Tuesday, February 25, 2014

The Return of the Polar Vortex

Shhh... Hubby is running an errand.  So I'm taking over the computer for a few minutes.  Really quick typing and some idea of what to say helps a lot to write a quick blog post. ;)

I'm just a little sleepy as the ding of an incoming text woke me up this morning... early.  I keep my cell phone on the table next to the bed out of habit from all those years Christopher was driving home late from campus. 

Usually if the phone is talking to me that early, it is my early rising daughter.  But this time I knew it was Christopher, who had to leave around 4:30 this morning for the airport.  I'd asked him to text when he arrived at the airport. 

He is flying to California for an important product presentation in Los Angeles.   So I'm praying for a safe trip as I yawn.  Another mug of coffee is definitely in my near future.

It is cold again and getting colder.  Our wind chills tonight are to be -20 or even worse.  So, of course, we make soup.  Kroger finally had chuck roast on sale and I already had a package of beef soup bones in the freezer, the beginnings of my veggie beef soup. 

I started the stock Sunday afternoon and pulled it out of the refrigerator this morning to finish preparing.  Once it is all done, the stock pot will be taken out to the garage to stay cool freezing cold until dinner time.  It will be lovely only having to warm up dinner, less dishes to do in the evening.

Next on the menu (in a couple days) will be sausage lentil soup, which is like this recipe but with sausage instead of bacon and I add a large can of tomatoes.  I'm thinking of making the cornbread recipe I brought back from the cooking class at Colonial Williamsburg, too. 

Stephanie and I were just talking about it and how delicious it is.  I don't think it is the recipe itself that makes it so wonderful, it is the technique the chef taught of keeping the iron skillet in the oven as it preheats, adding butter so it melts in the skillet in the oven... and pouring the batter carefully in the extremely hot skillet. 

As it bakes, the outside of the cornbread gets all crusty and buttery.  Yummm...   Yes, I definitely must make the cornbread.  Anything to help stay warmer this week.  Spring is not too far away.  I think.  I hope.

Image:  Actress Mary Deegan; allposters.com

7 comments:

Bellen said...

Best way to make cornbread - something passed down from my grandma to mom to us. Soup, both of them, sound good too

Anonymous said...

Mmmm....your beef soup sounds "stick-to-your-ribs" good! I made chicken and dumplings this afternoon, with our own home-grown veggies and herbs. Sure makes cooking more fun using our own veggies! Will be taking it over to our daughter's to share it with her as she came down with a nasty cold. We had Beautiful sunshine today after a long, gray day of non-stop rain yesterday and snow over the week-end. You must be So weary of winter! Hope your grape hyacinths are still blooming! Take care and stay warm & cozy.
Blessings,
Laura C. from WA

Shanna said...

Being a Southerner, I had to laugh that our way of making cornbread was so 'new' for you! Heating the skillet really does make a wonderfully crusty pan of cornbread, which I almost always make to accompany chili or sausage-bean chowder on cold nights in Knoxville. I enjoy reading your blog!

Vee said...

Oh I love that method that you shared for cornbread and use it exclusively now.

Beef soup sounds delicious. Perhaps I'll follow your example there, too, as tomorrow is supposed to be very cold and squally.

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

I'd love to use cast iron to cook in but we have electric heat on our stove and that doesn't work too well! When I get my gas stove I am going to try this out! I love crusty, buttery cornbread!

Your soup sounds warm and tasty too. Stay warm!

It's getting cold here again too, but we are thankful no snow for the wedding day, at least as of the forecast today!

Deanna

Heather L. said...

Can't believe we are getting another storm this weekend! wow!!! hope you two are doing all right. I'm finally feeling better after such a difficult past five months. I think my thyroid is on the climb....getting the blood tested next week. My only hope is it won't skyrocket! yikes! But I'm glad for some happy feelings anyhow! such a nice breather.

Front Porch Grace said...

Inspired by your post, our family had your lentil soup recipe with thyme! I added some mushrooms and yellow peppers that needed to be used, a can of diced tomatoes and also added some beau monde. My family just carried on about how good it was.
Today was cold and cloudy and your soup was warming and comforting.
Thank you for sharing your yummy recipes!
Your