SNOW DAY SOUP ~ The Self-Taught Cook™

Ok, so it isn't snowing in Central Florida, nor is it likely to. The last time we saw snow flurries, and I do mean flurries, was in January 2003. I remember it vividly. Sad, really. There are actually native Polk Countians down here who can say truthfully that they have never seen real snow (accumulation, in other words), and most of them don't even care. Heavy sigh.......

But the funny thing about most of us transplants is that at some point we begin to miss the weather we left behind. When we left home, Mickey ears on our heads, Goofy grins on our faces, we were excited at the prospect of never being cold again. Then, after a couple of years, reality sets in. That year-round good weather becomes monotonous. The only excitement they have down here is during hurricane season, and the last few years, that's mostly been media hype. Today's weather forecast: Sunny. Tomorrow's weather forecast: Sunny. Really, I could do that job. But I do have one funny Florida snow story that I don't think I have told on here before. A few years ago, the city of Celebration announced their annual Christmas festivities. Every night at 8 p.m. (I think) there would be snow in downtown Celebration! We thought this was too good to miss. Obviously, they couldn't make real snow, but we had to see what they would do, this being Disney-related and all. By 7:30, people crowded into the street to wait for the snowfall. Ah, the anticipation was in the warm, tropical air! And in the middle of this rather warm crowd was one woman wearing, I kid you not, a full-length mink coat. Now that's what I call faith.... Anyway, at 8:00 sharp, an announcement came through the street lampposts (yep, it's Disney) announcing the snowfall. And then........soapflakes fell on Central Florida. Soapflakes. And the little native Floridians running around yelling, "Mommy! Look at the snow!" I was just waiting to see if anyone would try to catch the "snow" on their tongue. And in the middle of it all, stood the woman with the mink coat.

And that, my friends, is my Florida snow story. Now, onto my Snow Day Soup recipe.

SNOW DAY SOUP

1 lb lean ground beef

1 onion, chopped

1/2 green bell pepper, chopped

3 cloves, garlic, chopped

1/2 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp chili powder

black pepper to taste

2 cans diced tomatoes

1 can chili-ready diced tomatoes

3 c frozen corn

2 c beef stock

Brown ground beef with onion, garlic, green pepper, cumin, and chili powder. Drain any grease. Pour into slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients. Cook on Low for 4 - 5 hours.