"COZY" & VAL'S 4PATRIOTS FOOD 'COZY CREAMY POTATO SOUP w-VEGGIES & BACON' Recipe; Fortuna-AZ

Throughout 2025, I'm going to be posting notes of encouragement at the start of every week: there are 52 weeks in the year. Today, I am posting this bit of encouragement because it fits our life in the moment. There are changes coming down the pike for us, and we are happily going with the flow. Those of you who read our Blog, know we are in a period of transition - and that can be a good thing. It is also a bit complex. But we know we'll end up where Elohim wants us to be.

Holland feels very strongly that we will be pretty much in the PNW in the unfurling months. But, for the moment, we are in AZ.

Holland drove into Yuma early this morning to return an item, and came back home with a loaf of garlic bread, and a package of thick cut bacon … and I instantly thought to make potato soup with some of the bacon 😉

The weather here is cloudy and nippy, with a rain forecast in it at some point: a cozy comfort food would be most welcome: Holland's thoughts were flowing in the same direction 👩‍❤️‍💋‍👨

So, I got it under way in the soup pot, while doing laundry upstairs 😁

Normally, I would use regular potatoes … but living in an RV - even an RV as large as ours, doesn't lend a lot of space; anywhere. Pantry and cooking space has been drastically curtailed. In the beginning of our Road Gypsy roundtripping, Holland bought 2 large tubs of 4Patriots Food Supplies - and I'm still working my way through them. Today, we are going to be sampling the Potato Soup, for the first time 🙏

June 2023~The dehydrated food packages seemed the wisest choice, for long-term food storage in an RV.

As I've mentioned in previous posts where I've used the 4Patriots Food packages - they are very basic and very simple: I prefer to add ooph to them when I use them; and my husband is enjoying the extra additions, too 👍

He spoils me with a life of travel I have always dreamed about 🥰 … and I, in turn, spoil him with tasty food dishes 😘

This basic 4Patriots supper soup was packaged as usual with a chicken bullion base - to that was added a dry cream-based thickener, and diced dried potato pieces: with the extra additions I added, it made up very nicely 👏

I also baked the garlic bread to serve with the soup.

4Patriots Potato Soup Packet.

==VAL'S 4PATRIOTS FOOD 'Cozy Creamy Potato Soup w-Veggies & Bacon' Recipe ~serves 8

Large Soup Pot * 10 ct. thick cut Bacon strips, sliced in pieces * 1 Red Onion, sliced * 3 stalks Celery (& some center celery leaves), sliced * 2 large Carrots, sliced into coins * 3large cloves Garlic, minced * Salt & Black Pepper, to taste * 1/8 tsp. grnd. Cayenne pepper * 1 pkt. 4PATRIOTS FOOD 'Cozy Potato Soup' * 8 c. Water (pkt. says 10 c; but we like our soup to resemble a chowder 😉)

1) Slice the bacon, and place in soup pot - cook slowly while you prep vegetable.

Sauté bacon pieces, on medium heat.

2) Slice onion & add to bacon; while these ingredients are slowly cooking, prepare carrot & celery - adding to soup pot as each is sliced into pieces: when celery is added last, turn heat down to a simmer and cook about half an hour.

My addition of 'extra' ingredients.

Carrot coins …

Sliced celery w-leaves.

Slow simmer bacon & veg medley until carrots are bite-tender.

3) When veggies are soft (not mushy, but tender), sprinkle with soup packet & slowly add water … blending thoroughly to dissolve powder lumps.

##Preheat oven according to Garlic Bread package instructions.

Turn back to soup mixture & turn heat up to medium; cook about 20 minutes - stirring frequently to avoid scorching. Soup thickens to a chowder-like thickness as it cooks (if you prefer a thinner soup, add another 2 cups boiling water to the mixture - cold water will significantly slow the cooking time down).

Blend all ingredients, and cook on med-high heat.

While soup is cooking, slip bread into oven; if bread gets done before soup is ready, turn oven off & leave bread inside to stay warm.

YUMMY!

I like this time in our Life.

It's good.

It's promising.

It's cozily purposeful.

It's graciously unfolding with intent.

Holland is enjoying retirement, and finding contentment in being a Husband.

I like that my husband is pleased with me … and finds me, at 68 yo, desirable 💘😍

Air Supply - 'The Power Of Love' Lyrics: 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMiQ4e8Nzuk)

I like being a wife & homemaker.

I like being Holland's Wife, and making a cozy home for him; a relaxing refuge from the world's upheavals.

The kitchen radiates wonderful aroma's daily; gender roles have been agreeably sorted, & praises for individual strengths - as well as joint efforts, ricochet off the walls. Dwelling in unity is laying a firm foundation 🥰

Independence is pulsating with cozy love vibes 💝