A new Concoction...

Pin It

Hey all!  It's Saturday and it's a bit drizzly (pretty though) outside so I thought I would make another attempt at some SOUP...Yeah, I know, I just had soup a while ago but I can't get enough of it...I LOVE SOUP...So today, I pulled out the frozen peas and skinned chicken breasts that I bought last week for a soup recipe I lost already...Well, I looked through all my recipe books and can't find what I had planned for them and they've gotta be used before they get freezer burned or rotten...

 I decided to get the pan out and start cooking anyway...Hmmm...what might that recipe have been?  I think it had some type of noodles in it and some peas and some chicken stock, but that's all I remember.  Lemme open the fridge and see what else is in there.

Well, well, I see an open bottle of NORTON wine from the Chrisalys Vineyards in there.  Maybe my chicken would taste good cooking in that "juice".  I hear it's great in brownies!

OK...So my recipe was not quite from a book but it was inspired by something I saw a few weeks ago but I'm not sure what exactly it was, where it was, or what it had in it!  In any case, I think this is a really delicious soup, perfect for a rainy day like today.

Pin It

So wanna know the recipe?  OK don't laugh but here it is:

Kerry's Chicken Farfalle Soup in a Norton Stock

Three chicken breasts (cut up into pieces with my kitchen scissors) thrown into the pot.

Squirt some olive oil into the pot.

Pour about a cup of Norton Wine into the pot.

Cook the chicken until it looks and tastes done. 

Pour some chicken stock in the pot.

Pour some of the frozen peas in the pot.

Dice two vine ripened tomatoes into the pot.

Grind some peppercorn in the pot.

Grind some sea salt in the pot.

Tear some fresh cilantro into the pot.

Squeeze half a lemon into the pot, then why not add the whole rind for flavor? 

Let it all simmer and blend together for about 20minutes then pour some dry noodles in the pot (I used Farfalle-bow tie pasta)

Let it just hang out on the stove (medium) until the pasta is cooked then turn it down to low. 

Enjoy this soup!

OH YUM!  It is pretty tasty, I say!  ONE BIG POT of soup, very little clean-up, and this should last me about another week!  Maybe I'll be back next Saturday with a new soup recipe!

MMMM...Lubiya...

I've had a craving for homemade soup for quite some time and even though it's the middle of summer, it's one of my most favorite foods anytime!  There are SO many different soups out there, and I really loathe soup from a can- so I just had to find some time today to make some soup...I'm SO GLAD I did! 

I've been eyeing this recipe for weeks and even made a grocery list (I HATE grocery shopping) so when Peanut ran out of food a few days ago, I knew I had to head to the store. Whipping up her favorite rice and bell peppers doesn't quite cut it...

Before Borders book store headed for closure, I often oogled over the deep discount recipe books they had so nicely placed on the shelves for me ").  I think it was about four or five years ago that I picked up one called Greatest Ever Soup Recipes by Anne Sheasby for $7.99.  Now, to tell the truth, I picked it up because it was hard bound and had the most delicious photos.  Yeah, you know I'm not that into the labors of the kitchen.  I'd much rather take photos or make a rubber stamped card with soup on it!  Well, I couldn't pass up the great deal!

The book is huge and choc full of beautiful pictures of SOUP...All kinds!  Soup for breakfast, soup for lunch, soup for dinner.  Hot soup, cold soup, light, rich and creamy soups...Oh so many soups!  Someday maybe I WILL make some soup from this book...

And so that SOMEDAY was today!  I trudged to the grocery store and parked my NEW car at the end of the parking lot.  Oh yeah, did I mention I got a brand SPANKIN' NEW car?  Oh, more about that in another post...But I did park in the back forty so it wouldn't get dinged!  Anyway, I digress.  Well, I strolled into Shoppers with my list in hand.  I was on a mission...DOG FOOD and soup ingredients.  Page 104...That was my goal!  TODAY WAS THE DAY I WAS GOING TO MAKE THAT SOUP...

Rang up my order and headed home.  I was so excited to get started.  Poured some puppy food in the bowl as Peanut twirled in circles beside me then I began unpacking the goods...

Chop, chop, dice, grind, some of this, some of that, a few minutes here, there...The smell, Oh MY HEAVENS...SLAP YOUR GRANDPA GOOD! 

and I was done...

Pin It

Now, this IS not a heavy soup.  It's light, packed full of delicious flavor, and has no meat.  I do belive it would be wonderful with some diced chicken too.  Paired with some wheat pita bread and well, it was LUVVVVV...Yes, I'm getting married!  Now this is MY kind of marriage! Yes, all the while I was making it I wanted some, but it had to wait!  Now, It's MINE and I'm taking engagement shots...Look at HOW ENGAGING this is:

Pin It

I mean come on, I could LOVE and CHERISH this soup...

Pin It

And vain, NO...but LOOK at how SEXY it is...YUM!!!  Just makes you wanna lick the cup right...Eat it right up!  I don't like sharing, but if you ask REALLY nice, I might bring some over!  But if you can't make it before it's gone, here's the recipe:

Black-Eyed bean and Tomato Broth (Lubiya in Israel)- ideal for serving at parties!

Serves 4 (I think more)
1 cup black eyed beans (I used a whole can)
1 T olive oil
1 Large onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 mild chillies (fresh), chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp ground turmeric
3 fresh tomatoes, diced
2 1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 oz fresh coriander (I didn't know it was also called CILANTRO), roughly chopped
juice of 1/2 lemon
pita bread to serve

Heat oil in pan.  Add onions, garlic, chilis and cook for five minutes or until onion is soft.  Stir in cumin, turmeric, tomatoes, stock, half the coriander and the beans and simmer for 20-30 minutes.  Stir in the remaining coriander and the lemon juice and serve at once with pita bread.  (I added lemon and coriander to individual servings, not the whole pot). 

Ok...I guess you can come over, but you'd better hurry before I change my mind!

Sunday at the Farmer's Market...

Mom stopped by this morning and asked if I wanted to head over to the local Farmer's Market today...It's open every Sunday from 8 to noon.  Who could say no? Local (or kinda local)farmers and local products...right down the street!

Our Farmer's Market IS a treat and I often find I really have to use self control...Everything looks soooo yummy and beautiful, but I've learned the hard way that I can't possibly eat as much fresh food as I would LOVE to take home. So now, I take limited cash, a recycled bag and head out on a mission to find "The Good Stuff".

Here's what I came home with today:

Pin It

Yep, that's my picture...I just HAD to set up a little still life of all the "Good Stuff".   I couldn't stand it that I left my camera at home...What a fabulous photo location!  Around every corner, I was thinking "Oh that's a nice shot, that's a nice shot!"  So I had to settle for bringin home my loot and setting it up on the kitchen table...

So what's really in My picture? 

Peaches and Plums 1.49 a pound-mix and match-8.00

Bell Peppers (not sure of the type but they are tricolored and really long)-3 for 1.00

Radishes (two bunches of a good mix)-2 bunches for-5.00

Local Goat Farmer Cheese:  Feta Cheese MMMMMM-5.00

Great Harvest Bread:  Blueberry/Cranberry Scones and some Blueberry Cranberry Bread (SPLURGE 13.00-but they make AWESOME BREADS)

Kim Chi Pickles:   SPICY AND DEELISH:  5.00

Fresh Flower arrangement:  20.00:  I couldn't pass the booth it smelled SOOOO good!

Total pick:  $57.00...a lot more than I usually spend but I sampled a lot more too and you know that when you sample...well, um....

I had a nice talk with the flower farmer.  Seems last week she didn't make it because she collided head on with a deer.  She's back to it now but is not sure she'll continue taking the hour and a half drive from her farm up here.  She likes the farmer's market in Williamsburg and apparently, she isn't making enough money at my Farmer's Market to make it worthwhile.  She said she knows she will continue to do the winter market because she sells wreaths, swags and such for the holidays and they are always very popular.  Too bad because her flowers were just gorgeous...PERFECT, I say!

Here's her website if you want to take a look: 

Virgina Flower Farm

What else was at the market today? 

Fresh farmers beef, eggs, chicken

Watermelon Farmer

 Soap Vendor

Bee Farmer with Fresh Honey

Fresh Coffee Bean Vendor

Fresh Crepe maker

Fresh Sherbet Vendor

Fresh African Baker

Fresh Orchid Vendor

Fresh Spice/Dip Vendor

Tons of produce farmers
Flower Farmers
Tree/Shrub Farmer
And I'm sure a lot more that I didn't see...

I'll head back next week to see if they still have some of the beautiful sunflower bunches...and my CAMERA!!!