Chatty Cathy wrote:
> Probably the wrong time of year to ask most of you this question, but
> here goes anyway....
>
> What are your favorite "hearty" winter (homemade) soups? Or even
> stews...
>
> I have been making the usual chicken, beef and vegetable soups and
> stews but I am looking for some new ideas here... Googling brings up
> thousands of hits, I know - but I want something that I *know* is
> good. Thanks.

Most people hate them, but lima beans with smoked ham hocks, garlic, celery
and carrots makes an excellent soup. If you can't find smoked ham hocks,
bacon works too.

I also agree with Andy on pea soup. That's excellent and so easy. (Make
sure you add garlic to this as well.) I cook my pea soup down to almost a
puree. Some people prefer whole peas, but I like mine thick and "soupy".
:~)

Oh! How about French Onion soup with cheese and a big chunk of crusty
bread? Or, on an entirely different note, you can always do chicken
cacciatore in a crock pot - but you need a good, sturdy bread for this to
absorb the wonderful broth. Okay, now that I'm thinking tomato based, I'm
thinking cioppino or bouillabaise; seafood stew or seafood soup, depending.
Oooooh, now that I'm on seafood, how about a chowder? If you can't get
fresh seafood, even corn chowder is delicious and filling. (Alright, now
you guys can see how my mind works....)

Hope this helps!

kili <------stepping off her sounding board