We are home. Home sweet home.
We arrived home to see Vancouver in all of her autumnal glory. Cool and crisp temperatures, red and gold leaves still clinging to the trees, brisk breezes and even some snow on the mountains! This being Vancouver there has been some rain as well, but I am happily embracing it all. Pulling on my boots and a warm coat, finding my gloves and grabbing an umbrella, heading out with the dog to walk our usual route to Trout Lake it almost feels like I never left. Almost. The big gift about going away is that upon your return you can really see your life with fresh eyes. The things you learned, the things you missed, the things that matter.
After having been on the road for two weeks (Miami to the Bahamas to Orlando to Washington DC to New York City) I was absolutely itching to get back in the kitchen. My kitchen. Of all the the rooms in our house, all of the comforts of home it was my kitchen that I missed the most. It is the centre of our home, the place where all good things happen, where so much more than food is shared.
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A windy, rainy chilly Saturday is the perfect time to make a pot of soup. I headed out to gather my ingredients and check out the changes on Commercial Drive (the new butcher is open! Liberty Wines is moving in!) and then it was back to the kitchen to cook.
Rolling out the little meatballs, simmering the stock, chopping the crisp leaves of escarole. Soon the table was set with napkins and spoons, some crusty bread was sliced and there were steaming bowls of homemade soup.
These past months have been a magical adventure but sitting there eating soup in the kitchen with my family I felt like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. There is no place like home.
Escarole and Conchigliette Soup with Parmesan Meatballs
This soup is my version of the well known Italian Wedding Soup, named for the perfect “marriage” between the greens and the meat. I used conchigleitte but any small pasta would do. If you can’t find escarole you could always use kale or swiss chard.
One final note: this soup is the perfect place to use a Parmesan rind if you happen to have one. I keep a bag of rinds in my freezer for just such an occasion and the addition of one in this particular soup not only echos the Parmesan in the tiny meatball but all adds a real depth of flavour in the broth.
For the meatballs:
1 lb (454 g) of minced pork
1 large shallot, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 large egg
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
1 slice of white bread, crust removed and torn into small pieces
2 tablespoons Italian parsley, finely chopped
Pinch of chilli flakes (optional)
1 teaspoon of salt
Freshly ground black pepper
For the soup:
10 cups of chicken stock (preferably homemade)
1 Parmesan rind (optional)
1 cup of carrots, peeled and chopped
1 cup of conchigliette, or any other small dried pasta
1 medium head of escarole, core removed, leaves washed well and coarsely chopped (about 6 – 8 cups)
In a medium bowl combine the pork, shallot, minced garlic, egg, Parmesan, torn bread, parsley, chilli flakes, salt and pepper. Gently mix until well combined. Form the pork mixture into 1 inch diameter meatballs and place on a baking sheet. Chill for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile heat the broth in a large pot over medium high heat. Add the parmesan rind if using and bring to a simmer. Add the chopped carrots and cook for 15 minutes and then add the meatballs and simmer for an additional 10 minutes. Add the chopped escarole and cook for a final 5 minutes until it is wilted but still bright green. Remove the Parmesan rind and discard.
Serve hot!
Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Good to have you back in your favourite room. After returning from Italy in the summer, I had the same feeling about my studio.
Ross
Welcome home! Conchigliette is perfect for this soup.
so happy to see you home and to find another great post! i love the fall here and am eager for a walk around trout lake and a visit- welcome home xoxo
Welcome home my friend! I’m off to get groceries … the list has just changed to include the makings of this soup!
So glad you are home safe and sound. What perfect timing…Home for the Holidays…Happy Thanksgiving to you and all of your family…My niece, the other Julie M, walked over with her beautiful new puppy, Rutherford, this afternoon and here we were in Charlotte, N.C. talking away about you, your family, and your travels and waiting to get another great post from you. Can’t wait to fix this awesome soup. WELCOME HOME
Yay!!! Soup on a crisp, clear fall day… nothing finer – welcome home!!
Welcome home. This soup looks like something I will love, but I suppose this isn’t a big surprise. I don’t know if you’ve posted anything yet that I wouldn’t love. Enjoy settling in. Take care, Denise
Looks delicious! Welcome home!
Welcome home! As I drove by your place tonight on my way to Faire’s piano lesson I thought your house looked more lit up. Hurray!
Thanks everyone for your sweet comments. It feels wonderful to be home. The first snowflakes of the season are coming down as I type this. How lovely is that? I suddenly feel the need to make some more soup. xo J
Hi Julie,
I have been following your site for some time, enjoyed a class in your kitchen and reading about your experiences settling in Miami and now your return home. As a born and bred Vancouverite, I am warmed by your rootedness to this city and your description of what home means to you and how you celebrate it with food. This soup sounds like a perfect way to experience “home”.
Diane
Hi Diane,
So nice to hear from you! Both Sarolta and I enjoyed the afternoon that we spent with you and Kathleen in May. Thanks for kind words, it really does feel great to be home. Wanted to let you know that I checked out your site and think that it is wonderful. Congratulations! I already have some recipes bookmarked to try. Can’t wait.