What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Monday, March 13, 2017

The Secret Garden Chronicles ~It's a Good Day for Soup!!

I know that many of you who read my blogs live much further north than I...and perhaps you are having some very cold, wintry, snowy weather today.  We live way down south in Florida, and we are having a cloudy, cool, rainy kind of day, with some cooler weather expected in the next few days here as well.  It's too wet to go out into the Secret Garden, so I am enjoying some quiet time here in the house today.

This morning my hubby said he would sure like to have some soup for lunch! This is quite a change from his usual favorite diet of a bologna and cheese sandwich, so I gladly said "Yes!"  Then he asked if I could make Broccoli and Cheese soup!  Again, I gladly said, "Yes!"  It just so happened that we had broccoli for supper last night and I had quite a bit left over...so this would be a great way to use it up!  I also had a few small redskin potatoes left over, which would add some extra "bulk" to the soup.

So I got busy and first chopped some onion and celery and pre-cooked it in the microwave in a pyrex cup with a couple of tablespoons of water.
(Since I was not making a huge pot of soup, I only used about 1/3 cup of chopped onion, and 1/2 cup chopped celery...but this would be adjusted according to how much soup you plan to make)

While that was cooking I chopped up the already cooked potatoes and the broccoli. (about 1 & 1/2 cup chopped broccoli).  When the onion and celery was tender, I put it in a medium sized kettle on the stove and added about  2 cups of water, some butter, and seasonings to taste. (Garlic powder, salt and pepper).  Normally I would use a can of chicken broth, but I was out of that, so just used the water.

After that had simmered for a few minutes, I added the cut up already cooked potatoes and let it cook a little longer, then added a can of evaporated milk and about a cup of regular milk.  I let that simmer for a while until it started to thicken...(I added a little flour and water mixture to help thicken it), and then I added about a cup of shredded cheddar/jack cheese mixed with a couple of cut up slices of american cheese.  Next I stirred in the already cooked and chopped broccoli, and let it all simmer until thick and ready to serve.  It was really delicious!


This was a good excuse to use my vintage Homer Laughlin soup bowls that I purchased at a yard sale from some friends. They had belonged to my friend's mother in law, and I just fell in love with the delicate floral pattern on these bowls.   The embroidered tea towel on the left that says "china" on it came from my husband's grandmother's home.  I assume his grandmother had done the embroidery.  It is so old that it is in danger of falling apart, so I don't use it...but this seemed a wonderful opportunity to add it to the picture with the vintage bowls!


The pretty aqua tea towel behind the bowls was a gift from my sister a few years ago...
and it says:

"Enjoy Life's Simple Pleasures"

(Here's a close up where it normally hangs on the Hoosier Cupboard)


So, that's what's cooking at my house today!  My hubby loved the soup...and I appreciated being able to use up some leftover vegetables before they went to waste. (Not big fans of reheated broccoli here)

And I also enjoyed some of "life's simple pleasures"
on a rainy day.

What do you like to do on a chilly/rainy/snowy day?


1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV)

31 "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

Thank you, Lord, for this rainy day.  You know how much we needed the rain to replenish the earth and help our crops, flowers, grass and trees to grow...and our water levels to return to normal.
I pray for our friends who are anticipating blizzard conditions tonight and tomorrow. Please keep them safe and warm inside.
Amen!


20 comments:

  1. We like soup any time, but especially on rainy and chilly days. Like you, we are expecting to be chilly and wet these next few days. One of these days SOON we need to plan to meet somewhere. I've met blogging friends from Oklahoma and Michigan, New York and Georgia, Tennessee and Ohio...seems silly that Florida blogging friends haven't met yet!! Your soup looks delicious! I love broccoli cheddar soup!

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    1. Yes, I agree! My hubby wants to come down for a spring training baseball game, but I think we are running out of time. I'll let you know if we do come to Lakeland, and maybe we can meet somewhere. Or maybe when you retire we can connect. That would be great!

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  2. It is the perfect day for soup and yours looks delicious! I love using left overs for soup. Have a great day.

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    1. Thank you! It was good. I made a different soup for supper. Now I'm souped out! Ha Ha!!

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  3. Oh Pam, your day sounds wonderful! I like to have cups of tea and a good book on hand on a rainy day...and then there are rainy days when I just can't tear myself away from the kitchen. Your soup looks SO good. Thank you for sharing how you made it. And your bowls are beautiful and I love the towel that belonged to your husband's grandmother. Lovely. Are you aware that Home Laughlin is here in WV?

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    1. I was reading & writing this in between making soups. Had a different heartier soup for supper. We call it "Hobo Stew" and cornbread. It was really good too!! No, I didn't know Homer Laughlin was in WV. Is it still in business? I'd love to have more of the vintage dishes, but they really aren't practical...not microwave safe or dishwasher safe (gold trim on bowls), so I only use them when I don't have a lot of dishes to wash! :)

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  4. Pam, Because I follow a gluten-free diet, we have chili-mac (gluten-free elbow's) about once a week throughout the winter. Hubby prefers to cook. So, he makes it. I love your soup bowls. They look so dainty.

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    1. Thank you Cecilia. I thought about you when I made this soup. You really wouldn't have to add any flour to it as it thickens with the cheese and evaporated milk. So I guess it would be gluten free that way. I enjoyed using those soup bowls. I save them for special moments. Also because they aren't DW safe (have a gold trim), I don't use them all the time. Thank you for visiting on this chilly, rainy day!!

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  5. That looks so yummy! Comfort food-- and healthy!

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    1. Thank you! It was yummy...and it made hubby smile, so that's a win-win!!

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  6. I make soup quite often and that soup looks good. I especially love the dishes and the embroidery on the towel. So sweet. What I like to do on those days is cook, bake and cozy up under a blanket with my book or studies and drink coffee.

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    1. We also had another kind of soup for supper, more hearty..."hobo stew", with cornbread. Today was a great day for that. I also read my book in between cooking. I do read every chance I get, and sip tea. Not a coffee drinker. Thank you for stopping by today!

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  7. Mr D and I love soup, I usually make a pan of cornbread to eat with it! Your bowls are so pretty and love the tea towel too. Our neighbors up north are going to be very cold, hope they all weather the storm well.

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    1. Thank you Mary! We had another soup/stew for supper with cornbread. "Hobo Stew". Yes, people are getting hammered with this storm. We are supposed to go down to 32 tonight I think. I hope not...I may need to cover some plants!

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  8. I sure could go for some of your soup, Pamela. It's rainy and cold here! Love your Homer Laughlin dishes. Have a great day!

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    1. I still have some left over...and another soup I made last night, "Hobo Stew", so come on down! However, it is chilly and rainy here today too...and getting colder!! What happened to our spring weather??? Just thankful we don't have a blizzard here!

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  9. Your soup looks absolutely delicious and inviting, Pamela. Wish I could have been there for lunch - lol! You've reminded me that I ought to look into making some soup or homemade chili as the next couple of days here promise to me mighty cold.
    Blessings to you!

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  10. Hi Pam. Your soup sounds so yummy and I love the darling soup bowls! Your tea towels are so sweet and gifted to you makes them all the more special! Of course it is cold and snowy here so I make soup quite a bit in the winter. Your secret garden is so special! I have enjoyed catching up on your past posts! Hugs and prayers to you!
    Nancy

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  11. Hi Pam. Your soup sounds so yummy and I love the darling soup bowls! Your tea towels are so sweet and gifted to you makes them all the more special! Of course it is cold and snowy here so I make soup quite a bit in the winter. Your secret garden is so special! I have enjoyed catching up on your past posts! Hugs and prayers to you!
    Nancy

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  12. Pam, Your soup looks simply AMAZING! I'd love to sample it. :) What do I like on a chilly/cold/rainy day? I'll have chili sometimes (I get single servings instead of making it) or another comfort food. Oh, hot chocolate or hot tea is great too.

    Blessings!

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