Cabbage Patch Soup

 You will either love it or not like it very much at all. I have been making it for many a year. It's one of the iron horse cowboys favorite suppers. I don't remember where I saw the recipe, but its easy, its quick, its economical, it smells delicious and it's tasty. So I guess you can't beat that!

       Chop up into medium dice one small or half of a large onion.
       Do the same to three stalks of celery.
       Ditto some cabbage. This all depends on how much chopped up cabbage you will like in your soup.
        Into the cast iron skillet they go, with a big dab of butter.

      Cook over medium heat until softened, stirring occasionally. Here's where the house already begins to smell good.
      Transfer the vegetables into your soup kettle.
      Brown some hamburger in the same skillet. Sprinkle it lavishly with Lawry's seasoned salt and smokehouse pepper. This, again, is up to you. How much hamburger do you like in your soup? These days, hamburger is so expensive, you might not use too much. Or you can use venison or what ever meat you might have around. Or just skip the meat. It will still be good!

  

        Transfer the hamburger into the soup kettle. Add two cups of water and let it cook over medium heat for a few minutes.
         Now add some tomatoes. This is why this is such a nice soup. You can just use what you happen to have around. A can of stewed whole tomatoes, a can of diced tomatoes, some chopped up fresh ones from the garden, or just a can of pureed if you don't like lumpy tomatoes.

      Now a can of dark red kidney beans. Scoop that in. Or whatever kind of beans you might have hanging around. Or no beans, if your kids don't like 'em!
       You can add more salt and pepper, to your taste.
        Add one can of pasta sauce, or some ketchup, or what have you, t make it nice and tomato-ey.
        Simmer it till you're ready to eat. It doesn't hurt it at all to simmer away for a couple hours, but you can eat it right away. This is nice if you don't get going on supper till late. Its done, the house smells good. Slice up a loaf of bread, get out the soup bowls..tada! Supper's on.

        Give it a try. Add your own twist. Or come on over. I'll make you some!