To say it has been cold this winter, is an understatement.
Arctic outflow is a weather event that occurs when cold air from the Arctic flows into other communities. This can lead to strong winds and dangerously low temperatures.
According to the National Weather Service, the polar vortex is a large area of low-pressure and cold air surrounding the Earth’s poles. It exists near the poles but weakens in summer and strengthens in winter. The term "vortex" refers to the counter-clockwise flow of air that helps keep the colder air near the Poles. During winter in the northern hemisphere, the polar vortex will expand, sending cold air southward with the jet stream. This occurs somewhat regularly during wintertime and is often associated with large occurrences of Arctic air in Canada and the United States.
Those not used to this kind of weather may not be ready or have the needed supplies to manage in this type of a disaster. As a writer of contemporary westerns, I think back to the Midwest and Western states and wonder how people in one-room log cabins survived in that weather, not to mention the domestic animals struggling in the freezing wind and snow.
Sometimes under life-threatening circumstances, the cowboys in the Old West did what they could to prevent the loss of cattle, and other livestock, and still take care of themselves.
For all who would like to have a veggie and chicken soup recipe with interesting vegetables, read below.
Vegetable Soup with Chicken or not.
Vegetable soup with chicken and fresh vegetables. Enjoy any day you want fresh veggie soup.
Prep Time: about 10 minutes
Cook Time: about 20 minutes or until vegetables are ready
Total Time: about 30 minutes
Servings: about 4 servings
Ingredients
- 4 cups chicken or vegan broth
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or butter, dairy, or vegan
- 3 medium carrots thinly sliced
- 2 celery stocks, diced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or garlic powder to your taste
- 8 ounces green beans, ends trimmed, halved
- 1 cup Baby Bok Choy, diced
- 12 ounces cooked chicken, diced or not if you prefer
- Chicken may be left out and a vegetable broth may be used for a vegan soup.
Instructions
1. Heat oil or butter in a stockpot over medium heat. Add carrots, celery, and onions to the pot. Cook for 5 minutes or until vegetables are lightly browned, and onions begin to become translucent.
2. Add green beans, diced Baby Bok Choy, and chicken broth, or vegan broth. Stir to combine. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 5 minutes, or until veggies are soft.
3. If you are using chicken, add chicken to the pot, and stir. Remove from heat and serve.
Many of my books have food as part of the plot. A caterer and a woman who owns a organic apple farm are heroines in a suspense book. Dangerous Money and a Western contemporary, the start of the small town romance series, book one of four. Her Country Heart, Sierra Creek Series
Excerpt: Dangerous Money Book Three of 4 in the Dangerous Series by Reggi Allder.
In the midnight gloom of a residential street in Carmel, California, business owner Kathryn Carlyle watched the city’s dim lights from the back seat of a speeding police car. She gasped for air as dread tightened her throat. This can’t be happening to me.
The catering van driven to billionaire software developer Conner Harrison’s birthday party had been impounded by the police as evidence. She rubbed her throbbing temples to release the pain accumulated there.
Two blocks from her beachfront condo, she snatched a breath of air. “Please stop. I have to get out.”
The middle-aged officer guided the patrol car to the curb. “We’re not finished with you. Go, but don’t leave town.”
He’d probably been waiting all night to use that cliché. Don’t leave town. She almost laughed, except nothing funny had happened tonight.
She exited the car and inhaled the sea breeze as it rustled her hair. It was a welcome change from the stifling atmosphere that contaminated the police station where she’d spent the last few hours. How long before the officer came back to arrest her?
Relieved to return to her safe neighborhood, she took a deeper breath, kicked off her black leather pumps, and sat on a driftwood log overlooking the serene bay.
She swallowed as nausea swirled in her stomach. The fact that she hadn't eaten since breakfast didn’t help. Because she was always nervous before an event, she’d planned to eat after Mr. Harrison’s party. Now he hovered near death. The thought of eating brought bile to the back of her throat. Why did the authorities think she’d poisoned a man she’d only met once?
A nightmare had snared her and was holding her in its grip. When Mr. Harrison died, the charge against her would be murder in the first degree.
As the realization crept through her, she tensed. Two deep breaths calmed her but didn’t stop the headache from forming over her right eye.
True, she’d had the opportunity to poison him, but no motive. She only met him because he’d asked her to cater his birthday party. With his death, there was nothing to gain and a lot to lose; her reputation, her business, her life.
In the morning, the police would sort out the truth of her innocence. Still, adrenaline caused her heart to race. She rubbed her temples and tried not to think anymore.
A gust of wind circled her. She shivered and folded her arms in front of her. Damn. Her suit jacket was still in the patrol car.
Kathryn stood, brushed the sand from the back of her skirt, and picked up her high heels and shoulder bag. Time to go home. Sleep was doubtful, but at least she’d put up her sore feet.
Leaves crunched somewhere in the shadows of the nearby trees, she squinted into the darkness but didn’t see anyone. Even so, fear gripped her.
She forced her swollen feet back into her pumps and walked quickly up the dimly lit street. The click of her heels echoed in the quiet night air. The desire to flee from an unknown danger increased the speed of her footsteps.
The street was empty, except for a black truck parked at the curb. The pickup’s engine revved. The cab light was on and cast an eerie glow on the driver’s face. He smiled at her.
As she thought about waving to let him know the headlights were off, the vehicle drove straight at her. It jumped the curb, sideswiped her, and sent her flying.
With a thud, she landed on the muddy front lawn of a neighboring condominium. The sound of the engine faded as the vehicle disappeared.
She lay motionless on the ground. Cold mud oozed into the fabric of her skirt. A twinge jabbed her and terror banged against her rib cage.
Overriding the sense of shock was her need to go home where she’d be safe. She grabbed the strap of her purse and attempted to stand. Pain shot through her hip and down her leg. She fell back into the mud.
A man dressed in black came out of the darkness and stood over her. Before she could cry out, he bent down and covered her mouth with his huge hand.
“Don’t scream. You’ll wake the whole damn neighborhood." Buy link Dangerous Money
“…This book has it all. Fast-paced, plot-driven conflicts and characters that you can’t tear yourself away from lift it from an ordinary story to a darn good read.”—Mimi Barbour New York Times Best-selling author.
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