Julia Child

Well, John & I saw the movie, Julie & Julia, in December... after watching that movie, I HAD to have the cookbooks.. it was a nice Christmas present! :) Got volume I and volume II! YAY!

So... we needed to use up some cabbage... John and I have been eating a lot more vegetables and I didn't want the cabbage to go to waste.. SO I made my first Julia recipe.. that's right on SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!

For a quick appetizer we had a Cheddar Ball, courtesy of our local Kingma's Market..www.kingmas.com. Then I made a Chipotle like guacamole! YUM YUM! I just did a search in google for "Chipotle Guacamole" it was yummy! Go to www.chipotle.com if you want more information.

Anyway, here is what I made and the soup is delicious!
Soupe Aux Choux-Garbure (Main-course Cabbage soup)

3 1/2 quarts water
3-4 cups peeled, quartered "boiling" potatoes
A 1 1/2 pound chunk of lean salt pork, lean bacon, or smoked, unprocessed ham (I USED BACON)

Place the water, potatoes and meat in the kettle and bring to a boil.

2 lbs of roughly sliced cabbage
8 crushed peppercorns or a big pinch of ground chili peppers (I used chili powder)
Salt as necessary, near the end
6 parsley sprig tied with 1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp marjoram
1/2 tsp thyme
4 cloves mashed garlic
2 medium onions studded with 2 cloves
2 peeled, quartered carrots.

Optional additions: 2-4 peeled, quartered turnips
2-3 celery stalks (*I used this!)
1-2 cups fresh white beans, or half-cooked navy beans, or add canned white or red beans to soup 10 to 15 minutes before end of simmering.

After the water, potatoes and soup were to a boil. Add the cabbage and all other ingredients. Simmer partially covered for 1 1/2 hours- 2 hours or until the meat is tender/ Discard parsley bundle. Remove the meat, slive it into serving pieces and return it to the kettle. Correct seasoning. Skim off accumulated fat.

* If not to be served immediately, set aside uncovered. Reheat to simmer before serving.

Serve in soup plates with hard-toasted French bread.

DELICIOUS! :)