Ice, ice baby and cooking for comfort

While much of North Carolina got a nice blanket of snowy whiteness, we got a slippery, shiny layer of ice.  It was magical this morning. The sun dancing through the trees, their frozen branches glistening in the early morning light. They looked as if they were made of glass. I tried to capture the moment with my camera, but the digital images pale in comparison to the real thing.

 

 
 

 

With the roads blanketed in a layer of ice, I took the advice of all those giving advice on such matters and stayed in. Of course, I probably would have done that had it not been cold and dangerous out, but somehow a day spent inside feels different when it's weather induced. I felt the need to wear cozy clothes and cook warm comforting food. I'm still wondering what the heck has come over me with all these culinary urges. Really, it just isn't like me to want to cook.

And cook I did. I started the day by cooking breakfast. So, so uncharacteristic. As much as I typically do not enjoy cooking, I do generally prepare dinner. Occasionally lunch, but almost never do I cook breakfast. Brunch, maybe. Well, yesterday morning it was sausage, grits (not the instant variety either) and homemade biscuits.

In the afternoon I made this soup. 

It was listed as one of the top recipes on all recipes.com and the name says it all. Delicious ham and potato soup. I pretty much followed the recipe and it is definitely a keeper. I've made potato soup plenty of times before, but this was the best, no doubt.  I had some for lunch today, and it was even better. I don't think the recipe mentioned cheese, but really, can you have potato soup without cheese?

Sharp cheddar. The kind you grate yourself.  I have an uncle who once told me if God made anything better than ice cream and coffee, he kept it for Himself.  I'd have to say for me, it's a babies breath on your cheek and cheese. Two of God's greatest gifts to us, after Jesus, of course.

You thicken this soup with a roux. As I was stirring the roux, and thinking of comfort foods, I remembered something  my granny made for me that her mama made for her. Sopping chocolate. Pronounced soppin' of course. And if you don't know what soppin' means, it's what you do with your biscuit to get the last bit of goodness, usually gravy,  off your plate.  Soppin' chocolate is basically chocolate gravy. I think my great-grandma made it  for her nine children as an affordable treat. I hadn't thought about it in a long time, but yesterday in my quest for all things soft, smooth, warm and comforting, it was perfect.

That's biscuits cooked twice in one day for anyone who's counting, cause you have to have fresh hot biscuits to sop your chocolate gravy.

Tonight we're having taco salad and chips with this salsa.    

Comments

[Aunt LoLo]

Oooh.....i've made biscuits once. And I'm too scared to do it again! Hockey pucks do NOT good soppin' make. *sigh*

[Shannon Kruger]

I HAVE to have your recipe for choclate gravy. My mom is from NC and has told us stories of her friend's mom making this. I'd love to make for her as a surprise.

[Autum]

Please dont give up on biscuits. I only got it right this year, and I must say, Im pretty good at it. Ive tried and given up several times for the same reason.  For me, it took quite a bit of reading the chemistry of each ingredient and how they work together to make a good biscuit.
Start out with an angel biscuit, the dough is much wetter and doesnt get handled to the biscuits arent of the hockey puck variety. Try this recipe
Follow a recipe. My downfall in the past was to wing it, the way I always saw my granny do it. Getting the right combination is vital.
Use very cold butter or shortening. The melting process is what creates open areas adding to the lightness.
Use a biscuit cutter.
And handle as little as possible.
I have faith in you, if I can do it, anyone can!

[Amber]

I saw that salsa recipe too - looks so yummy! That sounds delicious - well, all of it does...I love sausage, grits and biscuits - mmm!

[Tanya]

We got ice too! What I wouldn't give for a few inches of snow instead of ice. Kind of hard to make an iceman.

I LOOOOOOOVE me some chocolate gravy! YUMMMY! Let us know how the salsa is. I printed that recipe off to try, but haven't had a chance yet. I'm sure it is DIVINE!

[Leta]

We got the ice too. I love chocolate gravy too I make it for my grandkids just like my mom and grandmas did!

[Laura Saufley]

Oooohhh....soppin' chocolate. My grandma and mama used to make this. Yum!

[jackie]

The pictures are beautiful! and your potato soup is the perfect thing to go with it! I am getting hungry just reading! Keep warm and safe. Jackie

[Becky]

We are in NC too. We had the snow. Lots of it. And I made potato soup to warm us up too. Some things just go together. Cold and soup are two of them

[Missy]

I made the salsa from PW last night and it was awesome!!!

[Jackie (Ellie Mae's Cottage)]

The soup looks yummy! It's been really cold where I am too. We haven't gone out all weekend... it's been a wonderful excuse to be a homebody!

[Amy at The Red Chair Blog]

I'm in NC too. We've had lots of snow here in Cary (my 15 month old daughter calls it "no"). Your ice photos are lovely!

[Melissa]

The weather has been gusty and cold here in Alabama, but no snow or ice. I should have come to your house... soup, chocolate, and biscuits. Does it get any better? I think not.

[Laura]

The soup looks delicious. Was it difficult? It's the perfect winter-time soup.

[Amanda]

i love chocolate gravy! in my family we always have it for breakfast...usually when a large amount of family is converged together (like around christmas or something) its the easiest thing to make and so cheap and yummy!

[The Loft]

Ice is an every day occurance where I live. But that SOUP! I can't wait to try something like it. I do love a good ham & potato (and leek) soup!

Thanks!

[Cheryl]

everything looks so yummy.
I also read your readers first post. Don't give up on making them. I also made hockey pucks at first. My husband ate them bless his heart. I know he enjoys them now that I came make a nice fluffy biscuit. Always use cold butter or shortening and DON'T overwork your dough.

[Karen]

Soppin' chocolate?...this is a delight that I have never heard of!!...is it like pudding?...and can I please have your recipe?...it looks like a PMS treat!..YUM!..biscuits and all!

[Libby Dillard]

Woo Hoo! The first time that I ever had chocolate gravy was at a friends house when I was very young. My friends Mom had moved to Georgia from Mississippi and it was a childhood favorite. I told my Mom about it so that she could make it. I don't remember my Mom ever making it but any time I spent the night with my friend, Miss Betty Sue would make it for me!
Thanks for the memories!
Libby

[Witcypoo]

Sounds like you had a lovely time cooking in the ice!! I would be interested to know what biscuits are - here in Australia biscuits are the same as what you call cookies. But your biscuits look a bit more substantial and almost cakey - perhaps a scone?

[Autum]

Hi Shannon,

I have to confess, when I made the sopping chocolate the other day, I didnt get out grannys recipe. I thought I remembered about how it was made and I winged it. Mine was good, but once it started to cool, it had a more pudding like consistency. So, today I got out grannys recipe to share with you and noticed that its quite different than what I did. Strictly for research purposes, *wink*  I made a pan of biscuits to try grannys recipe and compare the differences. Im going to try to get a post written today, and Ill have both recipes.

xo Autum

[Autum]

Hi Amber,
The salsa was delicious. Definitely one that Ill make again and again.

[Autum]

Hi Tanya,
Are you in NC too? Its been a long time since we had enough snow for a snowman.

The salsa turned out just like every Pioneer Woman recipe Ive tried, Fabulous! A keeper.

[Autum]

Hi Leta,

Id love to have your recipe. I made some again today, this time following my grannys recipe. The other day, I made it the way I thought she did. It turns out I was quite wrong. I used milk and mine ended up being quite a bit thicker, almost pudding like. Her recipe uses water and is thinner, but better for soaking up in a biscuit.

[Autum]

Hi Laura, I guess now that Im a nana, Im just continuing the tradition in our family : )