Blarney Stone Soup...

Legend has it that those not lucky enough to be born smooth talkers may acquire the gift of eloquence by kissing the Blarney Stone...at Blarney Castle...in Ireland.  A long way to go, at great expense, to learn to speak like a used car salesman, or an attorney in heat, or the mister after a celebratory time with his good friend Jack, who happens to be Irish.  While the mister has not actually kissed the Blarney Stone, he comes from a long line of people who have and Blarney runs deep in his veins...which is why his initials are B.S.  Just the other night the mister was regaling me with a story from his youth - and the Blarney was virtually flowing from his pie-hole!  His walk down memory lane was triggered by a scene from NCIS...and there he went - traipsing at the speed of AARP, describing for me how he once stole a duck from Rock Creek Park in D.C., then took it home to his bathtub where it happily swam for about 15 minutes before his father ordered him to return it to the park.  Fascinating, no?  But wait!  There's more!  While he pranced around the room, arms flailing, he moved closer and closer to the box of Girl Scout Cookies I had hidden in my nightstand (in case of an emergency where a burglar might be hungry).  His voice raised almost to a crescendo as he dipped down, opened the nightstand drawer and removed the cookies...Thin Mints...which everyone knows is any burglars cookie of choice.  Then, as he ended his story, box securely in hand, he exited the room, surely thinking he had mesmerized me with his tales of yesteryear to the point that I didn't notice his theft.  Whatever...I have more in the freezer.

Years ago, for St. Paddy's Day, I created this soup for my kids...I told them about the Blarney Stone and how people were not only smooth talkers but NICE talkers...I dropped real rocks into their soup bowls and read them a little ditty I wrote - here's part of it:

Blarney Stone Soup

With one sip of this soup you will find

That everyone is very kind!

You will say and do the nicest things

All day long your heart will sing!

The Blarney Stone's magic only lasts one day,

But if you try real hard, maybe you'll stay this way! 

They were duly impressed - for about 5 minutes.  The boy loved eating soup with a rock in it, the girl turned up her nose and would have thrown the rock at her brother had I not intervened. 

Of course, I did what all good mothers did, I lied to them about the rocks.  I told them they were "chips off the old block" from Blarney Castle - the boy LOVED his rock and kept it in his room in a special box for years.  The girl was on to me from the get-go.

About those rocks...your basic, garden-variety rock will work just fine, provided you can lie like an Irishman.  Just boil them in water for a bit to remove any mold, dirt or dog pee.  Drop a rock into each soup bowl, and cover with the most delicious Potato-Pea Soup ever.  Serve it up steamy hot with a slice or two of Irish Soda Bread (the Americanized version made with sugar is SO much better!) and you'll have yourself a great meal for St. Paddy's Day or any other "Spring" occasion! 

It's the perfect soup for St. Paddy's Day - it's bright green color comes from peas and fresh parsley.  It's thick with potatoes and then, to make sure the Blarney will be flowing like whiskey in an Irish pub, top it off with a bit of cream...4 dangs, my friends, print this and make it for your wee ones, and may you live to be 100 years old, with an extra year to repent!

Blarney Stone Soup

1 tablespoon butter

1 large onion, diced

32 oz. chicken broth, plus more for thinning, if desired

2 cups frozen peas

4 russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1/2-inch dice

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 cup fresh parsley, rinsed, stems removed, chopped

1 cup Swiss Cheese, shredded

Heavy cream to garnish, optional

Melt butter in large soup pot.  Add onion and cook over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes.   Add broth and bring to a boil.  Add remaining ingredients, bring back to a boil and stir until smooth.  Reduce heat and cook for 15 minutes.  Using an immersion blender, blend the soup until smooth.  (You can use a regular blender, transfer the soup in batches and blend until smooth.) 

Meanwhile, in a small pan, boil rocks covered in water for 10 minutes.  Remove with tongs and place one rock into each bowl. 

If you want your soup to be thinner, add more stock.  Before serving, taste for seasonings, add more salt and pepper if desired. To serve, pour soup over rock and top with a drizzle of cream.  Serves 6.

"May the grass grow long on the road to Hell for want of use."  ~ Irish Toast 

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One year ago:  Quilt Show Pictures

Two years ago:  Caveman Ham and Cheese Sandwiches

Comments

[Chris]

Tremendous story and what an excellent thing you did for your kids. I remember reading about the Blarney stone in the children's World Book Encyclopedia as a kid and can remember the picture of someone leaning back to kiss it.

[nanette]

You're hilarious. Love this story. I made "red" waffles on Valentine's for my family. My 14 year old son wouldn't eat his because he said they tasted red. Go figure. I'm not sure if my family would accept green soup even if it was delicious as I'm sure yours is!

[Sameday]

What a great story, I love when you make me laugh at work. You should really put together a book of your marriage - I would buy it.....

My son will love eating soup with a rock in it.

Thanks

[FORBESMabel26]

Different people in every country take the loan in different banks, because it's comfortable and fast.

[Cindy]

leave it to you nan, a great story with great food. green even:)