My Mom's To-Die-For Potato Soup

My mom makes two things especially well - brownies and soups.

Her brownies aren't those fancy-schmancy brownies with cheesecake or peanut butter, just unbelievably good, down-home brownies.  The kind you just can't stop eating.  I think it's their simplicity that makes them so outstanding. 

And then there are her soups. Wow.  Where do I even begin? 

There is nothing on this earth like her homemade chicken and rice soup.  I've tried time and time again to replicate it and I just can't.  I think it might have something to do with that special "Mom love" she puts in it.  When I'm sick with a head cold or sore throat it's the only thing that I want to eat.  And yes, it does have special healing powers. 

I can, however, (semi-successfully) reproduce her To-Die-For Potato Soup.  This is one of those special soups she makes for people when they've just had a baby or when someone is sick or sad and just needs some love and comfort food.  She has been making this soup as long as I can remember and it never disappoints. 

A Week of Soups...

As the Hubs and I were sipping our coffee on the back porch this morning watching the fluffy little monsters darlings ran around the back yard, we lamented the fact that January and February can be incredibly dreary.  They just seem so overwhelmingly gray to me.  Not that every day is cold and/or rainy, but it sure can feel that way. 

Ajax (the Hubs' little buddy)



Smudge (my little diva)



 And this region is famous for its weather sucker-punches.  Just when you think it's safe to start wearing those capri or crop pants again and work on making your skin a little less pasty-white because the skies are a clear blue and the temperature is a lovely 70 degrees, temperatures once again plummet to near freezing and those dreary clouds return.  Such a cruel joke.  Not to mention the fact that the kitties don't speak very good English, so it's a little tough to explain to them why we can't go outside when it's 35 degrees!

Since realistically it's not going to reach the 60s & 70s on a regular basis for another 8 weeks or so, I've decided to embrace this weather and use it as an opportunity to explore a wide variety of soups.  I guess it's one of those "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" things.  Because really, is there anything better than a bowl of piping hot soup on a wintery day?   

On the menu for this week:
My Mom's To-Die-For Potato Soup (yes, it's that good and surprisingly low fat), Split Pea Soup and a Vegetable Beef Barley Soup

Two small details I still need to work out... Getting my mom to agree to let me share her fabulous recipe and figuring out how to get the Hubs excited about eating so much soup in one week.

Lazy Girl Ravioli

Every time I read about making homemade ravioli the 'Lazy Girl' in me comes out and all I can think about is how much rolling it would take to get the pasta dough thin enough.  Now don't get me wrong, I love my rolling pin and cringe anytime I have to use anyone else's, but I'm not sure I want to spend an entire afternoon with it.  'Lazy Girl' pasta substitution - wonton wrappers.