Showing posts with label Parsley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parsley. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

1 Potato, 2 Potato, 3 Potato 4, Soup

“Pray for peace and grace and spiritual food,
For wisdom and guidance, for all these are good,
but don't forget the potatoes.”

John Tyler Pettee, 'Prayer and Potatoes
Potato soup is comfort food at it's best!  This version uses sweet potato, white potato, red potato and baking potatoes.  All of which are high in vitamins and minerals. 

 4 Potato Soup

Serves 6
¼ pound ham (or bacon) diced and browned
1 pound leeks, white part only, washed and chopped (about 3)

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
4 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth

2 cups russet potato, peeled and diced
2 cups red potato, peeled and diced
2 cups white boiling potato, peeled and diced

2 cups sweet potato (or yam) peeled and diced

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

1 teaspoon nutmeg (freshly ground if possible)

¼ teaspoon ground pepper, (I used white)

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Additional chicken broth if needed

1.       In a small saucepan brown the ham, cool and set aside. If using bacon dice first then cook until crisp, drain on paper towels and set aside.

2.       In a large soup pot or dutch oven, saute the leeks using some of the chicken broth to “water sauté” until softened but not browned, about 15 minutes.  Add additional broth as needed to keep from sticking and browning.

3.       Add the flour and cook for 30 seconds.  Add the broth, fresh thyme leaves,  the potatoes and sweet potato.  Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil.  Reduce to a low simmer and cover.  Simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes. Let cool slightly. 

4.       Place small amounts of soup in a blender, puree until smooth.  You may also use a hand blender such as Braun, which is what I do.  Be careful if using either method as it can squirt up and burn you or make a mess on the stove and you.

5.       Pour the soup back into the pan and add the nutmeg and white pepper.  Over very low heat, bring soup to a low simmer.

6.       Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with diced ham (or bacon) and chopped parsley.

 

Nutritional Information Provided by NutriMirror

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Thanksgiving 2010, Good Friends, Good Times, Good Food, Good Wine

"Bless our hearts to hear the breaking of the bread the song of the universe."
-Fr. John B. Giuliani


My good  friend Pam and her mother Sue, joined Tony and I along with our friend Rik for a very special Thanksgiving dinner.  Special because we were with some of our favorite people.

Pam helped me out with the cooking and baking.  She brought along some pumpkin for the pumpkin pie and pumpkin custard. Pam used her mother's recipe for the pumpkin pie.  I made a pear and apple tart.  Pam also made the Brussel sprouts, Tony's persimmon salsa and a shitake gravy.


Thanksgiving Day Menu 2010
Roast Turkey with Traditional Bread Stuffing
Mashed Yukon Gold Potatoes with Turkey and Shitake Mushroom Gravy
Garden Mesclun Salad with Lemon Herb Vinaigrette
Harvard Beets
Steamed Brussel Sprouts with Black Olive Tapenade
Herb Roasted Sweet Potatoes
 Tiny New Heirloom Potatoes
Artisan Bread with Butter
Fresh Cranberry Orange Sauce
Persimmon Salsa
Pumpkin Pie a la Sue
Pumpkin Custard
Rustic Apple Pear Tart
Cinnamon Dusted Whipped Cream
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Wall in our dining room.


Apple Tart and Pumpkin Pie, Vanilla Haagen Dazs was on hand, too. All were delightful and some cinnamon dusted fresh whipped cream didn't hurt either!


Sweet Potato and Tiny New Potatoes dressed with Olive Oil, Tarragon, Parsley, Rosemary, Thyme and Marjoram ready for the oven. Roasted at 400 degree for 30 minutes and they both were perfect. All the herbs were picked fresh this morning from my garden.
Pam (please excuse my messy kitchen)
waiting, waiting.....
Roast Turkey with spring onions and parsley from the garden.

Herb Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Tiny Heirloom Potatoes with Herbs, and Pam's Shitake Mushroom Gravy.

Table was set with my Mothers' china, Tonys' grandmothers frosted leaf glasses, (which happen to match the china perfectly) and my Oneida floral queen silver-plated flatware.  

The salad was freshly picked earlier from my garden; an assortment of mesclun, herbs, avocado, cucumber and heirloom tomatoes. 


Our friend Rik on the left, my husband Tony center, and Sue (Pam's mother)  on the right.  Sue celebrated her 91st birthday a couple of days earlier. 
 
Let the feasting begin!

Bon Appetite'