Summer Soup...aka Gazpacho...

Okay, I have put this off because of all the medical emergencies going on but here it is...

Gazpacho

2 1/2 cups tomato or vegetable juice cocktail
1 cup peeled, seeded, finely chopped fresh tomatoes
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 cup finely chopped cucumber
1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
1/2 cup finely chopped green onion
3 tbsp. white wine vinegar
2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large clove garlic, minced
2 tsp, finely choppped parsley
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. fresh ground pepper

Combine all ingredients in a large glass or stainless steel bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Serve cold.

Increase or decrease ingredients to suit your needs!

Now, I need you to pray for...and I mean hard! :

Stellan
Abby Riggs
Amy B
Philip B

Thanking God for all of you!

Vegetable Soup

Before I get started, I want to put out a request to please please hold some people in your thoughts and prayers today. I don't personally know these people but I have followed their stories and definitely feel a connection.

Jenna gave birth to Brayden a few days ago and although he was full term, he experienced breathing problems and currently is in the NICU in Little Rock.

Kelly gave birth to Harper yesterday and again though full term experienced heart and lung problems. She was flown to Tulsa and currently is in the NICU there.

Please check out my sidebar for updates and more on their stories and others too and please please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Now for the soup. Here in the Sunshine State of Florida, the temperature went down to freezing last night and will be in the 30's again tonight. Now I know to so many of you, that probably seems like balmy winter weather, but to me...I'm freezing! So the remedy for freezing is good ol' homemade vegetable soup! This recipe comes from my son, Mike, who's quite a cooker...if I do say so myself!



3 cups V-8 Juice
1 can diced tomatoes (juice in the can too)
1 package frozen corn
1 potato diced
layer chopped/sliced celery
layer sliced carrots
1 package frozen green beans
1 package frozen lima beans (optional)
1/8 teaspoon savory
1/8 teaspoon rosemary
1/2 teaspoon marjoram
1 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoons parsley
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (personally I like a lot more!)
2-3 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 bay leaves

Combine all the ingredients in a dutch oven or a crockpot. First the juice, tomatoes and corn.


Then the potatoes...

Now the celery...

And on to the onion...

Add the carrots...

And finally the beans...

Add the spices (these are just guidelines) and simmer on the stove or in the crockpot until the potatoes and carrots are done.


Have a good one and stay warm!

National Championship Chili

GO GATORS!

To me there aren't a whole lot of things better in life than some cool weather, a Florida Gator National Championship game and a big pot of chili! GO GATORS!!!

Last night in preparation for tonight's game, I made a pot of chili. I know some people like a lot of meat, others a lot of beans and still others who like a lot of both. I happen to be in the 'others' category. Although, I seem to vary a little each time I make it, my basic recipe goes like this:



1-2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 small to medium onion, chopped
4-6 cans beans (I prefer light & dark kidney beans but have used red & pinto too)
1 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 15 oz. can tomato sauce
1 10 oz. can Rotel tomatoes
2 cans tomato soup
Chili Powder to taste (I use a lot!)
Salt & Pepper to taste
Cayenne and/or crushed red pepper (optional)



Brown the ground beef with the onion. Add the other ingredients and simmer on the stove or in a crock pot for several hours. Everyone knows it's better the next day
anyway!

And voila - the finished product!



I also have a couple of side notes I want to share. Lianna Knight, my beautiful daughter-in-love, and my son, the DH, are trying to raise enough money for their 3rd IVF attempt. She has a great giveaway in progress on her blog, compliments of one of her followers. Please visit Lianna at www.bethouaknight.blogspot.com to leave a comment and become a follower to enter. It doesn't cost anything to enter but any and all contributions get them that much closer to their precious dream. And I would be forever grateful for that!

Also, when you hit your knees tonight, please say a prayer for Lianna's Mom and my BFF, Jill. She's under the weather and going through a rough time right now.

So goodnight for now...hope you enjoy the chili and remember...GO GATORS!!!!