After decades of renaming January, and celebrating Soup Month, I and my family are no strangers to the many perplexed looks and questions we undoubtedly receive throughout the first month of the year. The most popular question is more of a clarifying statement: “So, you eat soup for a whole month.” The perusal of cookbooks, various websites, and recipe specific searches are all part of this week’s repertoire, the week just prior to what my family has (sometimes unkindly, especially, if close to Jan 31st!) referred to as “Soup Month”!

I found that with delayed snow travels and several in the family eating away from home, each of us appreciates the sustenance of home cooking. So, Sunday night found me making a fast semi-homemade chicken vegetable and noodle soup. Along with a favorite simple recipe from Cooks Country,  I can’t live without these utterly basic spice tools and soup base.

The winter holidays have come and gone and we are well into the new year.  March marks the arrival of spring, though the weather doesn’t always cooperate! I know we haven’t all kept the old-school spring cleaning in our home repertoires, but I know when the warm breezes arrive and scents of spring are in the air, I am compelled to get things cleaner than usual.

I’ve been cooking & baking & making foodstuffs for many years, for family, extended family, friends, clients, as new baby gifts, and as sympathy gifts. I cannot think of a better gift than homemade foods.  As a cook, I can tell you that everything tastes so much better when it is made by someone else!

Oh my, every year my junk drawers, yes, that is plural, require a huge facelift, a clean-out, a rebuild. It seems to be a project I dread doing; with the holiday frenzy gone, I should be enjoying the quiet during January and tackling these dull must-do’s.

Some of my finds were treasures and some total mysteries. Best finds: Missing buttons, dead whoopie cushion, restaurant menus long since shuttered, lost keys, the missing prescription ointment, tv remote, bike helmet pads and an odd dog tag!

There’s nothing like the superbowl (FLY EAGLES FLY!) & these frigid days of winter to make me crave turkey chili and cornbread. Click through below to see my photos of my favorite chili and scroll below for the recipe!