My husband is obsessed with soup. Every Super Bowl, he makes soup to represent the the teams (or cities) of the Super Bowl to have our own SOUPer Bowl. This year it is a no brainer; at least for our Patriots: New England Clam Chowder. But what to do for the NY Giants?!
He’s got cookbooks spread out all over the kitchen. He has print outs of recipes he’s found on the internet. He’s considered Manhattan Clam Chowder (I say, too many clams!) or Matzo Ball (my vote because I’ve never had it) or White Corn with Pork (can’t remember why that qualifies) or a Red Bean White Bean with Blue Corn Chips (colorful). We have to decide VERY SOON because we only have today to go to the grocery store to get all this done.
In the meantime, I have wonderful news to share and some photos as well! I completed Book Two of 1Q84! Yippee!! Which means that I can take a break. I’m treating 1Q84 like a trilogy and pretending I have to wait for the third installment to be released. I do have to wait until my readalongers catch up anyway. Expect a Book Two post sometime next week.
I have already jumped a few pages into Model Home by Eric Puchner. A book club selection; discussion will be February 22.
I get to go on a trip this month! Woot. I do enjoy travel. Not to anywhere particularly BEACHY or SUNSHINY-WARM but that’s OK. Hopefully, some culinary adventures await.
Regarding “February is Letter Month“, all is going well. But then, I’m planning on doing this all year long and I’m still excited about it AND I have been rather organized. I have a ton of envelopes pre-addressed which makes it go VERY FAST. Grab and write and mail. Done. Plus, I’m trying to send February birthday cards and Valentine’s cards so ALL GOOD. Here’s is a photo essay of where I do my letter-writing magic:
The SPOT. I bought this desk for $15. Great find, huh?
Every shelf has a purpose...
My letter writing CAMPAIGN box
Cards for any occasion
The Birthday Box
The Postcard Box
The Miscellaneous Envelope Drawer (poor things)
I also make my own envelopes out of cool paper, sometimes.
The 'Just Paper' Drawer
Finally, here’s a pic of the pups. I have since draped a quilt over the entire sofa so they won’t get dirt and dog hair all over it. The one in the foreground on the blue blanket is Esther. Oscar is probably looking at the fire (as he thinks, “Crap, Mom’s got the camera out again.”)
Gots to go work on my Super Bowl dessert – nope, not pie. I’m making a Patriot Swoosh Fruit Pizza! Sure, I’ll take some pics. 
GO PATS! GO GRONK! GO WELKER! GO BRADY!! 
Happy Weekend Everyone!
HIdeinWhitetoSkipLine
What fun about the soup! Can’t wait to see what you all decide for NY!
We found the corn hominy (goya) so we are making the corn pork soup. The corn gets big, the soup has “GIANT” in the name of it!
I love how he makes soup for the teams in the Super Bowl!
It actually makes the playoffs fun when we decide to cheer for cities that have soup we want to try… Like I ‘almost’ wanted Baltimore to win because I have a crab soup recipe yet to try. One of our best parties was when Seattle was in the big game. D made a tomato scallop soup that was amazing. Sadly, we’ve never made it since…
I was thinking about the giants in the Chronicles of Narnia and trying to remember what they ate. But uh. It was humans. So probably not a useful option for your Super Bowl party.
yea, NO. (Of course, it goes without saying, that the Saints always have terrific soup for Super Bowl.)
*Laughs after reading Jenny’s comment
Oh, that Jenny…
The red bean/white bean soup sounds really good! I’m going to make soup tomorrow too, but I haven’t decided what kind just yet.
I think I pinterest’d this soup – are you in Pinterest?!
I think your husband´s souper bowl approach makes the game much more appealing.
But letters? Well, I used one this week, but in a crime story
Food and football. VERY American of us, huh?
Letters in your crime story? Told in epistolary fashion?
Not exactly
Fine. Let me be a trial reader, then. (Can I?!??!?!??!)
I don´t know if you realized, but “The Charity Shop” is the story with the letter so if you keep it up, you ARE a trial reader
OK I’ll try to pay attn.
I know. I really need to catch-up in 1Q84… I haven’t had enough time to read lately.
I also have to write you a letter. Need more hours in a day… Have fun with your Super Bowl!
I’m looking for just the right postcard.
Don’t forget Whitehead – we love him, for obvious reasons, here in Nebraska!
GO WHITEHEAD!
Wow, great price on the desk! Way to go!
I soooo wish I could taste your husband’s clam chowder. Knowing his taste, it has got to be awesome.
I really was so proud and entertained how many people were gushing enthusiastically about the chowder! The giant corn soup was good, too. I get to eat it all week long. We had a lot of that leftover.
I think your strategy for reading 1Q84 is freaking brilliant! And I now want some clam chowder…
OH! The chowder was PERFECT if I can brag on the hub. It was just wonderful. I linked to the recipes in the next post about the Super Bowl if you want to know how to make.
And? I am going to count 1Q84 as 3 books. Freaking brilliant is right.