Wednesday, November 05, 2014

Soup Simmering on the Stove

The fixings for COLD DAY BEAN SOUP

I never started out being a good soup maker. Soup has never really been my 'go to' meal. Now I do enjoy a robust, full-flavoured soup, like homemade chicken noodle or corn chowder or potato and sauerkraut soup, but if we go out for a meal, it's not a first choice for me.

On the other hand, for Mr. Hubby -- the same man who votes pasta as his all-time number one favourite meal, yes, even over turkey dinner which he loves -- soup is often a 'go to' as he believes it makes a good meal choice any time, any season.

So I've learned to make soup over the years. Sometimes the melding of ingredients using what one has on hand, and aren't necessarily what's listed in the recipe in front of you, makes for a wonderful new discovery. And it's so delicious even I am saying 'more soup please'.  And some days we end up with something that's a little 'less than and not so much' in the over the top delicious.

I've learned over the years, you must not stint on the ingredients when making soup. Too much water and not enough vegetables makes for a thin gruel that feels flat, no matter how many pinches of salt and pepper and herbs you add later. And, for those of us who aren't vegetarian, it's the bones of a ham or chicken or beef that gives great body as well as the enriched flavour to a broth. Believe me, I know.....
“The soup, thin and dark and utterly savorless, tasted as if it had been drained out of the umbrella stand.” ~ Margaret Halsey (1910 - 1997), American author
Thankfully, hubby has never yet turned up his nose at any of my soup experiments. And I'm happy to report that with practice comes experience and with experience comes knowledge and with knowledge comes recipes that turn out delicious much more often than they used to.

Today I'm not relying on my own creative pinches and dashes of this and that. Both Mr. Hubby and I are looking forward to this next soup meal. It'll be a real treat -- I've gathered the ingredients to make Susan Branch's Bean Soup, which includes a smoked ham hock, celery, carrot, onion, bay leaf, peppercorns and white beans in a big pot of water that simmers away for hours.

Already the house is filled with yummy smells coming from the kitchen.


Good soup is one of the prime ingredients of good living. For soup can do more to lift the spirits and stimulate the appetite than any other one dish.” ~ Louis P. De Gouy, ‘The Soup Book’ (1949)


Wishing you happy smells *´¨)
> ¸.·´¸.·*´¨) ¸.·*¨)
> (¸.·´ (¸.·´ * from your kitchen ! *


Hugs
Brenda
xox


Two Soup Quotes: FoodReference.com



15 comments:

  1. A hot cuppa soup is sure nice on a cool day. And it is a nice change for the cook.

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  2. ~~~~ clink~~~~, cheers with a soup cup!
    Love homemade soups, especially the ones where you clean out the refrigerate.
    Stay warm, inside and out!

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  3. Such great thoughts for a cold, rainy day in Texas...unusual for us!

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  4. I didn't learn to make soup until long after I was married, but now we love it. So warm and comforting. Add some homemade muffins, and yum. Your bean soup with a ham hock is my husband's favorite.

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  5. Soup is a favorite meal around here, year round. Delicious and warming (or cooling). Your bean soup sounds delicious.

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  6. Lucy and I were just discussing yesterday the art of soup, how we needed to learn it and that its like a warm hug on a cold day. I LOVE that quote at the end and how your posts always reach out to the reader like a smile and warm welcome home hug. Keep on bein' a blessing', my dear!

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  7. I love making soups, especially this time of year.

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  8. Dear Brenda - I was planning on making a very pot of this bean soup with the week-end calling for cold chilly weather. If I don't get mine made I know where I can come. Have a happy day. Hugs

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  9. That quote made me laugh aloud! I shall have to try the recipe. It so happens that I have a ham hock in the freezer. Thank you for the homey post and the suggestion.

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  10. I can't think of anything better than a bowl of this steaming hot soup! Thank you for sharing this with us, and in such a lovely way.

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  11. Lovely blog i saw you thrue other blogger...nice posts to read...blessings ❤

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  12. I, who don't like to cook "...noway! nohow!..." actually like to make soup, especially at this time of year. I even enjoy thinking about making soup! And I enjoyed reading about it here in this post :)

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  13. Sounds good! I make a pot of soup probably every week and a half. I can't eat store-bought or restaurant soups, so I've learned to make my own with chicken or beef and lots of vegetables, including peppers and parsnips. We love it, and it simmers on the stove all afternoon. Always nice to have leftovers. Hope you have a nice weekend.

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    Replies
    1. We love parsnips around here too. There is nothing like homemade! Happy weekend, Miss Cranberry Morning!

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To My Beautiful Readers,

Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same. ~ Franz Peter Schubert

Thank you so much for leaving your 'footprint' here in my comment box. I do appreciate you taking a moment to share your thoughts today.

Brenda xo