We Had A "Wild Thyme!"

Ok, Holly! I hope this is the start of some great recipes for you! 

I love you, angel! I know you want to cook and provide for your sweet husband! You are doing a great job!

 When you ask me for ideas lately I feel completely inadequate…Hopefully, this will help!

Yes, we actually did have a really fun and wild time while we were in Highlands, N.C! 

My parents have a home there that they share with 3 other couples. It's the perfect "get away!" You can see the details on my other blog here HERE if you would like to! 

There are lots of pics of scenery, etc….

Although we ate at a lot of great restaurants in Highlands by far our favorite was Wild Thyme!

The first night there we had dinner. We shared these fabulous Crab Purses in Phyllo….I could've just been happy with those! 

They were divine!

However, if I ever see homemade ravioli on ANY menu…that is what I will always order! 

So I did!

On the other hand….if I ever see Rainbow Trout on any menu…I make Jim order it so I can have that as well! 

As I said…it was our favorite place to go to! For dinner the first night…for lunch the very next day…and then for a glass of wine to sit an enjoy the afternoon on our last day! 

You cannot go wrong at Wild Thyme!

At Wild Thyme they serve two different soups of the day every day! I love that! Especially when it was so chilly outside that all I could think of was a warm bowl of soup! Nothing sounded better! Most places we frequent have the usual….tomato bisque, lobster bisque, etc…not at Wild Thyme…they have choices I'm not used to and one of them was Split Pea Soup! Now, I know you are all probably thinking oh my gosh! Really? Well, the answer is a resounding REALLY and Jim actually loved it! He never orders soup…but tends to eat mine once it arrives! 

Which he did this time as well!

After getting frustrated that my little cup of soup was being shared by two I quickly realized that I would not go hungry! Once we got our main courses we were in way over our heads! However, I knew that I wanted to re-create this soup if possible! I think I've come pretty close…try it and let me know your thoughts!

You definitely have to be a soup loving kinda gal to enjoy Split Pea Soup…but then again…Jim had seconds tonight! 

Along with our Pork Tenderloin sandwiches from our left over Oven Pork Tenderloin! 

It was all so good!

How cozy does this little cup 'o soup look in this McCarty pottery bowl?

Especially with a roaring fire and a yummy panini to accompany it!

As Luke Bryan says…."That's My Kinda Night!"

Hope you enjoy the recipes….try them and let me know any suggestions you have!

Split Pea Soup

2 T butter and 2 T olive oil

1 onion, diced

2 ribs celery, diced

2 carrots, diced

2 smoked ham hocks

4 garlic cloves, minced

1 C dry white wine

10 C chicken broth

1 package dried split green peas rinsed and picked over

1 t kosher salt 

1 t pepper

2 t dried marjoram

1 t oregano

1 t basil

3 bay leaves

saute veggies in olive oil and butter. Add the rest of the ingredients and let simmer for an hour and a half to two hours. Let sit in fridge over night. Skim off fat.  Remove ham hocks and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer and let cook for another hour. Puree a little bit with a hand held blender or add half of soup mixture to a regular blender and puree. Add back to soup and simmer for another 20 minutes. Serve hot with a good grilled cheese or a great pork tenderloin panini! If you want that recipe as well…just let me know! Hope you love this as much as we did!