Of Cabbages and Kings...

Or perhaps not... but maybe a soup would do!

This is one of our all time favorite soups and granted I usually hold off on my soup making until cooler weather settles in and a piping hot hearty soup is a welcome substance needed to warm the soul. But... I got a hankerin' that just wouldn't quit so I relented, not that it was that hard to give into because as I said... it is one of our all time favorite soups!

Pork and Cabbage Soup

And if you haven't guessed it yet, I am about to share my recipe!

2 lbs boneless country-style pork ribs

6 carrots, peeled

3 celery stalks

1 large onion

1 medium potato, peeled

1 medium sweet potato, peeled

1 medium cabbage

All of the above will be sliced or diced, chunky or not, however you prefer your soup.

You will also need two quart jars of your very own home canned tomatoes Ü... but... if you don't have two jars handy you can always use a 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes, juice and all.

Now comes the flavoring...

1/4 cup of brown sugar

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper .

1/2 teaspoon pepper

(or you can use Hot Shot which is both red and black pepper)

6 teaspoons of chicken bouillon

1/2 teaspoon salt

6 cups of water 

All of this will go into a good size pot. I use my jumbo pot just because I like to leave room for improvision... Ü  and you also may have to add a bit more water depending on the size of the veggies that were used.

Cover the pot and bring it to a boil then reduce the heat to a medium/low setting and simmer for about an hour.

I suggest serving with some type of crusty bread or biscuits. Yummy!

Oh, and it has been brought to my attention that if you are feeding children you may want to cut back on the hot pepper spices. Ü

Enjoy!

On Winter Days Like These...

On winter days like these when it is really cold out and just stepping out to get the mail from the mail box makes you want to scream and run back to the warmth and safety of your Snuggie

it's on days like these that there's nothing like a delicious hot steaming bowl of soup to warm your soul...

especially if it's homemade!

Mmmm-mmmm!
Butternut squash soup!

This is has got to be one of my favorite winter time soups to make... and to eat for that matter!
It's easy and fast as there are not a whole lot of ingredients.





In a 4 quart pot I add 2 stalks sliced celery, 1/2 an onion chopped, and 3 tablespoons butter





and cook them on medium heat until they start to brown.


I then add a small peeled and de-seeded squash (that I grew in my garden last summer) that's been cut into chunks... but if I don't have a homegrown squash I buy the already peeled and seeded one at the supermarket. It makes it even easier. Although, they tend not to be as colorful as my homegrown ones!
Pretty eh? And packed with vitamins!





They are cooked together for about 5 minutes more, stirring occasionally





I then add 2 cups water





A hearty pinch of sage





And 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon... or in this case, Better Than Bouillon! Ü





which by the looks of it I may have tried opening with my teeth! Wow... impressive gnaw marks!  


Then I let it simmer for a bit, just enough to soften the vegtables but not make them mushy. I use a potato masher to squish the squash but leaving it chunky because I prefer my soup to have substance... you know, stuff to sink my teeth into.





Next I add a cup of milk...





unless of course I did 15 gruelling minutes on the elliptical... sometime during the past week... then I could mix some half and half in with the milk. But if I want it with less fat because I didn't do 15 gruelling minutes on the elliptical... sometime in my lifetime... I could use lowfat milk.

This recipe is kinda cool like that, I can add whatever kind of milk I have available at the time deserve and it'll still taste good.





Then I just give it a quick stir, and turn the stove off





and waa-laa! It's done!!


And o-o-o-oh, it is so-o-o-o Yummy!

Ü