I’m loving our cold, wet weather. And what goes better with cold, wet weather than soul food, specifically thick hearty soups and stews.

Problem is the hubbinator hates soups and stews.

Apparently, they are not real food. I get it. He walks 20 miles a day at work. He needs something substantial to keep him going.

But, I wanted soup. So on the weekend, I made split pea soup and grilled cheese sandwiches on pumpernickel bread for lunch. There was a squinty-eyed look from him but he ate it.

Now, I am finishing off the leftovers for lunch.

Yesterday, I decided to make oxtail soup (stew). I had seen oxtails in the store the first time in a long time around Christmas and had been craving the soup. Naturally they didn’t have them then. But last weekend, I found them when I was looking for ham hocks for the split pea soup.

So I bought them, then with my Dad’s help found his recipe for oxtail stew which I loved as a child. My mother warned me not to expect it to taste the same. It took 4 and a half hours to make it on the stove.

And it was delicious.

The hubbinator even liked the chunks of tomatoes and carrots, but didn’t really appreciate sucking the tender meat off the bone. That’s the best part. And I have leftovers, which I offered to split with my dad. After all, more rain is coming on Friday.

Until next time, stay healthy.