Winter is definitely not at the top of my “favorite season” list. I’ll admit that I enjoy a great snow day once in a while but the gloomy days can carve away at my generally cheerful outlook. I was always taught to count my blessings and oh my goodness there are many. One of the blessings of winter is that soup is always welcome at the dinner table. Most soups are easy enough to prepare and for some reason they cure winter time blues and warm the soul. I like to use this season to add new soups to the recipe box. That is the beauty of soup……there are literally hundreds to try. [Read more…]
Bean and Bacon Soup
It’s cold. Really cold. The holiday rush is over, the decorations are stored away and I want to cocoon. When cold winds howl, who doesn’t want to stay in and keep warm? On some nights, for me, that means cooking from what I have on hand and not running to the grocery store. Do you ever feel that way?
Even though its super cold, I am excited about the New Year, for our new book, The Newlywed Cookbook, Cooking Happily Ever After is now on store shelves. (Roxanne announced it and popped the Champagne last week!) We are thrilled and are looking forward to cooking recipes from the book, teaching classes and sharing tips that help newlywed couples start a lifetime of great cooking. What to register for and how to use those items, plus recipes for quick dinners to special dishes that create wonderful meals together and build lifelong memories.
Italian Sausage Soup
Finally cold air swooshed in and all is well in my world. A dip in the temperature indicating Fall is almost here, taking our yearly trek to Dunn’s for apple donuts and yes, the arrival of soup on our family menu.
The cool temps are perfect for soup. I was pleasantly surprised when our daughter announced at the dinner table that she was equally excited to be savoring soup. “Yes!”, she exclaimed, “I love all the wonderful soups we enjoy when the temperature is cooler.”
Made my day!
I’ve been eying the container of greens marked “super” at my grocery store for months. [Read more…]
Italian Wedding Soup
Life is filled with unexpected, simple surprises. This makes each day a mystery about to be revealed. Years ago I was scheduled to travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Really? Pittsburgh? Ok, truth be known I wasn’t looking forward to this trip. Pittsburgh was right up there with Cleveland. I can talk this way because most of my adult life I have been questioned as to why anyone would live in Kansas. You see, I understand preconceived notions.
Wham! Unexpected surprises. [Read more…]
Tuscan Vegetable Soup Recipe
Christmas and New Year’s came (what joy!) and went. The busy holiday season was behind me and I was craving vegetables and simpler meals. One Polar Vortex blew by and a second is on the way, so the cold wind is howling something fierce. How can I have vegetables in this weather? And our cookbook deadline is looming. I need easy, warm and comforting. [Read more…]