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Storm Soup | Vegetarian Lentil Soup | Split Pea Soup | Hamburger Soup | Easy Seafood Chowder
Yankee Bean Soup | Three Meat Chili | Mexican Beef Stew | Beef Stew with Apples
Warm up with Soups and Stews!
Storm soup, beef stew, chili, chowder...
By Cynthia Bowan
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As I was going through some old cookbooks a few weeks ago, I came across a soup recipe that sounded good, and yes, perfect for this weather. What else would you think about a soup called "Storm Soup"?
Right about now, I would like to be on a desert island -- make that a WARM desert island. As I sit here, hugging my cup of black raspberry herbal tea, I cannot help but shiver. Boy, do I hate being cold! Cold weather seems to bring back some rather frigid memories...
But then, cold weather also brings back some wonderful memories. It reminds me of special types of foods: stews, soups and heavier meals that stick to your ribs and all the cold portions of one's body.
Talking about winter brings back scenes like the couple of times that the Ohio River froze over. A few years back, whenever my husband Merrill or I would tell our children these things, they thought it was funny. They laughed out loud when we tried to tell them of our deprived childhoods (compared to theirs) and how they have it better than we did! In fact, one time when we did this, they had the absolute nerve to ask their grandparents if the stories are true!
In the middle of one such deep snowfall back then, Holly was complaining about having to walk home from school. I jumped in and said, "When I was your age, I walked to and from school. I had several blocks to walk. Sometimes, the weather would be so bad, that my slacks would be frozen before I got there."
With that, Doug and Mark got involved. "Oh, was that the time you had to cross the river, one asked. The other one replied, "Yeah, by jumping from ice flow to ice flow!" Hysterical laughter followed.
"Oh, wait! We forgot the cardboard in the shoes." "Yup, your shoes made a floppity-floppity sound every time you walked!" This exchange brought on tears due to all the laughter.
Now I NEVER, ever told a tale like that. My father was the one who did it, but I have not. In fact, when I told Holly about my frozen pants, it was the first time I had ever told that to anyone.
But we did walk. And since most girls those days wore dresses or skirts to school, you had to wear slacks over them and a couple pairs of socks to keep warm on the way.
But no matter how far we had to trudge in however deep the snow drifts were, it was always wonderful to make it back home at the end of the day through my parents' front door. My mother would be in the kitchen, stirring and mixing up something wonderful and warming. The steam coming up from the pots and pans clouded the window over the sink.
My sister and I would put our boots and winter gear away, wash up and hurry down to set the table. Vegetable soup, beef stew and dumplings, chicken and noodles...all of these and more were dishes which promised to warm the coldest person.
I have made these dishes for my children, and hope some day, they will make them for their children...and maybe my grandchildren will one day come to me and ask me...."Did my Mom/Dad REALLY have to walk three miles to school in the snow every winter?"
I would like that very much!
Meanwhile, here are some warm dishes for you to Enjoy!
And as always, CYH - consider yourself hugged!!!
Storm Soup
4 c. chicken broth
2/3 c. dried green split peas
1 med. onion, chopped
2 c. baked or boiled ham
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 T. parsley
3 med. potatoes, diced
4 med. carrots, sliced
In a heavy kettle, combine broth, peas, onion, ham, salt and pepper.
Place over high heat and bring to a boil.
Cover and simmer over low heat for 1 hr., stirring occasionally.
Add remaining ingredients, and continue to simmer for 20 minutes, or until vegetables are soft.
Serves 6.
Vegetarian Lentil Soup
8 c. water
1 bag of lentils
1 c. chopped carrots
1 c. chopped onions
1 c. chopped celery
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 c. chopped tomatoes
1 T. lemon juice
1 T. vinegar
2 T. brown sugar
Salt and pepper to taste
Rinse and drain lentils.
Simmer with water 2 hours.
Steam or sauté vegetables, add to cooked lentils.
About 1/2 hour before serving, add remaining ingredients, and continue to simmer.
Can add thyme, oregano or basil to flavor.
Split Pea Soup
1 pkg. dry split peas
2 qt. water
1 ham bone
1 bay leaf
1/2 c. minced onion
1 c. chopped celery
1 T. parsley
1/2 tsp. pepper
In large kettle or soup pot, heat peas and water to boiling.
Boil gently 2 minutes.
Remove from heat; cover and let stand 1 hr.
Add remaining ingredients.
Heat to boiling, cover and simmer 2 1/2 to 3 hr. or until peas are soft and mushy.
Remove bone, trim meat from bone and add to soup.
If you wish, thin soup with milk or water.
Season to taste. Serves 6.
Hamburger Soup
1 to 1 1/2 lb. ground beef
1 diced onion
1/3 c. rice
1 can tomatoes
1 T. salt
1 tsp. pepper
4 carrots
4 potatoes
2 stalks celery
1 qt. water
2 bouillon cubes or 2 T. granules
Brown meat and onion.
Slice or dice all the vegetables.
Add all ingredients together in large pot and simmer, covered, for 1 hr. or longer.
Easy Seafood Chowder
1/4 c. chopped celery
2 T. chopped onion
2 T. butter
1 c. potatoes, cubed
1/2 c. half-and-half
1/2 c. whole milk
2 c. minced clams and juice OR small bay scallops or crabmeat
Cook celery and onions until golden in the butter.
Stir in potatoes, cover and cook slowly over low heat until tender.
Add milks and seafood.
Heat through, but do not boil. Serves about 2.
Note: For traditional She-Crab soup, the crabmeat and the roe (eggs) are added to the soup. Also, some heretical persons add a shot or two of sherry to the soup, but I do not believe it needs it.
Yankee Bean Soup
1 lb. navy beans
2 ham hocks
2-3 med. onions
2 stalks celery
1 carrot
1 clove garlic
2 tsp. lemon juice
1 bay leaf
salt and pepper to taste
Rinse beans. In a large pot, combine beans and 8 c. of water.
Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer for 2 min.
Remove from heat and cover.
Let stand for 1 hr; do not drain.
Bring beans and liquid to boiling again.
Reduce heat; add meat and simmer for 1 hr. or till beans are getting tender.
Remove ham hocks; take meat from bones.
Return meat to pot. Add chopped vegetables, bay leaf, and garlic.
Return to simmer; stir frequently.
Simmer until beans have begun to break up and make broth thick.
You will have to add more water as you go.
Add lemon juice, salt and pepper.
Takes about 3 hours to make.
Three Meat Chili
1/2 lb. sirloin steak, cubed
1 to 1 1/2 lb. ground meat
1/3 lb. link-type sausage
1 onion, minced
2 cans stewed tomatoes
3 garlic cloves, minced
5 T. hot chili powder
1 green pepper, cut into strips
2 or more hot peppers
1 tsp. cumin
Saute meat and onion in skillet; drain fat.
Place meat mixture and remaining ingredients in large Dutch oven.
Add enough water to cover entire ingredients.
Cook for 2 hr. over simmering heat.
Mexican Beef Stew
1 medium head of cabbage
1 1/2 lb. stew beef
1/3 c. chopped onion
1/3 c. chopped green bell pepper
1/3 c. chopped celery
1 tsp. parsley
14 1/2 oz. can stewed tomatoes, undrained
Salt and pepper to taste
4 potatoes, peeled, cubed
Your favorite spicy salsa
Cut cabbage into wedges.
Combine cabbage, meat and next 6 ingredients in large Dutch oven.
Bring to a boil and cover.
Reduce heat and simmer 1 hr.
Add potatoes. Cover and simmer 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Let everyone add salsa to his/her own bowl, to taste. Serves 6.
Beef Stew with Apples
3 T. vegetable oil
3 c. chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 lb. stewing beef, cut into 1" cubes
3 1/4 c. water
1 stick cinnamon
4 whole cloves
1 tsp. paprika
3/4 tsp. salt
black pepper, to taste
1/2 c. raisins
3 c. chopped apples
Heat oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat.
Add onion and garlic; sauté until onions are soft.
Add meat and brown slightly.
Add water, cinnamon, cloves, paprika, salt and pepper.
Bring to a boil over high heat.
Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 1 hr.
By Cynthia Bowan
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Storm Soup | Vegetarian Lentil Soup | Split Pea Soup | Hamburger Soup | Easy Seafood Chowder
Yankee Bean Soup | Three Meat Chili | Mexican Beef Stew | Beef Stew with Apples
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