Keeping Warm: CREAMY POTATO SOUP

by Judy Ann Davis 

Sparkling snow. Glistening icicles. Frigid temperatures. It’s January and winter. And it’s National Soup Month. What I like most about the winter season is the amazing soups you can make to eat hot and which keep you warm on chilly days. In most cases, they are healthy. Many have lower calories than other foods, and they fill you up.

I have so many favorites. My husband is the connoisseur of soup-making—all of them from scratch. My favorite one is his ham and potato soup, but his chicken and rice, with lots of  carrots added, is another winner. Our local supermarket here in Florida has a “soup counter,” where you can purchase at least six different already-made, piping hot selections. I dive right in and grab a small tub of the clam chowder served on Fridays. (Now this one may not fit the low-calorie chart.)                                                          

Growing up on a farm, we have all kinds of soups: beef noddle, red cabbage soup (Borscht), chicken noodle, vegetable, cream of potato, etc. They weren’t fancy like the present Campbell’s hearty, no-water-added varieties such as “Chicken and Sausage Gumbo” which I purchase every trip to the store. I hate to admit it, but anything with the word gumbo has me hooked.

What is your favorite winter soup? Do you like a broth or cream base to it?

Below is my recipe for potato soup. It takes a little longer to make, but it’s worth the effort!

       CREAMY POTATO SOUP

1 (one) lb. bacon, fried and chopped in small pieces—save ¼ cup bacon grease in pan for frying other vegetables. Save some chopped bacon for topping as well.

2 stalks of celery, diced

1 medium onion, chopped

Approx. eight (8) Yukon Gold potatoes, cubed

       —russet, red, and others will also work

4 cups chicken broth—enough to cover the potatoes

3 TBSP butter

¼ cup flour

1 cup of heavy cream (I use whole milk)

Salt and Pepper to taste

*two (2) cloves minced (Optional)

*tarragon or cilantro (Optional)

*shredded cheese or bacon crumbles for topping, if desired

 STEP 1

Fry bacon in a large frying pan until done and remove from pan. Chop into small pieces.. Drain off bacon grease, about 1/4 cup. Cook celery and onion in the reserved bacon drippings for five minutes until soft. (Here is where you can add minced garlic, if you want it.)

Add your cubed potatoes and toss to coat—sauté 3-5 minutes. Toss in bacon to pan and pour enough chicken stock to cover potatoes. Cover and simmer until tender.

 STEP 2

Melt butter and whisk in flour, cooking and stirring over heat for a few minutes. Once rue is made, whisk in cream (or milk) and cook again, stirring until thickened. Stir cream/milk mixture into the potato mixture. Take about a half-cup of soup and puree it, returning it to the pan. Use more puree for a thicker soup.

Top with additional bacon bits or shredded cheese.    Serve piping hot. Serves eight (8)

Beating Stress by Suzanne Rossi

Hi everyone.

Stress. We all live with it on a daily basis. Whether it's something as simple and annoying as waiting for a slow moving freight to clear the tracks or being stuck on "hold" for what seems like forever when trying to complain to the your credit card company, it's there. We deal with it. Authors go through stress while on deadline. And if we aren't on deadline, we're wondering how to make our characters more interesting or how to give the plot a new twist. Stress.

However, too much stress can spell trouble for our bodies. When we hit overload, some obscure hormone kicks in and we end up in the old fight or flight syndrome. We might not recognize it, but it's there. The results can be detrimental to your health. Chronic stress can lead to overeating, sleep deprivation, and anxiety. Too much of any of these could bring on excessive alcohol consumption and depression. Not good.

However, there are things you can do to control your stress levels.

Pets. Dogs, cats--it doesn't matter. Walk or play with them daily. Talk to them. I did this to my late Liza whenever I had a plot problem. She'd look at me as if knowing what I was talking about. She probably didn't, but it made me feel better. If nothing else, just sit, hold, and stoke them. Pets love it and it won't do you any harm either.

Exercise. Yeah, I know. It's a bummer, but even if you just walk around the block, it releases energy that might otherwise be turned inward to become anxiety. I recently joined a gym and work out three mornings a week. It only takes an hour or so and I always feel better.

Make a weekly "to-do" list and tick off items one by one. The laundry is piling up? Run a couple of loads, then take the time to fold and put it away. Sweep or mop the floors. Keep busy until you can concentrate on other more important tasks.

Avoid overuse of the computer or cell phone. Do you really have to be online checking Facebook, tweeting, Instagramming, Snapchatting, or anything else every hour on the hour? I don't own a smart phone. I make sure I turn off my computer by six o'clock in the evening. That leaves time for family interaction.

Certain foods can also help you beat, or at least control, stress levels.

Nuts. They contain magnesium which helps us with our coping mechanisms. Same with leafy green vegetables.

Vitamin C. This can be found in most fruits, especially citrus. If you don't have a ready supply of fresh fruit nearby, go for a supplement. Can't hurt.

Fish oil. Those omega-3 oils found in many fish, especially salmon, can reduce stress. Don't care for fish? Once again, a supplement will do. I gave my dogs fish oil capsules once a day. Don't know if it did anything for their stress levels, but their coats were fabulous.

And finally, chocolate. Eating a small amount of chocolate every day does wonders reducing stress, but then any author alive could tell you that. The problem is keeping the portion to a "small amount." I guess that's all a matter of perspective.

Naturally, before beginning any new diet or exercise routine, talk to your doctor. Better safe than sorry.

So, there it is. Stress. I'm feeling it right now, so please excuse me while I go wolf down a Snickers bar as I walk around the block minus my computer and mentally petting a dog.

See you all next month.

Suzanne Rossi