A Remembrance Served with Soup

Today marks the somber remembrance of JFK's death November 22, 1963. There are many good reasons why Americans remember our 35th president, John F. Kennedy, so fondly. Throughout his life, as a young man in college, war hero, U.S. representative, senator, Pulitzer Prize–winning author, and president, Kennedy fully embraced the American spirit and called on us to do the same.

It’s fitting that his first words to the nation, in his inaugural address as president, were “ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”

In 1940, the year young Kennedy graduated from college, the world was in the throes of World War II. He could have done anything, but he wanted nothing more than to fight for his country, ultimately earning the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for acts of heroism and, owing to related injuries, the Purple Heart.

As a U.S. senator he won the Pulitzer Prize for his book, "Profiles in Courage" in 1957. It is a volume of short biographies describing acts of bravery and integrity by eight United States Senators throughout the Senate's history.

Kennedy was in office a mere 1, 000 days and faced many challenges which included protecting America's sovereignty from outside influences, racism and his ongoing health issues.  

One particularly inspiring passage from the book reads, “In whatever arena of life one may meet the challenge of courage, whatever may be the sacrifices he faces if he follows his conscience — the loss of his friends, his fortune, his contentment, even the esteem of his fellow men — each man must decide for himself the course he will follow. The stories of past courage can define that ingredient — they can teach, they can offer hope, they can provide inspiration. But they cannot supply courage itself. For this each man must look into his own soul.”

Without a doubt, Kennedy supplied his own courage.

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Ever Ready Special:Turkey, Mushroom and Wild Rice Soup

Cook's notes: Pair the soup with your favorite sandwich, cornbread or Cranberry Eggnog Coffee Cake featured yesterday. http://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2016/11/overnight-cranberry-eggnog-coffee-cake.html Chicken can be substituted for turkey. Add more water the second day when reheating as rice absorbs the liquid. Recipe serves four. 
Ingredients:

• 1 cup uncooked Long Grain Brown and Wild Rice or a Wild Rice Blend
• 10 cups chicken broth, low sodium, divided
• 3 TB. butter, divided
• 1 cup each fresh mushrooms. onions, celery, carrots, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 tsp. each herbes de Provence and parsley flakes
• 1/2 cup flour
• 2 cups water
• 1/3 cup half and half or cream
• 2-1/2 cups shredded cooked turkey or chicken 

Directions:

• Bring rice, 2 TB butter and 2 cups chicken broth to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat.  Cover and reduce heat to low, and simmer 20 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed and rice is tender. 
• In a soup pot melt 1 TB. butter. Saute mushrooms, onions, celery, carrots and minced garlic stirring often 10 minutes or until tender.  
• Add in 1/4 cup butter, melt and whisk in flour and cook 1 minute or until bubbly. Whisk in 8 cups broth, water, spices and cook, stirring often until slightly thickened. 
• Whisk in wine, cream, mushroom mixture, turkey/chicken and rice. Cook on low heat 15 minutes. (Do not let mixture boil)