One Year Later...

Still miss him.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

 

Another favorite recipe from my mom. My fall broccoli is big enough to pick, so this soup was on the "must" list this week. Even my children love it.

2 cup chicken broth OR water with bouillon

2 lb broccoli (or about 2 qt chopped broccoli)

2 T butter

1 small onion, chopped

3/4 cup flour

2 cup milk

1 cup cheese

In pan, bring broth and broccoli to boil. Simmer until tender. Do not drain. 

Meanwhile, melt butter in another pan. Saute onion til tender. Stir in flour. Add milk and stir until thickened. Add to broccoli. Stir in cheese until melted (OR serve with shredded cheese on top.) Serve immediately.

Linked to Tuesday Garden Party

Italian Meatball Soup

Thanks to all you who encouraged me in my clothes sorting. It is good to at least know that I'm not alone. 

Today my sister was here helping me make applesauce. Not only did we make applesauce but while we waited for apples to cook, I finished the clothes sorting process. Yippee!!!  Now, hopefully no one will have a growth spurt before spring.

Continuing to share favorite soup recipes in October... this next one is adapted from The Pioneer Woman. Not that I could pretend to improve any of her recipes. My changes had more to do with convenience using the ingredients I have on hand, such as tomato juice instead of paste. And I hate to make herb bags.

My children are not impressed with the kale. I love it. You choose. You could easily let it out. I sometimes use cabbage instead of kale, if that is what I have on hand. Kale is prettier but both taste good.

I didn't specify a recipe for meatballs. I assume you have a favorite meatball recipe. I usually make up a whole bunch of meatballs and bake them on the broiler pan until they are just barely done. Then I freeze them for a quick meal like soup, meatball subs, or spaghetti. 

Italian Meatball Soup

A hearty stick-to-the-ribs soup

1 lb ground beef (made into your favorite small meatballs)

3/4 cup onion, chopped

1/2 cup celery, chopped

1 garlic clove

7 cups beef broth

1 cup tomato juice

1 cup carrots, chopped

2 cup potato, chopped

1/2 tsp salt

1 T parsley

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1/2 pound kale, chopped (may also use cabbage)

If your meatballs are uncooked, first brown meatballs in a large pot. Remove meatballs. To pot, add onions, celery, and garlic and saute in a little olive oil. Add broth, juice, carrots, potatoes, and seasonings. Bring to boil and simmer 30 minutes.  Add kale and meatballs and simmer until all tender. Serve with Parmesan cheese.

If...clothing sorting doesn't drive me crazy

"If you can keep your head when all about you
Are piles of clothes, green, yellow, white and blue;
If you can calmly fit five shirts on Junior
While Brother cries because he wants one, too.
If four children with loud voices wildly shouting,
Don't find you a grumpy cackling Mother Hen,
And you answer with a meek and gentle spirit
You are a better mom than I, my Friend!"

Apologies to Kipling for the bad adaption of his poem.

It is the start of a new season, which means clothing sorting time. NOT my favorite activity.

I knew it needed done this week. On Saturday I hope to attend a big kid's stuff yard sale and I'd like to fill in the gaps of my children's wardrobes. 

If you all have any hints on how to alleviate the stress level when bringing boxes down from the attic and trying clothing on four children - I'd love to hear it! Not that the children are stressed, they have a blast! Picture crazy dances with pants on their heads, huge shoes on their feet and hands stuck in a baby sweater.

I had no intention of starting the process yesterday, but the children wanted to go outside. They were quite willing to go barefoot like the past four months. But mom declared the weather too cold and decreed shoes and coats a necessity - except that no one seemed find any that fit.

Sigh.

By the time, all the coats and shoes were sorted out for everyone, as well as snowsuits and snowboots and who knows what else, my blood pressure was through the roof. I decreed it naptime for my own sanity and we never did get outside. When your daughter asks why mom is so angry, you know you are a failure.

Today I need to tackle the boys clothing. I did the girl's earlier, so maybe then I'll be done.

Sometimes I wonder why I store all this clothing. But it sure has saved us money. We've been blessed by several people who share hand-me-downs. With the help of yard sales and generous friends, I basically buy no new clothing or shoes. I do purchase fabric for the girl's dresses since it is almost impossible to find nice modest girl's dresses. I've bought socks and unders and  maybe one pair of sandals. I've picked up a few coats during the spring sales but that is about all the new purchases I've made. And it isn't that I spend every weekend at yard sales. Usually I go to two or three a year but this year I haven't even went once.

So a miserable afternoon or two spent sorting it all out is worth it. But if any of you have some hints on the whole clothing sorting/storing problem - I'm all ears!

Curried Vegetable Bisque

In the last two weeks, I've been on a soup  binge. Last night I asked Ed which soup was his favorite. This was his winner.

My daughter watched me chop all the apples, onions, and peppers and said she wouldn't eat it. She said that apples and raisins didn't belong in soup. But once it was all bended together, she actually pronounced it  good!

Curried Vegetable Bisque
Adapted from Simply in Season

2 cups onion, chopped
2 cups red sweet pepper, chopped
3/4 cup celery, chopped
In large pot saute in a little oil for 5 minutes.

5 cup tart apple, peeled and chopped
1 1/2 cup carrots, chopped
3 cup potatoes, chopped
1/2 cup raisins
6 cups vegetable or chicken broth
1 cup tomato juice
1-3 T curry powder (according to your taste)
1/2 tsp thyme
Stir in and bring to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until all vegetables are soft. Puree in batches in blender or food processor. Return everything to soup pot.

3 cups milk.
2 cup cooked chicken, chopped (optional)
Stir in. Heat until hot but not boiling.

I added a little grated cheese  when serving - just so that my children would try it!

Hamburger Soup

When I think soup - this is the recipe that comes to mind. My mom made this many many times through the years. If I ask Ed what kind of soup he wants me to make, this one is usually at the top of the list.

I've served this to many friends at informal winter meals and often we are licking the bowl clean.

Hamburger Soup

1 large onion, chopped
1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
1-2 lb ground beef
4 cup tomato juice
2 tsp seasoning salt
2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup carrots, diced
2 cup potatoes, diced
1/2 cup flour
4 cup milk

In large pan, brown onion, pepper and ground beef. Stir in tomato juice, carrots and seasonings. Cover and cook until carrots are partly tender. Add potatoes and cook until tender. Combine flour with one cup milk. Stir into soup. Add remaining milk. Heat for several minutes until hot through and serve.

Come back for another soup recipe tomorrow!

Linked to Life as Mom

A Warm Bowl of Soup in October

I love soup.

As soon as cooler weather hits, I'm pulling out the soup recipes.

Nothing beats soup for spreading a rich comforting aroma through the house - a teaser for the belly warming meal to come.

Soups are simple. They call for ingredients that are easy to find and usually on hand.

Soups are easy. Usually there is nothing harder then cutting up some veggies and measuring some spices.

Soups are healthy. Want to add more vegetables to your diet? Choose a soup that focuses on veggies.

Soups are cheap. Aiming to stretch your meat - or go meatless? Choose soups. Cheap cuts of meat simmered all day, will make a wonderful soup with incredible broth.

My goal was to name October as "Soup Month" here at Home Joys. I was going to dig out some old favorites, try some new recipes and maybe ask you to contribute your favorite soup. I didn't know if I could do a soup recipe for each day of the month, but I did think I could get close!

But life has been crazy this past week with little computer time. So here we are, several days into October.

But it is never too late to start.

Since I'm working with a large amount of ground beef today, I'll share my favorite hamburger soup later today.

Meanwhile, do you have a favorite soup recipe? I'd love if you would share it. Leave a comment or email me (walkingbymyside AT gmail.com)

Or email me if you'd like to write a guest post to be included this month - just be sure to remember a photo of your soup.

And join me in making soup in October!