Etsy Stalker January Shadowbox Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to Deb of Debs1967 for winning the January Etsy Stalker Shadowbox Giveaway from Whimsy Beading! Deb won a fabulous set of Bling Rings earrings in Golden Topaz! You can check out Deb's shop here:

Deb's Shop!

Hexensuppen Recipe from Ms. Whimsy Beading

The Whimsy Beadings discovered this soup at their very favorite special occasion restaurant, The Gasthaus in Louisville, KY. Nothing would do but that Ms. Whimsy Beading track down the recipe, only to find out that there really isn't one, at least not one in English that would work with the ingredients commonly available in the US. So, with the help of some Google Translate and determination, she came up with one. I'm pleased to report that the recipe contains absolutely no mutton at all.

Hexensuppen (Witches’ Soup)

2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 1/2 lbs. beef roast, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
2 med. onions, chopped
32 oz jar of Hungarian pickled salad (Cabbage, red peppers, carrots, garlic)
1 cup button mushrooms, quartered (Fresh is good, but the ones in the jars will work fine too)
3 tbsp. sweet paprika
2 tbsp. salt
1/4 tbsp. pepper
1/3 cup tomato sauce
24 oz beef broth
8 oz cream cheese
1 cup heavy cream
A few shakes of hot sauce (optional)

Heat oil in Dutch oven or stockpot over medium high heat until hot. Add the onions and cook until translucent. Add the beef and cook until just barely browned. Add Pickled Salad, paprika, salt, pepper, tomato sauce and broth. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer at least 1 hour. Add the mushrooms in the last fifteen minutes of simmering time.

Remove soup from heat and add the cream cheese and cream, stirring until cream cheese melts. Turn heat to low and return the soup to the heat, simmering for 15-30 minutes more. Serve hot with crusty bread.

This soup will reheat and/or freeze well.

It's been a little quiet on the Whimsy Beading homefront these day. Mr. Whimsy Beading's dad has been ill, so the Whimsy Beadings are attending to family matters. Keep them in your thoughts.

Etsy Stalker January Shadowboxes

Whimsy Beading has teamed up with Etsy Stalker and some fabulous Etsy sellers to present you with the January Shadowboxes!

Come on by and leave a comment on Whimsy Beading's shadowbox page. There's a free pair of Golden Topaz Bling Rings in it for a lucky commenter! Tell 'em Angus sent you.

Le Jazz Hot - Model

Le Jazz Hot - Model, originally uploaded by WhimsyBeading.

Mr. Whimsy Beading strikes again with another piece that leaves Ms. Whimsy Beading crying because she's putting it up for sale instead of keeping it.

These humans, they can never make up their minds can they? Still, check out this fabulous necklace that's up for grabs here, and hurry before Ms. Whimsy Beading changes her mind!

Whimsy Beading has been Etsy Stalked!

Even though Ms. Whimsy Beading once took a cute little ninja away from Curator Violet, she was kind enough to hold no grudge and feature us in a fabulous entry over on their blog/fabulous emporium of goodies. Check it out!

Those Etsy Stalker ladies are A-OK with me. I wonder if they like short, handsome guys who like clover?

Whimsy Beading Makes The Esty Front Page!

Esty Front Page, originally uploaded by WhimsyBeading.

I tell you, the humans are just beside themselves today. See, yesterday was Ms. Whimsy Beading's birthday, and she was already starting to indulge in the New Year's champagne when I heard her calling for me. "Angus, you overgrown sweater lint, have you been posting to the Facebook Fan Page again?" she says.

Well, I hadn't. She hadn't. Mr. Whimsy Beading hadn't. But there was a post, plain as day, saying our bracelet Mixed Metal Steam was on the Etsy front page. And what do you know, it was! Well, let me tell you folks that I've never seen two human so damned excited in all my life than the Whimsy Beadings last night. A very smart person snapped up the bracelet before the night was done.

Yay! We made the front page of Etsy! I think now would be a good time to demand a bonus, don't you?