Quick Roasted Tomato Soup

March 31, 2013

We are on the precipice, friends. It’s drawing near, this season of plentiful produce and easy cookouts and salads that are bursting with so much flavor that we wonder how something so intense and lovely could be born of the earth. Grocery store selections are already starting to perk up thanks to the parts of the world that enjoy a warmer climate, and soon Washington farm stands will be bustling with activity. In my book, there’s no better (or simpler) season for eating. You see, the thing about fresh fruits and vegetables is that, per God’s design, they taste pretty …

Chicken, Mushroom, and Brown Rice Soup

February 16, 2013

This soup is one I’ve made twice in the last week. Once to share with others as we celebrated the birthday of a friend and then again to tweak it just a touch and take pictures in the daylight. Last night, we contemplated going out for dinner, but in anticipation of a Friday-night-after-Valentine’s Day restaurant rush, feasting on leftovers at home seemed a more sensible option. One last bowl remained in the pot that I had lazily placed on the top shelf of the refrigerator. It had been 3-4 days since I’d made the soup, and I’d either forgotten how …

Split Pea Soup

February 6, 2013

Split pea soup is one of those things that I intentionally avoided for the first 27 years of my life. No matter how you slice it, it’s just not pretty to look at. Add some croutons or a dollop of sour cream if you want, but you’ll find it’s nearly impossible to disguise its unattractive, dull green hue. In addition to this soup’s homely appearance, I also thought of it as essentially pea puree, an adult version of baby food, if you will, which was not exactly an appetite-whetting image. It seemed like a dish of a bygone era; something …

Hearty Wild and Brown Rice Soup with Autumn Vegetables

November 20, 2012

Thanksgiving is so close I can almost taste it! We have plans to join together with dear friends and family on Thursday afternoon for a potluck feast, and while I still have a few items to pick up at the grocery store, I’m feeling a lot more prepared than I have in years past. The bird isn’t my responsibility, which is awesome since I don’t so much care for turkey, but I am pleased to be providing a few items including a kielbasa sausage-studded dressing (recipe TBD), a tangy Brussels sprout salad, and of course, smashies! If you’re still thinking …

Roasted Kabocha Squash Soup

November 18, 2012

I’ve been meaning to write this post for 2 or 3 days now, but life has been happening, and I’m learning that sometimes you just gotta roll with the punches. This past week, a momentary lapse of judgment led me to the produce section of my local grocery store with my two wee ones in tow. I used to do this sort of thing, back when I only had Eowyn, and it was no big deal, but these days, I find it’s easier on everyone if I do my shopping alone. This particular day, however, I was in the market …

Pumpkin Quinoa Chili

October 22, 2012

“Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.” -George Eliot In my book, there’s really no better time of year than fall. The days turn pleasantly crisp, the colored leaves are stunning, and the season of comfort foods begins. The setting sun shone brightly on us yesterday evening as we took the kids to a nearby pumpkin patch. It was a simple activity, a little family excursion that both kids will likely forget, but for a moment, it helped me see more clearly …

Beef Pho (Vietnamese Noodle Soup)

April 18, 2012

It’s amazing what a good night’s sleep and a trip to the chiropractor can do for a woman. For the last several days, I’ve been battling joint pain and muscle tightness that, when combined with my crazy postpartum hormones, has made for a rough start to the week. As a stay-at-home mom, my desire is to nurture my kids’ hearts, teach them about the world around them, and guide the development of their character, yet when I am sluggish and exhausted, it seems I’m unable to do any of these things. Dora episodes run on repeat while I muster all …

Herbed Ham and Lentil Soup

April 9, 2012

Spring officially started nearly three weeks ago, but it wasn’t until this past weekend that it felt like it finally arrived here in the Pacific Northwest. Sunshine and temperatures in the upper 60’s provided a festive backdrop for Easter merriments, and I was blessed to be able to spend the day with dear friends and family celebrating Jesus’ redemptive work on the cross. It wasn’t planned, but we ended up hosting dinner at our house yesterday. Living such a long distance from most of our extended family, we have a tradition of gathering with friends here in the Seattle area …

Caramelized Onion and Mushroom Soup

March 20, 2012

Oh boy, am I excited to share this soup with you! I’m always on the lookout for yummy foods to share on the blog, and while it sometimes takes a few rounds of trial and error before a dish is considered “blogworthy,” I knew this one was a winner right away. It’s my take on a traditional French onion soup, though it includes a few special ingredients that take the flavors over the top. It starts out as expected with onions that are caramelized in a rich combination of butter and olive oil. To that, fresh thyme and white wine …

Slow Cooker Feijoada (Brazilian-Style Black Bean Stew)

March 15, 2012

Black beans seem simple enough to prepare, right? That’s the thought of frustration that has run through my mind over the years as I have struggled to come up with a satisfactory recipe for this straightforward ingredient. I’d had various renditions of black bean soup at a number of restaurants, so I knew it was possible to make them taste delicious, yet every time I tried, I was disappointed with the results. The beans were too bland, too tough, or just plain boring. Thankfully, the tide has turned in my quest for black bean goodness, and it has taken the …

Pepper Lynn Loving people through food

Category Archives: Soups and Stews

Quick Roasted Tomato Soup

Chicken, Mushroom, and Brown Rice Soup

Split Pea Soup

Hearty Wild and Brown Rice Soup with Autumn Vegetables

Roasted Kabocha Squash Soup

Pumpkin Quinoa Chili

Beef Pho (Vietnamese Noodle Soup)

Herbed Ham and Lentil Soup

Caramelized Onion and Mushroom Soup

Slow Cooker Feijoada (Brazilian-Style Black Bean Stew)