It's a Good Day for Soup
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (121612)
Gainesville, Florida
January 20, 2016 6:45am CST
Here in Florida, it doesn't often get unbearably cold, but this morning's low was 27 degrees (-2.8 C), our coldest day of the winter season so far. Early this morning, I received a text from my boss (early morning texts from the boss usually aren't a good thing), and she said that she wanted to do a soup luncheon today at work, due to the cold. So, she was getting in touch with everyone to see if they wanted to do a potluck soup luncheon! Being a group of people at work that likes to eat, everyone was in agreement!
So this morning, after getting the kids to school, I will be scrambling to get all the necessary ingredients to make some New England Clam Chowder. I figured that would be a great soup for a cold day like today!
Wish me luck, as this is my first time making clam chowder from scratch. All I have to say is thank goodness for crockpots!
What is your favorite kind of soup?
19 people like this
16 responses
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Jan 16
Was it you that was recently telling us you needed more rain? If so, it looks like you got your wish!
3 people like this
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
23 Jan 16
@JudyEv California has certainly been getting their share of rain recently, which they desperately need, but unfortunately it's so dry out there that I think it would need to rain for a solid year in order to get them out of their severe drought! And then that would present a whole new set of problems for them...mudslides!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340286)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Jan 16
@moffittjc I don't think it was me wishing for rain as we expect our summers to be dry. Californians seem to be short of water though.
1 person likes this
@krazykatlady (131)
• United States
21 Jan 16
My favorite soup is either vegeatble beef or chilli, I have never had New England Clam Chowder before but I am sure it was quite good! Your daily low there in Florida was warmer than our daily high here lol. It was around 20 F here for a high today and it is currently around 15 but suppose to drop down to around 7 over night. We are also getting threats of loosing power which I hope we don't or I will freeze lol since my home is all electric.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
23 Jan 16
If you don't mind me asking, what part of the country do you live in? From your description of the cold weather, it sounds like you live in Alaska! lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Jan 16
@krazykatlady Thanks for clarifying! Ohio is a nice place! I have a friend who lives in Medina, not too far from Cleveland, and a former girlfriend who lives in downtown Cleveland!
@krazykatlady (131)
• United States
26 Jan 16
@moffittjc Lol sometimes it sure feels that way but actually I'm in Ohio. :) Tonight is much nicer at 45.
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Jan 16
I added everything to the crockpot this morning, and turned the setting on high to cook it so that it would be ready by lunchtime. It turned out perfect!
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
21 Jan 16
@moffittjc Glad to hear it was good!
1 person likes this
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
21 Jan 16
@moffittjc don't you just love when it comes out perfect like that.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471498)
• Switzerland
21 Jan 16
@moffittjc I have never been able to make a New England Clam Chowder as good as the one I eat in the United States. I believe I miss a good recipe.
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
23 Jan 16
@LadyDuck Is it possible to get fresh clams in your country? I wonder how much of a difference that makes?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Jan 16
I love it too! To jazz it up a little bit, I even added some fresh lobster meat! My soup was a big hit at work today!
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
20 Jan 16
Minestrone. When I tell people this, they often have no clue what it is. You probably know, however. It is a tomato based vegetable soup from Italy. I love it.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Jan 16
I love minestrone! I can't believe people have no clue what it is! I eat it all the time, and I'm not even a big fan of Italian food!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
23 Jan 16
@ElizabethWallace I wonder why it seems to be less popular these days? It's a really good soup!
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12074)
• United States
21 Jan 16
@moffittjc When I mention it, lots of people ask what it is. It used to be very popular when I was a kid. I love it still but only find it now in Italian restaurants, and not all of them either. Bummer.
@freak369 (5113)
• United States
9 Feb 16
I don't like certain vegetables cooked (carrots, celery, onions) so when I make it I usually do two pots - one the way I like it and one the way everyone else likes it. With that being said, any type of creamed soup (potato, broccoli etc) served in a bread bowl is the best way to serve lunch or dinner with a side salad.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Feb 16
Okay, all that sounds good and now your'e making me hungry!
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Jan 16
I didn't think anyone could eat out more than Americans! hahaha
Herbal chicken soup is a good choice!
1 person likes this
@IvySaysHi (4467)
• United States
20 Jan 16
Not going to lie didn't think that it ever went below 40 in Florida. My favorite soup is between chicken noodle, clam chowder, and vegetable soup.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Jan 16
Not a big fan of vegetable soup or chicken noodle soup, but those are my "go to" soups when I'm sick! lol
I live in north Florida, where we get about 15 days a year wear the temperature drops below freezing. The past three days was our first freeze of the winter, so we're a little below average right now for the number of freeze days. In south Florida, it is very rare for them to get below 40.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
21 Jan 16
Clam Chowder is one of my favorites too. I made it from scratch once on the stove and it came out pretty well. I got a recipe from allrecipes. c o m.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
20 Jan 16
Florida gets that cold? No! It's always a day for soup in England, although it rarely gets below freezing {it is right now}. I like Heinz Tomato, or any variety of butternut squash or Stilton. Yum.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Jan 16
It's not often Florida gets that cold, but it does happen from time to time, mostly in January or February! I'm a big fan of tomato soup and butternut squash!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Jan 16
It must have turned out really good, because I kept getting lots of compliments, and my chowder was the first to run out!
2 people like this
@godsmack423 (82)
• Flint, Michigan
20 Jan 16
I wish I was in Florida.lol.
It has been in the 20's for the past few days.
My mom auctually just came over and made some homemade chicken noodle soap, I am moved out put still get the good cooking. ha ha
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Jan 16
That's one great thing about moms...even if you move out they still take good care of you! My mom was the same way, always cooking huge meals to bring over to my place, even long after I got married!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
26 Jan 16
@godsmack423 By the way, I see you're from Flint, Michigan. How's the water crisis situation up there? It's all over the news. Do you have to drink bottled water and use bottle water for everything you do? I can imagine that's got to be frustrating. In 2004 when we were struck with three back-to-back-to-back hurricanes here in Florida, I didn't have power for four weeks so we had to use bottle water for everything. It sure did make me appreciate our municipal water supply when the power finally came back on! But your crisis isn't going to go away anytime soon, correct?
@godsmack423 (82)
• Flint, Michigan
25 Jan 16
@moffittjc Yes that is the best thing.
She is always there when i need her.
@Spontaneo (14700)
• United States
21 Oct 17
Crockpots rule!
Pizza Soup is my favorite.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Oct 17
I don't know if I've ever had of pizza soup (or even heard of it), but anything with the word 'pizza' in it must be pretty good!
1 person likes this
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
21 Jan 16
I made home made chicken soup the other day. Today is a good day for a nice hot bowl of soup. Thankfully it is cold here but not that cold. We are going to be getting snow for the next few days.
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
23 Jan 16
In general, this is a good time of the year for any type of soup or chili! With the colder weather, I could eat it every day!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Jan 16
@whiteream And now I'm craving chili as well.... lol
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
24 Jan 16
@moffittjc you just put me in the mood for chili. I have had any in some time.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
5 Feb 16
Rug up dude!
I haven't tried that many soups but I like tomato and pumpkin soup BUT it can only be the pumpkin soup that my Aunty makes. I hate any other kind of pumpkin soup. And chicken soup YUCK! I've only had that from a can though so I don't know if chicken soup can taste nice or not but for now, it is gross!
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Feb 16
Tomato soup is one of my favorites, especially with grilled cheese sandwiches! And I have to admit, I've never even heard of pumpkin soup, so that is a new one to me. But I like pumpkin in other foods/drinks, so I imagine that pumpkin soup would taste pretty delicious. I wonder if it is something that is sold in the US? I'll have to check the next time I'm at the grocery store.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121612)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Feb 16
@VivaLaDani13 A couple of things:
1. I have never heard of either of those TV shows you mentioned!
2. I always assumed tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches was an English thing!
3. I checked two local stores yesterday and neither of them sold pumpkin soup.
4. Pumpkin pie is my all-time favorite dessert, and is very popular here in the US.
5. Around October/November every year, when we start entering the Fall season, pumpkin-flavored foods and drinks become all the rage. Pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin-flavored milkshakes, pumpkin-flavored pastries...you name it, and I'm sure there's a pumpkin-flavored version of it somewhere! Americans go crazy for pumpkin-flavored foods and drinks! Does that happen in Australia?
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60794)
• Perth, Australia
7 Feb 16
@moffittjc I can't remember if it was the TV show Viva La Bam or maybe CKY but one of the dudes was going to have tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches and when I heard that I was thinking how delicious that sounds. I had never heard of it before. Maybe more of an America thing? I LOVE toast with it and sometimes I add cheese in the soup so I am sure I would love grilled cheese sandwiches with it.
Not sure if the US would sell pumpkin soup. All I know about is pumpkin pie that you guys apparently have. We don't have that here lol It's fun learning what foods other countries have.
