“Baby It’s Cold Outside”…is the lyric to a song about the frightful Winter weather!
Many people all over the country are experiencing “frightful” weather!
The Winter weather is doing all kinds of cold, icy swings up in the Northeast and Midwest! A dear friend of mine, … who lives in Long Island, New York is about to go stir crazy from all the ups and downs of the temperatures!
The fluctuations of the temperature gauge have made it difficult to not only plan outside activities, but also dog walking and errand running, etc.
My friend from NY called me today. She said that right now there is a lot of snow on the ground and they are expecting warmer temperatures next week which might prove to be a disaster; because with 50 degree temperatures, flooding most likely will occur.
I can sympathize with that….as I sit here in 67 degree temperatures feeling chilled. (I know, I am spoiled by our beautiful weather here in Florida). I don’t think I could go through those colder temperatures up North, now that I have acclimated to the warmer temperatures.
When I was a little girl living in the Midwest…(gosh that was a long time ago)… and the weather turned bad, meaning snow up to one’s waist… 😉 we would walk 2 miles to school and back home again, uphill both ways!
We would come home to a cozy house, with the smell of hot chocolate, which Mother had prepared for us girls. It always tasted so good.
And it did warm us up! Especially when we could plop two big marshmallows in the steaming cup.
Many times Mother would have a steaming pot of Hearty Vegetable Beef Soup simmering on the stove. This was called “comfort food” and boy did it make us feel comfortable …and warm! I am attaching the simple Hot Chocolate recipe and the Vegetable Beef Soup Recipe!
This Vegetable Beef soup tastes even better the next day, so can be made ahead of time.
Happy Eating!
Me
Below is the printable recipes for Vegetable Beef Soup and Creamy Hot Chocolate!
- 1 pound of beef stew meat or a chuck roast cut in 1 inch chunks
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 carrots sliced or chopped
- 2 stalks of celery, chopped
- 3 Idaho potatoes, diced in a big dice
- 2 cups of shredded cabbage
- 1 large can of diced tomatoes
- 3 cups of Beef Broth
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1 can of drained whole kernel corn
- 1 can of drained peas
- chopped red onion for garnish
- In a heavy Dutch Oven, heat oil on a medium high heat.
- Add the beef chunks, sprinkling with salt and pepper and sear on each side
- Add the onions and celery
- Stir while browning (about 3 minutes)
- Add the beef broth and the diced tomatoes
- Add the bay leaf and oregano
- Bring to a boil and add the potatoes and shredded cabbage
- Simmer til the vegetables are tender
- Add the peas and corn to the soup
- Simmer for about 30 minutes
- Remove the bay leaf and serve topping the cup of soup with chopped red onion.
- The proportions of the vegetables in this soup can be changed to your preference. As far as that goes, the veggies can be changed to...Add okra, or turnips or rutabaga. It is your soup...you decide!
- This was the way my Mother made the soup and so I made it this way too. It is also good heated up the next day. Mother always served the soup with saltine crackers and lots of butter.
- Note: you can substitute chicken for the beef if desired. Also substitute the chicken broth for the beef broth if that is the way you want to make this soup.
- 1/3 cup Cocoa Powder
- 3/4 cup Sugar
- pinch of salt
- 1/3 cup boiling water
- 3 1/2 cups milk
- 3/4 teaspoon vanilla
- Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan.
- Blend in the boiling water.
- Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir.
- Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes, being careful of scorching
- Stir in milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil!
- Remove from heat and add vanilla.
- Divide between 4 mugs.
- Add mini marshmallows or whipped cream to the top of your hot chocolate and settle in with a good book in front of a roaring fire and you are all set! Yummy!
So true Sandy…what is really surprising is we survived…in spite of ourselves. Haha
Thanks for commenting
Me
Kari, I remember those days of walking to school, especially, when we moved to Lawrence. In Eudora, we rode the bus because it was 8 miles to school. lol
Thanks for the memories. Kids these days have it easy. lol