Blog - Page 10 of 11 - Petula Pea Photography | Wedding, Engagement and Family Photographer Serving Carlsbad, Encinitas, San Diego, Del Mar, Tucson and Destination Weddings

Organic Roasted Sweet Potato {+ Carrot} Soup Recipe

Monday, October 14, 2013

A lot of you salivated over my roasted sweet potato soup {photo} I posted last week on Facebook, so I thought I’d share the recipe that

I have adapted over the past few years. I have perfected the soup by combining a couple of exact recipes into one and I use the below as my own; it’s simply amazing. Especially if you garnish with sauteed, sliced mushrooms {yumma-yum!}.

This soup is one of my favorites in the winter months…. Did you know that sweet potatoes are LOADED with Vitamin A?

I would LOVE to hear if you made this and what you did to perfect yours to your-taste. Comments are always welcome!

Organic Roasted & Curried Sweet Potato/Carrot Soup

Ingredients {all organic}:

4 – 6 cups chopped sweet potatoes (I ‘75%-skin’ these since most of the nutrition is in the skin)
1 large carrot, chopped
apple, chopped
1 medium onion, diced
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 – 2 cloves of garlic
1-2 teaspoons, mild curry powder
½ teaspoon cinnamon & ½ teaspoon oregano
6 – 8 cups light vegetable broth (you can add the 6 cups first, then the rest to your ‘taste’ or consistency)
Sea salt or Pink Himalayan salt and ground pepper, to taste
1 can of Organic coconut milk {I use the canned, Native Forest kind, it has a BPA-free lining, awesome!)

Garnishes: Mushrooms, fresh thyme or cilantro

I LOVE to sauté about 1lb of organic sliced mushrooms and place on top of the soup. It adds an extra texture and is oh, so good! You can also use sliced sautéed portabellas.

– Cilantro or Thyme are great to chop up and use as a final garnish.

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees

Heat the olive oil in a soup pot, over medium heat. Add the onion, and curry powder, cinnamon and oregano; stir and cook until the onion softens, add the garlic at the end, making sure not to burn or brown the garlic.

Add your broth and coconut milk, cook on low heat while your veggies roast.

Sweet Potatoes, Carrot + Apple: Chop up & place in a roasting pan, season with salt, pepper and about 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Roast at 425 for about 40-45 minutes or until soft and done.

When roasting ingredients are done: Add them to the broth/coconut milk mixture. Mix with a hand-mixer – I use the Cuisinart Hand Mixer – works like a charm. {If you don’t have one of these, you can use your blender in batches}. Be very careful mixing since the soup is very hot.

Cover the pot and bring to a simmer.

If soup is too thick, add more of the veggie broth until it’s at the consistency you like.

Season with salt, to your liking ~ I don’t add any more pepper at this point. Top with mushrooms and cilantro. Or mushrooms and Thyme!

Enjoy! xoxo Patty

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Darlington House Wedding Photography | Eddie + Taryn

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Facebook, when you really think about it, is fascinating for so many reasons, and I marvel at it sometimes… It has also brought millions of people together, has reunited love and has sealed-the-deal on love for many.

In Taryn + Eddie’s story, Enterprise Car Rental brought them together {as friends}, and Facebook ‘sealed-the-deal’ for their love. I’ve got to mention that Taryn found ME on Facebook too!

In ’08, Taryn + Eddie met at Enterprise Rental Car but were just ‘friends’. When she left, she never expected to see Eddie again. But a year-and-a-half later, when Eddie poked her {a Facebook, “wink” of a sort, or maybe just a “hi”} to get her attention, it must have worked. Wonderfully! Taryn and Eddie shared a long-distance ‘friendship’ for 5 months until they mutually expressed that they both wanted something more. You can tell that they were placed on this earth to be each other’s soul mates. They compliment each other perfectly (as heard in their family’s speeches… or maybe a little ‘roast’ for Taryn).

Five years later, and last week, they ‘sealed-the-deal’ forever, at the gorgeous and historic Darlington House in La Jolla, California.

Their outdoor, Mexican/American-themed wedding was adored by 100+ guests, where they sipped margaritas, ate amazing grilled salmon and devoured Churro Wedding Cake, amongst the most delicious mini desserts from Elizabethan Desserts in Encinitas {can I get an ahh-mazing!?, and yes, we had some!).

Taryn + Eddie, Thank you for inviting us to create your family’s memoirs and document your wedding day as you became husband and wife! Xo

So, the guys really, really wanted these ‘mustache’ photos!

Katie got these great shots of Eddie! Nicely done girl!

Love these shots by Katie and love the socks!

Wedding dress button-looping, I will always love photographing it.

On her way down for the first look…

Gahhhh, I. Love. First looks.

Did I mention the Churro Cake from Elizabethan Desserts? Goodness.

And, the Vintage Mercedes that Taryn’s dad has had for 27 years. Yes please, thank you. It was the brides idea to use it!

They even make an alley way look good.

Did I mention the mini desserts from Elizabethan Desserts? Woah!

Taryn and her mother were adoring Eddie’s dance with his mom. There were some tears here for sure!

And, how can we forget the toasts?! I am sure Taryn won’t. However, what I gained from them is that Taryn is kind and compassionate! Right Eddie?

The Darlington House never fails to be as stunning, and rich in architecture as ever.

Wedding Venue: Darlington House

Floral Artist: Moments in Bloom

Wedding Planner: WED {weddings. Events. Designs} by Liz Cutrano

Caterer + Rentals: Peartrees Catering

Dessert + Cake: Elizabethan Desserts

Wedding + Reception DJ & Lighting: Vynce “DJ Phreek” Pham

Hair + Make-up: Illusions the Studio & Girl on the Go

Photographer: Patty Brutlag, Petula Pea Photography

2nd Photographer: The amazing Katie Beverly

Brides Dress: Blue by Enzoani

Grooms Suit: John Varvatos

Groomsmen Suits: Perry Ellis

Bridesmaids Dresses: Bebe

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Carlsbad Family Beach Photos | Baby Noah, 9 months old

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

I always get giddy when I have a photo shoot with Shannon and Victor. It means that I get to see them again and it means that I get to see baby Noah’s contagious, smiling face. He is ahh-dorable.

But, before baby Noah came along, I was lucky enough to photograph Shannon + Victor’s engagement session, wedding, maternity session and Noah’s newborn photos.

Repeat customers are indeed the foundation on which profitable businesses are built, {which I am so thankful for} but for me it’s more than that. I have cultivated something inevitable with this family, and that is a friendship that will certainly last a lifetime. And, to me, that is more important than any profit.

Thank you Shannon + Victor for trusting in me to create these invaluable memories for you. Here are a few oldies from my journey with Shannon and Victor. And, their recent Carlsbad Family Beach Photoshoot follows… xo

Shannon + Victor’s engagement Session at Terramar Beach in Carlsbad, Dec 2011

Shannon + Victor’s Wedding at Levyland Estates, Jan, ’12. See their lovely wedding blogged by Melissa at Sweet Blossom Weddings

Absolutely LOVED their maternity session photographed at a hidden gem by their house in Carlsbad

And, here is Baby Noah, 7-days-old. Love, just love.

Baby Noah is now 9+ months old and providing mom and dad with a love so deep, it shows in each frame.

Eeeeeee, baby toes. Baby toes! Love.

More baby toes!! And, I knew it was time to end the session when Noah needed a snuggle and his thumb 😉

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Taryn + Eddie | Carlsbad Batiquitos Lagoon Engagement Photos

Friday, September 20, 2013

These two lovebirds will be getting married next week at the stunning Darlington House in La Jolla, California. I even heard that we have a rockstar vintage car that the bride’s father is letting us use for photos {Check back next week for teasers!}

We just can’t wait to share in your special day with you Taryn and Eddie… and thank you for letting me hang out with you to shoot these gorgeous frames.

Please always feel free to leave a comment, we’d LOVE to hear from you!!!

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Grand Pacific Palisades Resort Wedding Photography | Mike + Katie

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

You know that feeling of really wanting a certain bride to be your client? That’s how I felt when I first spoke to Katie. She was so kind, sweet and just very easy going. She was planning a summer destination wedding in Carlsbad (she and her fiance live in Chicago) and thankfully we sealed-the-deal via Skype!

Katie and Mike met working as teachers at an international school in Malawi, Africa. Mike is from Chicago and she is from California, and their love bloomed all the way across the world while in Africa. A strong, sweet love.

They decided to have a destination wedding at the gorgeous Grand Pacific Palisades Resort and Hotel where the local brewery, Karl Strauss Carlsbad catered {yes, there was a lot of beer!}.

Katie + Mike…it was an honor seeing your love flourish on your wedding day and to meet all of the 130+ loved ones around you. You’re two of the nicest clients and you are perfect for each other! I wish you nothing but the best.

And, of course, a special shout out to my 2nd photographer, Leif Brandt! You rocked it as usual Leif.