Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Soup and a Sandwich

One of our favorite soups around here is potato soup. I've eaten it my whole life. My Mamaw made it all the time, and so did my Mom. I pretty much make it the same way they did, with just a few changes. I use No-Chicken Broth, instead of real chicken broth. I start by peeling and cutting up my potatoes and adding them to the pot of broth and water. I boil. I slice an onion (or two, depending on how much soup I'm making) and sautee it with a couple of cloves of minced garlic until it's golden. When potatoes are ready, I drain some of the liquid off. I mash roughly with a hand masher. I add half a stick of Earth Balance and a can of fat-free evaporated milk, salt and pepper. If it's too thick, I'll add as much milk as needed to get to the consistency I like. Really, the whole process takes under an hour. So easy, and so good.

I served it with grilled cheese sandwiches. Last night I saved some of the onions to add to the sandwiches. Around here, we pretty much live by the motto: "Everything is better with onions." Seriously. We love them.

Yesterday was an NPR day all the way around. I don't think I listened to anything else. Not a thing wrong with that.

8 comments:

HopSkipJump said...

Mama, you're making me look bad. Do you have a day job? I can't compete with the meals you make.

I am a HUGE fan of potato soup too, and onions for that matter. Thanks for the recipes... I'll give them a go.

Susan Chipley said...

Well, IF, my day job is cooking, cleaning, bill-paying, etc. You know, just the general household manager. So, I do have a job, I just don't get paid for it. The best thing about it is being my own boss. I can drink beers, wine, etc. while I'm doing all of this. I can play the music really loud, go days on end without showering, all that good stuff.

Sometimes I long for a "real" career and money of my own, but I have loved being able to spend every day with my kids. I think I'm finally starting to be okay with being a "homemaker". (That word cracks me up.) I'm good at it, and I like it most days. So, for now I'm sticking with it.

I wouldn't expect anyone who works outside the home to come home at the end of the day and do any cooking or cleaning at all. Before I had kids, I'd come home from work, put on my pjs, and lay on the couch until bedtime.

SleekPelt said...

I like to think that my employers just pay us both with one check. Once again, DM, dinner was awesome. Thanks!

HopSkipJump said...

For whatever reason, I failed to realize until very recently that you had two shorties running around.

Knowing that you are a "homemaker" (you're right, a stupid word. It's like you should be wearing a tool belt and a hard hat), I still don't understand how you make the meals that you do. Kudos to you.

Oh... and those "real" careers you are talking about are highly overrated. I'd trade places with you in a second... (well, er, not literally... I mean your kids would probably freak out... and there's no way that I would let Sleek watch General Hospital in bed every night... but you know what I mean).

BirdMadGirl said...

Grilled cheese sandwiches are one of my all-time favorite foods. EVER. I like mine with pickles. Lots of pickles.

Susan Chipley said...

Thanks, Sleek!


IF: I wouldn't trade my "job" for anything. Sometimes it's just a "grass is always greener" thing.

Valyna: Pickles huh? Dill or sweet? I may have to try that.

Charleston Catholic / Clay Center Project said...

Ooh, I love NPR. I can't pick it up well at my house (I live right in between two radio towers) so I do the podcasts. I'm a total This American Life addict. :)

Charleston Catholic / Clay Center Project said...

The soup looks good, too. ;)

Potato soup = comfort food.