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.
Soups
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.
Simple Creamy Vegetable Soup
After some weekends (and holidays), it feels like I’ve eaten a bowling ball. You know what I mean??? The “food baby” makes me look about 6 months pregnant, and I have less energy than a dust bunny. That’s when I really need a morale booster, and something healthy to eat.
