A Weekend for Soup

February 2014 seems like the longest month and we are only 2 weeks in.  Irv is solo in CT working on sanding and painting the walls and trim of one of the bedrooms.  Because of the snow I stayed in NJ with our dog Lewis - who has not helped one bit with the endless driveway shoveling.  And, with the prospect of more snow I thought the only sensible thing to do (alone on Valentine's Day) was to make soup.  

When it comes to my top ten favorite cookbooks (and I counted recently- I have 175 in my personal collection and another 150 for sale when we have room in the Studio), The Daily Soup is my go to book for soup.

 Soup making seems to run in the family as my Dad is a big 'soup man' so whenever I come across a soup cookbook in the thrift store I pick it up for him.  So far, nothing beats the recipes in this book (ok a close second are the Moosewood cookbook soups and the sublime Curried Cream of Chicken soup from the Silver Palate).  Organized by ingredients (grains, tomato, potato, lentils, etc) I like books that feature a prominent ingredient since I am usually looking to make something that I have in the fridge or freezer and don't want to waste (I did not live through The Depression but some how I picked up this waste not, want not trait).  Cuban Black Bean, Chicken Garlic Bread and Butternut Squash with Parmesan are a few favorites, but for winter I head for the barley soups - chicken and beef.  

Barley must be making a comeback.  Trying to find it in the grocery stores used to be quite a hunt.  Usually when I asked a clerk where it might be, more often than not they didn't know what it was or where to locate it.  But recently I have found that it is sold out.  What?  Who is hoarding the barley?  Now I am going to have to stock up to get through this snowy winter.  Yes, indeed, it felt like a chicken and barley weekend.  I will try to save some for Irv when he gets home Sunday, but I found out that Lewis likes chicken barley soup too.

A long and snowy winter

Irv spent the weekend at the Hippie House assembling - installing inside shutters in the living room and putting together a table .  No small feat especially those darn shutters!

Nancy and I decided to take a drive to Chadds Ford and Kennett Square to check out some painted furniture and antique places.  We got lots of inspiration from signs to furniture to colors.  Here are a few:

Love the colors on these Foo dogs.  Watch for a new birdhouse in these Easter colors.

Great signs

I didn't like the color choice but I loved the feet on this table.  Weird and creepy and it reminded me of the toes of the garden dragon we saw in Newport

We tried to get into one of our favorite restaurants - the Cafe at Terrain in Glenn Mills PA but it seemed like everyone in Eastern PA was out that day....we settled for a hot dog and heartburn at John's Doggie Shop.  Love the sign!