Carrot Soup

I accumulated not just zucchini but carrots. I always loved the carrot bisque from Garner's Market. This is my healthier version. Jamie: you can make this vegan!

Carrot Soup

2 lbs carrots, peeled and chopped
1 cup onion, medium dice
2/3 cup scallions, chopped
1 garlic clove, roughly chopped
1 pear, medium dice
2 tablespoons fresh ginger, grated or minced
1 ½ teaspoons curry powder
2/3 cup red potatoes, peeled and chopped
6 cups chicken or vegetable broth
1 13.5-oz can unsweetened coconut milk
1 tablespoon lime juice
Olive oil
Salt and pepper
Fresh chives, chopped, for garnish

In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat about 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add onions and scallions and sweat, about 5-10 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another minute. Add carrots, ginger, pear, potatoes, and curry powder and cook for about 5 minutes. Add broth and coconut milk. Bring to a boil and then simmer for about 25 minutes, or until carrots are tender. Stir in lime juice. Puree until desired consistency. Serve with chopped chives.

Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken Noodle Soup
Adapted from Country Living Magazine

Chicken noodle soup is a classic. In other words, it can sometimes be boring. This is a quick and delicious variation. Use whatever noodles you like best.

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 leeks, white and light-green parts only, cut crosswise into 1/3-inch pieces with rings intact
Kosher salt
Freshly ground pepper
8 cups chicken broth (maybe a few more)
1 clove garlic, smashed
1 1/2 cups noodles (use as much or as little as you want)
3 cups sliced roast chicken (can roast yourself, use leftovers, or buy it roasted)
2 cups frozen peas, thawed
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill

In a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Once hot, carefully add leeks in a single layer, so rings don't unravel. Reduce heat to medium or medium-low, season with salt and pepper, and cook 9 minutes; turn leeks, set heat to low, and cook until golden, about 9 more minutes.

Meanwhile, in a 5-quart pot, bring broth and garlic to a boil. Stir in noodles; cook, stirring occasionally, until tender but still firm, 9 to 12 minutes (Depends on the type you use. I used whole-wheat shells). Discard garlic.

Set aside a few leeks per serving for garnish. Add remaining leeks to soup, along with chicken, peas, and dill, and cook for 2 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls and garnish with reserved leeks.

Summer Chowder

I love soup, even when it is 90 degrees outside. Not too many meals offer every flavor at once. All the ingredients of this soup are in season right now. It can be served warm or chilled and easily be converted into a vegetarian dish.



Summer Chowder

1 – 1 1/2 pounds unpeeled, head-on large shrimp
3 cups water
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup yellow onions, peeled and chopped (about 1)
3 garlic cloves, peeled and finely minced
1 cup celery, chopped
1 tablespoon finely minced jalapeno (optional)
1 green bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped (about 1 cup)
1 yellow or orange bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and chopped (about 1 cup)
2 tablespoon fresh tarragon, finely chopped (or thyme)
1 tablespoon whole wheat flour
3 – 3 ½ tomatoes, diced
3 cups frozen sweet corn kernels (1 16-oz bag)
1/2 cup half-and-half
1 tablespoon finely minced fresh parsley
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper

Remove the shrimps’ tails, peels, and heads and place these in a large saucepan. Set aside the shrimp meat in a bowl for later use in this recipe. In the saucepan, boil the shrimp tails, peels, and heads with the water and lemon juice for 10 minutes. Strain the broth through a fine sieve and set aside for later use in this recipe.

In a large Dutch oven, sauté the onions and garlic in the olive oil on medium-high heat for two minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the celery, chopped bell pepper, minced jalapeno pepper, and tarragon. Sauté for two additional minutes. Reduce the burner heat to medium, sprinkle on the flour, stir well, and sauté for two additional minutes. Gradually add, stirring continuously, the cubed tomatoes and the strained shrimp broth. Simmer for 20 minutes.

Add the corn kernels to the mixture in the Dutch oven and simmer for an additional three minutes. Add the reserved raw shrimp, parsley, cream, salt, and pepper. Simmer for an additional two minutes or until the shrimp is no longer translucent. Taste and correct the seasoning, if needed, by adding salt, pepper, and/or crushed red pepper, to taste.