Soup

Cold Peach Soup served as first course soup and as a dessert spooned over Pound Cake

Cold Peach Soup, A Vintage Pleasure Start to Finish

Cool and satisfying, Cold Peach Soup is a beautiful first course for a light summer meal. Spooned over Pound Cake or ice cream it also makes a delicious dessert. This versatile recipe combines a spiced simple syrup with white wine and seasonal fruit in a recipe that is easy to prepare in advance and perfect for sharing.

Kale and Potato Soup with Sausage served with Sourdough Cracker Leaves.

Kale and Potato Soup with Sausage

The flavor of Kale and Potato Soup with Sausage is surprisingly, even intriguingly, deep and vibrant. It has the perfect amount of warmth to satisfy my taste buds and soothe my soul on a cool autumn evening. Serve it with Sourdough Cracker Leaves or a crusty loaf of bread.

A bowl filled with Lentil Soup.

Lentil Soup

Lentil Soup requires little in the way of advanced planning since the lentils are small and cook quickly. As is, this humble soup tastes warm and healing. The addition of a roasted spice blend, including panch phoron, coriander seeds and Chile pepper, adds a more exotic flavor and visual interest.

Hearty Chicken Stew served in a low bowl on a tray with orange napkin.

Hearty Chicken Stew

What secret ingredient do you use in the kitchen to share your best intentions? When added, does it make your go-to dishes taste even better? After eating a wonderful meal of Hearty Chicken Stew, prepared for us by a thoughtful neighbor, we thanked her for the meal. She responded with enthusiasm and then shared the recipe, including her secret ingredient.

A bowl of Navy Bean Soup served in Mom's Courier and Ives Ironstone bowl.

Navy Bean Soup

One of Aunt Betty’s signature dishes was Navy Bean Soup. This hearty soup is simple to make and quite practical. Inexpensive but tasty, it can be made ahead and left to simmer as guest arrive or family gathers. That gave my aunt ample opportunity to make everyone feel welcome as she exercised her gift of hospitality.

Aunt Hen’s Beef Barley Soup

After I was married and had left my home the boisterous family of five that had gathered around Aunt Hen’s dinner table every week night for years had dwindled to two. She and Aunt Bet were next door neighbors and still ate together but the big meals she cooked every […]

Squash and Hominy Stew in a Turban Squash Bowl

Squash and Hominy Stew is a delicious addition to any autumn weekend. This easy-to-make main dish is both hearty and attractive, especially when served in a pretty Squash Bowl. It is also open to interpretation. I’ve made this stew several times since then.  It really is delicious and easy to put together especially if you have leftover squash on hand.  Try my version or Alanna’s, or change it up to make it your own.

White Gazpacho

This rich soup is a traditional Spanish recipe made with stale pieces of rustic bread, garlic, olive oil and salt. White Gazpacho, or Ajo Blanco, is quite flavorful and best served cool and in small portions. Add it to the menu for your next picnic and enjoy a sunny taste of Spain.

Kentucky Chili, or Bluegrass Chili, served in a shallow white bowl.

Kentucky Chili

This vintage recipe for Homemade Chili comes from a local Homemaker’s Association Cookbook. Kentucky Chili or Bluegrass Chili might be a better name as this type of chili seems to be unique to the region. It is a brothy chili that stretches a pound of hamburger to feed a crowd. Spaghetti, added shortly before serving, completes this family favorite.

Lucky Black Eyed Peas

It’s almost New Year’s Day and I have everything ready to put my black eyed peas on the stove. I make them every year as a New Year’s Day tradition. People out in this part of the country ask me “Why?” as if I should know, as if no one […]

A garden view of A Good Irish Stew served in a Bread Bowl and topped with a puff pastry Shamrock.

A Good Irish Stew

Hearty and filling, this is the perfect entree to ward off a late winter chill. The rich flavor of stout adds a warm complexity to this Irish Stew. Served in a Bread Bowl and topped with a puff pastry shamrock it makes a festive centerpiece for a St. Patrick’s Day dinner.