Books by the old Leather Chair

  • Snow In The Summer
  • My Bible
  • The Power of Silence
  • What Comes Next and to Like It
  • Encore Provence
  • A Year in Provence

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Soups, Kahlua and My Day

I did not grow up enjoying Pumpkin or Butternut Squash soup.
Introduced to me in my later years.

In fact the first time I tasted Pumpkin soup was in Jamaica
many years ago.   I remember asking the waiter what kind of soup it was
as it was so tasty.  When returning home I started making it.

Butternut squash soup
started making this a few years ago.

They are both so tasty, healthy and easy.
Only problem with the Butternut squash is
it is difficult for me to cut.
Cut in half and bake in oven before scooping out the flesh.

I usually add chopped carrots, onions, celery, thyme to both
and as long as my parsley holds out
I sprinkle some on top.


Pumpkin soup taste just as good to me and easy with canned pumpkin puree
unless a pumpkin is on hand.

This time of the year
I can eat soup every day for my main meal
and at this time of life all recipes are reduced
except sweets :)

Today
potato soup with chopped broccoli and bacon on top.
 and recently reminded of
something I had not made in quite a while.  Pea salad and had all of the ingredients on hand.
Small can of LeSuer peas, some chopped celery, onion, pickle, cheese, green pepper,
2 hard boiled eggs and enough Hellman's mayo to be pleasing and since I was
going to make pimento cheese and had a jar of pimento on hand I just sprinkled some of that on top.
The same friend that reminded me of the pea salad reminded me also of a cake
I had tried in the past, had the recipe but never made.
Oh my - Kahlua chocolate cake, now that I have purchased some Kahlua
I am to to make soon but in the meantime using this special drink on vanilla ice cream
and can use in coffee.  With a dry mouth from Scjogrens Syndrome I cannot
drink an occasional glass of wine but this treat does not bother me.
There is a lot happening lately that is keeping me unsettltled and seems it helps
when I write, walk, cook and iron.
Getting ready to walk and then starch and iron a 1/2 dozen
pillowcases....
 
Now Saturday morning and a lovely weekend for the forcast
and plan on being quiet and enjoying my nature surroundings.
 

13 comments:

Rebecca said...

Your soups sound & look SO inviting....and the pea salad, too. I've been out-of-commission for too long. Feeling the urge to return to "normal" - whatever that is. (I DID wash and iron 8 vintage handkerchiefs that I brought home from a church rummage sale yesterday.....that felt good.)

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Your soup and pea salad look so good. You've got me wanting to make a nice potato/corn chowder.

Ironing and starching pillowcases. Oh my! That is something I've never done.

Have a lovely weekend ~ FlowerLady

Balisha said...

I learned to bake a whole squash...when it got hard for me to cut into. I just wash the squash, prick it with a fork all over, put in a shallow foil lined pan and bake at 350 for 1 - 1 1/2 hrs.... depending on the size. Let it cool and then cut in half and proceed like you usually do. It's so hard for older people to cut into these hard squashes and could be dangerous.
I bought three different squashes yesterday for Thanksgiving. I like to bake them and then mix the different kinds together. Season and add butter, put in a casserole and freeze until the holiday. It freezes well.
I love pea salad and have never added hard cooked eggs...I'll have to give that a try.
Have a nice weekend,
Balisha

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Balisha, thank you
I always learn from you.
Will cook my squash your way :)
Rebecca, take care and return to normal.
Lorraine, never thought of adding corn to the potato and
I love starching and ironing my pillowcases :)

Judy said...

I don''t like unsettling things in my mind, but they come. Have we always had bothersome things in our head, but in years past, were just too busy to ponder on them. I am beginning to understand now why older people wring their hands, or look sad and distant at times--now I know, as I am nearly there.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Judy, wish I was not so sensitive and tender hearted at times.
Then sometimes glad I am.
I usually get over with postive thinking, prayer and just being plain thankful for so much.
A big family so something always going on and deaths come rapidly
to special ones as we age...

Tabor said...

Food looks delish and I miss those ironed pillow cases, but too lazy to iron my own. I also miss the way the sheets smell when they come off the line. Maybe you can put the squash on a wooden block and swing an axe at it? they do sell cut squash in the supermarket.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Tabor, I smile at your comment
I like to iron when stressed find it relaxing and especially on a rainy day. The squash, once I tried a small saw and yes sheets right off the outside line
they smell wonderful..

thewiildmagnola said...

this post, a delight
filled with you, truth

great food offerings too!

you are an encourager! ❤️

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Sandy, always
over the years
you have such kind words
for this one :)

Balisha said...

Just baked a squash my way and it turned out great after an hour in the 375 oven, No mess....I used a big meat fork to pierce the skin.

Sky said...

Hope this will be helpful - I just viewed a video for a butternut squash casserole, and the chef cooks hers whole in the microwave for about 5 mins on high to soften it first. Then she peels it easily, cuts and cubes it, and cooks it fully. Here is the link:
butternut squash casserole
Think we'll have this at Thanksgiving instead of sweet potato this year.

It has been so long since I used starch I wonder now if it would scratch me! I love to iron, however, and always have - even as a teen. I just rarely do it anymore given the fabrics that are used now.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Sky, thank you for the squash idea. Starch it just makes things look smooth not scratchy.
At this time use spray starch
but in the past - like many years ago would cook starch and think that is heavier.