Halibut Soup

Thanks to Julie Hersey for the base recipe that inspired this soup and thanks to brother Jay recently for the Alaska Halibut. This soup has amazing flavor and is absolutely great with crusty bread and fresh greens with vinaigrette!

1 Tbsp dill
1 1/2 c onion
4 cloves garlic crushed
28 ounces canned tomatoes (organic plums are best)
8-10 new potatoes quartered
3/4 c white wine
1 1/2 c chicken broth
1 tbsp oregano
Salt and pepper
1 c shredded carrots
1/4 c fresh parsley
1 lb halibut
1/4 c peeled shrimp
1 c feta

Saute the dill. onion and garlic in olive oil. Add all but carrots, parsley, halibut, shrimp and feta and simmer until potatoes are done. Add the halibut and cook for 5 minutes, then add shrimp and shredded carrots and cook until the shrimp is just pink. Add the feta and parsley and serve immediately.

Home Sweet Boreal Home

Candy Westfield and I drove around Lake Superior last week. Though I have made the trip twice before, it was every bit as splendid the third time around. Since we both knew we have many returns trips to Minnesota's north shore in our future we bee-lined it to Thunder Bay making just enough side trips (Shovel Point for the view, Coho Cafe for tea, Grand Marais for smoked fish to name a few...) to make it to Thunder Bay to catch some Canadian zzzzzzzzz's. I caught a glimpse of my favorite Suzie Islands just before sundown.

We toured a cheese shop just outside of Thunder Bay that made wonderful aged Gouda and made our way to Rossport Ontario for a delightful stay at Serendipity Inn. The journey from Rossport to Wawa Ontario is on the top of my scenic drive list. The kayak outfitters just outside of Wawa made for a great respid after hiked the beaches and pictographs of Lake Superior Provincial Park. We even picked late-season blueberries along the way. Candy knew of some great beaches in Michigan with amazing colored rocks. Our last stop was Bayfield, Wisconsin and Madeline Island.

Just as the trip to the Porcupines earlier this summer reminded me - the northern forests of Lake Superior forever feel like home.

Gypsy Soup

Mary Shedd served this for a delightful reunion with Anne Pilli in Duluth. I remember making it with Mary years ago - it is a good soup to welcome in fall.

2 tbsp olive oil
2 large onions
2-4 garlic cloves crushed
1/2 c chopped celery
2 c peeled chopped sweet potatoes
3 c broth
1 bay leaf
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp tumeric
1 tsp basil
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp cayene pepper
1 chopped red pepper
1 can or 2 cups garbonzo beans

Saute the onions, garlic, celery and sweet potatoes about 5 minutes. Add broth and spices and simmer 15 minutes. Add red pepper and garbanzo beans and heat 5 minutes more.

Ali's Quilt

Ali hand quiting her masterpiece.

Now this was a satisfying endeavor! Four years ago Ali wanted to make a quilt so we designed one together in her favorite colors green and aqua. She got as far a sewing a few squares together and then it hibernated in her closet until this summer. We pulled it out in July, redesigned it with the help of a few new yards of fabric. Ali finished it in time to bring it back to school with her. My Grandma Thommes guided my mom and I in creating my first quilt when I was fifteen. We past that gift on this summer!