The weather is definitely changing. Last night the temps in this ocean side village dipped to below freezing. Somehow salads don't seem quite so appealing all of a sudden.
This is the time I start deciding to stock up on soup for winter. Nothing nicer that just a big bowl of hearty soup, accompanied by some really easy sourdough no-knead bread. Soup usually needs vegetables! |
Make a hole in the top of the bag, put in a few drops of water, and microwave for a couple of minutes. Drain and season. Fast food!
Two fantastic kitchen gadgets
Put your ingredients into this miraculous small appliance, and leave it all day or all night on low. Succulent, delicious food in about 8-10 hours, but your prep time is just minutes!
Food processor
Learning to use this keeps your mind active, and prepares all kinds of ingredients in seconds. It is sort of like having two right arms all of a sudden!
Soup and friends make a magic pair! To make this soup you're gonna need to...
I always cook enough food for at least 4 people. I eat some, then portion the rest into labeled freezer bags. After all, I'm not advocating cooking every day! That would be totally unnecessary, but it sure feels good when you can just pull your homemade convenience food right out of the freezer, heat it and enjoy it, knowing what's in it!
Invite friends
Everyone likes to feel special enough to be invited for a cooked meal. This act of love keeps you busy, fills your heart with the knowledge that you still have love in your heart for others, and encourages others to share their cooking.
Ingredients
- 2 smoked pork hocks (you can leave these out if you're vegetarian)
- 2 stalks celery
- 2 large carrots
- 1 small onion
- 8 cups water
- 2 teaspoons spice mix, your favorite
- 1 package of dried split peas
Directions
- Chop all vegetables in your food processor. If you don’t have one, chop them small by hand.
- Add everything to the slow cooker/crock pot. Turn it to low, and cook for 10 hours. Relax, do something nice for yourself.
- Remove the hocks, and separate meat from the bone and fat, keeping the meat, discarding the fat and bone. Takes approximately 1 minute.
- Allow to cool. Package in portion sizes for your freezer, either in freezer bags, or freezer containers. Don't forget to label the bags!
If you like the recipe, or plan to make it, please leave me a comment about it below. We'd love to hear from you!
Meanwhile, wishing you a wonderful weekend!
Vicki