Alright...so...this is probably the last subject that I would have picked for my first blog, but today was "get the kitchen dirty day." I had two hours in the kitchen and I love to make a mess in the kitchen!!!

On dirty kitchen day...you will always find a pot of soup simmering because it can cook while I do other things and then one evening in the week when I don't feel like cooking...I have a little secret weapon to pull out. I decided to make a soup that I LOVE...I got it from a friend when she made me a big pot of it when I was sick. So...first...you have to stop and thank God for friends like that. Speaking of God...2 hours in the kitchen...uh...let's sing his praises....

A Capella in and ready to go....

This is an easy, inexpensive, and healthy soup...it takes a bit to simmer in between ingredients so it was a great chance to restock my "stock-ups"

My stock up's are fresh...pre cut...pre packaged goods ready to go.

I ALWAYS have chopped onion in the freezer...I simply chop an onion and put it in a freezer bag. I buy a 3lb bag and chop it all up in the same day...it's a great chance to have a good cry and stock-up on ready to go flavor for many recipes!

This recipe asks for celery, and I don't always put it in but today I did. I've NEVER used a whole long celery stick...so why have it in your fridge that way!?!!?? Once I opened I chopped it up into edible sticks...and in the name of going green...I cut the top off the bag and put the chopped pieces right back in the same bag! Now I have a soup going and a little healthy snack to munch on and stash in lunches...

While I'm sharing my favorite tricks...let's talk about my favorite bowl - well 2 favorite bowls!!!

I used this bowl to measure out my potatoes for the recipe...then I used it measure my water...I considered the water "rinsing it" and then used it to make pea salad for supper...it has a great lid and will go in the dishwasher later tonight...I'm sure many of you have this bowl...
But...I would guess very few or almost none of you have this bowl!




I typically use my vintage items to make the messy things in life beautiful, but not this one... I would likely pay an irrational price for one if and when I see it in the store in the other 3 sizes I hope to one day have. I got this one on ebay and while I scored it for a good price, I just didn't get the same high as the hunt and kill feel of flea marketing and antiquing. I spent a few moments in between singing to think about how some lady over 50 years ago thought this was the best mixing bowl ever!!

She was probably a better cook than me...and she probably wore high heels and a skirt, but look...I have celery ready for snacks, onion in the freezer, potatos cut for tonight's mashed potatoes, pea salad in the fridge for supper and lunches...and a delcious soup to put in the fridge too!!






So...what's your favorite soup? What's your favorite trick for "stock-ups?" Truthfully...I didn't tell you my truly favorite stock-up that I just discovered...I'll save that for another day since I seem to be confusing blogging and writing a novel!!