I have beautiful memories of our family vacations from childhood,
We all agreed, that one of the best gifts our parents ever gave us,
was our travels during the summer months.
Some of the most memorable times
were spent visiting our grandparents in Ohio
and going up to our cousins
lakeside home.
Their house was cozy and warm.
Everyone was relaxed and ready to spend time together
outdoors.
The lake was serene and the lush landscaping was such a vibrant deep green.
We would spend hours out on their boat
just tooling around the lake.
We would turn off the motor and just float for awhile.
We talked of old times.
I think most dogs love boating too.
Just to be near.....
Fishing? Oh yes.....a big part of the day
This was the good life.....
If we had one more move in us.....it would be lakeside for me......
the beach for the darling...
It was the one thing we loved most about Maine...
living near the bay.
Probably the best cocktail hour ever.....
Life spent at the lake, or camping or a beach house is simplistic.
It's a good way to live.
It's the best fashion
Slow down....just breathe
This is a delicious hearty soup to make before
you take off on your excursion and enjoy
it by the fireside underneath a starlit sky!
LAKESIDE BEAN SOUP
1 1/2 cups of dried navy beans
1/4 lb of bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 small onion, chopped into large chunks
4 carrots
2 tomatoes
1 t. thyme
1 t. oregano
2 cups elbow macaroni
Parmesan cheese, for garnish
Please dried beans in a dutch oven and soak overnight with water. Rinse beans, cover with fresh water and simmer for about 2-3 hours. Cook bacon, drain and crumble. Set aside. Peel carrots and onion and roast, with salt and pepper in a 400 degree oven until slightly tender, about 1 hour. Add the fresh diced tomatoes, roasted carrots and onion to the beans. Separately prepare the macaroni and boil until slightly undercooked. Drain and add to the beans and vegetables. Stir in the herbs. Place soup in traveling container and keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on top of each serving.
Picked up your recipe! Hubby loves bean soup and I have been going to make it- Now I have no excuses....lol.
ReplyDeleteLove living lakeside. It is one of the pure joys of my life. We will move one more time to downsize and I am praying we can find something on the water that is quite a bit smaller. xo Diana
I hope you enjoy this Diana. The great thing about a recipe such as this would be to substitue the bacon with left over ham or sausage. Great with cornbread too! Thank you for visiting today!
DeleteI could not agree more about lakeside living. Some of the finest. Our family cottage is deep in the woods away from all traffic noise. One feels the stress fade away almost immediately. The soup sounds easy and good.
ReplyDeleteOh how lovely to have a woodland cottage....tranquility! Thanks for stopping by today Vee.
DeleteOur lakehouse is very close to YOU! The day after my mom's funeral, we were riding. Just riding....my husband trying everything in his might to make my life seem ok.....when all of a sudden, we saw it. For Sale by Owner sign. Could it be? We'd been riding to this lake since our boys learned to ski there; since their dad learned to ski there. Might it be possible?
ReplyDeleteLong story short....this will be our 19th summer at that lakehouse. So many memories. So many family and friends sharing it with us. So much love. When I have to sum up in a short thought what that lakehouse means to me, it would be: the smell of the woods, the humid water laced feeling on your skin during the hot summers, the quietness, the lush cypress trees dripping with Spanish moss! And hearing my 3 yr old grandson on the phone last weekend when he face timed me and saw the water in the background....."YaYa, are you at the wet house? Stay there till I can get there!!!" He will be here tomorrow!
So, the thought of our precious memory maker seems that it will live on thru the next generations of our family....and nothing could make me happier!
A lakehouse does make dreams come true!!
Absolutely beautifully stated jmac....how heartfelt! Thank you so much for shaing this....loved it! Big hugs!!!
DeleteA cabin at the lake....or in the mountains....or even a sweet little trailer on a rented spot....it's the get-away with family that matters.
ReplyDeleteWonderful looking soup...great post.
Thank you BJ...so glad you stopped by today and enjoyed the post!
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