SNOW IS ON THE WAY!

It`s the 5th of January and it is 15 degrees in Nashville this morning! According to the weather folks, snow is on the way to Nashvegas! There was no measurable snow here last year so this is a big deal. It only takes and inch to shut this town down! A prediction of snow can cause the local schools to close before the first flake falls.We are the laughingstock of our Northern neighbors who don`t miss a beat with a foot of the white stuff! Let an inch fall here and it`s like ice capades on the roads. Most folks don`t have proper tires or chains but insist on driving anyway. Huge 4 wheel drive Hummers, off in ditches because no one told The Terminator behind the wheel that 4 wheel drive on solid ice doesn`t help much. Nashville becomes one huge demolition derby and the only people smiling are the ones who own grocery stores, liquor stores , body shops and tow trucks.
The forecast of snow sends everyone racing to the local grocery store to stock up in case they are snowbound for days, which really can happen with not much accumulation. Davidson county is huge with many back country roads that never see the sunshine in Winter and certainly are not salted or plowed.
I have been caught up in the frenzy of preparing for snow many times only to awaken to absolutely nothing! It amazes me that the weather experts here claim to be able to pinpoint the exact spot that a tornado will hit but blow a snow prediction on a regular basis. Around here when they call for 1 - 2 inches we all know that it will either be nothing at all or a blizzard so we make sure we have plenty of food and drink in house, just in case!
Last night I bought into the prediction and stocked up just in case. I have always cooked up a pot of white bean soup with smoked pork on snowy days . All of the ingredients are here waiting for the first flakes to fall. The quiet beauty of falling snow, the aroma of soup simmering , cornbread baking, and a warm chair by the fireplace...I can`t tell you how much I hope the weatherman gets it right this time!

WHITE BEAN SOUP WITH SMOKED PORK..serves 6 - 8
5 cans great northern beans, drained....puree 3 cans and set aside, keep 2 cans whole
1 large yellow onion, chopped
4 large celery ribs chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped small
2 large garlic cloves minced
3/4 lb. smoked pork minced ..I use smoked pork chops..country ham is too salty..
2 bay leaves
big 1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
several grinds black pepper
10 cups rich chicken stock....I add a little chicken base if stock is not strong enough

Saute all vegetables in a little olive or vegetable oil until translucent
add bay leaves, thyme, cayenne, black pepper, saute a few min. more

add chopped pork, cook a few min more
add stock
bring to a boil , lower heat and simmer for 15 min.
add the whole and pureed beans,,stir to blend
simmer slowly for about 30 min. more to blend flavors. Stir often to prevent scorching.

Taste and correct seasoning.

Serve with hot buttered corn bread and pass the Tabasco!