Just this very morning as I listened to CBC radio, there was a discussion about soup. Just the food we all could use during these cold winter months. It could elevate our mood just in time to get rid of the blues. Cabin fever fits in that category.
As you can imagine, my thoughts went to a column about soup. I could conjure up the flavours of some of my favourites. Curried chicken noodle soup! When I was very young I had chronic bronchitis. The mostly clear chicken soup was a big help. That and that lovely mustard plaster.
My next favourite is clam chowder. So simple to make. Crisp some small pieces of bacon, brown it with onion and celery. Add water and some chicken broth, a couple cans of clams, potatoes, parsley, butter and cream. Pepper adds just the right touch. Just the thought of it sets me into a drool.
If clams chowder was not on the menu I could murder a bowl of pea soup. Thick and green with tasty chunks of ham, celery and onions. As much as I like pea soup, I have to remember that it does attempt to escape my body at the most awkward times. If the escape route is loud my little dog barks at me as if it were my fault. Probably more than you wanted to know.
Now I have to admit to you that I seldom make soup but I do often have a little pouch of Cup-a-Soup. I add some cheese or cream and it is just perfect.
Let’s get off the soup topic for a bit. I do have a grand story for you this week. A week ago I received a note from someone telling me that they enjoyed my column. Isn’t that nice? The note came to me from New York City. A young woman had a news alert feature on Google.
Well, she got the alert. As it turned out her name is Mallory Bulkley. Really! Since my email address has those words she was alerted. She now reads about this northern area from her home in New York. I look forward to staying in touch with her.
Never a dull moment — even for those of us on the older side of the timeline. So I thank all of you who make an effort to send a note to mallory@bulkley.net or call 250-846-5095.