Have you ever noticed that the hotter the climate, the hotter the food? There are several reasons for extra-spicy food closer to the Equator – protecting people from spoiling food, stimulating appetite in hot weather, and increasing metabolism to induce sweating so the body feels cooler.
Soups
Quick White Chicken Chili
Springtime in Minnesota is unpredictable, beautiful, annoying, and fickle. Admire early blooms one day, shovel snow the next. Grill and sit in the sun one day, shiver and build a fire for warmth the next.
Wild Rice Soup
Every restaurant seems to have a signature dish. Grandma’s restaurant in Duluth, MN is famous for their wild rice soup.
Hot Italian Sausage Soup
Some like it hot.
Some don’t.
But old movies — those are the best kind of entertainment for our family. We have quite the list of favourites:
Irish Stew
I would like to claim “Honorary Irish Blood”. Even though my dad’s parents were born and raised in Sweden and Mom’s family is Norwegian through and through, when I visited Ireland, it fit like the most perfect LBD.
Beef & Vegetable Soup
I have to laugh at the soup commercials with a customer calling the soup kitchen via a can on a string. How many played “walkie talkie” that way as children? I know I did!
Golden Borscht
While in Ukraine, we ate soup every day. Temperature over 90 degrees: soup for lunch. Humidity at the tropical level: soup for supper. Long days of teaching, playing, and chasing kids: soup for lunch AND supper. In fact, my Ukrainian interpreter (and friend) was stunned to learn that our family doesn’t eat soup for 4 or 5 months out of the year. But now I am converted to being a Summer Soup Supporter.
Red Hot Turkey Chili
Have you ever noticed that the nearer a country is to the Equator, the spicier the food is? It seems like hot food in hot weather makes people cooler and more comfortable. That’s logical, I guess!
Ground Turkey and Fennel Chili
Is it pathetic that I’m not quite ready for warm weather? I haven’t gotten nearly enough indoor projects done, and I will always, always love soup season.
Cheesy Sweet Potato and Broccoli Soup – Vegan
Sometimes it’s a little intimidating to try something new — traveling to a new country, riding motorcycle for the first time, starting a new job, skydiving (still haven’t tried that), exploring a new type of cooking…. It’s all a little unnerving.
