Soup Weather
Parenting is tricky isn’t it? The notion that we put ourselves in the position to nurture and guide young children into adulthood, when a lot of the time we haven’t got life figured out for ourselves yet is a crazy one when you think about it.
I am under no illusion that I got a lot of it right, and with hindsight I would have done many things differently, but isn’t that life? Learning as we go.
I remember talking through a disagreement with one of my children after we had butted heads. I told him that I was still learning on the job. I had never been this version of me before, and I had never parented this version of him before either; we were both navigating life one day at a time.
So, when my daughter asked me what I wanted for Mothers’ Day, I instantly invited her to host the Soup Weather gathering for our family. She did a magnificent job, and I felt the love, and gratitude for the life I have helped shape in what she prepared for me.
The beautiful, whimsical candelabra that my lovely children gifted me, with the candles that Anne gave me.
When I emerged from my lovely breakfast in bed I saw that she had set the table in advance of the evening meal; she chose the blue and white toile tablecloth and laid it with the Blue Willow dinner ware that we have. In the middle of the table was a small note with “for Mum” written on it. This space was reserved for the magnificent, whimsical silver-toned candelabra that she and her brother had given me that morning.
The table looked delicate and airy, and the advantage of having it ready early in the day was that I could enjoy looking at it while I pottered around.
The white and blue themed table looked fresh and inviting by daylight
The dinner that she prepared was a testament to love.
A quick snapshot of the table just before it was demolished by the hungry hoards. The table which looked ethereal during the day became cosy by candlelight.
Lifting the lids of the soup tureens placed in the middle of the table revealed a selection of pumpkin soup, potato and leek soup, and a tasty and filling sausage and bean soup, every one made from scratch. All were delicious, but my favourite was the hearty sausage and bean, and I must admit I felt a twinge of disappointment when there was nothing left over to take for work lunch the following day.
A collection of flavoured butters made from scratch using thickened cream, salt and a Magimix Cook Expert. It made short work of the butter making process. We went from liquid cream to butter in under 10 minutes.
To accompany the soups, Amelia served fresh bread and a homemade butter selection; maple and honey, miso, and garlic and parsley.
We pressed our little-used bread machine into service, but it wasn’t as successful as we had hoped. The loaf hadn’t cooked all the way through, and was difficult to slice as a result. However, it was delicious, and was a worthy vehicle for the butters and pate that accompanied it.
My latest Facebook Marketplace acquisition; a soup tureen that we have called Stewart…Rabbit Stew, as it were.
The potato and leek soup served in it was delicious.
Conversation around the table was a little muted, as it was punctuated by the scraping of spoons against bowls, and people fighting over the ladles for second and third helpings.
Looking at the family members who were able to be at the table that evening, their dear faces illuminated by Anne’s gifted candles, I felt such gratitude. I certainly haven’t got this parenting gig entirely right, but perhaps I got it right enough, enough of the time, to help raise these thoughtful, generous, funny individuals whom I love beyond measure.
How lucky am I?
