Great Soups for Cold Weather

Lately it has been so cold, which I am LOVING!! So of course I have made my two favorite cold weather soups. They are so easy, and are great for lunch the next day, leftovers, or popping in the freezer for later. These soups will warm your soul and are super healthy.

The two soups- Split Pea and Baked Potato are American classics. Recipes to these can be found in many places with many variations, but these recipes, my friends, are tried and true:) Both which I may add were family favorites growing up! So these are definitely "vintage" and have been passed down from my dear mother:)

1. Baked Potato Soup

INGREDIENTS:
4 Large Baking Potatoes
2/3 C Butter
2/3 C Flour
6 C Milk
3/4 t Salt
1/2 t Pepper
4 Chopped Grn. Onions (divided)
12 Slices Bacon Chopped (div)
5 oz. Shredded Cheddar (div)
8 oz. carton Sour Cream

-Wash potatoes, poke potatoes several times witha fork, and bake at 400 degrees for 1 hr.
-Let cool, cut potatoes lengthwise, and scoop pulp (set aside).
-In heavy sauce pan over low heat, melt butter.
-Add flour, stirring until smooth, cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.
-Gradually add milk stirring constantly, cook over medium heat until mix is thick and bubbly.
-Add potato pulp, salt, pepper, 2 T green onions, 1/2 C bacon, 1 C cheese.
-Cook until thoroughly heated, and stir in sour cream.
-Add extra milk (or flour) if needed for desired thickness.
-Serve and top with remaining green onion, bacon and cheese.
ENJOY!

2. Split Pea Soup

Okay- I know, I know! Split Pea Soup has a bad rep! The color isn't pretty, its not the most pleasing to the eye- BUT I promise its delicious and it couldn't be better for your BOD:) I would also like to add that this recipe is one that my mother found in the Dallas Morning News in February of 1979. I have the actual news clipping she cut and used to make this. The paper is tinted brown and fragile now, but it makes me so happy knowing she clipped this out to cook when she was pregnant with my oldest brother, Victor. I definitely agree with her- this recipe would be great for a new mommy with a growing baby!

INGREDIENTS:
1 Lb. Dried Split Peas
1 Lb. Meaty Pork Hock
1 C Chopped Onion
1 C Sliced Carrots
1/2 C Sliced Celery
2 Quarts Water
2 t Salt
1/2 t dried Marjoram leaves
1/4 t Pepper

-Combine ingredients in a 5-quart Dutch oven and bring to a boil
-Reduce heat to low and cover for atleast 2 hours
-When soup is dense, serve (omit pork hock)
-Top with desired grated cheese, sour cream, and/or cherry:)
ENJOY!

I hope you all love these family favorties as much as we do! My hubby now loves these just as I did when I ate these growing up. Happy winter!