Two Soups for YOU!

Tonight I went grocery shopping.  I spent twice as much as I'd hoped to, but a large shop was in order, so it worked out OK.  Instead of coming home to put the groceries away and relax like any normal person would on a holiday Monday, I decided to make not one, but two kinds of soup.  I have completed a hamburger soup, which I am currently scarfing down a bowl of.  I used extra lean ground beef, beef stock (I am not at the level of boiling beef knuckles, or whatever higher planes of yuck await when making your own stock) crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, chili powder, hot sauce, canned peas, onions celery and macaroni.  I sauteed the beef and onions together, then added the broth and tomatoes with a bay leaf, basil, boiled grated garlic, seasoning salt and then the peas and macaroni a bit later.  It is yummy.  Due to a slight over-pour on the chili powder, it also has quite a kick to it.

I am currently mid simmer on what I hope to be Minestrone - Isis style.  I've already ruined the beans I bought to use.  Apparently dried beans require something other than a simple boil - duly noted.  I've never cooked barley before, so I'm hoping that works out, otherwise I'm going to have tomato vegetable water. Awesome.

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Ok, so I've completely finished.  The vegetable soup worked well enough, the barley added substance and the soup is colorful, if not a little bland.  Or perhaps I think its bland because I don't generally consume things that lack a maimed animal of some sort. I may not like the raw meat, but once its cooked, it becomes my BFF.   It is now 9:45 PM, I still have laundry to do (though all the machines in our building are currently occupied) and I have just now sat down to relax.  Upshot, I have dinner cooked and ready for tomorrow, all I have to worry about is some bread to go with, and I can take some veggie soup for lunch.  Maybe they'll even let me borrow (read: take at my leisure) some cheese to spice it up.  

Tomorrow night - coconut cream pie!  My charming husband's weakness of weaknesses.  I am cheating and going the easy route, having purchased the custard mix in Sherriff form, but I will be making the pate brisee (pie crust) from scratch, and blending the whipped cream myself - so its not a complete cheat.  I will let you know the result...or not, if the result is extra good! ;-)

Happy Labour Day!