Home Cooking: Dishes My Mom Used to Make: Oxtail Stew

Are there any dishes that your mom used to make when you were growing up that you thought were incredibly delicious? Real comfort food. Dishes that are even more comforting when you think back fondly on that dish or those dishes and realize that you never learned the recipe or how to prepare it for your own family!

My mom used to cook oxtail stew.

My mother is passed away now. I never got her recipe. Of course, you can Google oxtail stew and find a bazillion recipes. But I’ll bet none of them will taste like the stew my mom used to make. Nevertheless, if you’ve never eaten a hearty bowl of oxtail stew and would like try, here are a few recipes.

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Southern Slow Cooker Smothered Oxtails https://t.co/n86Qfb75VV #comfortfood pic.twitter.com/v0BG2fnMuM

— Everyday Exotic Spices Presents Food Ways (@EverydaySpices) April 4, 2024

" Slowly braised oxtail" is a dish made by braising oxtail in a rich sauce with vegetables and other ingredients.... Braised Oxtail Recipe https://t.co/OmjDzQLY1J @thespruceeatss @EverydaySpices pic.twitter.com/Ge38H0XQD2

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) April 4, 2024

Korean Oxtail Soup (Kkori Gomtang) https://t.co/KMYm9vlX5B via @HipFoodieMom1

— Everyday Exotic Spices Presents Food Ways (@EverydaySpices) April 26, 2018

Spanish-Style Oxtails Braised with Chorizo Recipe | Epicurious https://t.co/HmGFjzVXQm @epicurious @EverydaySpices pic.twitter.com/lBUfZkUKlS

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) April 4, 2024

SICHUAN PEPPERCORN RED BRAISED OXTAIL – Lady and Pups #foodblogs https://t.co/9GbVH4mlxB pic.twitter.com/JI6oizMYWi

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) April 4, 2024

Chinese Braised Oxtail Recipe - The Woks of Life https://t.co/gev3K2ANA9 pic.twitter.com/mFxWMjgGag

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) April 4, 2024

New Oxtail Recipe just went live https://t.co/JHe7o2twws pic.twitter.com/jl4guSpvw9

— Matt Price (Mr. Make It Happen) (@MrMake1tHappen) March 31, 2024

Saboriza Fresh Meats Supply - Healthy, Clean & Organic Beef - Fresh #Groceries for #QuickAndEasy #Cooking - Ideal for Everyday #Family Meal at Home (Oxtail, 1 lb - 2 Pack) https://t.co/z25HpjGqTb via @amazon pic.twitter.com/SnhhPG6eOe

— Everyday Exotic Spices Presents Food Ways (@EverydaySpices) April 4, 2024

Grace Caribbean Traditions Oxtail Seasoning (2 Pack) 5.43 oz Shakers https://t.co/HJTBzcVFw1 via @amazon #groceries #Seasonings #Cooking #soulfood pic.twitter.com/5EkagD84Ea

— Everyday Exotic Spices Presents Food Ways (@EverydaySpices) April 4, 2024

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Recall fond memories of the smells from your mother’s kitchen? Ready to fill your bowls?

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NOTE:  This is my original content first published April 2018 at Virily, a social blogging community ~ Dishes My Mom Used to Make: Oxtail Stew

Homemade Soups That Start With the Letter C

Recipes for cabbage, cauliflower chickpea and coconut soups.

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Cabbage Soup

Ingredients for Cabbage Soup:

• 1/4 cup ghee

• 1 onion, chopped

• 2 lb. cabbage, chopped

• 1 lb. potato quartered

• 2 1/2 cup water

• 1 1/4 cup vegetable stock

• 1 tsp. cornstarch

• salt and pepper to taste

Preparation Method for Cabbage Soup:

Step-01: Heat ghee in a pan and fry the onion until soft.

Step-02: Add cabbage and stir until wilted and coated with ghee.

Step-03: Add potato, tomatoes, and water, bring to a boil, cover, and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes.

Step-04: Add stock, return to boil and cook for 5 minutes.

Step-05: Remove from heat and mash or puree the soup.

Step-06: Blend cornstarch with a little soup then stir it into the pan and bring it to boil, stirring until slightly thickened.

Step-07: Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Cauliflower Soup

Ingredients Cauliflower Soup:

• 1 head cauliflower, cut into florets

• 1 bay leaf

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• 2 Tbs. butter or margarine

• 1 onion, finely chopped

• 1 potato, sliced

• 1/4 C. plain (all-purpose) flour

• 3 cup milk

• salt and pepper

Preparation Method for Cauliflower Soup:

Step-01: Place cauliflower, bay leaf, and salt into a pan and add just enough water to cover.

Step-02: Cook till the mixture boils, then reduce the flame and cook for an additional 7 minutes.

Step-03: Drain, reserving the liquid.

Step-04: Meanwhile, melt butter and fry onion and potato for 5 minutes until soft but not browned.

Step-05: Blend in flour and cook, stirring continuously for 2 minutes.

Step-06: Then add milk by stirring and cook till boiling.

Step-07: Add cauliflower, reduce heat, and simmer gently until tender.

Step-08: Puree in a blender or food processor then return to the pan and stir in enough reserved liquid to desired consistency.

Step-09: Check and adjust the seasoning to taste and reheat before serving.

Chickpea Soup

Ingredients for Chickpea Soup:

• 2/3 cup chickpeas, soaked overnight

• 3 3/4 cup water

• 1 tsp. cumin seeds

• 2 tsp. coriander seeds

• 1 tsp. fenugreek seeds

• 3 dried red chilies

• 1 Tbs. grated (shredded) coconut

• 2 Tbs. ghee

• 8 oz. tomatoes, skinned and chopped

• 1 tsp. ground turmeric

• 1 tsp. sugar

• 1 tsp. salt

Preparation Method for Chickpea Soup:

Step-01: Bring chickpeas and 2 1/2 cups water to a boil, cover, and simmer for 1 hour until tender.

Step-02: Grind cumin, coriander and fenugreek seeds, chilies, and coconut.

Step-03: Heat ghee and fry spices for 1 minute.

Step-04: Puree chickpeas then stir in the fried spices, tomatoes, turmeric, sugar, and salt and add the remaining water.

Step-05: Cook till boiling, then cover with a lid, reduce the flame and cook on simmer for 20 minutes.

Step-06: Remove from flame, serve hot.

Coconut Soup

Ingredients for Coconut Soup:

• 2 coconuts grated,

• 2 blades of mace,

• 1 salt-spoonful of cinnamon,

• 3 pints of water,

• Juice of a lemon,

• 2 eggs,

• 1 oz. of fine wheat-meal,

• pepper and salt to taste.

Preparation Method for Coconut Soup:

Step-01: Cook the shredded coconut in water till boiling, add cinnamon, mace, and season.

Step-02: Then cook the mixture on low flame for an hour, and then strain through a sieve the mixture and then return the soup to the saucepan.

Step-03: Add wheat-meal, eggs, and lemon juice to form a paste, mix it well in the soup.

Step-04: Then allow the soup to simmer for 5 minutes, and serve hot with plain boiled rice.

♦♦

Soup recipe from Homemade25 Soup Recipes for Nutrition and Health Benefits. Be a part of the healthy eating family at viaindiankitchen.com.

January is National Soup Month But Let's Start Warming Up Now

Want to read a food quote? 

“Only the pure in heart can

make a good soup.” 

Guess who said that? 
- No it wasn't Jesus Christ. 
- No it wasn't Jacques Pepin. 

Beethoven! Yeah, the famous classical music composer, Ludwig van Beethoven said that! 

So not only was he a genius when it came to composing music, he was also smart when it came to knowing about comfort food. 


January is National Soup Month and in other months of the year, we celebrate days for various types of soups and chowders. Yes, it's September. But why wait until the winter months when you can start enjoying warm comforting soups in the fall?

Our 20 Most Popular Soup Recipes of All Time (msn.com)

Content reblogged from My Blog Stop!













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Food Blog Spotlight : Sam's Place ~ Old and New Family Recipes

Sam Monaco publishes a food blog sharing awesome photos and recipes of scrumptious food that he makes himself. Visit his blog to find recipes for:

• Appetizers/Snacks
• Main Dishes/Grilling
• Soups/Salads/Sandwiches
• Pasta
• Desserts/Cookies/Candy

Why would anybody like this blog?  Because it's just good old-fashioned home cooking.  Nothing overly fancy or ostentatious.  It's everyday family-style hearty and comforting food.  The blog's tagline reads "Old and new family recipes prepared with the most delicious and fresh ingredients."

I publish a food magazine via Flipboard ~ My I Like Eating Channel. A few of Sam's blog posts are circulated via my magazine. I'm doubling the fun and resharing content from Sam's Place that was flipped first to my foodie magazine. Enjoy!

Baked Butter Garlic Chicken Wings

These baked butter garlic chicken wings made the perfect game day treat last week. You don't have to wait for a game day to enjoy these. Serve these for a nice appetizer or snack at your next party or just a snack for the family. It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of garlic.

Italian Peasant Soup

We are certainly in the cold season now, and when it gets cold outside we like our soups. There is nothing better than serving your family a hearty and healthy bowl of soup. I like all kinds of soups, especially in the winter months, which happens to last a long time in here in Western New York.

Cast Iron Skillet Pork Chops

It's winter here in Western New York, and there is nothing better to get you through those cold days than some good fashioned comfort food. I decided to make some cast iron skillet pork chops. This is another quick and easy meal to put on the table after a long day at work.

Glazed Lemon Almond Biscotti

Every year my cousin sends me a box of fresh lemons from his backyard lemon trees in Arizona. So, I put them to good use with these Glazed Lemon Almond Biscotti. The lemon and almond are a delicious combination of flavors for biscotti. If you're not a fan of almond flavor you can leave it out.

Poor Man's Pizza My Grandmother's Recipe

Poor Man's Pizza, another recipe passed down from my grandmother. I really don't know why my grandmother called this poor man's pizza, I never asked. I learned how to make this by watching her. Although my grandmother made it best, isn't that always the case? 

Food Blog Spotlight: Hungry Couple's Soups, Stews and Chowders

One of the main reasons I started publishing this foodie blog was to shine a spotlight on all of the awesome food blogs that are already out there.  Many scientists make fantastic discoveries and the majority of them have two things in common.  

• Number 1, the discovery is usually accidental, i.e. they stumbled upon it.  
• Number 2, whatever they discovered, it's been there all along!  

That's how I find awesome food blogs and I am not ashamed to say that I accidentally found the wonderful food blog called Hungry Couple.  

I got so excited at having found it that totally I forgot what my initial blog search was for.  LOL.  The blog posts archives go all the way to 2008 and they have recipes for drinks, desserts, breakfast, dinner ideas, and my favorite comfort food ... soups, stews, or chowders.  January may be the official soup month but I can eat soup all year round.  Soups, stews, and chowders are my comfort food.

I would have been happy to spend the entire day perusing the Recipe Index.  But I was anxious to share these wonderful comfort food recipes with my blog visitors.  Why keep all the fun to myself?  Enjoy!

Image Credit:  Amazon.com

Food Blurb: Sharing a Soup Recipe That Soup Lovers Will Love

The classical music composer Ludwig van Beethoven once said “Only the pure in heart can make a good soup.”

Do you believe that soup is good food?  I do!  I also believe it's a food of love for families and having a pure heart when you make it for those you love, no doubt adds substantially to the flavor.

In a previous post I shared information about miso, which is a key ingredient in Japanese cuisine.  You can it ready-made off the grocery store shelf or make your own.

Some say the reason the Japanese live so long is because miso is an integral part of their diet. Maybe. Maybe not. I also read that soup should be an important of one's daily diet. They say you should eat a bowl of soup every day. I'm OK with that dietary advice. Even though January is National Soup Month, I could eat soup every month of the year, whether the weather is hot or cold. And I don't mean cold soups, because I'm not really a fan of cold soup. But if I was given only one hot bowl of soup every day to survive off, I could totally do that and be content. 

For me, the best part of any soup is … THE BROTH! 

You could have all kinds of ingredients in a soup … meat or no meat. But if the broth is tasteless, the soup is useless. The broth is all about comfort. Don't you think so? 

That's why I know this recipe which I am sharing is awesome! The ingredients for the broth are: “garlic, ginger, scallions, toasted sesame oil, miso and fermented chile paste”. 

How could you not love this soup? LOL. 

Spicy Summer Miso Soup | 101 Cookbooks

World Cuisine: Exotic Vegetables: Winter Melon

Thanks to being active in various global social communities, I'm learning about all kinds of food like the “winter melon”. This is not a produce that I am familiar with. Even when I checked to see if maybe I knew it by a different name, it turns out I did not know the alternative names either. I don't recall seeing this melon in my local grocery store but it is probably in the produce section at an Asian market. Nevertheless, now it's a food that I am curious to try. 

Image credit:  Amazon.com

OK. Let me explain myself. I like cucumbers and I like melons. But I say a cucumber is a vegetable and anything called melon has to be a fruit. Right? WRONG!!

The Spruce Eats is my favorite GO TO site for when I want to learn about anything food-related. They published content titled “What Is a Winter Melon?” and it tells you all about it.  

The winter melon is a large vine vegetable; a type of gourd and a distant cousin of the cucumber. Commonly called ash gourd, wax gourd, white gourd, white pumpkin, and Chinese watermelon. It is a native to parts of Southern Asia and used in both Indian and Chinese cuisine.

You can cook it, but don't over-cook it because it will become mushy. It pairs well with a lot of different foods: watermelon, mushrooms, scallions, pork, chicken, duck, and ham, seafood like shrimp and scallops. I love that it can be cooked in soups and stews because soup is on my unofficial list of Top 5 comfort foods.

• Some sources say it can not be eaten RAW.
• Other sources say, add it to salads RAW just like you would with a cucumber.

???????

Here are some additional food facts and most of the sources seem to be in agreement.

“Chinese people believe winter melon is a Yin food that can help our bodies to counter the summer heat and humidity.” This soup dish is so popular they even serve it at weddings.

Chinese Winter Melon Soup Recipe ~ TheSpruce Eats

Winter melon can also be used to make drinks. There are recipes for Winter Melon Tea and Bubble Tea Latte. Sounds interesting.

18 of the Absolute Best Winter MelonRecipes to Try This Year - Backyard Boss  

A few of the health websites sing praises about the health benefits of the winter melon. It's good for digestion; promotes heart health; can detox your body; can improve your vision; and more!

9 Surprising Benefits of Winter Melon |Organic Facts

FINAL LINK SHARE:

Figured there had to be a candy recipe.  Petha / Winter Melon soft Candy !!! | Shailja's Kitchen [ Meals & Memories Are Made Here ] 

Foodie Friday : CHICKEN RECIPES – The Best of

Award-winning TV chef, Lidia Bastianich, says that “chicken” is the most searched for food term. There is no reason to think that fact needs to be checked out. Lots of people love chicken! Fried, stewed, baked, barbecued, grilled! There has got to be a million plus ways to prepare this delightful bird and make it taste like it's the first time you've ever eaten it! Agree?

 



What's your favorite part of the chicken? (Breasts or dark meat?)

• I like chicken thighs.

Do you also like chicken livers, gizzards, and hearts?

• If you tenderize them you can cook them in a stew with carrots, potatoes and green cabbage. It's a poor man's meal but very filling.

Do you have favorite way you like to eat chicken?

 
When people say “best of”, it's almost always purely subjective. However, for several years I have been collecting what, in my opinion is the “best” chicken recipes from wherever they can be found and as of today my Pinterest board boasts close to 600 recipes.

Here is a quick list of just a few of the best chicken dishes ever.

Jamaican Brown Stew Chicken

Yeah mon!! :)

16-Spice Fried Chicken with Mango–Red Chile Honey

Mango makes everything taste good!

 

Easy Greek Marinated Chicken

Greek Chicken with Garlic and Feta

Grilled Thai Spice Chicken Sliders

Who doesn't like Greek or Thai food? (O.o) (???)

 

Honey Jalapeno Chicken Tenders

Finger food in its finest hour!

 

Best Ever Roast Chicken

* soy sauce, red wine vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, olive oil.

Just listing the seasonings makes my mouth water.

 

Chicken Rice Casserole Sunday Supper

The mighty one pot dish!

 

Easy Chicken Enchiladas

* use a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken.

Said the magic word. Easy!!

 

Lemon Chicken Rice Soup

Best Chicken Detox Soup

Don't resist chicken soup! It's good for the soul! :)

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More #FoodieFriday Posts Improve Boxed Mac-n-Cheese. Is that possible?  Little Things Shares Delightful Recipes and Cooking Tips  Raw Milk Cheese (Americans are Missing Out!)  Happy Holidays! Who Wants Egg Nog?  YACR ( Yet Another Chili Recipe )  Purple is the Color of Royalty and of Glorious Vegetables  Sampling Fast Food World Cuisine is a Fun Do!  Name Your Favorite Instant Noodle  YAPAS (Yet Another Post About Spinach)  Immune-boosting Smoothie ~ Order at Starbucks  Recipes | Desserts | Pineapple Stuffing and More!  Japan’s 10 weirdest ice cream flavors  The Right Blend of Spices for Cajun Food Lovers  Indian Food: Hot n Spicy Samosas (Reblog)  Candied Jalapeño Peppers  Chinese New Year Recipes and Dishes  Pesto Around the World  Experiencing the Joy of Salsa   Spice Spotlight: Cinnamon  It's Flipping Foodie Friday!  Raw Coconut Fig Slice (Reblog)  Winter Salad Binging  Banana Brownies - Back for Seconds

Homemade Soups: Prawn Coconut Soup

Prawn Coconut Soup

Ingredients for Prawn Coconut Soup:

• Shrimps - 1/4 Kg chopped
• Yam - 1 cup
• White Pumpkin - 1 cup chopped
• Beans - 1/2 cup chopped
• Peas - 1/2 cup
• Cucumber - 1/2 cup
• Drum Stick - 1/2 cup
• Coconuts - 1 shell
• Corn Flour - 1 tablespoon
• Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon
• Peppercorns - 2 teaspoon
• Cumin seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
• Ginger - 1 Inch size piece
• Green chilies - 4 no's
• Oil - 2 tablespoon
• Salt to taste

Method for Prawn Coconut Soup:

Step-01: Boil the vegetables till soft, chop shrimps.

Step-02: Extract milk from the coconut.

Step-03: Grind peppercorns, green chilies, cumin, and turmeric to paste.

Step-04: Heat oil in a pan and add paste, shrimps and fry for a minute.

Step-05: Add coconut milk and simmer cook for about 15 minutes.

Step-06: Make a lump-free mixture of corn-flour and water, and then add it to the soup.

Step-07: Once the corn mix blends well, the Prawn Coconut Soup is ready, Serve hot.

♦♦

Soup recipe from Homemade25 Soup Recipes for Nutrition and Health Benefits. Be a part of the healthy eating family at viaindiankitchen.com. 

More Prawn Soup Recipes

Homemade Soups: Not Peas and Carrots. Pea or Carrot

Green Peas Soup

Ingredients for Green Peas Soup:

• Green Peas - 2 cup

• Cabbage - 1/2 cup chopped

• Carrot - ½ cup grated

• Ajinomoto - 1/8 teaspoon

• Sugar – 1/2 teaspoon

• Black Pepper Powder - 1/2 teaspoon

• Soya sauce - 1 teaspoon

• Corn flour - 3 tablespoon

• Oil - 2 tablespoon

• Salt to taste

Method for Green Peas Soup:

Step-01: Boil the peas with water and cook till they become soft, keep aside.

Step-02: Heat oil in a pan and add vegetables and Ajinomoto and fry it on high flame for a minute.

Step-03: Add peas along with water, sugar, black pepper powder, soya sauce salt and stir it well.

Step-04: Mix corn-flour in 1/2 cup of water and add to the above soup and cook it stirring continuously till the soup thickens.

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Carrot Soup

Ingredients for Carrot Soup:

• Carrots - 1/2 Kg

• Masoor dal - 2 teaspoon

• Bay leaf - 2 no's

• Brown Cardamom - 1 no's

• Cinnamon - 1 Inch size stick

• Black pepper - 1/2 teaspoon

• Onion - 1 no's grated

• Sugar - 1 teaspoon

• Milk -1 cup

• Cheese - 1 cup grated

• Oil - 1 tablespoon

• Salt to taste

Method for Carrot Soup:

Step-01: Soak dal in water for two hours and grate the carrots and the cheese meanwhile.

Step-02: Heat oil in a pressure cooker and add bay leaf, cinnamon, and cardamom, and fry.

Step-03: Fry the onions and add dal and carrots along with salt, sugar, and black pepper.

Step-04: Add milk and water together and cover it with the lid, wait for one whistle and then simmer it for 10 minutes.

Step-05: Remove from the flame and keep it aside to cool on room temperature.

♦♦

Soup recipe from Homemade25 Soup Recipes for Nutrition and Health Benefits. Be a part of the healthy eating family at viaindiankitchen.com.

Related Content:

Homemade Soups: Chicken Soup

Chicken Soup

You probably already know there are all kinds of recipe variations for chicken soup. Perhaps this is another recipe to add to your collection.

Ingredients for Chicken Soup:

• Chicken legs - 4 no's

• Butter - 1 tablespoon

• Black Pepper Powder - 1/2 teaspoon

• Ginger paste - 1/4 teaspoon

• Garlic paste - 1/4 teaspoon

• Aniseeds - 1/4 teaspoon

• Curry leaves - A few

• Corn flour- 2 tablespoon

• Turmeric powder - A pinch

• Salt to taste

Method for Chicken Soup:

Step-01: Heat butter in a pressure cooker, add aniseeds.

Step-02: Add chicken, ginger-garlic paste, curry leaves, and turmeric powder.

Step-03: Cook for 5 minutes, then add pepper powder and salt and cook for 5 mins.

Step-04: Add sufficient water. Pressure cook up to 4 whistles or “til chicken is tender.

Step-05: Mix corn-flour with 1/4 cup of water and add to the liquid into the cooker.

Step-06: Cook for 5 minutes or until thickens and serve hot.

Though not listed in the ingredients, Food Ways suggests adding carrots, potatoes, onions, and bell peppers, to make it heartier. Enjoy the chicken soup hot and hopefully it will warm your soul.

♦♦

Soup recipe from Homemade25 Soup Recipes for Nutrition and Health Benefits. Be a part of the healthy eating family at viaindiankitchen.com. 

More Chicken Soup Recipe Variations

https://foodways2017.tumblr.com/post/632271546215448577/thai-chicken-soup-recipe-bon-appetit-loosely

https://foodways2017.tumblr.com/post/632271932351528960/butter-chicken-soup-recipe-this-recipe-is

https://foodways2017.tumblr.com/post/632271120927735808/hearty-middle-eastern-chicken-soup-jeanie-and

https://foodways2017.tumblr.com/post/632272031338070016/11-best-chicken-soup-recipes-easy-soup-recipes

Homemade Soups: Carrot and Mushroom Soup

Carrot and Mushroom Soup

Ingredients for Carrot and Mushroom Soup:

• Carrot - 1 cup

• Mushroom - 1 cup

• Onion - 1 no.

• Oil - 1 tablespoon

• Black Pepper - 1/2 teaspoon

• Salt to taste

Method for Carrot and Mushroom Soup:

Step-01: Slice the vegetables.

Step-02: Sauté carrot and onion.

Step-03: Add mushroom, water, salt.

Step-04: Boil till vegetables are tender.

Step-05: Add black pepper powder and serve hot.

Enjoy Carrot and Mushroom Soup hot. 

♦♦  Soup recipe from Homemade25 Soup Recipes for Nutrition and Health Benefits. Be a part of the healthy eating family at viaindiankitchen.com.

Fresh ingredients make the best soups.

Winter Fun! (or Summer) Let's Have a Party! Who Wants Soup?

It's party time!  Bring a board game and your favorite soup!

A soup party?  Probably never thought of it. Right? But it's a great idea!

January may be National Soup Month but people start celebrating as soon as the autumn season arrives.  A soup party is great fun!  Especially if you live in places where you get to experience the changes of the seasons. That means you don't live in Florida, Texas, or Hawaii or other places with a tropical climate. The climate in these places really doesn't get you in the mood to savor a hearty bowl of steaming hot soup. 

But if you're in Maryland or Virginia and the winter season comes – there's that chilly nip in the air that makes you feel frisky. There's also a light dusting of snow on the ground outside and inside is nice and warm and cozy because you decided it's cold enough to get a fire started in the fireplace. The only thing you need to complete this idyllic scene is the aroma of a tasty pot of soup coming from the kitchen. My spouse says if you grew up in a tropical environment, snow and cold weather can cause depression. There is some truth to that but it does not have to be like that. The winter season seems to make a lot of people cheerful and they get even happier when their insatiable craving for soup is satisfied.

 
So!  Do you want to get together on the weekend with a group of friends and play board games like Monopoly, Scrabble, Chess, or A Game of Thrones for hours and hours? Invite them to soup party! 

You prepare your favorite soup. Tell your friends to bring theirs, as if it's a potluck celebration. Make sure there's lots of warm bread or rolls, plenty of salad, and a never-ending supply of tea or lemonade.

Soup party not your idea of a good time? OK. Giving credit where credit is due, it wasn't my original idea either. Got it from a cookbook called Entertaining With Ease. For me, it is fun! Also, this would be great for me because domestic diva/goddess and perfect party hostess, I am not! This book is a Better Homes and Gardens® publication and the copyright is 1984. For decades, it has been my Go-To guide for recipes, cooking tips and entertaining.   For Your Information:  My fave soup recipe must include seasoned chunky chicken thigh pieces, sliced links of a spicy Italian turkey sausage, diced potatoes AND beans (red, black, no matter) OR peas (black-eyed peas, purple hull peas, crowder peas), and a green leafy vegetable; preferably kale, but mixed greens, spinach, or bok choy are all acceptable substitutes (the greener the leaf, the better) . The rolls and salad are optional. There's a recipe in the cookbook for a hot and hearty sausage soup which I varied slightly and made my own.


By the way, you can also use this idea for summer fun.  Do you like cold soups like vichyssoise and gazpacho?

Image credit:  glitter-graphics.com

Do you have a favorite soup recipe?

KOVOT Set of 4 Speckled Ceramic Soup Bowls With Spoons - 22-Oz Each
 

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