An Experiment Gone Awry

Andrew has been sick. He missed two days of school. Not a lot happens when you have a sick child.

Friday he was able to go back to school just in time for all the Halloween festivities. My morning was spent getting last minute things together for Emma's class party, getting a costume for Paul and doing everything else I hadn't been able to do since I was playing nursemaid.

I knew that when I was done with my errands it would be time to eat (lunch was going to be my first meal of the day so it wasn't optional) and then I would have to get myself transformed into Maleficent. There wasn't going to be a minute to spare. I needed something easy and yummy for dinner.

I had come across this super cute idea in one of the blogs I follow. Click Here Let's see. I could throw everything into a crockpot and have dinner preparing while I was at the school. I had almost all the ingredients plus it was healthy and it was festive. Score!

While picking up my cookie kits at Macey's I got some split peas, barley and pumpkin bowls.

I also got some ground pork because my mom's split pea soup always had pork balls in it. (That sounds wrong doesn't it?)

I got it all put together and told the kids we were eating witches brew for dinner. I also told them I added green dye to make it spooky ookey looking.

They were willing participants in this experiment. No surprise here, Andrew didn't like it. Neither did Paul. There was a spice he didn't enjoy, which is weird because there are all normal spices I use all the time. Now are you sitting down? Guess who didn't mind it? Emma! She didn't love the barley but otherwise enjoyed it. Just when I think I know my kids. I thought it was okay but then again I have never been a fan of split pea soup.

It was cute but it was a total waste. I am sad that Witches Brew served in pumpkin bowls will not be a family tradition.

Here is the recipe if anyone wants to try it.

Witches’ Brew (Split Pea and Barley Soup)

INGREDIENTS
1 onion, chopped
1 bay leaf
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups dried split peas
1/2 cup barley
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
9 cups water or chicken broth
3 carrots, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
3 potatoes, diced (I don’t peel them!)
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley or 2 T. dried
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS
Place all ingredients in a large slow cooker and stir until well combined. Cook for 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low. Add more water if soup is too thick. Serve in bread bowls.