Snow Day Soup!

After posting about our snow day, several of you asked for a recipe for the mushroom and potato soup that I made. I would love to be able to post an exact recipe for that soup, however, I don't really cook with exact measures. This soup was actually a take off on a mushroom soup found on the Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen site. If you would like that recipe you can look here. For those of you who like to fly by the seat of your pants, feel free to read on for my take on this soup. Remember, I warned you that I don't really follow recipes when I cook!!



When I heard the kitchen calling my name the other day, I got out my favorite dutch oven.



I diced up some carrots and an onion.



Then, I sauteed them in a little bit of olive oil until they looked like this.



While they were cooking, I diced up some mushrooms...



...and added them to the pot.



While the mushrooms were cooking, I diced up some potatoes. (This is where I really took a detour from the original recipe.)



When the mushrooms, onions, and carrots looked like this, I deglazed the pot with some white wine. Any white would do, but I happen to like pinot grigio.



Of course, I always pour a little for the cook...me!



After the pan is deglazed, it should look a little like this.



Next, I added the diced potatoes and salt and pepper. Don't ask me how much salt and pepper...I just guess at the right amount.



Then, I added vegetable stock. Chicken stock would probably be tastier, but I have a vegetarian in the house.



For a little twang the original recipe calls for some tomato juice. I added a small can. I just love those little cans, and the juice adds a little something special to the mix.



After all of the veggies are happily in the pot, I cover and simmer until the potatoes are cooked perfectly.



When all of the veggies are cooked through and tender, I add some cream. I used heavy cream because that was what I had on hand. Half and half would probably work great too!



All that's left to do is find a bowl and eat up!



Of course, after eating a bowl of soup on a snow day, one must follow up with homemade chocolate cookies.



Don't even ask me how to make those..........