Soon after I came down with the sniffles, I got word that my brother was in the hospital, and, although I later began to wonder "What was I thinking?!?", I hopped in the car and traveled downstate to see my brother and help my daughter move into her new apartment. I guess my thought process was that my cold had showed some improvement and it was possibly the last time I might see my brother alive.
I wore a hospital mask to keep from passing my cold germs to my brother, but unfortunately, my cold took a definite turn for the worse after spending the day going in and out of the hospital in the drizzly, cold rain. I was unable to sleep at all that night, but not for lack of trying!! I was feeling so miserable and wished I hadn't left home and then all of a sudden the inspiration came to me: I should make myself some chicken soup the next day to help me feel better! Then ideas came to me of how I should go about it and what ingredients should go in it. And so that is how the soup I call "Midnight Inspiration" came to be! Now I can even be thankful for that sleepless night, as the soup was amazing!
Midnight Inspiration (or Soup Surprise)
Dice and saute' in coconut oil: 1 red bell pepper, 1 green bell pepper, and 1/2 large sliced red onion. After these have softened somewhat, add 1/2 large butternut squash, diced, 1/2 bag snow peas, stringed and cut in 1/3's, 2 diced jalapenos, 2 minced cloves of garlic, and a small amount of chopped kale. Add additional coconut oil and saute' until nicely browned and softened. Place the veggies in crock pot along with 1 qt. homemade beef stock and set on low heat. Now, using the same fry pan, cut up 2 chicken breasts and break up 2 1/2-3 pounds of ground beef and saute' well. Add seasonings as follows to both the meats in the fry pan and the veggies in the crock: salt and pepper, Trader Joe's 21-season salute, dill weed, chili powder, about 4 t. of cumin(altogether), and cayenne pepper. After meat is cooked, add it to the crock pot, turn the heat to high and cook for about 3 hours. Toward the end of cooking time, cut up the remaining butternut squash and steam or boil it until soft, then mash it and add it to the soup. Serve the soup with diced avocado, grated cheese, and sour cream, if desired, but it is most scrumptious even without these additions! Even veggie haters cannot help but love it! The possibilities are endless in changing this soup up. Experiment to your heart's content and ENJOY!!
