If you live in the Upper Midwest, then you may be wondering what happened to autumn. We went from sunshine and 60-degree days last week to a weekend filled with snow and below freezing temps. On the bright side, the premature snowfall inspired me to cook up some of my family’s favorite seasonal soups. After all, nothing says fall like a flavor-packed bowl of hearty soup (even though it feels more like winter outside). The following recipes are not only simple to make, but they can be infused with additional fall flavors by adding fresh seasonal vegetables from your own … Continue reading →

Soups during the dog days of summer? It doesn’t seem practical, right? On the contrary, chilled soups are a delicious way to cool off during the sweltering summer months. In addition, with all of the fresh produce being offered at local farmer’s markets and in your own backyard, the following recipes should come in very handy: SUMMER MINESTRONE Ingredients: 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided 1 medium onion, chopped 1 medium carrots, peeled and chopped 2 celery stalks, chopped Salt and pepper 1 tablespoon dried basil 4 large garlic cloves, minced 1 medium sized zucchini, diced 1 medium yellow summer squash, … Continue reading →

I have to admit that I have yet to convince my family that a nice cold fruity soup is the way to go in the summer time. But every year I try. Every year my concoctions are met with more than one raised eyebrow. In fact last year my son asked me point blank why I ruined the strawberries! My husband on the other hand insists that there’s simply not enough chewing involved in eating soup for it to qualify as a meal. Oh well. I, however, love cold fruit soup in the summer time. If I could get my … Continue reading →