The Campaign Off Season

We've entered the off-season of political campaigns in the States.  Because of this, I have free time again, and a lot of it.  I generally go through cooking and reading withdrawal while on campaigns so I tend to go a little overboard in the off-season.  And, let's be honest, New Hampshire isn't always the most happening place in the evenings.

Here's the other thing about living in New Hampshire in the winter...... it's cold.... I mean -32 degrees cold.  In my mind, there is only one thing to do, make hearty, homey and HOT soup.

1) Soup can make -32 degrees seem like a balmy 5 degrees
2) It's easy and cheap
3) It makes the house smell like rustic New England

Today marked the first recipe for the Cooking Campaign.

Vegetable Barley Stew

Vegetable Barley Stew with Sandwich

Ingredients:
1 Onion
2 Carrots
2 Celery stalks
3 tbs. Olive Oil
6 cups Chicken Broth (or vegetable broth)
4 Potatoes
1 Sweet Potato
1/2 Butternut Squash
Pepper, Basil, Thyme
1 cup Barley
3/4 lbs. cooked Chicken (optional)






Directions:
Chop onions, carrots and celery, cook with olive oil for 5 minutes.  Poor in broth, add seasonings to taste, simmer.  Chop rest of vegetables and add with barley.  After about 15 minutes add chicken.  Simmer for 20 minutes. Done when potatoes are soft and barley is cooked.  Skim the soup throughout.