Pea and Leek Soup

If you prefer the soup to be 100% Vegetarian, you can substitute vegetable stock for the chicken stock.  I prefer to serve with toasted sourdough.  A swirl of cream will make this look nicer and taste richer.

Pea and Leek Soup
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Soup
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 3 baby leeks, sliced
  • 1-1/2 c. boiling water
  • 1 c. petits pois (peas), frozen
  • 1 tbsp chives, chopped
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp chicken stock
  • 1 tbsp cider vinegar
  • salt & black pepper
Instructions
  1. Place the baby leeks in a small saucepan with the olive oli until the leeks are soft. Add the rest of the ingredients except for the chives, setting them aside.
  2. Simmer until the peas are cooked through. Add the chives to the pan & use a hand blender to blend until smooth, or your preferred consistency.
  3. Serve with warm bread.

Photo Courtesy of M. King on Flickr

‘Wish I was in Oaxaca’ Chicken

RandallPMcMurphy Says: I make the chili powder from scratch using Alton Brown’s Recipe. Maggi seasoning is like Mexican soy sauce. It’s awesome.

'Wish I was in Oaxaca' Chicken
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Entree
Cuisine: Mexican
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Ingredients
  • 4 chicken breasts, skin on
  • 2 tbsp chili powder, divided
  • 1 bottle beer (Tecate)
  • 2 jalapeno peppers, sliced with seeds
  • 1 white onion, sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 2 chipotle peppers in adobo, chopped
  • 7 oz. Chipotle sauce (1 can)
  • 29 oz. Hunts Fire Roasted tomatoes (2 cans)
  • 3 c. chicken stock
  • 1 pinch Mexican oregano
  • 3 tbsp grape seed oil (or vegetable oil)
  • corn tortillas
  • cilantro
  • Maggi seasoning
  • salt & pepper
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Season the chicken breasts with salt & pepper, & a sprinkle of chili powder. In a dutch oven or large, oven safe pot, heat oil on Medium High & brown chicken. Approximately 3 minutes each side. Remove chicken & set aside.
  2. With pot still on medium high, throw onion, garlic & jalapeno in & cook for approximately 5 minutes.
  3. Deglaze with 6oz of beer, scraping up all the brown bits from the pan, & drink the rest.
  4. Combine the rest of the ingredients & the rest of the Chili Powder, with the onions, peppers & garlic & place the chicken in. Pour in chicken stock to just cover the chicken, if necessary, & bring to a simmer. Tear up 2-3 corn tortillas & toss into pot.
  5. Cover, & place pot in oven for 2.5 hours or until chicken is fork tender.
  6. Remove chicken from the pot & set aside. Use an immersion blender, or carefully pour braising liquid into a blender & blend until smooth. Taste. Season with Maggi seasoning & pepper to taste.
  7. Plate chicken in a shallow bowl, ladle over a spoonful of sauce, & garnish with cilantro to taste. Serve with corn tortillas.

 

Butternut Squash Soup

Consider this as a new tradition starter for your Thanksgiving this year!

Submitted by Joe
Serves 6-8

Ingredients

1 butternut squash, peeled 2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 onion, chopped 6 c. chicken stock
salt & pepper

Directions

  1. butternut squash soup by mary.w.e. on FlickrCut squash into 1″ chunks.  In a large pot, melt butter.  Add onion & cook until translucent, about 8 minutes.  Add squash & stock.  Bring to a simmer & cook until squash is tender.
  2. Remove squash chunks with a slotted spoon & place in a blender & puree.  Return blended squash to the pot.  Stir & season with salt & pepper.  Serve.

Potato Soup

Submitted by Wally
Serves 6

Ingredients

2 carrots 2 stalks celery
4 cloves garlic 1 medium onion or 3 shallots
6 medium potatoes 1 box chicken stock or broth
1 bunch fresh parsley or 2 tbsp dried 3 cans condensed milk
2 tbsp butter 2 tbsp flour
6 dashes Worcestershire sauce 8 dashes Chalula Hot Sauce (or your favorite)
½ slab of cooked bacon salt & pepper

Directions

  1. Slice carrots, celery, & potatoes into bite sized pieces & place into a large stock pot or Dutch oven. Thinly slice garlic, onlion (or shallots), & parsley & add to the vegetation.
  2. Add chicken stock to pot until it just covers the vegetables; if thgere is not enough to cover then add water until covered. Bring to a boil then simmer until carrots & potatoes are fork tender.
  3. In a small sauce pan, melt butter over medium heat & add flour after it has melted. Whisk until smooth & fully combined. Continue to whisk & add 1 can of condensed milk as the roué begins to thicken & boil. Add a second can of milk & allow roué to thicken.
  4. Add your roué & remaining can of milk to the vegetables & allow the new mixture to return to a simmer. Add Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, cooked bacon, & salt & pepper to taste.
  5. Allow the soup to come back to a simmer & allow to simmer about 1 hour on low heat to allow flavors to combine. Serve & enjoy.

Chef’s Note: You can also make this into Clam Chowder by adding 1lb of steamed fresh clams (12 oz canned clams, drained works too) to the soup about 10 minutes before serving. Make it into a chicken corn chowder by adding 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (boiled & shredded) & 1 can whole kernel corn into the soup at the same time as the sauces, bacon, and spice (step 4). If thickness of soup is not to your liking when completed, whisk 1 tsp of cornstarch & 1 tbsp of water together until the cornstarch is dissolved. Add this mixture to the soup & it should thicken immediately. Be aware that the roué will not thicken until it reaches a boiling point.