Hello Fall!
Fresh from a crisp fall trip to Toronto, I'm sharing our family's cozy and comforting chicken soup recipe as well as a look into what we got up to.
I always become extra inspired this time of year. The change in seasons feels like a fresh start and I find myself being reinvigorated both personally and professionally. It's such an exciting time at Gee Beauty and while there is a lot on-the-go, it's important to remember to slow down whenever possible. This slower-paced weekend in Toronto was so perfect - here's what we got up to!
Family Time:
The whole family came together in Toronto to celebrate the Rosh Hashana, one of the Jewish High Holidays. It was a very meaningful weekend and it's always so much fun when we're all in town together. This trip my mum and I spent lots of time in the kitchen cooking together and we made her signature brisket recipe as well as her delicious chicken soup.
I grew up eating chicken soup — everyone in my extended family loves it, it’s our staple. I have such an emotional connection to making this soup – it truly feels like love – reflecting on family memories of everyone being together, my grandmother, mother and aunts all making it, and now sharing mine with loved ones. I take such pride in it.
I’ve been making Miriam's famous chicken soup for the past few years and honestly, her recipe is a never-fail. Each time I make it, it tastes better than the last time. I enjoy it for a few days and I also freeze a batch so that I always have it available. It’s incredible for the colder months, but even in the summer in Miami, soup is on!
Here's how to make it:
What you’ll need:
- 1 cut-up chicken
- 1 large yellow onion
- 3 large cloves of garlic
- 1 large bunch of peeled carrots
- 1 bunch of celery
- 1 red pepper
- 1 bunch of dill
- ½ a bunch of parsley
- Sea salt
- other veggies are optional, I like parsnips and celery root
How to make it:
- Fill a large pot with filtered water
- Clean the chicken (I remove the skin but that’s optional)
- Place chicken in the pot and bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer
- skim the fat off the top, keep in mind there will be more fat to skim if you leave the chicken skin on
- After about 10 minutes of simmering, I add in the peeled whole onion along with the garlic
- Add 1 tablespoon of sea salt to taste (I love Maldon salt)
- You can add a few more cups of filtered water if you have room in the pot
- After this cooks for 30 min on medium heat, I add in the cleaned veggies
- Let cook for an hour
- Add fresh herbs and Let simmer on low for another 30-60 minutes
- Cool, taste and enjoy!
Note: Ideally I cook the soup for 2 hours because the longer it simmers, the more flavorful it is. Every stove is different and you can also add any veggies you like to make it your own.
Let the soup cool down completely before transferring to containers for fridge and freezer. I keep all the carrots and chicken, and discard the rest of the veggies.
Hosting 101:
Even when hosting family, it's important to stay true to your hosting responsibilities. I learned from my mum that every detail truly matters and attributes to the evening as a whole. I make sure the meal is prepped and is in a good place before turning to the other elements like the playlist, candles, flowers, and drinks.
A super simple detail that goes a long way is to take items out of their containers and jars. Whether it's condiments, chips, or olives, putting them in small bowls instantly elevates the table and the vibe. It takes two seconds and truly makes all the difference.
Where We Went:
It was a shorter trip but we definitely made the most of our time. We visited the new Manita location in Rosedale just up the street from Gee Beauty Toronto. The space is so beautiful and felt so cozy and warm and as always the food was incredible.
On Saturday we ventured over to the Wychwood Farmer's Market and I was very impressed. We decided on a gorgeous loaf of fresh bread to take home, the last of the season's tomatoes and other local produce and made the best little spread.
Fall Beauty:
While it was a quiet weekend spent with family, I still made sure to put an emphasis on personal presentation not only just for me, but to show respect for those around me. I went with a more natural look this weekend and my current favorites are our new Sunset Glow Powder Bronzer, Multi Mascara in Brown (coming so soon!), Berrybeam Color Stick and Bibi Lipstick paired with Major Lip Liner.
With the change in season it's the perfect time to book more intensive facials. I booked in the Age-Less Lift + Infuse facial for when I'm back in Miami for some skin refining and resurfacing. It's one of Toronto's most popular services so we had to bring it to Miami. It will be available soon and I can't wait to share more!
Here's to a cozy fall together!
xx Celene
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