by D. Edward Hughes

Created on: November 23, 2009

Winter is approaching once again. Cold winds, snow, rain and ice are all on the way for many places. What's worse is the fact that quite a few of us will be exposing ourselves to these harsh elements on a regular basis. Too regular not to be prepared to protect our bodies, not only for work, but for our overall health in general. One of the best ways to nourish this health in capricious, cold weather is soup. Mark one down on the scorecard for grandmothers everywhere on this point! How dare we send ourselves out the door to wrestle with Old Man Winter without first arming our bodies with the natural defense of inner warmth and nutrition! Unimaginable and a hard trespass to forgive in unpredictable winter weather.

But if you're having difficulty focusing on a particular soup, it could be because you're simply bored with the same recipe. Here's one you might favor. It's a great recipe simply because it really isn't that hard to make, and it keeps really well in the refrigerator or thermos bottle. It's called "Cheesy Chicken Potato Soup". But don't be deceived by the title; what sets it apart is the use of those hot little tabasco peppers in this particular recipe. And it's perfect for people with a palate geared towards a spicier menu!

You will need:

2 quarts of water

3 cups of milk

2 cans of cream

1 tsp of salt

1/4 tsp of black pepper

6 potatoes (cleaned and cut into one inch squares)

6 - 8 small tabasco hot peppers (finely chopped)

4 stalks of celery (cleaned and diced)

2 skinless and boneless chicken breasts (diced)

4 - 6 oz. of American cheese

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

*In a four quart pot, bring two to three quarts of water, milk and cream with one teaspoon of salt to a boil. Add one quarter teaspoon of black pepper. Reduce heat to simmer.

*Clean, peel, cut and re-clean six potatoes of the species you prefer. Dice celery at this time, also. Add potatoes, celery and tabasco peppers to the mixture.

*Prepare and partially oven bake two skinless and boneless chicken breasts. Bake time should be approximately twenty minutes.

*Add diced chicken to the mixture.

*Simmer for thirty minutes, then add cheese. Continue to simmer for an additional thirty minutes, stirring the mixture often.

*Remove from heat and let stand for one hour, stirring occasionally.

*Serves six people.

So, if you find yourself out in the cold quite a bit, or you just want something that will add some spice and life to you this winter, this simple recipe should live up to almost any standard. Adding some oyster crackers or croutons should round out this meal quite nicely, and make it a tasty favorite for any cold weather occasion. Perfect for those unexpected visitors, too. Just asking them if they're up to trying something a bit different should garner their interest right away!

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