Wishing everyone happy holidays!!! Here is a warm and cozy idea for your holidays.
The 'best ever' carrot soup recipe....

Carrot, Red Pepper and Pear Soup
Yield: 9

INGREDIENTS:

1 medium onion, chopped (1)
4 large carrots, chopped (about 1lb.) (4)
1 1/2 cups roasted red peppers (375ml)
2 pears, peeled, cored, chopped (2)
4 cups chicken stock (1L)
1 cup milk (250ml)
3 tbsp butter (45ml)
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup thickened yogurt or sour cream (125ml)
1 tbsp chopped parsley, optional (15ml)
1 tsp curry paste (5ml)

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large saucepan, melt butter and sauté onion and carrots for about 10 minutes.
2. Add stock, pears and peppers to carrot mixture and simmer for 20 minutes, until carrots and pears are tender. Add milk.
3. Puree soup in batches, in a food processor or blender until smooth.
4. Pour soup back into saucepan and stir curry in. Bring to a simmer and season with salt and pepper. Do not allow soup to come to a boil.
5. Garnish with a dollop of thickened yogurt or sour cream and parsley, if using.

This little story is about a small Island I went to visit years ago. The island is called Ile d'Aix. I had written this story and then pasted it on top of this background of hollyhocks. This was one of the most remote and beautiful places I have been to. There were tons and tons of hollyhocks everywhere on this island! Click on the image to view the larger version.

This is the full story: L’ile d’Aix

This tiny island reminds me of my grandmother’s home and yard, vulnerable from all sides, its homes chipped and worn from the ocean winds. It has a natural charm decorating-type magazines seek to imitate. Hollyhocks, hundreds upon hundreds are sagging from fences and homes, and swaying, and reaching out sideways. Their bright fleshy tones for petals, pinks and blood reds ready to blossom, burst out, flowing forward-my tongue reaches for the taste this season brings. We sat on a patio made of stones, sunk deep into the dirt. I satisfied my thirst on a sugary mixture of Orangina and grenadine and played with the tiny sugar cubes wrapped in paper packaging imprinted with pictures of great cathedrals. This island’s colour is sweetness, and so pretty it hurts the eye like a sweet tooth.