Warm, nostalgic comfort in a bowl, that is what I think when I taste a spoonful of this broccoli buttermilk soup. It is creamy without being too heavy, and the buttermilk gives it an extra tangy flavor that blends well with the broccoli and herbs. Two percent milk keeps this soup fairly light while still allowing it to deliver that smooth comforting taste we associate with broccoli soup. Top it with some shredded cheddar cheese, and it is even tastier!
Cold, gray skies make me long for soup. Uncertain times and difficult situations make me long for soup. Soup soothes a heart that is in need of comfort. Whether there is turmoil out in the larger world or turmoil in our daily interactions, the act of making soup is an act of positive creation, and a steaming bowl of soup represents the intent of that positive creation.
The richness, the creaminess, offset by the earthy flavor of the broccoli, has such a grounding, calming, and nourishing effect. This recipe is based on one I found in my Hollyhocks & Radishes cookbook by Bonnie Stewart Mickelson. It is quick and easy to make, and tastes great for lunch or as a side dish with a sandwich for a cozy dinner. Broccoli soup is a classic soup that has so many positive associations and memories for me. Sometimes a classic, nostalgic soup is just what a person needs.
With the weather so gray and with no snow on the ground, we have been doing some indoor things this month. One very simple and fun trip was to the conservatory at the botanical gardens near us. What a great place to visit in the winter! The air in the conservatory is warm and humid, and there are beautiful plants and flowers blooming everywhere. It’s like being magically transported to a tropical paradise for awhile!
Another fun winter trip was to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. My son is a car enthusiast, and so my husband’s brother and his wife, who know their way around Detroit, took us to the auto show and on a tour of part of the city as well. We thoroughly enjoyed this day, and Detroit is a city rich in history and positive aspects. One unexpected bonus of that day was listening to a concert by a jazz band from the Detroit School of Arts. Very inspirational for my kids, who both love music.
I hope you all have a great weekend, and if you are looking for a broccoli soup recipe, this one is really delicious! Stay warm and take care! I will be sharing this recipe over at Angie’s virtual potluck, Fiesta Friday. And I am sharing this quote that caught my eye today: “Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh 
Broccoli Buttermilk Soup
Ingredients:
- 1/2 of a medium sized onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 4 cups of chicken broth
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon of dried sage
- 1/2 teaspoons of dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme
- 3/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1 and 1/2 pounds of broccoli (or about 2 large heads of broccoli), chopped to the size you want it
- 4 tablespoons of butter
- 6 tablespoons of flour
- 2 cups of milk (I used 2% milk)
- 1 cup of buttermilk
- a dash of cayenne pepper (optional)
- shredded cheddar cheese for the top (optional)
Directions:
In a large saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium heat. Sauté the onion until soft, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the broth and seasonings. Bring to a boil, and then add the chopped broccoli. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the broccoli is tender.
In a medium saucepan, melt the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and continue to stir with the whisk until it is bubbly and smooth, about 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk and buttermilk and stir until the mixture just thickens.
Add the milk mixture to the chicken broth/broccoli mixture. Continue to stir until everything is combined and very hot, but do not allow the soup to boil. Adjust the seasonings to your taste. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with shredded cheddar cheese, if desired. Enjoy!
This recipe is adapted from Hollyhock & Radishes by Bonnie Stewart Mickelson.
I have been a fan of instant noodle bowls for a long time. Like many of us, I relied on instant ramen noodle packages when I was just out of college and living on my own. I loved the salty, tangy taste and they filled me up for just around a dollar a meal! I quickly got more interested in my health and whole foods, so I had to let the instant ramen meals go. But in a pinch, when I am in a rush or when I am craving a quick umami taste, I will still buy an instant noodle bowl package. So when I saw this mason jar instant noodle bowl idea in one of my new cookbooks, Mad Genius Tips, by Justin Chapple and the Editors of Food and Wine, I was very excited. (That book is full of fun and great ideas, by the way, and I am excited to try more!)
The recipe below is loosely based on one I found in Mad Genius Tips, though I used tofu instead of chicken and changed a few other things around as well. Also, I found that pouring the soup into a bowl after it cooks in the mason jar makes it easier to eat, so that is why I call it a noodle bowl instead of a noodle cup.
I like to buy baked tofu because it is fairly firm and holds up well. Since the cooking time is only about five minutes, the noodles need to be either very thin noodles that are made to be cooked almost instantly, or noodles that have already been cooked. I have used both, and they both work well. I especially like using a type of Japanese noodles called Tomoshiraga Somen because they are almost as thin as thread, and cook really quickly. I have also used leftover cooked spaghetti or angel hair noodles, and they work too, if you are trying to use up your leftovers. If you have leftover cooked vegetables and want to add them, give it a try! Otherwise, quick-cooking vegetables like spinach, peas, or mushrooms work best.
After trying a few versions of watermelon gazpacho, I came to the conclusion that in this case, for my family, the simplest recipe is the best. This recipe, a result of researching and trying some different combinations of ingredients, is the most basic watermelon gazpacho I made, and yet it is our favorite. Sometimes, if a recipe is really simple and quick, I am more likely to make it on a busy evening, and we are more likely have it more often. So the recipe I am sharing below is my own answer to the question, but with the influence of lots of different sources, including Bon Appetit and Better Homes and Gardens.
There is something so revitalizing about eating fruits and vegetables that come from the earth, preferably earth near home. It anchors me and at the same time gives me strength to reach out. I recently started practicing yoga again after many years away from it. I find that yoga helps me with my physical and mental health, especially with my spine and my stress level. But it also teaches me so many things in quiet ways. I have always struggled with the warrior poses, because even though I was a runner for years, and am now a walker and bicyclist, for some reason my legs are not always as strong as they could be. The warrior poses focus on standing strong.
Yesterday our instructor had us stand in the warrior pose while slightly moving our upper bodies back and forth. I felt how life events and other people can push and pull us in different directions, and we can bend to some extent, but at the same time, we still can try to stay rooted strongly to the ground. As my feet and legs were wobbling and aching from the effort, I focused on standing firm. For whatever reason, I think that is the message I needed to hear this week, and a skill I need to cultivate. The warrior pose, named after the warrior Virabhadra, is these days not about fighting an actual war, but rather it calls us to engage our inner warrior and is said to symbolize our inner struggle and ability to overcome ego and ignorance.
