{in the kitchen} "bouquet garni"

i did it!

my very first "bouquet garni". (remember this post)?

yes...i was inspired to make some FRESH, from-scratch vegetable and chicken soup this weekend.

why on earth i would choose the middle of summer -

heat index in the 100's -

it makes no sense really.

BUT i was craving some fresh veggies...

AND i was determined to start goal #14...

SO...

i stopped and bought fresh herbs from a local garden shoppe on friday.

i created my homemade broth on saturday...

and finished up making the soup on sunday.

i felt so...

"canelle et vanille - ish" creating a bouquet of fresh herbs and using it to make the broth from scratch.

yes.

i've made from-scratch soup before.

it's not my first rodeo..*wink*

BUT...i haven't used a "just clipped" bouquet of herbs -

from my own herb garden -

so it just felt all that more "homemade"...

organic...

clean...

healthy.

speaking of healthy.

i dropped the ball on giving you the information on the new challenge i keep mentioning.

i had hoped to start this week but since i didn't give you the heads up on the details...

we'll start NEXT week.

so here's the scoop:

start gathering up your vegetables and fruits...

and your creative ideas...

the goal?

incorporate 5 servings of each...

EVERY day...

for the next 21 days.

i'm calling it the "543"...

FIVE servings of vegetables

FIVE servings of fruit

every day...

FOR the next

THREE weeks!

if you'd like to participate...

i'll create a separate page with the specifics & journaling...

so gear up to get started next Monday - August 9th

have a GREAT monday everyone -

and a spectacular week!

KEEPING IT REAL

i haven't even tried the soup yet - i went to bed early lastnight completely exhausted from sleep deprivation mixed with no energy left after cleaning out the garage over the weekend.

but...

i look forward to sampling it today...

and i'm happy i have my herbs to start that herb garden of mine.

AND i DID spray paint the piece of iron work i shared in this post...details to come!