Soup

I've been so cold lately, seems I can never get really warm and today's forecast was for a chance of snow, which means more cold. Don't know why just the chance of snow will make me want to make soup. Is it because I remember my mother making a huge pot of chili on the day the Columbus Day storm was forecast? She knew that the little town we lived in would lose power in almost any kind of storm and cooking for us six kids and dad would be impossible. So early in the morning, before the storm hit, she started a huge pot of chili and let it simmer all day. When the power went out we still had a hot meal to eat since the pot of chili was so huge it took hours before it cooled completely.

Even though we seldom lose power, there is something so comforting about having a big pot of soup or stew on the stove, scenting the house with its spices, on a cold day. Today it is beef vegetable soup with lots of garlic, rosemary and bay leaf that is making the house smell so good. About 30 minutes before dinner I will throw in a couple handfuls of barley and we will have one of our favorite cold weather comfort foods ready to eat. Some homemade biscuits with honey and a green salad will complete our perfect dinner.

Sometimes you've got to love cold weather.