If by chance you woke up last week and looked out the window you were treated to a beautiful sight.  It was a white winter wonderland. 

 

The snow was hanging from the tree branches and created a white blanket over the entire community.  Very little can compare to this scene.  I know that there are those of you who are unhappy and complaining about this, but remember you live in West Virginia, and we have four seasons.  This will only last a while and it will be gone.  Then you can feel bad about the torrid heat and the allergies season. 

 

I could list a hundred reasons why the beautiful streams of summer are great to paddle in and why there is no comparison to the beauty of the fall foliage.  Yes, folks you live in West Virginia. And we have four seasons.  Enjoy the snow, if only to look out the window or go for a walk or better yet a sleigh ride.  Have a snowball fight and just remember it will be gone soon.  Support our local ski resorts, even if it’s just to get lunch and watch the skiers going down the slopes.

 

There is one thing for sure and that is that it was cold last week.  And there is nothing better than a bowl of hot vegetable soup. 

 

This past Sunday I had a beef roast with onions, carrots, and potatoes.  I cooked it in the crock pot over night and put it on warm all day.  The meat was so tender it pulled apart with a fork. The juice in the bottom of the pot was too good to discard.  So, I decided to use these leftovers for soup. 

 

I took my soup pot and diced some celery, a few more onions and carrots and let them boil and added the “leftovers” from the crock pot. Next, I added a can of diced tomatoes, a can of peas, corn, green beans, and two cans of tomato soup. 

 

Last fall when cabbage was so abundant, I par boiled some and placed it in baggies in the freezer and used some of this in the soup.  I like my broth seasoned with tomato soup, but you can use tomato sauce.

 

Make a hot sandwich such as grilled cheese or compliment the soup with a plate of cottage cheese. A great meal with enough soup for several days and it gets better every time you warm it up.

 

Another soup that is great for these winter days is potato soup or chicken pastina. Even just the smell while the soup is cooking warms the soul.

 

I want to remind you to take care of yourself health wise and be sure to take your shots.  I also suggest eating oranges and anything with Vitamin C. This is also a good time to read that book you have been thinking about or crocheting a blanket for the newest baby in the family.

 

Take care, enjoy this beautiful white blanket and until next week, “Now You Have Heard It Through The Grapevine.”