The Comfort of Soup

by Meghann on December 13, 2010

The soup obsession continues.

And what I think I love most about soups is how really you can just take anything, throw it in a pot, let it cook for a couple of hours, and produce something so comforting and delicious.

Tonight, for instance, I really had no thought process for what I was doing. I knew I wanted a chili of some sort and I knew I wanted to use an acorn squash from my veggie drawer. It evolved from there. 😉

Squash, Turnip, and Lentil Soup

1 Acorn Squash
1 Turnip
1 can of Black Peas
1 can Diced Tomatoes
1/2 Broccoli Stalk
1 can Vegetable Broth
1/2 cup Red lentils
Cinnamon
Chili Powder
Garlic Powder
Thyme
Salt & Pepper

Peel and cube the acorn squash and turnip. Add everything to a pot, bring to a boil, then back to a simmer, and cooke for 2 hours or until everything is soft and mushy.

Top with a heaping dollop of plain yogurt and fresh cilantro. 🙂

Oh, and enjoy a chunk of multi grain baguette on the side. 😉

The soup was pretty incredible. I LOVE think, rich soups and this one truly hit the spot. If you wanted it a little thinner I would just add more water, but I loved it just the way it was.

I had a little baking project in the works after dinner.

Tomorrow is my company’s Holiday party and I had volunteered to bring a dessert. I wanted something fun and easy, so I decided to try my hand at a No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie Recipe Kelly had sent me.

No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

(recipe from Kelly @ Foodie Fresh )

*Note from Kelly: This isn’t a recipe that calls for exact measurements. When it says “heaping Tbsp.” it means as much as you can possibly get on a tablespoon like you would eat with, not a measuring spoon. That is quite a lot of PB if you really go for a big scoop, which you must because it makes the cookies so much better.

Ingredients:

2 cups Sugar
4 heaping Tbsp Cocoa
1/2 cup Cream
1 stick of Butter
1 tsp Vanilla
1 heaping Tbsp of Peanut Butter
3 cups Oats

Stir together 2 cups of sugar and 4 heaping Tbsp. of cocoa in a medium sized pot. Add 1/2 cup of can cream and mix well. Put ingredients on medium heat. Add 1 stick of butter and stir gradually until it melt, Bring mixture to a bowl and let it bowl for 1 min stirring occasionally.Take off of heat. Add 1 tsp. of vanilla. Add huge heaping Tbsp. of peanut butter. Stir until PB melt. Gradually add 3 cups of oats, 1 cup at a time (you might not need all 3 cups.

Drop on wax paper with a Tbsp.

Let sit until firm.

I hope everyone enjoys them tomorrow.

I taste tested two for dessert. They got my approval. 🙂

I had a Peppermint Stick Luna Bar on the way home from work this afternoon.

TIme to crash and burn. It’s going to be a chilly night. Good thing I have my mini heater by my side.

Good night. 🙂

1 Lauren December 13, 2010 at 10:08 pm

I love throwing coconut in no-bake cookies!
Lauren recently posted..Mix it Up

2 Runeatrepeat December 13, 2010 at 10:09 pm

I have a no bake cookie recipe like this but it only has cocoa, oats, PB and maple syrup. It’s amazing.
Runeatrepeat recently posted..Mexican 3 Layer Casserole

3 Kate (What Kate is Cooking) December 13, 2010 at 10:11 pm

YUM! I love thick soups. This looks so good! I just used up the turnip in my veggie drawer, but this soup looks like it would be worth getting another one for 🙂

4 Kiran December 13, 2010 at 10:11 pm

We made soup tonight as well, and the rest of winter I guess 😉
Kiran recently posted..Almond Cookies

5 Kath December 13, 2010 at 10:13 pm

wait.. shouldnt soup be soupy?

6 Stefanie December 13, 2010 at 10:18 pm

I made soup tonight too! I followed a recipe, although I equally enjoy throwing random things together. 🙂

7 Averie (LoveVeggiesandYoga) December 13, 2010 at 10:21 pm

love the recipe that doesnt call for exact measurements…that’s my kinda recipe…a dash of this, a dollop of this, a heaving spoon of that. 🙂
Averie (LoveVeggiesandYoga) recently posted..Drinks on the Beach- Shots at Home

8 Kelly December 13, 2010 at 10:23 pm

Mini heaters are the best, mine is laying at the foot of the bed right now!
Kelly recently posted..Taking Advantage of DC

9 Jess@atasteofconfidence December 13, 2010 at 10:24 pm

For some reason, that bread looks amazing!
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10 Katy (The Singing Runner) December 13, 2010 at 10:29 pm

Mmmm those cookies and soup look great!!!

I had a Luna bar today too! 🙂 I love them! 🙂

Have a great evening!
Katy (The Singing Runner) recently posted..30 Day To Go! And I’m a Guest Blogger!

11 amy December 13, 2010 at 10:50 pm

those cookies look great! i’ll have to make those like..now!
amy recently posted..Today’s Workout and Other Shenanigans

12 Jodie December 13, 2010 at 11:08 pm

I love luna bars. They have 2 new flavors coconut and I think double choc. Stay warm.
Jodie recently posted..A Cannonball With a Handle…

13 john December 13, 2010 at 11:14 pm

I’m sorry, but that is not a soup, or a chili, or a stew. It’s more of a mash. By definition, “soup” is a liquid food. Without the liquid, there is no soup.

On the other hand, your cookies look delicious.

14 Alice December 16, 2010 at 11:05 pm: This comment made me laugh. Not sure if it was supposed to.
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15 Lacey @ Lake Life December 18, 2010 at 8:55 pm: Hahaha love it! It kind of reminded me of Annie, only it was mush. “We’re not having hot mush today. We’re having cold mush.” 🙂
Lacey @ Lake Life recently posted..12 Days of Christmas Songs- Day 4

16 Shanna, like Banana December 13, 2010 at 11:35 pm

For a throw-together soup, that sounds pretty damn good!

My hubby loves no-bakes…I think I might have to make some!
Shanna, like Banana recently posted..Baking makes me happy- PB Pumpkin Fudge recipe

17 Christin@purplebirdblog December 14, 2010 at 12:50 am

I made very similar cookies the other day, but with almond milk and earth balance… soooo good! And there you go, taunting me with that baguette again! 😉
Christin@purplebirdblog recently posted..A Special Gift

18 movesnmunchies December 14, 2010 at 2:05 am

oo i just bought some parsnip- so I might sub that in for the turnip- i love hearty soups!
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19 the412view December 14, 2010 at 3:51 am

It’s totally soup weather in Pittsburgh! What an interesting recipe!
the412view recently posted..Why I returned to blogging

20 Lauren December 14, 2010 at 6:48 am

Soup is the best comfort meal in the winter. Its funny how I’ve totally averted from salads right into soups.
Lauren recently posted..Holiday Gala Getaway

21 Matt December 14, 2010 at 7:14 am

I think it is a soup kinda night for me 😉
Matt recently posted..Chilled To The Bone

22 Hope December 14, 2010 at 8:06 am

Those cookies look great! I love the Chocolate Peppermint Stick Luna Bars. Those are my favorite 🙂
Hope recently posted..My Lunch Set My Mouth On Fire…

23 Allie December 14, 2010 at 8:51 am

I heard it was pretty chilly in Florida last night, like around 19* … that is crazy!!! The soup sounds delicious and I LOVE no bake cookies, they are so simple but sooo good 🙂 Keep warm !
Allie recently posted..Little baker girl giveaway winner

24 CMae December 14, 2010 at 9:24 am

I love those cookies! My family calls them “preacher cookies” because it’s a recipe my grandmother would throw together to host the preacher if he dropped by on a Sunday afternoon. Yes, we’re very Southern.
CMae recently posted..Jupiter Presents- A Snowball That Never Melts

25 Cynthia December 14, 2010 at 9:35 am

I love thick soups too! That sounds delicious. I am just getting the hang of making soups with my crockpot. Can’t get much easier than that. 😉

26 Bookbody December 14, 2010 at 10:28 am

Thanks so much for this no-bake recipe! I made these (or cookies very much like these) in home ec. _ages_ ago and have been looking for this recipe for the last few years, to no avail. I know what I’ll be bringing to my family’s Christmas celebration this year!

27 Melleah December 14, 2010 at 11:50 am

Soup is the best! I moved from South Carolina to Michigan this summer and I’ve been making soup like crazy *trying* to stay warm 🙂 – I think there are about 5 different kinds in the freezer right now.

I made EXACT same cookie recipe last night for my Secret Santa at work– those cookies are delicious!
Melleah recently posted..Roasted Butternut Squash and Bacon Pasta

28 Kelly December 14, 2010 at 3:49 pm

Yay! I’m so glad they turned out for you. I’ve learned from watching my mom make these for 27 years that making them in the summer is a gamble with the humidity. Sometimes they won’t firm up, but winter is the perfect time to make them.
Kelly recently posted..Alo review

29 Jenny at Rice n' Jeans December 14, 2010 at 7:15 pm