed earlier (between 11 and 1 am…which is considered early for me), waking up earlier (my alarm is set for 7:45, but I find myself waking up around 7:30 every day), eating better and not going out for dinner as much because I suck at budgeting and my credit card company is way too happy with me right now. I’ve also been cleaning more often.
My office—aka my desk in my bedroom because lulz I live in a small apartment in Toronto—has been reworked, cleaned, dusted, and decluttered has never seen so much table space and productivity in its life, despite being with me for 5 years of my post-secondary education.
My kitchen counter has never been cleaner, my “studio” (my living room) is way more organized and hasn’t overtaken the space with my photography equipment and food props.
I’m being better at racking up actual billable hours so I can earn a living wage and justify the obscene amount of time I waste doing unrelated things. What am I even doing? I don’t even know. Watching shows, playing games, texting my friends, reading food blogs. I started a World of Warcraft account a couple days ago because I’m finally done school and I am no longer afraid of failing because I’m an adult now with a job. For years, exboyfriends, friends, and fellow RPGers have been encouraging me to join WoW but I adamantly refused knowing that I would immediately become addicted, drop of out school and waste away playing video games.
See Mom? I have self-restraint.
In any case, whether you’re trying to eat healthier, cut out the processed foods, or are simply already a responsible and privileged adult that knows that you need to put good fuel into your body, try this luscious sweet potato and butternut squash soup. It’s easy to make, only requires some good ol’ chopping and peeling (or you can be lazy and buy those prepackaged ones at the grocery store but this is much cheaper). A little boil, toil, stir and whir with the blender and you’ve got yourself a pot o’ gold.
Golden soup that is.
Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash Soup
Ingredients
- 1/2 large or 1 medium sweet onion, diced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp red curry paste (or use your own spices you like)
- 6 cups (1.5 L) vegetable broth (no sodium)
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into 1/2" cubes
- 1 medium sized butternut squash, peeled, de-seeded, and chopped into 1/2" cubes
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt (to taste)
- Black pepper and pepitas to garnish
Instructions
- In a large pot over medium heat, cook onions in olive oil and sesame oil until translucent (about 5 minutes).
- Add in curry paste or spices and stir to coat. Deglaze with a good splash of broth, and then stir in the rest of the broth. Raise heat and bring to a boil.
- Add sweet potatoes and bring to a boil. Let cook for about 5 minutes, then add in butternut squash. Bring to boil again, then lower to simmer for about 30 minutes.
- Use an immersion stick blender or a high speed blender to puree the soup. Add kosher salt to taste, and serve!
Katie @ Produce On Parade says
Good for you! You are such a crackup, Lisa. I can’t believe you go to bed so late! I am a before 10 0’clock person might self, and I find that quite late! I’m glad you’re finding your way :)
genevieve @ gratitude & greens says
Both butternut squash and sweet potato are such comfy and cozy foods! They pretty much define my winter. Whenever I’m in a productivity slump, I just clean my apartment- laundry, dishes, recycling- and it helps me feel like I can take on the world. I used to have a pretty good sleep schedule, but I’ve been sleeping later lately… that’s going to change soon!