Creamy Spinach Carrot Soup

Oh, how I love this soup! This is a recipe I acquired from Gooseberry Patch years ago. It took making a batch the other day to remind me how much I love making soups, just as much as I love making flourless chocolate cake. Have you ever had a slice of flourless chocolate cake? Let me just say that the power of chocolate can totally transform you, sister!!! Not like the power of  God, but like chocolate can. Anyways, this is not a post about flourless chocolate cake, but about this quick, easy and delicious soup that you can have on your table in less than 30 minutes. By the time you set the table, call your family you're pretty much ready for dinner, it's healthy, good for you and requires few ingredients. Spinach & carrots how can you go wrong!  When I make soups, I love listening to the meat browning in the pan, taking the time chopping and dropping vegetables into one big pot, stirring and simmering, smelling all the flavors as they waft through our house and listening to the soup as it bubbles away telling me when it is ready to serve and not a minute before.You can serve from the same pot and there is little clean up before or after the meal. You don't have to think about what sides to serve or is there a variety of color on your plate, it's all right there in one big soup pot, all the reasons that keep me loving soup all year round. It's comforting and peaceful and makes you slow down while every ingredient is doing its thing and coming together for a ladle of goodness.  Like our family that comes together after a long day. Serve with a sandwich, lets say chicken salad, egg salad, turkey, ham or just plain Ole 'Pb&j rounds it out nicely. Whatever is your favorite. Even putting out a platter of cheese & grapes with some crackers goes nicely. I would recommend doubling the batch for leftovers which tastes even better the next day. I don't know about you, but I always check my freezer to make sure I have frozen spinach on hand, like those chicken thighs, lard and of course let us not forget the chocolate!

Easter Story continued-Jesus is Led Away to Be Crucified-Matthew 27:32-44 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes, by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.  Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!" In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel" Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if wants him, for he said. "I am the Son of God." "In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

Do we demand things from God because of who he is, waiting to see if he comes through before we believe? Or do we believe because of who is he, and what he did for us on the cross?  


Creamy Spinach Carrot Soup-

3 Tablespoons butter
1 cup onion, chopped
2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
1 cup half & half
1 can vegetable broth (10 1/2oz) or you can use chicken broth
1 cup shredded carrots
1 10 1/2oz pkg. frozen chopped spinach-thawed (I throw my in frozen)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/8 tsp grated nutmeg

Directions-

In a 2 quart saucepan, melt butter; add onions. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions are tender. Stir in flour until smooth and bubbly. Mix in the half & half and broth. Add the remaining ingredients, continue cooking over low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
Makes 4 servings. Please feel free to add more cream & broth according to how you like your soups. If it's too thick then thin with equal amounts of half & half and broth, staring with a 1/4 cup of each.

Eat Well, Sonya