Reuben-esque!

Delightful Reuben Dip

8 ounces plain cream cheese

1/2 pound sliced corned beef chopped (about 1 cup)

1 1/4 cups freshly grated Swiss cheese

1/4 Thousand Island or Russian dressing

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup sauerkraut, squeezed-dry

In a saucepan, combine all ingredients. Place over medium-low heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until all the cheese has melted. Serve hot with your favorite bread, crackers, or veggies.

NOTE: Can be refrigerated and reheated the next day. Can also be made in a microwave-safe container. Heat in 30-second increments, taking out to stir each time. Does NOT freeze well.

Rewarding Reuben Soup

Yield: 4 servings

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 large sweet onion, chopped

1 clove fresh garlic, pressed or minced

1 pound cooked corned beef slices, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

5 cups low-sodium chicken broth

14.5 ounces (approx.) sauerkraut, squeezed-dry

1/4 cup sour cream

2 tablespoons snipped fresh chives

1 cup shredded Swiss cheese, divided use

Garnish (optional): Toasted rye bread croutons

In a Dutch oven or soup pot, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until onions become very soft and begin to caramelize, about 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute, then stir in flour. Add the chicken broth, corned beef, and sauerkraut, then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, add sour cream, chives, and half of the shredded cheese. Stir well to combine. Return to medium heat and cook until the cheese melts, about 3 minutes. Place soup in serving bowls and top with a sprinkle of remaining cheese and toasted rye bread croutons, if using.

At times it seemed unfair that I should be paid for my work; for driving out in the early morning with the fields glittering under the first pale sunshine and the wisps of mist still hanging on the high tops. ~ James

Herriot

I am blessed to have a home with many windows for the view outside of nature. In that way that our greatest blessings can also be a curse, the joy of the windows sometimes finds me running outside attempting to rescue a bird who mistook its reflection as a passageway only to find itself in a sudden nosedive to the ground.

Perhaps you now wonder what “rescue” means. I pick up the bird, gently hold it between the palms of my hands and whisper you are ok, Namaste’ (my soul honors your soul)