December days

Oh these December days are good for knitting, drinking coffees and eating.  I love going out to the coop this time of year and pampering the hens, a thank you for these eggs_ when the days are short.  We have been finishing up our decorating and these days seem so full and so good. Early mornings with strong hot black coffee, afternoons with sweet latte's ~ antidotes and trying to find balance between the busyness of all that the season brings and my tendencies to want to turn inward too, la la la pass the yarn.  This next week we celebrate the Winter Solstice, which has always been a very special time of year for me, my birthday, the return of light, the 12 days of Christmas and sharing gifts we have thoughtfully picked out or made for each other.  I wish you a blessed and wonderful stretch of these last December days!!  

Broccoli and Cheese Soup

 

We are down to just 2 pumpkins, and at the rate I'm giving them to the chickens, they won't still be here when the Winter Solstice arrives.  I gave them (the chickens) one yesterday and today I gave them a whole bunch of asparagus ferns.  It has been a few nights and mornings of freezing weather, and not too much above, during the day.  Today is 50 degrees and sunny and it felt so nice.  The house is cold tho and I'm itching to light that first fire, not yet...not yet!  It feels like a very special thing, that first fire.  I'm waiting for the right time.  In the kitchen I made Chili a few days ago and now Broccoli and Cheese Soup, with lots of onion, garlic and pepper.  It is a soup I have made for a long time, tweaking it and changing it ever so slightly.  I think I'm settling in on this version right here and I wanted to share the recipe, so you can make it too.  

~ Broccoli and Cheese Soup ~

Start by steaming 4 cups of broccoli by chopping 

while the broccoli steams start your soup:

1 small onion

1 carrot

1/2 stick butter

Saute' til soft

add 1/4 cup of flour and cook for a few minutes. 

add 1 quart of stock (beef, chicken or veggie) 

Add 1 cup 1/2 and 1/2

Add 1 package of cream cheese

1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese

cover and simmer.

Add the steamed broccoli to the mixture.  

Add freshly grated cheddar cheese, take off the heat and stir it in.  

I season the soup at the end.  

I add a generous amount of granulated garlic, celery salt, onion powder and pepper.  

I leave large pieces of veggies, you can blend it or mash it if you like it smoother.

December greetings

December has arrived, in a whirl and in a hurry.  I think it's because Thanksgiving was so late this year that it feels that way.  Right now we are loving the change in the weather.  I am certain that West Tennessee has 2 conditions-hot and cold- without much in between.  I miss those mild transitional temperatures those 4 distinct seasonal feels.  We are abruptly hot and abruptly cold.  If we have those mild swings in between, maybe I've forgotten them.  December should be cold! I am planning a big pot of chili this afternoon with cornbread, yes! 

Caroline celebrated her actual birthday with just family and followed up with a gingerbread decorating party with a friend after Thanksgiving.  Both of my daughters birthday are at hard times for getting friends together.  One being the week of Fall Break and the other falling the week of Thanksgiving. Some years we have a birthday cake on Thanksgiving! Anyway, she wanted all the fun decorations for the houses and they had a really fun time with that.  October and November birthdays AND then December, well I almost run out of ideas for giving gifts.  When family asks "what do they want"? I say, Um I will have to get back to you or a straight up "I don't know" often is the answer.  They will be happy with what ever you give? 

The rose hips are ready to harvest, having had our first freeze/frost.  The plant has given all it has to give to those little hips. I will dry them for adding to winter tea blends. 

We put up our tree.  We opted for the artificial one in the attic.  A lot of years we get a real tree, but the prices this year, were pretty high.  We just decided to use the one we had.  Of course, being from Maine, a fresh cut tree is my preference, but the kids are happy and it will do.  

I updated the shop for the last time this year.  I'm getting things labeled and boxed up to ship out.  If you are local, I have sent a restock to Home Place Pastures and am shipping a big box of soap to Wild Cultures Sourdough Bread this week!  It's always so heartwarming for me to think of my soaps and such being wrapped up and gifted to people.  I usually get a message or two after the new year starts from folks that were gifted soap and who are wanting more.  

December greetings friends!!