Organizing Your Home Before the Holiday Daze

Getting Your Home Ready Before the Holidays Hit

Raise your hand if your house becomes a mess every year during the time between Halloween and Christmas?  If you did, you’re not alone. Your Blogger is there right with you. What if though, you had a handful of tips and tricks to tackle this holiday season without losing your mind, the gifts you’d bought, and every square inch of space in your home? Well, that’s where today’s post comes in. 

First up, the general things. 

Courtesy of Alexa

-Use Bins and baskets around the home to contain mess and clutter. Sure it’s a cheat, but if you have designated spaces to put things, they’re less likely not only to go missing but end up scattered over every other available surface. 

Courtesy of C.M. Zijderveld

- You can also use bins and baskets to sort gifts if you purchase as you go through the year purchasing. We like having a row of baskets at the top of the closet. It looks good all year long, and so long as you don’t label the outside, you’re the only one that knows that you’re hiding gifts and not your out-of-season clothes. 

-Clean stuff up! Get rid of stuff and do a pre-holiday donation blitz. 

Go through and trim stuff down. Do you hate that ornament? Donate it. Is a wreath falling apart? Either deconstruct it for craft materials or send it to the recycling center. 

Essentially, if you don’t love it, don’t keep it. 

Have a plan! 

Whether you’re breaking down your decorations from Halloween, setting up for Thanksgiving, or getting organized for Christmas, having a plan saves you time and headaches. 

Play Tetris! 

When it comes to storing things away, unless it’s breakable, it’s better to store smaller things inside larger things. Two examples here. 

This would be a very bad example of storing things inside one another. The only reason nothing is broken is because it’s cardboard.

• A good example would be storing small details like tiny skulls, potion bottles, and bats inside a larger fake pumpkin. By doing this, you maximize the space that the pumpkin is taking up, and you ensure that you don’t lose or break the smaller items. 

• Storing glass ornaments inside your grandmother’s trifle dish without wrapping or protection. Doing this means that you’ll end up with shards of glass given enough time and movement. 

-Think about where you’re going to store things before you go shopping. If you already know exactly where it’s going, it’s more difficult to lose it in the holiday daze, and you know if you have the space for it. 

Store the specifics together. Don’t just toss everything into 1-2 boxes and call it done. Put together like with like and protect the things that need it inside that storage. We will always suggest storing everything in totes that are labeled on the outside and the lid. 

- Also make sure to make a list of everything that’s inside the tote and tape it to the inside lid of the tote. This lets you ensure that you know exactly what’s inside them. 

-Separate out your Halloween decorations, store your costume pieces in their own plastic sealable bags, and those organized into totes. You can also store all of your decor in totes as well.  (You can also do the same with fabrics for other holidays, but we’re still thinking about Halloween and Halloween costumes here at ARS.) This is to protect your papers, plastics, and fabrics from moisture, bugs, and other rodents. 

What about Christmas? That’s a lot of very specific items that need careful handling. 

-Glass ornaments? Wrap them in paper towels before storing them in an ornament carrier (even if that is just  a photo box.) 

-Egg cartons and cupcake boxes are also great for storing ornaments of all shapes and sizes.

-Loving on the Christmas lights? Turn a sheet of cardboard into cord storage, keep them all separate, and put them into their own bin. 

- Fake Christmas tree? We haven’t figured out anything more straight0forward than the totes made just for this, but let us know if you do. 

- What about wrapping? Do you love it or loathe it? 

Try setting up a station for gift wrapping. Have a container for wrapping papers and keep all of them in that container. 

Keep everything sorted so that it’s close to hand. That can mean a large tote box that has everything inside it in trays that you only pull out when you need it, or it can be a table in a corner with everything stored away.
Your Blogger’s setup contains the following. 

Tape

Sharp scissors

A flat open area

Wrapping paper

Notecards and pens

Power cable, an outlet, and the phone (for entertainment AND wrapping help.) 

Rounding out our tips in the kitchen, let’s get sorted!

-Store your baking supplies together. It is a fantastic way to keep your kitchen organized and your life nice and easy. Plus, when you pull out the baking supplies every year, you’ll get excited knowing that all the fun of the holidays is just around the corner. 

-Sort and store cookie cutters in photo boxes. The small boxes with their labels on the outside make it easy to find just the ones you want and store them away when you’re done. 

-Baked Gift Supplies can also be stored together. If you keep everything you need in one box or tray, it’s all there when you’re ready to pack up the cakes and cookies. Bakers' twine, cookie bags, cupcake liners, and tags, everything is right there for you. 

Thanks to Bernadette Wurzinger

And there you have it! Our tips for how to make the holidays run more smoothly and keep you from pulling your hair out this winter. Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page how you make the holidays easier on yourself. 

If you wound up here because you pushed the dreaded button (no, not that one, the one on your oven labeled ‘Self-Clean’,) we’re here to help. First up, step away from the oven. Next, set up an appointment with us via our contact page or by giving us a call at ((214) 599-0055). We’ll work with you to select a time and date that works for your schedule and send one of our technicians to get your oven working again. In the event it’s not because of your oven but instead one of your other major appliances, it’s ok; we can still help. For any of your major appliances, Appliance Rescue Service is here to help get your home running smoothly again. 

Lazy Weekend Mushroom Pie

Who Wants To Stress Over Meals When It's This Close To The Holidays?

When you can’t be bothered to try new or complicated recipes in the lead-up to the holidays, check out this week’s recipe. It’s warm, filling, utterly delicious and most importantly, it’s easy to make! 

Ingredients:

850g of assorted mushrooms 

3 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil 

2 Tbsp unsalted butter

2 medium leeks

1/2 C heavy cream

1/2 tsp fresh grated nutmeg 

PIe Dough- Extra flaky 

Egg wash 

Fresh rosemary - garnish

Fresh thyme - garnish

A note on mushrooms: 

When it comes to mushrooms, you have a lot of different options that will work well with this pie.  Some examples that work well are chanterelles, trumpets, creminis, oysters, or morels.  You could go with any of the ones in our list as one type or pick a few of each to see how they interact.  Just make sure that they're properly sourced and cleaned before eating them! 

Recipe : 

-Preheat your oven to 425*F, and remove your pie dough from the freezer, setting it to the side on the counter, so it begins to defrost. Ideally, you don't want it frozen, but you don't want it warm and extra soft, either. 

- Take your leeks, halve them and slice them thinly. You do not want huge chunks for this.  Toss them with salt and pepper, and then measure to make sure you have 2 cups, firmly packed. 

- Prepare your mushrooms. Take your paring knife to trim the mushrooms into medium to large size pieces, leaving clusters of whole mushrooms whenever possible.  (They're great for texture and appearance when you do this!) 

-Transfer your mushrooms to a dish and toss them with olive oil, salt, and pepper to season. 

- Spread your mushrooms out in one even layer on a baking sheet and pop that into the oven. Roast the mushrooms until they're tender, 25-30 minutes. They will shrink quite a bit, but don't expect them to brown much.  Set the pan aside to cool when done. 

- In a medium saute pan, melt the butter over medium heat.    Add the leeks into the pan and cook them, turning down the heat to medium-low. Keep cooking for 8-10 minutes or until the leeks are very soft, almost a melted texture. 

- Add the cream and nutmeg to the pan, bringing it to a simmer. Simmer until the cream reduces, and the mixture thickens, around 3-4 minutes.  Set that aside to cool while you prep the dough. 

- Set your oven rack towards the base of the oven, if possible, with a baking or pizza stone on it.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 

-On a lightly floured surface, roll out your dough into a rectangle a bit larger than 10 x 16 inches.  Use your rolling pin to wrap the dough around and transfer that to your baking sheet.  Brush the dough with your egg wash, then lightly prick the dough all over with a fork.  If you want, you can use a paring knife to straighten up the edges. 

- Spoon your cooled leek mixture into the center of the dough and spread it into an even layer, leaving a border around all edges, 1 inch wide that's uncovered. Arrange the mushrooms on top of the leek mixture, overlapping and layering as needed, but don't stack them. You want them in a single layer to ensure that they cook evenly. Drizzle lightly with olive oil. 

- Pop the pan into the oven and bake until the crust is a deep golden brown and your mushrooms are crisp 40-45 minutes. Garnish the pie with herbs as soon as you take it out of the oven. Allow it to cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.  

And that is how you make Lazy Weekend Mushroom Pie! If you do give it a shot or have suggestions, let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page. 

If you're worried about the holidays, though and would like to have a professional do a maintenance check, give us a call! We'll work with you to find a time that works for your schedule and send out one of our technicians to go over all of your appliances. We'll help you make sure that everything is running up to standard or find any problems before they become major ones. At Appliance Rescue Service, our goal is to keep your home running smoothly. Wherever you live in the Dalals Metro Area, we want to work with you. Give us a call at ((214) 599-0055) or reach out to us via our contact page to set up an appointment today.

Keys To Mid-Century Modern Design

Whether You're Just Looking Or You're All In, These Are The Keys To Design For Your Home

Do you miss the simplicity of the 50s? Or maybe you're just tired of the cluttered look of modern decor? If you said yes to either of these questions, Mid-Century Modern decor might be for you. Don't fret if it's not something you're familiar with, though, as we're going to explain where Mid-Century Modern came from, what Mid-Century Modern focuses on, and ten tips for how you can implement Mid-Century Modern in your home. 

Mid Century Modern was a concept that, unsurprisingly, rose to popularity in the middle of the 20th century. The world was changing at such a pace, and people were trying to carve out something that was new.  It was heavily influenced by the German school of design and architecture, Bauhaus. At this time, the school emphasized clean lines, functionality, and a futuristic look. 

These three components came to shape the core concepts of  Mid Century Modern design, along with a few others. These included the fusion of the organic and manmade, muted tones and seamlessly combining the indoors and outdoors. 

If you're looking to learn a bit more about Mid Century Modern, check out some of the designers who were famous for it. 

Eero Saarinen

Charles & Ray Eames

Isamu Noguchi 

George Nelson

Cara Greenberg

Arne Jacobsen

Herman Miller

Let's take a look at ten tips that you can use in your home today to start putting together the Mid Century Modern look of your dreams. 

1) Fusion of Indoor and Outdoor

Bring plants into your home, not just on the edges or the porch. They should be incorporated throughout the decor, as MCM is all about breaking down the separation between inside and outside. Another way to bring that in is having window treatments that leave as little separation between you and the outside world as possible. 

2)  Use Size To Your Advantage

When it comes to space, having more space typically makes us more comfortable. So to bring that feeling to a room, use furniture that's smaller. Using smaller pieces in neutral tones not only highlights your statement piece but also allows the furniture to fade into the room, providing a more spacious feeling. 

3) Vary The Height Of Things Within The Room

When you look into a room, you don't want everything to be at one equal height. Whether it's decor on the walls, furniture, or decorations,  mix things up. 

4) Natural Colors With Pops Of Color 

It doesn't have to be all black, white, and wooden in order to be Mid Century Modern. Bring in some color! Use natural tones (again focusing on the incorporation of nature) and then add a splash of color. 

5) Minimalism 

Courtesy of StuBailey

This sounds like a very simple concept. 'Just chuck everything out and only buy what you need." Except... how many of us are good at living like that? 

The thing is, minimalism doesn't have to be getting rid of everything. It's about reducing the clutter and having open, functional spaces. Furniture is simple with sleek lines, without much in the way of ornamentation. 

6) Keep It Functional

Unlike some other styles, Mid-Century Modern wants everything to be functional. If it doesn't have a purpose, it doesn't belong. The flip side of that is that every functional item in your home is also uniquely beautiful because of that. It's a difficult balance to maintain in our fast fashion world, but when you're committed to the design, it's worth it to hunt down pieces that fit the concept. 

7) Mixing Materials 

Just like we want to bring in the outdoors, we want to bring in a balance of man-made vs. natural. Woods and metals, leather and velvets, the consistent interplay between the two is part of the fun. 

8) Velvets

Courtesy of yaoyaoyao5yaoyaoyao

Picking right up from that last point is a material your Blogger loves, velvet. While texture can be said to be an important part of any decorating scheme, velvet holds a special place for Mid Century Modern. This is a lovely way to escape and relax while still holding to the minimal feeling of the design. 

9) Build Each Room Around Statement Pieces 

Courtesy of Steven Miller

For each room, pick 1-2  pieces that really stand out and fit the concept of Mid Century Modern as you see it.  Work around those pieces for the rest of the room to mimic, contrast or highlight them. Bring in colors that complement or contrast them. Bring in other shapes that highlight that one. Bring in textures that are similar. It all ties back together to focus on the piece you’ve chosen. 

10) Choose Statement Lighting

For our last point, make sure to choose lighting with some oomph for your rooms. Light, and the lighting we choose, is just as much a part of a room as the furniture or walls. So, the light fixtures that you choose should stand out just as much. 

And that's a wrap! What do you think? Are you interested in learning even more about Mid Century Modern decor? Or have you decided it's not for you? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page. 

While you definitely can fit your laundry room and kitchen into a Mid Century Modern design, we know that's not why everyone lands on our website. If you're having issues with your refrigerator or your oven, reach out! You can get hold of us on our contact page or by giving us a call at ((214) 599-0055). No matter which of your major appliances is on the fritz, Appliance Rescue Service will work with you to figure out what the problem is and work with you to get it running smoothly again.

Halloween Horrors In Your Home?

Maybe, Maybe Not

It's that time of year again when scary movies are on everybody's mind, and everyone is worried that their house is haunted. We're taking a look at some of the most common scary sounds and experiences you might have in your house this month and showing why you don't need to be afraid just yet. For the following 8, don't worry about a haunt but you might want to worry about your house.

Water Dripping From Walls 

We've all seen movies that have water dripping from the walls. Whether it's inside a seaside house or up in the mountains, you've got water where it shouldn't be. For this one, our suggestion is actually to check out your gutters. You want to be looking for signs that your gutters may have ripped away from the side of your house and are actually dripping down through the walls of your home instead of having the water run off through the piping. It won't be a nightmare in terms of your safety, but it will be a nightmare in terms of your pocketbook. The sooner you catch this one, the better.

Faucets Running/Dripping/Exploding

Photo: Shutterbug75

Someone says something that angers the ghost, and now instead of just having a leaky faucet, it's gone and exploded everywhere! We’ve seen this one in several movies and cartoons, and we’re quite glad to tell you it’s not a ghost. We're actually going to recommend that you double-check not what you're saying but instead that you haven't got your water pressure turned up too high, or a valve disconnected somewhere. It could just be bad timing that caused it to explode right then.

Weird Noises Coming From The Laundry Room

If you're stuck in a house that was built in the 1940s or 50s, you might have some weird sounds coming from the laundry room. Rattles and thumps, and squeaks abound in this room, even though the appliances are /brand new/! No in reality, it might just be that the appliances aren't leveled properly rather than the ghost of The Stepford wives coming after you. Don't worry too much about this one, but it is a good idea to have your local handyman come check it out just to be safe. After all, we wouldn't want your dryer to rattle itself loose from the wall.  

Rotting Food That Was Fresh

Photo: Marian Bijlenga

You've got food that you bought just a few days ago in your fridge or freezer. But you’ve got to make dinner or you forgot that your new neighbor is coming over, and you want to impress them. And when you pull it out, oh no, it's gone rotten. It must be the ghost, right? Nope! For this one, you're going to need to check a couple of different spots it might be that your fridge is not sealed properly, it might be that your freezer isn't sealing properly, or it could be that either one is actually not working at the proper temperature.

Burning Smells When You're Not Cooking

You might have weird burning smells around your home on a normal day where it doesn't entirely matter what you're doing. You're just getting normal chores done, but it smells like your house is burning. If that's the case, the first thing you want to check is your dryer. Have you been running the dryer while you have the smell? If the answer is yes, go ahead and take a closer look at the vents and the ducts for your dryer it's very possible that you have a dryer vent that needs to be cleared out and what you're smelling is the lint heating up to dangerous levels. So actually, let us backtrack and say that the first thing you need to do is unplug your dryer and then check out the ductwork. 

Things Turning Off And On Randomly 

What about having the lights flash on and off? You enter a room and lights turn on when they shouldn't, or you're working on something, and all of a sudden the lights shut off. This one, we're going to say have an electrician come and check out your lighting situation. Are there any shorts in the line? Are there any fuses that have been blown or maybe it's just a matter of something not being connected fully. Maybe a new light fixture that wasn't grounded? There are all sorts of reasons for this one that an electrician will be able to help you figure out.

High-Pitched Whining Sounds 

While you have the electrician hanging out at your house, you might want to have them help you with the high-pitched whining sounds. Well, this might be coming from electronics or electricity going through old copper, this can also be an issue with appliances such as your refrigerator or your dryer, in which case you'll need to call on an appliance technician. (psst, check out the link at the bottom.))

Mold And Mildew Spreading Through The House 

Photo: MabelAmber

What about all the mold and mildew though? You've got mold blooming in your basement and mildew in your kitchen. Proof that it is ghosts inhabiting your house. A dark aura driving you and everybody else insane. Well, unfortunately, different areas of your home can end up being a mold hotspot if you're not careful. It can come down to a matter of water getting trapped in a room or up near the ceiling and then mold having the right habitat to bloom in. You have to be diligent not only in getting a dehumidifier but also in keeping the areas clean and bleached in order to kill any hint of the mold or the spores if you catch it soon enough, that should be enough to kill it. However, if it is a full infestation and you're already noticing health issues, that is when you need to be more concerned about your health and may in fact have to rip everything out in that area.

The House Yells At You And Starts Playing Creepy Music When You Walk In The Door

Or you hear music come on as you enter your house. Don't worry that one's just your assistant of choice getting ready for Halloween! 

On the other hand, if you see any of the following, you should be worried.  

You have blood dripping from your walls, and you’re not living in an abattoir. 

If you have a pair of twins appearing at the end of different hallways that you definitely don't know and didn’t invite in. 

 A tall man with a hat who doesn't quite touch the floor when he’s floating there.

And that’s it for our Halloween post! Although we’re still a few days out, we couldn’t wait any longer for this one. Do you have plans for this Halloween? Let us know over on our Facebook page or in the comments below. 

If on the other hand, you really are suffering from some of the issues up above, we might be able to help. For a good half of them at least, an appliance technician is the best person to call. So if your appliances are haunting you,  reach out to us at ((214) 599-0055) or by getting in touch on our contact page. Appliance Rescue Service is here for you. 

Pumpkin Soup From Picking to Serving

We'll Show You How To Do It All!

Halloween is right around the corner, and that means that our grocery stores have been invaded by two things. Pumpkins and candy. We're going to show you how to turn those pumpkins, not into Jack-o-lanterns to scare off the ghosts and goblins, but into a delicious soup. You will also have so much leftover puree that you can then use it next month to turn it into some amazing pumpkin pies, muffins, or cookies.

Ingredients: 

1 Large Pumpkin 

16 oz of cream cheese

6 cups of chicken broth 

Garlic 

1 small onion  or 1 Tbsp of onion powder

Salt to taste

Tools: Sharp chef's knife, cutting board, oven, parchment paper, aluminum foil, food processor, two large bowls, a large strainer, a spoon or metal measuring cup, a wide, large pot similar to a caldera or Dutch oven.

First things first. The type of pumpkin that's good for making a Jack-o-lantern is not the same one you want for food. Although your local grocery store will sell you the GIANT pumpkins without trouble, the tiny ones are not so easy to come by, and the ones of various colors are great for decor, not for eating.   Do not despair just yet, though. You don't need to go on an epic quest searching for the perfect pumpkin. You can actually search through the ones that are being sold for carving. You'll want to look for one that sounds only partially hollow and is hefty and solid. This should land you with a pumpkin that has thick walls and is still ripe but has not gone rotten. 

Once you get the pumpkin home, give it a quick wash and dry it off. You don't want it to be slippery when you start cutting it in a moment. Then snag a thick towel and your chef's knife and carefully stab your way into the pumpkin on one of the ridges. You want the knife to go all the way in for this first cut. It takes work, but going slow is the key.  You could, in theory, use the saw from your carving kit, but we don't actually want to get rid of the lid on our pumpkin. That's perfectly good food right there, rather than being in the way like with carving. 

Once you've gotten all the way through, remove the knife, grab a sharpie and draw lines to quarter your pumpkin, as best as possible, without removing your pumpkin. You might want to cut around the top of it, but again, this is a preference thing.  Depending on the size of your pumpkin, we suggest splitting it into either two or three pieces. This allows for the inside of the pumpkin to steam rather than sear in the next step.  Your next step is to grab a hand mixer and input just one of the two whisks. Use that, set to a low to medium speed to quickly and easily gut your pumpkin. (When you're finished, you can set aside the seeds for roasting at a later point.) 

Once you've cut your pumpkin into the desired shape, grab a pyrex (or similar)  baking dish. You'll want to line the bottom and sides of it with parchment paper (not wax) and then a layer of tinfoil over that. You should end up with the tin foil pressed firmly into the sides of the pan and wrapped around the top edges. This way, you've got less of a mess when this is all over. 

Preheat your oven to 400*F, and pop your pumpkins into the baking dish(es). You want the pumpkin to have enough room to sit flat on the bottom of the dish rather than having anything sticking over the sides. Once your oven is preheated, pop the pumpkin into the oven for 1 hour.  Make sure that your pumpkin is not touching the top of your oven, or it can catch on fire.  Once an hour has passed, you'll want to check on them with a fork. See if you can easily sink a fork into the flesh of the pumpkin.  If it goes in easily at first and then hits resistance, you'll know that you need more time. If you can cut into the pumpkin without trouble, congrats, go ahead and pull it out. 

At whatever point you finish up your pumpkin, set the dishes on the counter, and leave them be for 30 minutes. Once they're just cool enough that you can handle them, carefully use something like a metal spoon or a pair of forks, to lift the pumpkin away from you. So, if you're looking at the pumpkin, lift the far edge and slowly bring that towards you. If your pumpkin was cut in half, this is going to release a LOT of steam, and it's going to be extremely hot. Please don't burn yourself. 

Now go ahead and wander off for an hour or so.  You want the flesh of the pumpkin cool enough that you can handle it without getting burnt. Once it's ready, come back and drag one half over to your counter, where you should have set up 1 large bowl, one medium bowl for scraps, and a large metal spoon. We're looking at a cooking spoon here, not a serving or eating spoon.  This will take too long otherwise. 

Depending on how long your pumpkin roasted, it might be just solid enough to be scraped apart, or it could be at the stage where if you look at it funny, the pieces fly apart. Grab the pumpkin and give it a careful squeeze to try and get out as much liquid from the pumpkin as possible. You want it to be down to just a few drops.  Then, start scraping apart the skin from the meat of the pumpkin. It's not a complicated process, but it does require you to focus to ensure you're getting all of the meat. 

Once you've finished one, go ahead and give your hands a good stretch, and then go and tackle the other one. If you're like us, this is the point when you realize that you might have purchased 3 pumpkins, but you're not going to be roasting all of them in one day. 

Once you've got all of the pumpkin flesh in one bowl and the skin in the other, toss the scraps and grab your sieve, the second large bowl, and your food processor. Now you're going to puree everything. Working in batches, transition the scraped flesh to the food processor and have at it. You should have just enough water for the processor to work but not so much that you end up with a thin puree. 

Once you've pureed the entirety of your pumpkin, give the first bowl a quick wash, and grab your sieve and metal spoon. You want to work the puree through the sieve, pushing and scraping as you go. Your goal is to get rid of any uncooked bits, seeds, skin etc. 

When you're finally done with that stage, you can do one of two things. (Three technically, but we don't count icing your wrists as an actual part of the recipe.)  

1)  You can be satisfied with the quality of the puree as it stands, and move forward with cooking! 

2) You can opt to make it thicker and use cheesecloth to remove some of the liquid. 

If you're going with option 2, here's a quick run down. Again, wash the emptied bowl, and then grab some cheesecloth. You'll work in batches over your sink to squeeze out about 50% of your liquid. So, just a gentle squeezing, not working to flatten all of it out. Add each batch into the bowl you washed, and repeat as needed until your puree is the thickness you prefer. 

At this point you can continue on to make this super simple soup, OR you can take a break for the day, set aside 3 cups of your puree, and portion the rest for freezing. That's up to you.  Frozen puree can last up to 6 months, if you don’t manage to use it all up before then.

If you choose to move forward with the cooking, let's get to it. 

Take a large, wide pot (we used a caldera at our home, but a dutch oven would work as well) and set that over low heat.  

You can use already minced garlic, or you can mince your own. Either way, use at least 1 Tbsp. We say at least because in our home the rule is always "more garlic is better."  When your garlic is ready, turn up the heat to high and toss in the garlic. You can also add in 1 cup of diced white onion at this point, or just sprinkle your garlic with onion powder. That depends on how strong you want the taste of the onion to be.  You're looking for the garlic to soften and also start to turn just a little brown around the edges. 

Mix in 6 cups of chicken broth, 16 oz of cream cheese, and 3 cups of your pumpkin puree.  Stir thoroughly and bring the mix up to a boil. 

Once your soup has come up to a boil, reduce it down to low and allow it to simmer away until it has reduced to a thick, creamy consistency. 

When you're done, turn off the heat and serve it up alongside some rolls or a rich chewy bread. It's not a complex recipe, but it is filling and delicious.  

An important note is that if you want to do this at other points throughout the year and you don't have any pumpkins just lying around, you can always pick up a large can of pumpkin puree from the store and use that. It won't taste /as/ good, but it's still an amazing soup. 

There you have it! You can now say you know how to select your own pumpkins, roast them and turn them into soup! What do you think? Are you interested in learning other recipes like this, where we show you how to prep different aspects of the meal ahead? Let us know over on our Facebook page or in the comments below. 

If you're here because your freezer is thinking it's still summer and working harder than an ox, we can help. You can give us a call at ((214) 599-0055) or reach out on our contact page. We'll work with you to  find a time that fits your schedule best to send one of our technicians to get your home running smoothly again. Whether you live in Dallas, Coppell, or Addison, Appliance Rescue Service is here for you.