Welcome!

Hello readers! I'm Leighanne - a twenty-something scientist (and newlywed!) searching for a way to express my creative side. Welcome to my blog, Potions & Poppy Seeds! Here, you'll find everything from new recipes, to DIYs for the home, to my experiences in wedding planning, and my never-ending attempts at creating fabulous things. Enjoy!

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Curried Pumpkin Apple Soup


Have I mentioned fall is my favorite season? Just making sure all you readers know that. I'm probably the only person in the world that doesn't want to hear Christmas music until AFTER Thanksgiving. Is that seriously too much to ask? Why are people always trying to rush right past Thanksgiving as soon as the Halloween candy goes on clearance? While Halloween is my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving is a close second. Turkey? Pie? Cranberry sauce that retains the shape of the container it came out of? All amazing things!


In honor of my approaching 2nd favorite holiday (and because I was craving soup like whoa), I whipped up this seasonal treat for myself. This recipe for Curried Pumpkin Apple Soup is sort of like a liquid form of Thanksgiving dinner (awesome), but even better because it has some of that delicious curry taste going on. 

Ingredients:
  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 4 stalks celery, chopped
  • 1/2 large apple, peeled, cored, and chopped
  • 2 tsp curry powder
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 15 oz. can pumpkin
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 2-3 Tbsp honey or maple syrup
How to:
  • Melt butter in a medium sized pot over medium heat, and saute onion, celery, and apple until onion is transparent and ingredients are cooked through. 
  • Stir in curry and saute 1 min.
  • Add in broth and pumpkin and heat to a boil.
  • Reduce heat, and puree until smooth.
  • Add salt and bay leaf, and bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally.
  • After 5 minutes, stir in heavy cream and honey. Adjust taste with salt and more honey if necessary.
  • Simmer 2 more minutes, then remove from heat and serve hot.
Obviously if you hate curry, this dish is not for you. But I love Indian food and flavors, so when I found this recipe, it was sort of a match made in heaven - curry + pumpkin + apple = perfection. Unfortunately, I cannot remember where I got this recipe from. It's one of those recipes that has been written and rewritten in my recipe books. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this - let me know how yours turns out!

Enjoy!

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Festive Chocolate Dipped Pretzels


Happy Fall, Y'all! We are in the middle of my favorite season. Leaves are changing, the air is getting colder, and I've been drinking hot cider for a good 3 weeks straight. A-mazing.

Fall brings another one of my favorite things - Halloween! Last weekend, Jake and I went to a Halloween party (check out my fab 80s costume). I wanted to bring something to the party, but was running short on time. I had an unopened bag of pretzel rods and some Wilton Milk Chocolate Candy Melts hanging around, so I decided chocolate dipped pretzels were the way to go. I decorated them with some festive sprinkles, and viola! Quick and delicious Halloween-themed deliciousness.

This weekend, Jake and I are headed to a pig roast. I picked up some large pretzels and decided to try dipping these instead of the rods. They look awesome, and taste even better than they look.
My sis-in-law and I on
Halloween this year!

Ingredients:

  • Candy Melts (any flavor)
  • pretzel (rods or large pretzels)
  • assorted sprinkles, candies, chopped nuts, and/or coconut
How to:
  • Melt chocolate as according to package.
  • Dip pretzels.
  • Lay pretzels on parchment-lined cookie sheet.
  • Decorate with toppings.
  • Let set and serve.
I just love these things. They're so easy to make, and you really can't go wrong with a sweet & salty combo. And depending on the occasion, you can totally decorate the pretzels to match your theme. I actually made chocolate-dipped pretzels as wedding favors back in May, and my wedding guests only had great things to say about them. 

Enjoy!