"Stuff I Like" Sunday: Soup
As the days get cooler and the leaves begin to change, my thoughts turn to one thing:
Nothing says "fall" like a steaming bowl of soup. Or stew. Or chowder or chili or any other one of its bowl-bound cousins. Pair it with some nice, warm, crusty bread and you've got a match made in heaven. So because it's fall, and because soup = awesome, I'm going to share a few of my very favorite soup recipes.
You're welcome. :)
Rachael Ray's French Spring Chicken Pot is just amazing. It's got such an interesting, distinctive flavor: dijon mustard and wine and cream ... YUM. Tastes so upscale and complex, but it's actually pretty easy to throw together. It's one that you could cook for a dinner party and people would be all, "Wow, I didn't know you were such a gourmet," and you could shrug casually like you do it all the time and be all, "Oh, it was nothing," and never have to admit that 90% of your dinners come from a box and/or the freezer.
Pumpkin Soup with Sage and Ham is, like, the epitome of autumn soups. It's thick and hearty and the sage is the perfect compliment to the pumpkin - especially with the slight sweetness of the apple and the smoky flavor of the ham. Oops, I just drooled on my keyboard. *wipe wipe*
If you like Zuppa Toscana (Tuscan Soup) from Olive Garden, here it is. Rich cream, hearty potatoes, bacon and slightly spicy Italian sausage, and kale. So simple and rustic, but sooooo fulfilling. Word to the wise: do not try, in any way, to reduce the fat content. This is a fattening soup. Just let it be, and pretend it isn't going straight to your thighs.
I love Thai food, and so I love this: Thai Chicken and Coconut Soup. I tweak this recipe a little, though - I leave out the fish sauce (because I would rather gouge out my eyes than eat fish), and rather than red chiles I use roasted red peppers (especially if I'm feeding it to my kids, because they can't handle a lot of spice).
Finally, we have Corn and Shrimp Chowder with Mashed Potatoes. I haven't tried this one yet, but the ingredients are on my grocery list this time. It's from one of my favorite cookbooks, Food & Wine Magazine's Quick from Scratch Herbs & Spices Cookbook (the Thai and Pumpkin soups are also from that book). I've tried most of the recipes in this book and haven't yet eaten one I didn't love, so I'm sure this soup is delish - and plus, doesn't it just sound like the ultimate fall comfort food?
Rachael Ray's French Spring Chicken Pot is just amazing. It's got such an interesting, distinctive flavor: dijon mustard and wine and cream ... YUM. Tastes so upscale and complex, but it's actually pretty easy to throw together. It's one that you could cook for a dinner party and people would be all, "Wow, I didn't know you were such a gourmet," and you could shrug casually like you do it all the time and be all, "Oh, it was nothing," and never have to admit that 90% of your dinners come from a box and/or the freezer.
Pumpkin Soup with Sage and Ham is, like, the epitome of autumn soups. It's thick and hearty and the sage is the perfect compliment to the pumpkin - especially with the slight sweetness of the apple and the smoky flavor of the ham. Oops, I just drooled on my keyboard. *wipe wipe*
If you like Zuppa Toscana (Tuscan Soup) from Olive Garden, here it is. Rich cream, hearty potatoes, bacon and slightly spicy Italian sausage, and kale. So simple and rustic, but sooooo fulfilling. Word to the wise: do not try, in any way, to reduce the fat content. This is a fattening soup. Just let it be, and pretend it isn't going straight to your thighs.
I love Thai food, and so I love this: Thai Chicken and Coconut Soup. I tweak this recipe a little, though - I leave out the fish sauce (because I would rather gouge out my eyes than eat fish), and rather than red chiles I use roasted red peppers (especially if I'm feeding it to my kids, because they can't handle a lot of spice).
Finally, we have Corn and Shrimp Chowder with Mashed Potatoes. I haven't tried this one yet, but the ingredients are on my grocery list this time. It's from one of my favorite cookbooks, Food & Wine Magazine's Quick from Scratch Herbs & Spices Cookbook (the Thai and Pumpkin soups are also from that book). I've tried most of the recipes in this book and haven't yet eaten one I didn't love, so I'm sure this soup is delish - and plus, doesn't it just sound like the ultimate fall comfort food?
I've been out of town for the past couple of days (collecting blog fodder the whole time, natch), but I'll be back to blogging regularly tomorrow. Just thought I'd explain in case you were wondering about my absence in the blogosphere, that's the reason. You were wondering, right?
... Hello?
... Hello?
Aw, go make some soup.
(And if you have a favorite, can't-miss soup recipe, feel free to share it in a comment!)
(And if you have a favorite, can't-miss soup recipe, feel free to share it in a comment!)
Of course I've been wondering! I have missed you so much I lie awake at night wondering how I am possibly getting through the days without your blog banter. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteI love making soup. It is by far the easiest and most rewarding meal to make!
I've had French Onion Soup every day this week...but after reading this I definitely need a new soup !!!
ReplyDeleteOoo I LOVE soup.
ReplyDeleteBut no one else in my family does :( I live with weirdos!!
I wasn't wondering where you were because, um, you just had a baby! I think you deserve a break. But I'm glad you're back!
ReplyDeleteI haven't had a wide variety of soups ever, these sound wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWe eat soup that isn't really soup. Broccoli and broth? Broccoli soup.
ReplyDeleteThis works with zucchini, cauliflower, etc.
How on earth do you spell cauliflower anyway? Is that right?
Mmmmm.....I love soup.....even leftover soup. The Zuppa Toscana is probably my favorite of the ones you've made for me, but the pumpkin soup was excellent, too! Now I need to make the corn & shrimp with mashed potatoes!
ReplyDeleteI am so excited about this post. Yum!
ReplyDeleteSorry, I've been out of the blogosphere for awhile! Trying to get caught up now. I love this blog--I love trying new recipes. And I love soup. The problem is, Mike doesn't like soup. Does Curtis?
ReplyDelete