Sweet Potato and Gnocchi Soup with Vegetables

I enjoy cooking with sweet potatoes all year long. Sweet potatoes are loaded with beneficial nutritional value. I admit that I've never cooked anything with kale before and was curious to try; and it turned out wonderful to my delight. 

Sweet Potato and Gnocchi Soup with Vegetables

1 cup sliced carrots

1 diced chicken breast

4 cups chicken broth

1 sweet potato peeled and diced

1 bay leaf

Salt and pepper to taste

Sage sprinkles

Cook the above in a Crockpot until chicken is cooked and potatoes are tender.  (High for 3 hours) Stirring occasionally.

Then stir in:

4 greens onions chopped

1 portabella mushroom cap diced

1 cup thinly chopped kale

1 cup chopped spinach

1-cup water

1 tbsp olive oil

16 oz mini gnocchi

¾ cup milk

½ cup heavy cream

Let this all cook together until the kale is tender and the gnocchi is done.  If you want to thicken up this soup, completely stir in 2 tbsp flour after you have added the gnocchi (and the contents of the Crockpot are all warm).   Let the soup stand for a few minutes and then serve.  Serves 6.  

The Winslow Market Tote

After admiring this tote (of the Alewives blog)Alewives and having the supplies for weeks I pulled out my copy of this Winslow tote pattern by Kathy Mack and "got to work on it".

Here is a picture of my finished product:

I found it extremely useful to use an industrial size sewing needle in my Singer sewing machine while completing this project.  I also used organic canvas as the interfacing and I added reenforcement stitching to make this tote extra sturdy.

I mailed this tote off to my sister-in-law this morning as a birthday present!  Happy birthday Joy!!!