Beer cheese soup that is perfect for cold fall days.

Beer Cheese Soup

Ingredients:
½ cup butter
1 carrot, small dice
1 stalk of celery, small dice
1 white onion, small dice
2 cloves of garlic, minced
¼ cup flour
2 cups IPA Beer
2 cups chicken stock
½ cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup shredded smoked gouda
1 cup shredded white cheddar
splash of Tabasco sauce 
Note: if you can't find smoked gouda, you can use liquid smoke. You can put a little at a time to the desired taste. Remember to always use two types of cheeses.

Directions:
First, prepare your carrot, celery, onion, and garlic ahead of time. Saute in butter the carrot, celery, onion, and garlic until soft. Add the flour and cook, stirring for an additional 2 minutes. Whisk in Beer slowly and let cook, stirring constantly. Whisk in chicken stock and let cook, stirring occasionally for 30 minutes. Add cheese and whisk until melted and smooth. Add Cream. Season to taste with Tabasco, salt and pepper. Note: if you can't find smoked gouda, you can use liquid smoke. You can put a little at a time to the desired taste. Remember to always use two types of cheeses.

 First, prepare your carrot, celery, onion, and garlic ahead of time.

Saute in butter the carrot, celery, onion, and garlic until soft.

Add the flour and cook, stirring for an additional 2 minutes. Whisk in Beer slowly and let cook, stirring constantly. Whisk in chicken stock and let cook, stirring occasionally for 30 minutes. 

Unlucky Mushroom Hunting

Since we have been getting a lot of rain we figured we would go mushroom hunting. Unfortunately, we found no edible mushrooms. In fact there were hardly any mushrooms. However, I did take a lot of photos. I mean what road trip without photos, right?

Tree stump with a lot of moss. This might seem boring for some people but for me, it is interesting and beautiful.

 

 A beetles wing hidden in the moss.

Bizarre tree growth and formation.

 

Lichen?

Such a bizarre mushroom we found on the side of the road we had to stop. I took several photos.

Visiting the Zoo – September 25

I think this will be our last visit for a while as we are getting busy. We are thinking of buying a house. The rent we pay could go for a mortgage so why not own.

I took the usual photos of birds (my favorite), the zoo’s permanent cat residents, big cats, and monkeys.

The zoo is called “Espace Zoologique de St Martin la Plaine” and it’s located in Saint Martin la Plaine.

Here’s their website:

https://www.espace-zoologique.com/

 

 It looks like an egg sac.

 Duck butts!

 

 Cool mushroom formations on a tree.

 Beautiful rooster!

 

 I love chickens and I can't get enough.

Frogs hanging out.

 Lounging tigers.

 

 This one is curious as to what is going on next door.

What a beauty!

An "almost" silhouette of peacocks.

 

 Another "almost" silhouette of peacocks.

 I love the colors of this bird.

Autumn is coming.

 He was carrying around this hay everywhere he went.

 Momma and baby!

These two looked like they were having an intense conversation.

 Peacock swag.

 Ooops, he sees something interesting.

 These tiny monkeys are adorable.

 Mice, there were lots of mice inside enclosures.

 We were seeing this one peacock everywhere. Here he is watching the chimpanzees.

Oh, oh, he sees us!

 Stretch!

 Greeting! However, one cat looks annoyed.

 

 Bump!

 

These cats are feral, and the zoo takes care of them.

 

 

 

 Geese see something.

 Geese honk!

 Chilling geese.

 

There are a few water areas throughout the zoo where you see ducks, swans, and possibly other water birds.

 

 Another feral cat that greeted us.

 She was really friendly.