We just finished opening gifts, and we’re about to leave to go see CD’s grandfather. For those that celebrate, hope you are enjoying Christmas morning!
Arizona Christmases are sunny and relaxed, involving lots of coffee, gift unwrapping, and time with family. Perfect. 
Christmas Eve was perfect as well. CD and I covered 14 miles together, he on his legs, and me on Alice’s bike. I love working out with my hubby! My gifts from my favorite runner…
Cannot wait to get back home and play with my new kitchen toys.
Alice and I kept it simple for Christmas Eve Dinner. We made the most amazing Carrot Cashew Ginger Soup with her new kitchen toy.
If you own a Vita, make this!
Ingredients:
- 4 large carrots
- 1 baked sweet potato
- 1/2 onion
- 4 TBSP olive oil
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup raw cashews
- 1 TBSP fresh ginger
- 1 tsp salt
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
Directions:
Chop onion and carrots in your Vita-Mix and saute in olive oil until onions are clear and carrots are soft. Return vegetables to Vita-Mix along with the rest of your ingredients. Blend on high 3 to 4 minutes, or until warm.
We served our soup with a salad containing romaine, cucumbers, chopped apples, walnuts, grilled chicken, and Trader Joe’s Goddess dressing. Again, perfect!
After opening gifts, guess what was for breakfast? Please tell me you saw this coming…
Off to do more Christmas celebrating. Enjoy this day!
To my beloved family in Nashville…Papa Mac, Mom, and Scottie, I miss you and love you guys!!! Same goes to Chip & Joy in Indy. See you on New Years Eve for our Nashville Christmas Celebration.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. And he shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
{ 55 comments }
Merry Christmas Heabie! That soup look divine! Interesting to add the cashews. Great idea!. CD rocked Christmas- what fun. And of course I love the fact that your MIL bought a vita mix just in time for your arrival!
See you very soon- squeal!
D
Deb, Yes, the recipe I semi-followed called for tofu, but I used cashews instead for the creaminess factor. Worked beautifully! See you soon and Merry Christmas!!!!
Thanks for the soup recipe. In 18 mos of my Vita, I have never made soup in it…what’s wrong with me??!! LOL Anyway Merry Xmas to you and your family, Heather! And if I was in AZ I bet we’d be shopping at the same TJ’s location. Magic Bullet, Vita, and coffee maker….NICE. It’s been Barbies and Bitty Baby over here
Merry Christmas HEAB!!! Beautiful eats!
Happy Holidays, Heabster. Hope the warm AZ weather is treating you well. Best to you and yours, friend:)
Merry Christmas! Enjoy your day
<3 jess
xoxo
what a wonderful Christmas so far!! I hope the rest is just as Merry:-) cc
The Christmas santa squash (from last post)is my favorite!
Merry Christmas Heather!!!
Have a very merry Christmas, darling
<3 rebecca
I got a vita for Christmas!! I’m def going to be making some of your recipes
Merry Christmas
What great gifts you received! Have a great rest of the day!
yay! Kitchen appliances.. every bloggies dreams. Merry Christmas to you, Heather
Lots of love! xo
Yummy soup and salad! Definitely making that soup in my new blender when we get home
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, Heather! Love the verse-perfect focus for what the day is about
Amazing recipe, I def want to try in my Vita.
Magic Bullet – PLEASE let me know how well it works, I always want to use a blender at work but I have limited space, this could be my ANSWER.
I use a Senseo one cup brewer at home – totally worth it – I highly recommend reunion island coffee pods – they should make ones for yours too….my fav is Irish Cream…I have tried like 15 flavors now!
Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones!
Katie
Merry Christmas, Heather!!!
Merry Christmas Heather!!! xo
Hi Heather. Hope you are enjoying some great holiday time…relax and take a day off girl
…I keep reading people write “I might do nothing today , just a little walk”…ha! I only walk on any normal day…you are a rockstar! 
You MIL looks very pretty and sweet. You are lucky!
Merry Christmas! What snazzy Christmas gifts! I bet you’ll love that Magic Bullet. They’re so handy! That soup looks great, too!
we have the keurig! nice!
I got a new blender.. have to wait on the vitamiX!
Thought u were taking some time off from the blogging world
Isn’t it so addictive?? The soup sounds great. Looks like Santa got u some awesome goodies. Happy Holidays!!
How is the Magic Bullet different from the Vita Mix??
Marla, Not sure, haven’t used it yet.
Here is what I’ve heard…The Magic Bullet is great for smaller jobs, and the blender cup unscrews from the base and you can take it on the go. A Vita-Mix is much bigger and more powerful. It will be nice to have something just when I want a simple smoothie or a single serving of something. As much as I love my Vita, sometimes she is just too big for the job.
From the Magic Bullet website: *Using the Magic Bullet® Blender Couldn’t Be Easier* There are no buttons to press, no complicated manuals to read. Simply place one of THE BULLET™Cups or Party Mugs on to the High-Torque Power Base and press…it’s a snap! With the easy-to-use Magic Bullet, you can make delicious party dips like salsa, guacamole and bean dip, refreshing frozen margaritas and pina coladas, a variety of tantalizing pasta sauces, decadent desserts such as creamychocolate mousse or frosty milkshakes and more. All with virtually no effort and no clean up. And all in 10 seconds or less.
Merry Christmas Heather! you got a magic bullet!!!! congratulations haha i love the magic bullet.
that soups looks very good carrots are so amazing, anyways i just wanted to wish you a merry christmas! have a greeaaat day
Thanks Mona. Merry Christmas to you as well!
Wow that soup looks amazing. Merry Christmas!
MERRY CHRISTMAS
we got my mom the same coffee maker!! haha
Hooray! The magic bullet rocks. We actually have two! Merry Christmas to you pretty lady
From soup to nuts.. I love that breakfast jar…
Beautiful soup color. Do you enjoy all your soups pureed. I don’t alot of soup actually but when I do I like it chock-ful of chunky veg’s and chicken
. Merry Merry Christmas – you and your mother-in-law are absolutely beautiful by the way !
Eatmovelove, Just got into pureed soups. Always been a chunky girl myself, but I’m love my Vita-Mix soups these days thick, smooth, and creamy.
Merry Christmas to you as well!
The soup looks delicious! I am usually a fan of chunky soups but sometimes I like the drinkablility of the smooth ones : )
What wonderful gifts : )
Merry Merry!
Jess
Looks like you had a great Christmas and those are some awesome gifts you got!
Happy Holidays!!
Merry Christmas Heather! That soup sounds divine! And I love that you got kitchen gadgets for Christmas – that’s what I got too! My first every cast-iron skillet:)
Merry Christmas! My father-in-law got the Keurig coffee maker too, and he a-d-o-r-e-s it. Hope you enjoy it as much as he does!
Merry Christmas!! I have a Magic Bullet at home and am really missing it right now; you will LOVE it! I have actually made peanut butter in mine, although it took a while.
Soup looks awesome! Enjoy the weather in AZ – I just left there!!
That soup sounds fantastic! Merry Christmas, Heather!!
Hi Heather!
Looks like you are up in our part of town ( Scottsdale/ North Phx area?). IF you are, there are some amazing yoga studios to check out if you are in the mood for some yoga. The Whole Foods on Mayo Blvd, is awesome ( spend about 2-3 days there a week to feed my hungry family!). Seriously, you could get lost in there for hours! Enjoy your stay here. Wish it were a tad bit warmer for you. We are experiencing a cold snap. But, I have to say, growing up in Chicago, I love it! Your blog is inspiring and amazing! Enjoy your stay here!
Kim, Yes, we’re in Scottsdale. CD’s parents retired here after living in Chicago. Seem to be a lot of former Mid-Westerners here. CD’s mom loves that Whole Foods. Says it’s huge. I must go there before we leave as I wand to stock up on Artisana nut butters since I can’t get them in Nashville. I usually walk up to At One Yoga when I’m here. I’ve taken some really good classes there…and some really scary ones. Hehe. There are some intense yoginis who practice there!
Thanks for reading, and yes, it is cool here, but still sunny and beautiful! Love, Heather
Merry Christmas! You will LOVE your Keurig. It’s by far one of the best kitchen appliances that I have ever purchased. I use it 2-3 times daily. It makes great lattes too (of course combined with your aerolatte frother).
great presents Heather!!! merry merry christmas to you and CD and the rest of your fam. i love my bullet and rely on it for all my faves (hummus), and im holding out til the wedding registry for the rest of my foodie dream machines (food processor, vita, etc.)
When you hit the Whole Foods, allow lots of time. Like I said I am there min 2x a week ( they know me there, scary!) and I still get lost! Trader Joe’s is right down the street, they had some good finds there as well. They have a great little wine/beer bar in the back. I dont really drink ( hubby loves the beer taster), but it is a great spot to hang and enjoy some of the yummy food there! I have the Keurig as well and LOVE it! I made your quinoa bread for xmas yesterday, love it! Check out Sumits hot yoga or Bikram hot yoga down in Scottsdale or Paradise Valley if you want a hot yoga experience. All three have amazing studios. Also, for a great hike (if you have not done already) Pinnacle Peak up my way has beautiful scenery and a good workout as well. I do it w/ my 7yr old all the time and we love it.
Kim
Thanks Kim! Glad you enjoyed the quinoa bread. My MIL is a huge hiker and is taking me to hike Tom’s Thumb sometime while I’m here. Love the hiking around here. You live in an amazing city.
I LOVE how healthy (and delicious) your Christmas eats were. Mine were not. Hello, half a pecan pie. I have the day after regret syndrome and am pretty sure I will never feel hungry again. Next year, I hope to bring more health and consciousness to my holiday food choices. Live and learn….xo
Heather you are going to LOVE your magic bullet. Somehow my banana soft serves and protein ice creams in the magic bullet are way better than in the vita. Almost more ice creamy, as the vita incorporates a lot of air into it. Kind of like how the food proc makes banana soft serve, but easier, because you don’t have to drag the food proc out and clean it too.
Thanks Bekah! So excited to hear this. Can’t wait to make protein ice-cream in the Bullet when I get home!
That soup sounds sooo good! I need me a vita-mix!!
Awesome loot! Question for you when you start using the Magic Bullet: As an owner of both Vita and MB, what are the differences/similarities? I know the MB is way more affordable…is the basic difference that it just can’t do nut butters, etc?
Just wondering because I have been without a blender all month and I am CRAVING a green smoothie!
Lara, Will let you know. Chocolate Covered Katie told she uses hers for everything…more than her Vita.
Hi Heather!
Wahoo for the Keurig! I got one too, as a “gift to the house” for Christmas! (Same exact model as you, the SELECT from CostCo). It rocks! I was a Krups HomeCafe girl previously but have been wanting a Keurig for a few months. Hope you enjoy it!
Merry Xmas!
I got a magic bullet for x-mas, and my mom got that same coffee maker!! I haven’t tried the bullet out yet, but the coffee maker is fun. I can’t wait to see you you create with the MB! Merry Christmas, Heather!!
I’m a few days behind on blogs so Merry (belated) Christmas to you and CD!
Love the Isiah quote…it’s one of my favorites from Messiah.
Oh you KNOW this recipe has my name written all over it!
Lovely Christmas gifts. Merry belated holiday, Heather — I wish you so much joy in this coming new year!
I promise you – you are going to love that coffee machine! So easy to use! Merry Christmas, Heather!
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