By Lois Wiirre

Special to the Dispatch

On the farm in January it is fun to spend a day sliding down hills. It is a traditional winter activity that is enjoyed by kids and kids-at-heart. The choices on the farm are as follows: inner tube, flying saucer, toboggan, old car hood (it would hold five or six kids at a time), cardboard, and old tarp, or my favorite, an old army cafeteria tray. With any of these things would be a fun day sliding.

We would wear thick knitted hats grandma made with matching gloves, nice heavy coats, snow boots, and snow pants. Double your pants!

We always let the older siblings go first so they could make a trail down the hill. We would spend a good afternoon sliding. We always knew grandma would have a big kettle of soup waiting when we all piled in the house, mittens wet and clothes wet. We had to hang them up to dry.

We had bread bags in our boots to help keep our feet dry, although snow would fall sometimes at the top of the boots. A fun day was had by all.

This recipe was given to me by my sister-in-law. With Boiled Supper, you can add or change anything to your taste and serve with flatbread.

‘Till we meet again in the kitchen again. Coffee is on… Lois

boiled supper

1.5 cups of diced ham (and ham bone left from the holidays)

1 tablespoon butter or oil

1 small onion, chopped

1 large carrot, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 medium brown potatoes, diced

1 small head of cabbage, chopped

1 tablespoon thyme leaves, chopped

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon celery salt

2 – 32oz. Chicken stock

1 or 2 bay leaces

1 or 2 tablespoons chicken bouillon

Directions:

Boiled Supper

In a large kettle, heat butter and add onion, carrots, and saute until just starting to soften. Stir in garlic. Next add potatoes, cabbage, and bone and pieces. Stir to combine. Stir in thyme, salt, pepper and celery salt. Add chicken stock and bay leaf. Reduce heat to a very low simmer. Add bouillon. Set to allow soup to cook 1-2 hours. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add more chicken stock if needed.