Grandpa's Southern Peanut Soup

As I type this, I’m pausing to sip the last of this creamy rich soup from my big blue glass mug. It isn’t my Grandpa’s recipe, by the way. I found it in a novel I recently completed: How Sweet It Is by Alice J. Wisler.  Grandpa Ernest is the character Deena’s Grandpa in the book. After trying the soup, I requested Alice’s permission to share her recipe on my blog, and she graciously agreed.  I’m sharing the recipe exactly as it is in the book- that is how I made it and it is delicious.

Ingredients:

1 T butter

2 T minced white onions

2 T flour

6 cups of chicken broth

½ cup heavy cream

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 tsp red pepper

Paprika

Salt and pepper to taste (I left this out)

1 cup dry roasted unsalted peanuts, chopped

Fresh parsley

                In a large pot, heat butter and onion over medium heat until tender. Stir in flour. Simmer and stir in chicken broth, cooking until soup thickens. Add other ingredients except the parsley and chopped roasted peanuts. Garnish with parsley and peanuts and serve in individual bowls.

I did change the heavy cream because I had fat free half and half in the fridge- with just a tiny bit of whipping cream left from making homemade ice cream. And our only fresh herb that survived our summer dry weather is Emily’s rosemary, so I left off the fresh parsley. There were mixed responses to it in my family, as it isn’t something familiar, but Joseph (5) and I both enjoyed it. I think it might even be considered comfort food on a chilly winter day.

Visit the author’s website at www.alicewisler.com.