Soup’s ON
Fall begins to sparkle at Fullersburg Woods in Hinsdale, IL
Fall has been taking its time coming to Downers Grove. A walk in the woods this weekend teased with the possibilities for a colorful display around the corner. Then - we had a blast of gusty winds and rains last night leaving much of the color thrown to the ground. So we’ll see what the next week brings.
There’s always hope!
The one definite we know about the current weather patterns — things will get worse! Colder, windier, rainier, drearier….(not sure if that’s a word).
So come on in to the Swedish Family Kitchen and get ready to make some soup! Soup is comfort food to chase away the winter-time blues. It warms the body and the soul.
I remember my Dad charging into the house loaded with groceries - not usually his responsibility. He loved to make soup. Oxtail Soup to be specific! So he would stop at the local grocery and load up all the ingredients required for his favorite soup. There was no recipe, just his inclination. Oxtail bones, onions, carrots, celery, tomatoes, potatoes…. And whatever else looked good in the produce section. Maybe mushrooms. Maybe zucchini. Dinner was always a celebration of Dad’s creation that night.
You’re probably saying - Oxtails? Really? Yes, really. They don’t offer an abundance of meat but the bone marrow is full of collagen, protein and calcium. You can substitute other beef bones but there’s nothing as good as oxtails, easily available at the meat counter.
So get out your pot and get into the soup. The Oxtail Soup recipe at SFK is an attempt to recreate dad’s formula - like I said, there was no recipe. In today’s kitchen, I rely on beef bone broth and Better Than Bullion for a rich base. And then, Time. Soup needs to simmer to allow the flavor and goodness of all the ingredients to come together.
I think you’ll also enjoy the Clam Chowder recipe at SFK. It’s much quicker to prepare and easy to make with canned clams and clam juice. I started making this for company when I was first married - sometimes as a before, and other times as a main. Either way, it’s a hit.
I just remembered, there’s a container of Chowder in the freezer. Tonight’s dinner.
As we move into the holiday season, a critical time for eating as well as gifting, the SFK will be adding a cornucopia of recipes for holiday meals as well as special treats for hostess gifts and cookie exchanges. Be sure to visit often. I love the holidays, truly a special time for family traditions especially those created in the kitchen. Maybe we should begin with some Glogg!
Välkommen till mitt kök!