Adventures · Cheers

Cabbage soup zips me into spring

Shelley

Zip-a-dee-do-dah it’s the last day of April 2019!!!!

After today, we’re finally done with the lingering lack of zealousness that winter has given us, right?  That is if you live in Wisconsin, like me.  Yesterday, I spoke to my dad who lives north of us, and he said that all the snow they still had on their ground finally melted.  That day.  Oh, my, I don’t know how he’s survived it.

Zip-a-dee-do-dah Spring is officially here and we can move on from the dreaded winter gloominess.  Sing along with the birds.

We can replace any blues we’ve had with joyful strides full of zestfulness.  YES, we can.

At 53 he retains all the heady zest of adolescence. – Kenneth Tynan

Thinking about April being over, brings me much joy.  I love the month of May.  I hate to be one to wish my life away, but dang, I’m SO ready for the greener grass on the other side of winter’s white.

The days will seem longer and brighter and warmer.  Oh, yes, warmer.  Hot, even.

I’m going to need to start practicing staying awake long into the evening so I can go outside after dinner and enjoy the new flowers buckets I’ve planted with marigold seeds.  Marigolds are zesty and vibrant flowers to me.  They grow with gusto and they generally survive my minimalist approach to gardening.   Plus they’re hosts to adorable little spiders that pop out of the buds to check me out as my camera clicks away.

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I’m so excited about the buckets (which I have for a reason, I’ll share that story another day).  I love how they’re bright and cheerful.  I sure hope the seeds I planted grow.  Jim, over in Minnesota, told me they will, so I’m holding him to his promise he wrote on Instagram stone.  He said, “Water them and give them sun and they’ll grow.”  (On a side note – his post for today is a cartoon stress meme…I’m sure he’d appreciate you stopping by to cheer him up/on!)

How can the seeds not grow – look at these fun houses I planted them in?!

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Now all I need to be ready for May is the perfect plan to stay awake after dinner is devoured.  I haven’t figured it out yet, but I’m thinking I’ll need to eat lighter, high fiber, gas producing meals, and skip my usual salty, washed down with beer dessert.  The kind of meals that lead me to a quiet walk around the yard I and those left in the house deserve.

Planning ahead I was ready when Mr. asked me what I wanted for dinner, I quickly replied, “Cabbage Soup.”  (I couldn’t find the exact recipe link, but this one will do – it does make a big pot and lasts most of the week).  Here’s the recipe for those interested:  

Cabbage Soup

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes Difficulty: Easy Servings: 10 Source: Epicurious.com

Ingredients

  • ½ head of cabbage, chopped
  • 1 cup celery, diced
  • 1 cup white or yellow onion, diced
  • 1 cup carrots, diced
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 14 oz can diced tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon basil
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • and cayenne pepper
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions

  • Heat 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add celery, onions, bell peppers, and carrots. Saute until slightly tender. Stir in garlic. Pour in chicken broth. Stir in tomatoes and cabbage.
  • Bring to a boil and then reduce heat. Cook until cabbage is tender.
  • Stir in oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and salt (if using)
  • Taste broth and adjust seasoning if needed.

Notes

1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes gets mighty spicy! Try 1/4 teaspoon if you like it a bit calmer.

Nutrition

  • Calories 170
    Carbohydrates 27 g(9%)
    Fat 4 g(5%)
    Protein 10 g(19%)
    Saturated Fat 1 g(5%)
    Sodium 528 mg(22%)
    Polyunsaturated Fat 1 g
    Fiber 7 g(29%)
    Monounsaturated Fat 1 g
    Cholesterol 7 mg(2%)
    per serving (4 servings) Powered by Edamam

While we at dinner last night, which was my exact-wished-for-extra-zippy-spicy cabbage soup above, I mentioned to Mr. that I had no clue what I was going to write for “Z”.

Thank goodness, he came to my rescue, again.  The soup was extra spicy and steamy hot – a perfect picture for the post.  Those tiny specs are red chili pepper flakes.  We’d both recommend cutting the 1/2 teaspoon down to 1/4 teaspoon…unless you like it spicy!

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That bowlful led to a celebratory beer – to chill my hot tongue.  I wasn’t up for milk.  Ewe…the milk had expired anyhow!

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Which then led to Tostitos, because the starch will eventually calm my mouth, too.  I’ve long tested this theory.  You can trust me, I’m an expert on it.

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Then it led to Mr. zipping his lips as he watched me finish off the bag, and another beer.  What can I say, it was my turn to clean up after the meal.  Plus, DAMN, that soup was spicy.  I can’t wait to have another round of it all tonight.

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Sigh…maybe May should be a Dry May?  If I’m not careful, I might not fit into the shorts that are appropriate for warmer weather…

Anyhoo –

Regardless of my weaknesses last night, I’ve got a zippy step to my stride.  Even if it is just a gloomy, rainy, Tuesday, and I have to go to work.  It’s the end of our journey on the A to Z blogging challenge.  I’m happy the monthly challenge is over.  Congrats to all the participants – celebrate your accomplishments!!!

Don’t you worry…I’ve got plans for May blog topics.  MAYbe, we’ll see.  Of, course, I’ll be back.  Hope you will too!  I appreciate hearing from all of you zesty commenters – thank you!

Post Inspiration – A to Z Blogging Challenge – Z

PS – What do you recommend to calm your mouth after eating spicy food?  Do you eat Tostitos, too?  Do you like marigolds?  What are your favorite annual flowers?  Don’t you just love that oldie but goodie song?  What are you going to write about for May?    

 

 

Published by Shelley

Letting my quirk out one post at a time.

34 thoughts on “Cabbage soup zips me into spring”

  2. I’m with you. I love May. The weather is usually perfect and everything looks so green. I have never thought of it as a time of cabbage soup but I do like cabbage so why not make some? Congrats on finishing the challenge. Well done.

    1. Thank you, Ally. Yes, May is such a cheery month. I love how ‘cheap’ and good for you cabbage soup is. I appreciate your encouragement for finishing the challenge. Now I’m off to work my way through the Artist’s Way. But not as a blog topic – but maybe a fight or two with personal demons along the way?! 😉

  3. I love your cheerful buckets, Shelley. They are sure to grow great flowers. I love May as well. On May 1st, I am reminiscent of grade school when we always celebrated around a MayPole. Do kids do that anymore? I love a dollop of sour cream on anything spicy, but it is not on my diet right now. Great post. Congratulations on completing the challenge. Oh, and I love The Artist’s Way — not the writing so much but the artist dates are fun! Have a great day!

    1. Thank you, Maggie. I don’t remember the MayPole, or maybe vaguely do, but I do remember making May baskets and hanging them on doorknobs of the neighbor’s houses. It was fun to hang them and run and peek around the corner to see if they were as delighted to find them as we were to make them. The Artist’s Dates are something I’m looking forward to. Hope you have a great day too!!

  4. Yummy looking soup, more stuff than liquid. Best kind. my flowers are still in my living room, maybe Friday they can head back out. Grateful id out of the 30’s.

    1. Thank you, Anita. Yes, I saw that your plants have found a warm spot to stay until the 30s head outta here for the rest of the year! Happy Spring to you!

    1. It’s a good alternative to the hearty chili we make in the winter. It’s good for a diabetic diet as well ;-)!

  6. So…I totally get how the salty crunch of Tostitos perfectly balances the zesty zing of cabbage soup.
    Enjoyable post as always. Very cute multi colored pail idea. 🙂

    1. Thank you! PS – I appreciate you confirming my assumption the chips are a nice option for some starches LOL ;-)!

  7. I’m glad it will be May, too. That’s a cute idea to use colorful sand buckets for the flowers. I’ll bet when they are blooming out it will be so pretty! 🙂

  8. I used to make cabbage soup all the time. It is great diet food. Not spicy though…I can’t stand spicy hot foods. Those buckets look delightful! Congrats on finishing the A to Z! What’s up for May?

    1. Yes, the soup is great for dieting – it’s filling yet low in calories and good for you too. Thanks, glad you liked the bucket idea. Congrats to you too! That tool you showed today is really cool. I’m pondering May still, but you know me, I’ll think of something! 😉

    1. I admire anyone who has figured out what foods they can and cannot eat – makes life much easier in the long run. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Marie. 🙂

      1. Might have figured it out Shelley, still doesn’t guarantee I’ll avoid them,,, like crisps, apple tart, fresh crusty pan with butter & jam……..

        1. We all need treats once and awhile to remind us of why we shouldn’t eat them. It’s just what we do ;-)!

  11. Thank you, Ms Shelley, for the new Cabbage Soup recipe (minus the hot peppers), I’ve been wanting another twist to a favorite food. It looks wonderful …. and yes, I can clearly see the photos. 🙂 g

    1. Thank you, G – glad you liked the recipe. Yes, the peppers make the soup a tad too hot! Hope all is well with you, Kat and Pumpkin! I think of you often!

  12. Well, you’ve arrived Shelley – that is to “Z” and I don’t know how you did it. I love cabbage soup. My mom used to make it as well and at one time there was a diet going around called “The Cabbage Soup Diet” … everyone was on it, as popular as the Keto diet, etc. How can you go wrong, veggies, spicy and the need for the Tostitos to neutralize your mouth!

    1. Yes! It really wasn’t too hard – I was used to writing everyday. But now I can write about something else for a while. Probably still randomness! I think my mom tried that diet too. I just like it because it is tasty and filling, despite it being low calorie. The low calorie helps balance out the chips that follow. 😉

    1. You’re welcome – hope you get a chance to try it and that you like it. I think you can pretty much modify it to your likes with veggies as well as seasonings.

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