Small Thought, Big Pot- Part I

I am a sucker for a nice, hearty homemade meal. I love meat and potatoes, spaghetti, casseroles- anything your grandmother has ever made you, I love it. I remember years ago, sitting in my grandmother's kitchen, and her offering me a bowl of chicken stew. While my appetite wasn't huge at the moment (a rarity, so I must have had a hangover), I had learned by then that if you say no, she's going to keep offering. And it smelled awfully good. I accepted a bowl, and a piece of bread to go with it. I then proceeded to shovel it in because I promise you, it had to be one of the best things I had ever eaten. I don't know why I even had to think about having a serving- everything my grandmother ever fed me was nothing short of delicious. When I finished my bowl, she offered me a second, but I turned it down. Something told me I should just go ahead and take another bowl, but for some reason I felt it would be rude (I honestly don't know why). For years, I thought about that chicken stew, and always say to myself "I should have had a second bowl." I have yet to taste anything remotely close to what I refer to in my mind as that perfection in a bowl...until last August.

I was sitting on the computer, stuck in a Facebook vortex (probably looking at pictures of people I don't even know...sooo creepy), when a message popped up from my neighbour, asking if we would like some chicken noodle soup, as she had made a large batch. Learning from my stew experience, I did not turn this down. She promptly delivered a Tupperware container of soup, which I put in the fridge to eat for my lunch the following day. I had no idea as I loaded up my bowl and heated it up what a treat I was in for...it was scrumptious! I immediately messaged her, thanking her and begging for the recipe (which, luckily turned out to be pretty simple). It was the closest thing I had ever had to my Gran's stew, and I was determined I was going to make it in large quantities and live off it forever. When I started this blog, I was also determined to post at least once a week (see last post- October 11th), and when I got a dog, I was determined to go above and beyond to make sure she had the finest of everything (see the $5 bag of Purina Dog Chow in my cupboard). Needless to say, I did not get right on making the soup.

Monday of this week, I ended up with the day off, and some fresh veggies in my fridge. "Today is the day!" I told myself. I was going to make that soup, and I was going to love it. I proceeded to cut up the ingredients, and cook the noodles. Then I thought to myself "You know, Colleen, this would be amazing if you cooked it in the slow cooker." The thought of all the flavours simmering together all day made my mouth water. I pulled out my slowcooker, loaded in the ingredients, set the timer, and went to meet my friend Diana for a coffee. Nice day. Upon returning from my excursion, I tasted the creation- and could tell it was going to be delicious. By the time Clinton got home, it would probably be Top Chef-worthy. Soup Hall of Fame. The Eiffel Tower of soup.

Needless to say, because of my small thoughts and inability to complete them before acting on them, my soup was a FAIL. Can anyone predict the moronic thing I did to ruin this?