Oh SNOW, you didn't!

Here in Southwestern PA, we have had a very mild winter.  After the last few years of heavy snow and storms, this weather has been refreshing but any deviation from the mild weather is annoying.  So for the first time in what seems like months, we have Snow.

Taken this morning outside of my Apartment on my way to work

The worst thing about all of this is that the forecast is calling for 65º F weather later in the week (bye bye snow!)

This was the accumulation yesterday around 2 PM EST

Snow and cold weather just inspire me to cook and bake, this weekend I made soup and a cherry pie.  I was going to make Chicken Parm for dinner but ran out of time before an event Dad and I had to go to Sunday Evening. 

My mom loved soup and usually made it during the week to have for lunch and with dinners.  I learned to cook through helping out and can now make a mean Chicken Noodle Soup.  I don't have exact measurements for this recipe but here it is anyway.

Note: Vary the ingredients to taste, that's the best part of cooking and I only know how to make soup in large quantities.

Finished Soup

Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients:

4 Chicken Thighs
Celery (Chopped)
Carrots (Chopped)
Onion (Chopped)
Parsley (Minced)
1 Box of Chicken Broth
2 Chicken Bouillon Cubes
Water
Noodles (egg, stars, alphabets)

Combine all of the ingredients and cover with water.  Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for at least 2 hours but longer is better.  Drain liquid into a separate pot and remove Chicken Thighs.  Remove meat from bone and discard bones and skin.  Return chicken meat and veggies back to the stock and put back on low heat.  Skim any fat that may accumulate.  Cook noodles according to package directions drain and rinse with cold water to stop cooking.  Mix into Soup.  Serve.  (Makes a lot)

Now from there I doctored it up.  I added a bouquet of Rosemary, Thyme, and Sage as well as a pierced lemon to add additional flavor while the broth was simmering. 

Stock bubbling away.

Tip:  If you want to remove herbs later, bundle them in cooking twine and leave a tail to wind around the handle of the pot.  When finished cooking, it can be removed like a tea bag.

Mirepoix of Onion, Carrot and Celery

Now the quantities of veggies are vague because it's to taste but mainly its 1 large onion, 2-4 stalks of celery and 2-4 carrots.  Depending on size.  Dad helped me with that.  He made a good Soux Chef.

Dad the Soux Chef

I also made Cherry Pie and I took pictures, but I think I am going to save that for tomorrow.  It was yummy and so you will just have to wait to see how awesome it is.

Did you have a good weekend?  What do you think about the crazy weather?

<3 Heather

Soup's On!

You know I worry that I will lose some creativity in titling these posts but I will cross that bridge when I get to it. :-)

I had a heck of a time trying to figure out what to talk about in the blog today.  Originally I planned to talk about anecdotes from super bowls past but I forgot to get pictures from home so look for that one on Thursday!  So today I am sharing my cooking adventures!  (Lucky you right!)

Now don't run away and not to toot my own horn but I am a pretty decent cook and baker.  It is one way I enjoy spending the weekends trying new things and of course watching the Food Network. I come by this stuff honestly and have been baking and helping in the kitchen for as long as I can remember.

Fall 1987 when I made my first pie!  It was apple.

My mom never really liked to cook but this past year while she was home recovering she would watch the Food Network all day and would call me at work telling me what we would experiment with on the weekend.  I really miss that now and want to call her when I am watching TV or see a good recipe.

Anyway, I posted last Tuesday about some apps that I love to use, but today I want to use those apps to share with you some of the recipes I stored and tried a few weeks ago.

Two weekends ago, I made Broccoli Cheddar Soup.  I love this stuff and the recipes I combined claimed it rivaled Panera Bread's Broccoli Cheddar.  (Please blame the delay on leaving my SD card in my computer, taking pictures on the camera's memory and searching a week for the camera cord.)

Doesn't this look amazing!  Tasted really good too!

 
For the actual recipes, please visit the following sites:

• Pioneer Womman Broccoli Cheese Soup
• Food,com Broccoli Cheese Soup

So the great thing about these recipes was how easy they were.  Saute butter and onions. Add flour and milk/half and half. 

Chop up the broccoli and grate the carrots (I bought the matchstick carrots but that's our secret).  Now here is where the deviation between the two recipes occurs.  The Pioneer Woman did not add carrots but I like carrots so threw them in, that's why I say the recipes are combined but really just pick one that has the starter you like and go from there.

Add the broccoli and carrots to the pot and cook until tender

Grate the cheese and add into the pot and stir until combined.  (I used White and Yellow Cheddar)

Simple, right?  Visit those sites to get your quanties, times and temps but really soup making is generally a piece of cake!  Cake mmmmm :-).

In other news, this weekend I made chicken noodle soup for my dad. I learned that recipe from my mom and next time I make it I will have to remember to take pictures.  Alas, I need to take a camera everywhere and not remember half way through that I have one on my camera.

<3 Heather