Cocooning

This rush of cooler air is making me think more about Home Cooking. But I still have zip extra time, what with the roofing, the house-y stuff and getting ready for the Phoenix gig this weekend.

So how can I indulge this urge?

Well, one possibility is cooking something easy. How do Mama's Spaghetti, Salmon Cakes or Oatmeal Apple Crisp and other goodies sound to you?

http://www.recipe4living.com/Common/Article.aspx?id=63368

Here's another thought...a good soup that takes only a few minutes to make:

'HOMEMADE' FALL SOUP

1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can milk (whole milk makes it creamier, but 2% or skim is fine)
1/2 - 1 cup vegetables of some kind, chopped
1/2-1 cup chopped meat (two kinds, mixed together is best -- try sausage and ham, chicken and ham, hamburger and pork roast)
1/3 teaspoon cayenne pepper or paprika
fresh-ground pepper

That's it! Mix together and heat slowly for 5-10 min. Serve hot, wih a light sprinkle of pepper. Makes two large bowlfuls. (Double as needed for your family)

Last night's version used a leftover sausage patty from Saturday's breakfast, a handful of chopped ham from Sunday dinner, plus chopped red pepper and kale (the latter, leftover from a restaurant meal).

If you keep a container in the fridge, and take a minute after each meal to stash bits and pieces of meat and veggies, you can literally make this soup in one or two minutes.

I know. This sounds TOO easy. Trust me. This soup will taste like you've been working on it for ages. It uses up leftovers. It goes well with cheese sandwiches, PB&Js ...or in our case, a leftover burger from Red Robin.

Try it.

A recipe for oatmeal bars is calling my name...and I've got other work to do. See ya later.