While sitting in my rocking chair looking out the window, my mind is filled
with November thoughts. Grammie finds November a sad, dull time of year.
Sad, as we remember the men and women who fought for our freedom. Young
lives cut short.
Nature takes on a barren look. The trees are all bare. Earth all brown.
Colour is gone from our world. It’s time to get ready for winter.
The garden has to be cleaned out, wood in the cellar, lawn furniture put
away, shutters on the gazebo. Squirrels are scampering to gather nuts for the winter, bears looking to hibernate. Seeds tucked
under the soil, birds leaving to go South. Nature and man prepare for winter.
November could be called "Preparation Time of Year." Preparing for the
long winter months ahead. Among the sadness there is Hope. Hope for the Joyous Christmas Season ahead and family gatherings.
More pondering makes me realize it's also a cozy time of year, as the house
takes on the aroma of soups simmering on the stove, stews, home made bread, and log fires burning in the fireplace.
Well folks enough brainstorming for now, it’s time to get into the
business of the day, maybe we could start with "Your Soup."
On a cold blustery winter day, when I hear the wind howling, when I look
out my office window and see the heavy snow swirling and dancing, It’s the first snowfall of winter, so I know it’s
time to get out my stock pot. It’s time to make "Your Soup." You talk about comfy food, you’d think you were in
heaven.
The house is filled with the tantalizing aroma. When the children drop
in you hear them before you see them, " Hey, boy it smells good in here."
Grampie likes a thin soup. I like mine thick. Sometimes I cater to him,
and other times to myself.
Your Soup
½ cup barley (Throw in more if you like it thick)
2 onions (Another if you like onion flavor" A bit of dry onion soup is also good )
3 carrots diced (I love carrots so I put in more)
2 slices of turnip diced
1 potato diced
1 tsp. Or more of summer savory
Salt & pepper to taste.
1 cans vegetable soup (If you
like tomato flavor)
I use whatever meat is in the freezer, soup bone, blade steak, and if I haven’t any beef I use
a few chicken breast or legs.
Pour 2 qt. of water (or more) over meat, add barley onions and summer savory.
Simmer a couple hours. Add vegetables, salt and pepper. Simmer until done. Remove meat and cut in small pieces when you add
vegetables. Return to pot and add vegetable soup when near cooked.
You be the judge of these ingredients, use your imagination, and enjoy.
Afterall, it’s "Your Soup." Your comfy food.
With all those apples gathered from the orchard and snow now on the ground how about "Apple Snow." This was
one food I didn’t have to worry about the children putting under the edge of the dining room table. My Irish grandmother
used to make this.
Apple Snow
1 ½ cups unsweetened applesauce.
2 egg whites
¼ cup white sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla
pinch salt
dash nutmeg
Add nutmeg, salt and vanilla to the applesauce.
Beat the egg whites until quite stiff. Add the sugar gradually while continuing
to beat stiff.
Fold the beaten egg whites into the applesauce, chill and serve.
I usually top with whipped cream and a red or green cherry in individual
dishes.
I imagine by now the teachers are getting excuses from students being absent.
How about this for an excuse!
Please excuse Jennifer for missing school yesterday. We forgot to get
the Sunday paper off the porch and when we found it Monday, we thought it was Sunday.
Quote of the Month
"Live so that you wouldn’t mind selling your pet parrot to the town
gossip."
Grammie’s Hint
For a nice shiny tiled floor sprinkle with window cleaner before mopping,
also great to shine fridge and glass stove front. I wipe my cupboard fronts off with a little window cleaner on the damp cloth
also.
Until next month, I made it especially for you!
