Potato Leek Soup on a rainy day

Here we are still at Chez Stuff with the rain still coming down. Now, I completely understand that in much of the country, this is not a big deal. But here in Southern California, it's a wee bit different from growing up in Michigan. The house I'm in here, isn't insulated. So, when it rains here for a couple of days, it gets chilly indoors. And damp. Now, after growing up in Michigan, what do you do on a cold, chilly, wet day? Well, we make soup! Of course. And thanks to Kay and Ann with the recipe box contest, we have a winner of a recipe at the finger tips. And I made up a batch today. Just the kind of thing that sticks to your rips..and warms you from the inside. Yum-mo! As Rachel Ray would say...

Potato Leek Soup

5 large potatoes, peeled, diced, or chopped

3-4 large leeks, white only, chopped fine
4 Cups of water
2 Cups of Milk
1/2 tsp caraway seeds
2 TBLS minced dill
1 tsp salt
pepper
1/4 cup sour cream
sweet butter
minced fresh dill

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring potatoes, leeks and water to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 20-30 minutes.

2. Add milk, caraway seeds, dill, salt and pepper to taste. Cover and simmer until potatoes are very soft and soup thickens. Whisk in sour cream.

3, To serve; ladle into soup bowls and garnish with a dab of sweet butter and a sprinkling of dill.

We started making this in our family in the early 80's. At that time the food budget was rather slim. So, I never have used the fresh dill but rather dill seeds. And both the caraway and dill seeds are considerably more than the recipe. But, that's totally up to you and your preferred tastes.

Then, in between all that cooking, what else do you do on a rainy day? Why, we knit, of course! Today's knitting brings us to oven mitts. I've used Paton's Classic Merino Wool in both Bright Red and Black. At this point I've finished the red one, but the black one will be next. Out of the 4 skeins of yarn, it should give me both mitts and a couple of hot pads as well. We'll see how far it gets us as we go along. The pattern I love is from Felted Knits.

I've followed the pattern as written up to the section before you shape the top of the hand. I've added an additional 8 rounds for that point.

When you go back to pick up the stitches for the thumb, I've also added 4 additional rounds before the first set of decreases.

I'd done this for my mom's oven mitts a couple of years ago, since she's got hands that need a larger size glove and mitten. She loves them and says they're the first pair that have ever fit her long fingers! So, since this pair is for my brother, I'm repeating the additional length.



The felting part? Well, that's going to have to wait for a few days until it quits raining. Or they'll never finish drying! Maybe it's time to start checking into plans for building an ark.



Oh, and in case anyone was wondering about the tree branch and the power line in front of my house? The power company came over late today to tell me that they're not going to do a thing about or the neighbor's tree that has also wrapped itself around the line. Why? Because they said it's only a low voltage line. ARE they kidding me? I asked? If that line comes down..it will not only hit my car, but it'll also block the end of my driveway. Now, have you ever heard of such a thing?

Let's just say..I'm not a happy camper...

Stupid things, reasons, people...make my head hurt.