WEEK NIGHT WONDER - CHERYL'S PEPPERONI PIZZA SOUP

1.  OK, so if you read THIS POST, you know that one of my favorite things to do is take favorite tried 'n' true flavor combinations and serve them up in new and different ways. 

2.  And if you read THIS POST, you know that I recently reconnected with a dear friend, Cheryl, from very early childhood.

Add 1 + 2 and what do you get?  A KILLER soup recipe that she recently shared with me.   It's one of Cheryl and her husband's favorites, and now, it is also one of ours!

Here's the recipe, as Cheryl sent it to me:

PIZZA PEPPERONI SOUP

                    2  15 OZ CANS OF BEEF BROTH

                    1 LG. CAN OF CRUSHED TOMATOES

                    8  OZ CAN OF MUSHROOMS

                    1 LARGE ONION, CHOPPED

                    1 MED. GREEN PEPPER, CHOPPED

                    8-10 OUNCES OF SLICED PEPPERONI  (I cut mine in 4 pcs, like a pie wedge)

                    1 LB GROUND HOT SAUSAGE

                    1 TLB OREGANO   

                    1 TSP BASIL

                    MOZZARELLA OR PROVOLONE CHEESE

                    SAUTE THE ONION, GREEN PEPPER AND SAUSAGE, CHOPPING THE SAUSAGE IN SMALL PIECES AS IT BROWNS. DRAIN WELL. ADD THE MUSHROOMS AND STIR.

                    TRANSFER TO A CROCK POT, THEN ADD ALL ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS. STIR WELL. COOK ON HIGH FOR 4 HOURS. SERVE IN BOWL TOPPED WITH SHREDDED CHEESE. ENJOY

                    WITH A HOT LOAF OF CRUSTY BREAD.....

Now since I view all patterns, recipes, etc., as only general GUIDELINES and not strict instructions (LOL!) here was my tweaking:

I used fresh mushrooms (12 oz) because I had them.  I added several cloves of fresh garlic, used 2 onions, and a mix of red, green, and yellow bell peppers because we love them.   I used 8 oz. of a specialty-brand pepperoni stick, cutting it into slices and then fourths, like Cheryl does.  Probably went heavier on the herbs, I seldom measure!

AND I didn't use a crock-pot because my crock-pot is too small, so I simmered it on top of the stove in my dutch oven for a few hours.  BUUUT, I can see how it would be GREAT in a crock pot, and super quick and easy --  thus easily meeting criteria  ;o)  for my "Week Night Wonder" category.  I was also a little fussy about the cheese (fresh mozzarella) and bread we used (after all, it is Pepperoni PIZZA soup, the cheese and "crust" is critical!)  I chose a rustic artisan loaf, cut lengthwise, and oven-toasted till lightly browned and crunchy.  *YUM YUM YUM!*

So thanks, Cheryl, for a recipe we loved and will definitely REPEAT... (in fact, Barry is already asking for it again!)  I will think of you every time I do.

JOGGING DOWN MEMORY LANE!

OK, so the COOLEST thing happened to me!

A dear childhood friend, who I hadn't seen in DECADES, was thinking of me recently, googled my maiden name, found me through Google Profile, and emailed me!  I was soooo jazzed to hear from her!

She still lives in my old hometown, in the same neighborhood we grew up in.  We have had the best time strolling  jogging  streaking down Memory Lane!

Cheryl 

So, we both remember...

...Playing Barbie by the HOURS on a blanket under her big shade tree.   (I was enormously jealous of her double red plastic Barbie case and impressive collection of tiny clothes and accessories!)

... Happily DECESRATING the big Sears and JCPs catalogs.  We would pour through them, imagining we were wives/moms and on a budget and carefully "spending our money", choosing just the right clothes, furniture, accessories, etc., for our families!  We would also cut out the people and other pictures from the catalog pages and arrange "vignettes", sticking them to the wall -- arranging and rearranging!  

...Playing "Invention" (we double, double, toil and troubled crazy, goof-ball mixtures like laundry soap and kitchen salt and Elmer's Glue... not sure now what we were actually trying to invent??! Shoot, not sure we even knew THEN!!  And um... to be honest, this endeavor was not our greatest achievement, LOL!)

...Working feverishly on a secret language that only we would KNOW, and creating a comprehensive DICTIONARY of ALL the words -- oh, I kid you not!!!  (By the way, I even remembered that "mojo" was our code word for "bra" -- something I did not yet own but aspired to need one day!)

...Playing "Jewelry Store" outside, again BY THE HOUR, making "brooches" out of clover or daisies stuck down through leaves, "earrings" from pussy willow buds or buttercups, "rings" from long braided blades of grass!  We would meticulously CREATE our jewelry, then display it artfully on rocks and bushes and hedges, and then carefully (and seriously!) "shop" the wares!  Don't laugh, it was great fun!

What don't we remember?  We don't remember EVER "being bored", watching TV, arguing or fighting.   Even from very young ages, we both clearly remember always being treated by the other with kindness and respect.  We were never mean girls!  

She was the one who first told me about periods.  Her mom gave her a pamphlet, and as a public service announcement (LOL!), she shared the info with me.  And since discussing these types of subjects was NOT my mother's strongest suit, I was deeply appreciative! 


Cheryl is HILARIOUS, some of her emails have left me LOL.  And her memory is awesome, she remembers things that I had long ago forgotten.  For example, that 3 feet tall "walking doll" I had with the eerie, freakishly large eyes and the stiff-legged, stilted walk that always slightly spooked me.  :::shivers!:::

We have found that we have a lot in common.  Just like me, she is married to her high-school sweetheart AND she is a slightly OCD, jewelry-lovin', cat-crazy QUILTER, too!  Can you believe that?!

So it's been a blast reconnecting with her, "catching up", and fondly remembering the innocent days and endless summers of our childhood.  

Thank you, Cheryl, for thinking of me, looking for me and finding me.   But most of all, thank you for being such a sweet and good friend to me "way back when".  xoxo!

Photo credits:  HERE and HERE.