I was the chosen one to do the barn chores this morning and happy for it! I knew it would be a great feeling stepping out the door all bundled up and snowflakes hitting my face. The air just as I thought it would be was clean, fresh and crisp. Quincy did his usual running and jumping. I was given the request to watch for fox or coyote tracks around the barn. We lost another feathered friend a couple days ago. There had been fox tracks so it is a good guess, the fox was near the hen house. All in nature, cycle of life and the food chain. They are foxy for sure and smart. I just hope he/she moves on before we have to take drastic measures. Fox are so beautiful to watch. They are always on the look out and sniffing as the trot along. They have a nice gate to them when going across the field. If lucky we get to watch when they find a mouse under the snow. They tip their heads as if to listen and then jump straight in the air and pounce down. It sometimes takes a few pounces to get the mouse but that is all the more fun to watch.
I did get around and do a few things today. Of course food is always on my mind and today it was thinking of what type of soup I could make. The first thing is to take note of what is in the kitchen to use since I am without a truck today. In the freezer I had turkey broth made from the roasted turkey last week and a big ring of fresh made mild Italian Sausage. That's a start. There was jalapeno, celery, red pepper, yellow (I don't like the flavor of green peppers) and onion in the crisper . They got a coarse dice and sautéed with some fat that was on top of the broth. Why waste the rich turkey flavor by throwing the fat away. Toss in a bay leaf, some cumin, salt and pepper. I let it cook until the veggies were just getting tender. Next I removed the casing from the sausage, sliced it in 1/2" rounds and cooked them with the veggies. Add the broth, a can of hominy and a can of chili beans. Once it simmered for an hour I added 2 cups of elbow macaroni. If I am putting pasta in a soup I always cook the pasta separate, if cooked in the soup it is hard to judge the doneness and there is nothing worse than mushy pasta. Now each bowl will be warmed rather than the whole pot. Again, mushy pasta if it is reheated too many times. That's it, it's soup for tomorrow.
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| Italian sausage, turkey broth, Mexican beans and flavors in a bowl we bought in Mexico. I would say it is a soup of many countries. |
Face Book has been such a pleasure to me. I have reconnected with classmates from high school, people I worked with years ago, and family friends that lived on farms from my early childhood. Writing Della's Daughter also has been quite the experience, thanks to FB. I have had wonderful messages, cards, gifts and kind notes filled with the most beautiful words and comments. Life is full circle and I couldn't be more thankful to everyone that has taken the time to let me know how they feel, their memories and sharing recipes with me. It is hard to believe how something so simple and unpolished ended up being one of my treasured items. I have learned stories of families that I never would have had the chance without the input of so many. I love all of them, have saved them and who knows............possibly all content for another book. You could be in it!
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| Thanks to Mary Kinney Griswold, all the way from Al for this lovely card and adorable Gingerbread Man. We have not talked or seen each other since graduation in 1967. |
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| The Maxson kids that grew up on a farm near ours. Barb sent me the vanilla beans, jars and directions to make my own vanilla. Plus her taco soup recipe. She got the idea for these gifts from reading my cookbook. Very attentive Barb! I appreciate your stories of mom. Thanks for sharing and for your sister Gracie for passing them on. |
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| The little cabin looks so cozy with the snow falling. Next year it should be finished. |
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| Yep, rocking chair and a little knitting. The fire is calling me. |
