Friday, December 18, 2009

Gourmet Gifts & Giveaway

In many ways there is nothing more comforting than a big pot of soup. This soup  mix will make 20 gifts - a good value and very pretty. Add a loaf of bread from the store (0r a cornbread or bread mix) and you have a beautiful and tasty gift!

This soup looks great in a jar! The colors are gorgeous and festive.



WORLD'S BEST BEAN SOUP MIX
(adapted slightly from The Perfect Mix)

1 pound navy beans
1 pound great Northern beans
1 pound pinto beans
1 pound red beans
1 pound dried garbanzo beans
1 pound yellow split peas
1 pound green split peas
1 pound black-eyed peas
1 pound dried lentils
1 pound black-eyed peas
1 pound dried lentils
1 pound dried lima beans
1 pound dried baby lima beans
1 pound pearl barley

Combine navy beans, Northern beans, red beans, garbanzo beans, split peas, black-eyed peas , lentils,  lima beans, and barley, in a large pan or bowl.

Measure out 2-cup gift packages and store in airtight containers. Include recipe instructions for usage below.

Makes 20 packages (about 2 cups each)

INSTRUCTIONS:
1 package (2 cups) bean soup mix (above)
2 quarts water
1 ham hock
1-1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 large onion, chopped
1/4 tsp chili powder
1 pint tomatoes
1 clove garlic, minced
3 Tbsp lemon juice

Wash the soup mix and place in a Dutch oven. Cover with water and soak overnight.

Drain the beans and add the water, ham hock, salt, and pepper. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 1-1/2 hours until the beans are tender.

Add onions, chili powder, tomatoes, garlic, and lemon juice. Simmer 30 minutes more, stirring occasionally.

Remove ham hock from the soup. Take the meat from the bone, chop the meat and return it to the soup.

Today we are giving away this beautiful apron! It's a black and white linen apron made by Heather. Isn't it adorable?!



To Enter:
- Leave a comment telling us your favorite comfort food.
- One entry per person and the giveaway will stay open through Tuesday and a winner will be randomly selected.
- That’s it! Unfortunately, this will not arrive in time for Christmas.

24 comments:

  1. It's adorable! Can I wear it as a skirt? ;)

    Favorite comfort food: homemade bread, and baked macaroni and cheese :)

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  2. Favorite comfort foods: soup (split pea or lentil or veggie chili), tea... and also ice cream, popcorn, and cake. :)

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  3. Chicken noodle soup, popcorn, and baked macaroni and cheese are some of my favorite comfort foods.

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  4. Favorite comfort food: any sweet bread product, thus muffins, banana / zucchini bread, coffee cake, pumpkin bread, etc. Mmmm. I'd eat them for hours.

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  5. Our favorite comfort food is Cheese (& Sausage) Soup with cornbread (made with coarse ground cornmeal and "real" buttermilk - meaning non powder). It's basically a vegetable soup made with sausage, but then you add Velveeta cheese right before serving.

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  6. Ok I am going for two in a row cause I LOVE that apron! My favorite comfort food has to mac n cheese or any kind of yummy bread with some butter.

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  7. It's probably a toss up between beef barley soup and mac and cheese. :-)

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  8. This is pretty boring, but my favorite comfort food is always fresh out of the oven chocolate chip cookies. They are just always so satisfying!!

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  9. I love chocolate chip cookies, hands down.

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  10. Homemade broccoli-cheddar soup. :)

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  11. Favorite comfort food is tomato basil soup. M-M_Good!

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  12. Favorite comfort food is tomato basil soup.

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  13. That apron is so great! Comfort food? I never understood exactly what people mean when they say comfort food. Is that what you go to snack on? Is that what you eat when your sick? Or is that what you could eat nearly any day of the week? Due to my confusion on the term (I've always been confused by it, just never really admitted it ;), I will say that my favorite food to snack on is cookies, my favorite thing to eat when I'm sick is nothing, and what I could eat nearly any day of the week is Southfork Chili either by itself, in a tortilla, or over a baked potato. Delicious!

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  14. Comfort foods: potato soup, hot homemade cinnamon applesauce, and ice cream.

    And, I love the apron!

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  15. My comfort food is almost anything with pasta...especially macaroni and cheese(with ketchup). Cheese is a close second. By the way, keep up the excellent work with this blog. I love it!

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  16. cute apron! chocolate chip cookies, shepherd's pie, mac & cheese, & baked potato soup would all be on my list of favorite comfort foods.

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  17. I run a charity pudding contest in Massachusetts so NATURALLY my favorite comfort food would be a pudding! Here's a recipe for one I like:

    http://www.ourgrandmotherskitchens.com/?p=327

    Merry Christmas..........

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  18. I have to agree with Micah .. there's nothing like fresh, hot homemade bread right out of the oven and spread with quickly melting butter. Yummm....!

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  19. My comfort food is a nice bowl of hearty soup. Yum!

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  20. My favorite comfort food is a toss up between a bowl of pasta with homemade sauce or a good bowl of baked potato soup with a demi baguette! I've been eating a lot of the soup lately. The apron is very pretty for sure. I know I'm late on the entry, but wanted to comment anyhow :)

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  21. Grilled cheese and tomato soup

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  22. I'd have to say pasta with cream sauce and shrimp. *sigh*

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  23. What a cute apron. That soup is a great gift idea........I think my fav comfort food is homemade soup - any kind!

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  24. one of my favorite comfort foods is probably homemade chili. also, just about anything pumpkin or lemon.:)

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