We’ve had steady rain for almost a week. Today it feels more like the middle of October rather than September. Since I already made beef stew last week, I decided a nice pot of soup was in order to go hand-in-hand with the inclement weather.

 

Typically I purchase Bear Creek soup mixes and add my own ingredients to taste. However, my husband and I went to Safeway early this morning and found their own name-brand soup mixes on sale for much less than either Bear Creek or and even the popular Wyler’s. No matter the name, most of these soup mixes are pretty much the same, although I do have to admit to being partial to Bear Creek.

 

We bought the Safeway-brand of Creamy Potato Soup. I prepared the soup according to package directions, but also added the following:

• 6 medium potatoes, peeled, rinsed, halved, quartered; cooked on low heat with butter in a skillet

• 1 can (12.5 oz.) Sweet Sue canned chicken breast, drained

• 1 jar (7.3 oz.) button mushrooms, drained

All additional ingredients were stirred in during the last five minutes of cooking time, giving the mix a nice rich blend and thicker texture. I also warmed a loaf of French bread, and we had ourselves a nice afternoon feast as we watched the rain pelt against the kitchen window. Just for ambience, I lit my “Cookie Crunch Biscuit” candle in the center of the kitchen table and turned off the lights.

 

No romantic notions there, so hold your horses. I simply preferred the candlelight while watching the rain.