Joy Of Cooking, 75Th Anniversary Edition
I have to say, I LOVE the attitude of The Joy Kitchen.com. Their motto seems to be that it’s always the right time to enjoy good home cooking! It doesn’t matter what the economy’s doing or not doing – we shouldn’t obsess over what we can’t control. Instead, let’s focus on some of the things we can control. Things like providing our family with warm, home cooked meals and lighthearted, enjoyable meals together.
I don’t know about you, but when my family is sitting around the dining room table eating a meal that I’ve prepared – well, that’s Heaven on earth and it just doesn’t get any better than that.
The Joy Kitchen, which is an amazing website, is the online home of The Joy of Cooking – one of the most popular and finest cookbooks ever. I can’t even tell you how often I use my copy. I’d be lost without it, I can tell you that.
Below are a few recipes, used with permission, from The Joy Kitchen. I fully intend to make the Chili this week. I certainly don’t mean to leave the Vegetable Soup out, but it just so happens I just made homemade Vegetable Beef Soup a few nights ago. I love to make a huge pot on Friday, so we can eat on it throughout the weekend.
For my Vegetable Beef Soup, I used Tomato Juice as the liquid. Along with potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, stew meat (cooked with garlic), corn, and peas (not many, don’t want to gross out my husband), I always include Lima Beans and Okra (I use frozen). Add a little salt and pepper, and it’s beyond delicious. I usually serve this soup with cornbread, but we had rolls and/or sandwiches this time.
From The Joy Kitchen:
OHIO FARMHOUSE SAUSAGE CHILI
4 to 6 servings
A delicious “warmer-upper” after a fine tramp in the woods on a chilly day.
Brown in a large skillet:
1 pound bulk pork sausage
1 large onion, chopped
Toward the end of the browning, add:
1 celery rib, diced
When the celery is softened, add:
One 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, with their juice
2 cups tomato juice or chicken broth, or a mixture of the two
1 to 2 tablespoons maple syrup or molasses
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1-1/2 teaspoons ground sage
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Simmer for 20 minutes. Add and simmer 15 minutes more:
3 ½ to 4 cups cooked red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
VEGETABLE SOUP (Soupe Paysanne)
About 7 cups
Heat in a large saucepan:
2 tablespoons olive oil or butter
Add and cook on medium heat until slightly softened:
½ cup diced carrots
1 cup diced onions
1 cup diced celery
Add:
4 cups hot stock or water, or both
2 cups chopped tomatoes
(1 cup diced peeled potatoes)
(1 cup diced peeled turnips)
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Cover and cook about 35 minutes, then add:
(1 cup chopped cabbage or spinach)
Cook about 5 minutes more. Add:
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Salt and black pepper to taste
For more great recipes, wonderful tips and techniques, and even a forum, visit The Joy Kitchen.
