Soup

I've been craving soup lately and since we're heading into the cooler autumn season, I thought now would be a good time to start experimenting with different soup recipes.

I've made stew before, but not soup. Because I haven't made soup before, a lot of research and preparation was necessary. Finally, I was ready and for once, we had all the ingredients and Caleb was being relatively cooperative.

What exactly is the difference between a hearty soup and a stew?

Anyway, with Caleb down for a nap, I browned some beef, being careful to let all the sides caramelize without burning. Because brown bits = flavour. That's what all the pro chefs say. I had to do them in small batches because that's what the pro chefs say too. About an hour later, I had browned all the meat. Seriously. It was tedious but so worth it. The house smelled delicious.


Then I caramelized the veggies, added some beef stock and barley (loooove barley!), then I sat back and let it simmer.


Four hours later (there was some feeding, changing and playing with Caleb and doing the laundry slotted in there as well) my soup was done.


I made some yummy garlic bread to go with it and voila! My autumn meal was complete.


Too bad it didn't feel like a crisp autumn day outside. It was a warm 25 today. But my first soup turned out well!

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Garlic Bread Recipe
Using my "bit of this, bit of that" method of cooking.

Ingredients:
French bread/baguette
Butter
Garlic
Parmesan cheese << was trying something new here and it's sooo good!

Directions:
Cut up a couple cloves of garlic, depending on how garlic-y you like your bread
Mix the garlic in with butter and parmesan cheese, again, you decide how buttery and cheese-y you like things
Spread on pieces of French bread
Toast in oven until slightly brown

Grab a slice or two for yourself before the rest of the family devours it all