Soup Season

Soup season has officially arrived folks! (I hate the word folks). Let's say friends. 

Chilly days, hearty warm soup, crusty bread and a house filled with the mouth watering combination of all those scents. While in Italy last week, I had a soup I couldn't stop thinking about. It fit all the things I love about about food. Smelled amazing, looked beautiful, and had a great name. When I arrived home, (to 5 straight days of rain) a sweet acquaintance (thanks Miss Taylor!) had a recipe posted for this very soup! I took that (and the rain) as a sign. I should kick off soup season with this recipe.....and I should have stayed in Italy. 

So, as the sun decided to come out of exile, I decided it was time to get back in the swing of things. 

Meet RIBOLLITA! Say that 5 times fast. Anyways, here is the How To for this great dish. 


First things first. Get some of that great bread you're not supposed to eat in today's multigrain world. 

Then I followed Giada De Laurentiis' Ribollita Recipe from http://www.thekitchn.com/ with a few changes. I omitted the Pancetta because red meat is not welcome here, and I also added half a box of orzo I found in the cupboard(because what the heck else do you do with 1/2 a box of orzo). The ingredients are all pretty common, though I was a bit unfamiliar with Herbs De Provence, but it was at my local grocery store. And really, it's another fun one to say and cooking with something that sounds so prestigious made me feel a pinch like Julia Child (for a second). 

So chop, add, simmer, and toast up that fabulous bread in the oven. Serve over a piece of crusty bread and it will look something like this:

Sprinkle with some fresh parmesan cheese and your husband will look something like this:

Don't forget to remove the bay leaf before serving. I of course, remembered. 

But if I hadn't, it would have prompted my husband to ask what the crunchy leaf was in his bowl. 

Happy Soup Season! Get cookin' folks. 

Not a food blog.

Alright, I'm trying not to make this a food blog, but you have to make these.

Really, you have to. 

Ever see someone after not seeing them for years? You come to realize they are all grown up and fabulous and you just can't believe it?! That's this sandwich. Let's get you two reacquainted.

Without further ado, I'd like to REintroduce you to.... (drum roll..?)

The grilled cheese and 'mato soup duo:

I know, don't they look fabulous?!

While 'mato soup hasn't changed much, (let's admit, she was boarding perfection just the way she was), you may have a hard time recognizing this Grilled Cheese sammy all grown up. 

I made these last night at our normal perfect dinner time of 10 o'clock (eye roll).

Here's how:

Get a giant loaf of that awesome Italian bread (the kind you aren't supposed to eat in today's organic society). Cut it into think slices, if it didn't already come sliced. Butter each side (or Pam). 

In a pan sauté a bit of sweet onion, some chopped garlic, and a pinch of basil, if you wish. Once the onions are transparent, put in a can of stewed tomatoes (no, I didn't stew my own tomatoes). Normally, I would have put in some spinach at this point. But, I didn't have any, so I used Arugula because that's what I found lingering in the veggie drawer. Let it get all yummy and fill the house with amazingness smelly goods until it looks like this:

Next, put that giant guilt stricken Italian bread in the skillet and let it start doing its thing. Now, cheese is key here. I used Jarlsberg because that's what Anne Hathaway eats in The Devil Wears Prada and she gets to wear Chanel boots everyday and well.....every little bit helps. 

Once it starts getting all melty melty spoon some of your 'mato goodness over the Jarlsberg. Lastly, I added a bit of Grey Poupon to the other side of the bread, just because it added a bit of tang and it's fun to say. Flip, flip, flip, until they are all suntanned up on both sides. Place on plate, cut them diagonally, and stack accordingly so you feel like you are in a cute little cafe in Italy. 

Done! You have to admit.... Grilled cheese sammy is all grown up and lookin' smokin' hot.

Now, go eat her before she gets old and wrinkly. And don't forget your 'mato soup.

Dinner winner.

We are in a TERRIBLE habit of eating dinner at 10 o'clock every single night. I hate that we do this. It's bad on a number of levels, but we just can't seem to get it going any earlier. Tonight was a miracle that we're done and it's only 9:42 as I type this and the hub is cleaning dishes. Well, I guess there are TWO miracles there! Ha, Anyhoo! Great dinner tonight that I absolutely must share. Uber easy and uberly as  yummy.

Creamy shrimpy yummyness

I made this with Greek yogurt instead of regular, because well Greek yogurt is all the rage and I like to keep it trendy. Kidding. More protein. 

Also, my husband threw a mini fit when I tried to buy a red pepper on the ingredient list because it was $3.99 per pepper. (This is why I prefer to shop alone) Admittedly, that is a bit outrageous so I subbed in artichokes. I love them and they go well with shrimpys. One more add in... my weaknesses... shoes, plum colored things of all sorts, and capers. All meals are better with capers. (The ones that look like sweet peas, not the other kind that are bigger and resemble eye balls).

Moral of the story: this was delish and easy. Make it for supper. 

I hate the word supper, just seeing if you're still paying attention ;o) 

Don't move a Mussel.

There are some days I wish would never end. There are some days I wish would end faster. And there are some days, I simply forget. Sometimes we move just fast enough to blur all around us. Caught up in posting our nonsense to the world, making plans, returning calls, solving the ever daunting question, "what's for dinner?"....every so often, I skim right over the good stuff. This past weekend, we took a break. No work, no plan, no routine. And we. had. fun.
Big things are happening all over. Some wonderful, some life changing, some that will be etched into our memories forever. And we're human, what do we do? We break out the bubbly! But, what about the little joys. Life has so many mini triumphs that are almost impossible to see in all this commotion. Every so often, we need to take a break, stand still, and see what these moments are saying.

These yummy guys and some little neck clam friends hitched a ride home from our getaway and were promptly put into a lovely steam bath the next day. Subbing out your traditional hot dogs and burgers, these tasty shelled guys were the perfect way to kick off the summer holiday. A great recommendation from a friend, this easy tomato broth recipe was a hit at our house! Enjoy.....leisurely! ;o)