Souptacular

Last Saturday afternoon a nice couple coming from the farmers market were in the store with a very interesting little bag of what looked like mixed beans. Of course I ask them about it and ironically enough they end up selling me on this legume mixture that is actually a soup starter. When it comes to cooking I need all the help I can get so I run to buy it. It's called Souptacular and they sell for $6 a bag at the local market. I decide that my first Souptacular venture will be "Christmas Spirit". I'm sold on it because the Souptacular sales associate tells me its great with chicken and I have some roasted chicken left over from the night before.

Christmas Spirit contains: peas, lentils, barley, onion, garlic, sea slat, leek celery, potato, peppers, cabbage,dried herbs and spices. Which they don't get real about so I'm assuming its family secret recipe stuff.

The instructions call for 10 cups of any kind of broth or water, your call. I went with all broth to give it more flavor and I already had the Puck that my friend (who is a real chef) left at my house). I also added some vegetables. Why not.

I start the beans first because they will need the most time.

I plan on letting them boil with the herbs and spices for a hour but I also want to add a cheese rind.

My chef friend said its painful to watch me cook so she's being teaching me her tricks. She adds a cheese rind to all the pasta sauces and soups that she makes. Which are more legit then what I'm preparing today. Whatever you have on hand should work.

This is a Dutch cheese called "Prima Donna". And it wasn't even the name that sold me. This cheese is really good! The name is just an added bonus.

After a hour of all that goodness on a low boil my house smells amazing and it's actually a very festive aroma. Go figure. I add the rest of my ingredients and let it go for one more hour.

After two hours you can see how the rind cooks down. I don't serve it, I take it out but you can probs eat it. There may even be people who curse me for not.

I skip the salad and put it on a plate with a few slices of french baguette and creamy brie. Two of my favorite things to eat. It was amazing!!! I ate if for days after and still enjoyed it . If your not sold you should be!

Souptacular! Actually!