We have not had much of a winter yet in Oklahoma.  It is cold today though, so I thought I would post a  couple of quick and easy “warm your bones” recipes.  If you happen to be one of our friends living in a warm state, I suggest you turn that air conditioner to COLD and pretend you are in  Oklahoma!

Tom Bill’s Soup

(Tom Bill was a lovely grandfatherly man that we had the privilege of knowing through the years.  He is reading this from heaven now, and I’m sure he’s smiling 😉

1 to 2 pounds of ground beef (OR NO ground beef would be good, too!)

Chopped onion, to your liking

2 to 3 cans of minestrone soup (plus add the designated water it calls for on the can)

1 can of Ranch Style beans

1 can of Rotel Tomatoes OR dice green chiles (IF you have a sensitive stomach, you can leave these out)

Season with salt and pepper

Brown your ground beef with the chopped onion, season, add all other ingredients. Let it simmer for a few minutes.  You may garnish with cheese and black olives.  Serve with cornbread, crackers or over corn chips.

Red Hot Cider

1  can of frozen orange juice (add water as directed on can)

1 can of frozen apple juice (add water as directed on can plus an extra can)

1 movie theater box of red-hot cinnamon candies

Pour all of the above in a large pan OR into a crock pot.  Cook on low and stir occasionally until the red-hot candies melt.  You may add cloves or cinnamon, if you like.

Well I just cannot leave you with the juice can recipes without sharing a funny story.  Many years ago, a nephew  lived with us for about a semester.  We lived in Newcastle, OK, his OU campus in Norman was close by. He was studying mechanical engineering, I believe.  He was great with our little boys and also very willing to help in the kitchen. One afternoon, he asked if he could help prepare dinner and I asked that he make the lemonade.  I handed him a can of frozen lemonade and a pitcher to mix it in.  Pretty soon he turned to me with a puzzled look on his face and said, “It says to add three cans of water to this?” To which I replied, “Yes, or maybe an extra half”.  And then he asked his real question, “What “can” do I use?”  😉  I’ll let you ponder on THAT one, now……and let me know if you try the recipes!