Tag: Soup (Page 3 of 4)

Summer Garden Vichyssoise

July 15, 2015 / Jenny / 4 Comments

This light and refreshing soup is a delicious way to use summer vegetables. Packed with nutrients from all the greens and protein from the Greek yogurt, it’s a healthy soup too. Vichyssoise is a French word, and though some sources say this type of soup originated in France, some say it began in the United States. In any case, Vichyssoise is usually served cold, though it can also be served warm. It typically consists of potatoes, leeks or some type of onions, and some kind of creamy ingredient, such as milk, cream, or yogurt. There are countless variations, and it’s fun to experiment with it.

The recipe I am sharing below is based on one I found in my latest (and ever-evolving) cookbook obsession, Cranbrook Reflections: A Culinary Collection. It features potatoes, green onions, and cucumbers. However, I substituted garden-fresh spinach and Swiss chard for the lettuce, and Greek yogurt for sour cream. Chilled and blended to a creamy smoothness, it is truly delicious and energizing. With the muggy weather we have been having here, it feels good to have a cold soup packed with rejuvenating greens. It keeps in the refrigerator for a few days, and I know I will be enjoying it for the next couple of lunches.

Today, I believe we will finally have a reprieve from the mosquitoes. The air feels less humid, there is a fresh breeze, and the sun is bright. It has been quite a couple of weeks for mosquitoes here. Maybe this afternoon we can pick our black raspberries and work in the garden, without being attacked! The fresh breeze and warm sun of today make me think of one of my favorite Emily Dickinson excerpts: “Inebriate of Air–am I–/And Debauchee of Dew–/Reeling through endless summer days–/From inns of Molten Blue.” Hope you all have a nice end of the week and weekend!

Summer Garden Vichyssoise

Servings: 6
Time: approximately 25 minutes
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Ingredients:

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 to 1 cup chopped green onions
1 cup unpeeled potato, thinly sliced
1 large cucumber, peeled and diced
2 cups shredded greens, such as spinach and Swiss chard
3/4 teaspoon fresh dill, finely chopped (leaves only)
3 and 1/2 cups chicken broth (you can use vegetable broth if want to make it vegetarian)
1 teaspoon of salt, or salt to taste
dash of freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 cup plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream if you prefer)

Directions:

Heat the oil in a large soup pot. Add the potato and green onion and cook, stirring frequently, over medium heat for about 5 minutes, or until the onion is softened. Add the cucumber, greens, dill, broth, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and cover. Simmer for about 15 minutes, until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and allow the soup to cool. Stir in the Greek yogurt. Puree the mixture in a blender in batches until smooth. Refrigerate the soup until cold, or you may serve it warm if desired. Garnish with fresh herbs such as dill, parsley, or chives. Enjoy!

Potato Soup with White Beans

May 8, 2015 / Jenny / 4 Comments

Spring never arrives smoothly here in Michigan, and the weather swings back and forth like a pendulum. Some days are as warm and sunny as a dream (like today), with flowers and buds popping out everywhere, while some days are bone-chillingly cold, wet, and windy (like 3 days ago). It was a cold, wet, and windy spring day when I put this soup together in my warm, cozy kitchen. This recipe is a great way to use some staples in your pantry and make that grocery budget stretch a little further. And it is healthy, hearty, and really tastes delicious too. My husband and son are big fans of this soup.

Potatoes, great northern beans, onions, and carrots all keep really well and can be easily eaten at any time of the year. I used golden carrots this time, and brightened up the soup with chopped fresh parsley from the plant on our windowsill. As spring produce comes in, I can imagine serving it with a side of asparagus or fresh new greens. The tablespoon of tomato sauce adds body and flavor to the soup, but it is optional. We almost always have a jar of tomato sauce in the refrigerator for one thing or another, so it was easy to grab a tablespoon of it to add to the simmering pot.

This soup is very easy, and does not take more than thirty minutes to make. I am on a continuing quest to make meals from as many whole foods as possible, while keeping an eye on both the time involved and the grocery bill. I feel that this soup recipe fits in with my ongoing quest. Of course it is nice to splurge sometimes, both with time and money. And it’s not realistic for us to eat healthy, whole foods one hundred percent of the time. But with a little planning, it doesn’t always have to be expensive and time-consuming to eat in ways that are good for our bodies and good for our planet. And truly, foods that are good for our bodies and the planet taste really, really delicious!

Have a great weekend! Spring is a time of great promise and new life, and lots of labor to bring our seeds to fruition. Our cherry trees are in full blossom and some vegetable seeds are coming up. This quote seems fitting for this time of year: “Happiness held is the seed; Happiness shared is the flower.” –John Harrigan

Potato Soup with White Beans and Carrots

Servings: 4-6
Time: approximately 30 minutes
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Ingredients:

2 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil
1 cup of onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped into small disks
3 cups of potato, scrubbed and chopped into small cubes
15 ounces of cooked white beans (I used great northern beans), drained and rinsed
6 cups of chicken or vegetable broth
salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon of tomato sauce

Directions:

Wash and chop the vegetables. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large pot. Swirl the oil around to coat the bottom of the pot. Sautee the onions and carrots for about 5-7 minutes, until soft, stirring frequently. Add the broth and potatoes, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, and simmer at medium-low heat for about 12 minutes, until the potatoes are fork-tender. Add the beans, and cook over low heat until heated through. Then add the tablespoon of tomato sauce and salt and pepper to taste, depending on how much salt is in your broth. Serve with a salad, sandwiches, or cheese and crackers. Enjoy!

Rainy Day Soup

December 9, 2014 / Dragonfly Home Recipes / 8 Comments

I call this Rainy Day soup for a couple of reasons. First, because it is a warm, nourishing soup to have on a cold, rainy day. (And we seem to be having a few of those lately). Also, this soup is not an expensive soup. It makes me think of the saying, “save it for a rainy day.” During this time of year, many of us spend more money than we maybe should (or maybe I’m just speaking of myself!) on holiday preparations. To make an inexpensive meal during this time helps balance the spending. Cabbage is one of the cheapest vegetables around–and it keeps for quite awhile in the refrigerator. Potatoes are also inexpensive and keep well (though less inexpensive if you buy organic, which I do, since we ate all our garden potatoes; still, they are economical). And kielbasa, even the higher quality kind, is reasonable. So I like to save this soup for a rainy day when I want to cut back on my food spending, but still create a good meal. Variations of cabbage and potato soups abound, and I have played around with lots of different versions, depending on what ingredients I have on hand. This is just one of many experiments that I like, but this recipe is so simple, tasty and filling, that I have written it down, and want to share it on my blog. For me, cabbage was an under-appreciated vegetable until the last few months. Now I like to use it in soups as often as I can. It helps that my son, who loves soup, likes cabbage too. I know he is getting vitamins A and C, minerals, and fiber when he eats cabbage. If you are looking for a way to warm up on a rainy day, get good nutrition, and be frugal without giving up taste, give this soup a try.

Rainy Day Soup

Servings: 4-6
Time: about 15 minutes preparation, about 30 minutes simmering time
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Ingredients:

1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
4 cups potatoes, washed and cubed
2 cups green cabbage, washed and finely chopped
6 cups chicken broth (I like to use the Better than Bouillon chicken base mixed with water–it is delicious)
8 ounces kielbasa, fully cooked and thinly sliced

Directions:

Wash and chop the onion, potatoes, and cabbage. Thinly slice the kielbasa. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Saute the onion for 5-7 minutes, until soft. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. When the broth is boiling, gently add the chopped potatoes. Bring back to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer the potatoes for about 12 minutes, until fork-tender. Add the cabbage. Gently simmer for about 20 more minutes. Add the sliced kielbasa and cook until heated through. Season to taste with salt and pepper, if desired. Serve with rustic bread. Enjoy!