Snow? Maybe, possibly, but who cares! Soup time!

They are talking about snow this weekend. I shudder. Yuck. There are some great things about snow. Bundling up, sledding, snowball fights, hot chocolate and soup. One of John's favorite things in the world is a hot bowl(s) of soup. He sits and eats bowl after bowl, rarely looking up, in silence. I pack up the remaining soup in the pot into quart containers to be frozen. As I am washing the pots, John always wraps his arms around my waist and says, "Great soup, baby." and kisses my neck. This is what makes me a soup ninja. I like pleasing my man and this has pushed me to make the best soups ever. I do not give up until John says it is perfect.

Soups should not be overly complicated and should be hearty. Humble ingredients are best. Beans, kale, onions, chicken.... Enter what John and I refer to as "Grandma Chicken Soup". Both of our grandmother's made chicken soup. Same soup with one difference. His nonna had pasta and my grandmother's had matzo balls. It is so simple. Chicken, carrots, onions, celery, bay leaves, salt and pepper, pastina and wait for the kiss.

Melograno...Granada....Pomegranate

Such a majestic fruit. My childhood referred to this contraption as the "Chinese Apple". Anyone remember that? I remember the rare, and it was oh so rare, occasion that my mother would cave to my pleading and purchase one, and only one, at Foodtown. Foodtown.....hee.

Way back in the 16th century when Katherine of Aragon crossed the sea to the "Island" and married Hank (well, first his brother, but that tale is for another time), she brought with her badge (seen here). The pomegranate was to represent the persistence of life, fertility and regeneration. Which happened to be extremely important to a monarch.

Tis the season for pomegranates. Sometimes we are lucky to keep them into March. Right now, we are donning our garbage bags and wacking out the seeds with the backs of ladles. Seed by glorious seed. It is worth it. I love how our sorbetto is filled with small red flecks. I do get calls from puree people telling me how much money we would save buying juice. The POM people can sell me just the seeds released from their prison. Yes, yes I know. I will save money and labor and time! But....it just does not taste as good. No one can tell...they say. I say...You can! You can tell the difference.

Get them while they are here because not unlike Queen Katherine, another young fruit is waiting to replace you...

Winter = Bourbon

John and I love bourbon. We had a delicious dinner in New Orleans at Sylvain over the holidays. Sylvain's cocktails were intriguing. I was torn between Dennis' Sidecar and the Superfly Snuka. I had both, but that is another matter. Our lovely waitress, when asked for her preference, returned with another question, "Are you a bourbon girl?" Why yes! Yes, I am. She stated that I could not go wrong with the Sidecar. I did not. It was delicious. The Snuka was delicious as well, just so ya' know.

John and I use the cold weather as an excuse to drink bourbon. Bourbon just warms your toes, does it not?

This is our favorite cocktail. You may question our mixing really good bourbon with other stuff, but I have found that it is just more delicious with expensive bourbon. It is my opinion and I am sticking with it.

J+S Winter Drink

*Makes two drinks, cause drinking bourbon with a friend is best.

Bulleit, Knob Creek or Woodford Reserve bourbon

1 lemon, cut in half

2 tablespoons of dark brown sugar (Muscovado is best)

• Squeeze half a lemon directly into your glass x 2
• add one tablespoon of brown sugar in to glass x 2
• mix
• fill glass with ice
• fill to top with bourbon
• using a shaker cup, pour contents of glass back and forth until thoroughly mixed

ENJOY! It is tart, it is strong and cozy. Curl up with your favorite friend (John is my mine) and discuss. You're welcome.

And in comes 2012...

It is hard to believe that 2012 is here. I can remember the whole Y2k debacle and I find it funny that time is flying. All those old people always preaching about how life just zooms by. As a young adult you just do not think of these things, nor do you care. Life is to be savored, not ticked off. Well, I guess I am getting old. 2012! I am reeling.

We have had a great year at Capo. I feel energized and hopeful as we approach our 10th anniversary. It's a year away, but it is a big deal. We have always tried to embrace the lifestyle, the feeling, the joy that is our business. Taking things slow and not always the easy way. We think it is worth it.

I want to focus on that. The path of exploration and challenge. Figuring out what works. It can be quite a journey. Capo has always been a place where I can take my time and test the waters. It is a lifestyle that makes us all happy here.

So....we want to share more of that with you. Not just the gelato, but the "una passagiatta". Our daily stroll each day. In Italy, Italians take a daily stroll to the gelateria. The ritual of walking, sometimes alone, sometimes arm in arm, sometimes with a gaggle to get your daily fix of gelato. Whether a cone or cup, no matter. It is the journey and the end.

Last night we had pizza for dinner. It has taken me 6 years to get the crust right. Home pizza is very different from pizzeria or restaurant pizza. The journey was awesome, if not frustrating and the end was truly rewarding.