Benicians make soup in winter. How do I know? This is the second year in a row that Safeway did not have split peas. They were sold out. If you want to try it out, here’s a recipe:

Good old split-pea soup
4 cups water
2 cups chicken stock or broth
2 carrots, chopped
1/2 yellow onion, chopped
11/2 cups green split peas, rinsed and picked over
1/4 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp dried marjoram
1 bay leaf
1 cup diced ham
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Combine all the ingredients except the salt and pepper in a soup pot. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered until the peas are tender, about 1 1/2 hours
Add the salt and pepper.
Remove the bay leaf and discard before serving. Mash some of the peas against the side of the pan to spoon to thicken slightly.
Serves 4 to 6
Some of my soups this winter have been mushroom, barley and spinach soup, and butternut squash soup (this year it made it into our tummies rather than onto the floor of my car while being transported).
Being me, I have to have a memorable experience in which I am the leading fool. The squash soup landing not withstanding.This year the broccoli-cheese soup made the disaster list. Was it because I didn’t add the onions at the proper time? Was the cheddar cheese too bland? Or was it the piece of spatula that ended up in minute pieces blended into the mixture? You might give it a try. The recipe looks good.

4 cups chopped broccoli florets
1 cup chopped yellow onion
2 celery stalks, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 large russet potato(about 3/4lb) peeled and sliced
1 cup vegetable or chicken stock or broth
11/2j to 13/4 cups milk
11/2 cups grated Cheddar cheese
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground white pepper
1 tbsp minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
Combine the broccoli, onion, celery, garlic, potato and stock in a saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, until the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
Transfer three-fourths of the mixture to a food processor or blender and puree.*
Return to the pan and add the milk, cheese, seasoning, and parsley. Heat gently, stirring until the cheese melts and the soup is hot.
*Do not insert spatula.
Then again they do sell ready made soups at Safeway. Just saying….

Ellen Blaufarb is a marriage family therapist

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