Halloween looms [Ed. note: OoooOoOooOooo], and I love making this soup every October. Recently, the BF and I had a good friend over for dinner, and she specifically requested it. I served biscuits with jalapeno butter, a crispy green salad, and various soup toppings for everyone to add what they like.
If you're familiar with the blog, you know I don't like super thick, heavy soups, so I lightened this up to my liking. The recipe also calls for ham, which I left out. Usually I prepare this vegetarian, but this time included crispy pancetta as a topping. You can leave it out, of course. The pumpkin is really a nice background flavor. Key word is "background," as both the BF and guest did not realize pumpkin was one of the main ingredients. Speaking of ingredients, I made a ton of changes to the original recipe:
My favorite stress-free kind of dinner party. [Ed. note: Chef Jacquie loves her Halloween. How much? ↓↓↓]
A very vintage Steiner Halloween (Portland, 1966).
Adapted from: Smitten Kitchen Number of servings: 9 cups, approximately 6 servings Ingredients
Directions
Soon. The guest blogger returns.
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Just because Mardi Gras may have passed, doesn't mean it's not too late to serve this light, brothy, hearty and incredibly flavorful gumbo. (In our household, Mardi Gras-month is always a time for celebrating everything New Orleans.) Adapted from a recipe the great Emeril Lagasse published in a dog-eared copy of the September, 1994 issue of Bon Appetit.
New Orleans is, hands down, an all-time favorite city for me and the BF. Incredible food, history, architecture and music [Ed. note: Tipitina's, represent!] everywhere you step. We never, ever tire of that city, and are lucky to have visited at all different times of the year. We also can't leave until we've had a bowl of gumbo...somewhere. A few of my favorite places to enjoy the staple are Dooky Chase Restaurant, Galatoire's and Nola's. Come to think of it, it's been many years since the BF and I have been. Perhaps we need to head back soon? [Ed. note: Do not tease!] NOTES:
A small sampling of my vast voodoo doll collection.
Until next year, Laissez les bon temps rouler!
Adapted from: Bon Appetit, September 1994 Number of servings: 8 Ingredients Stage I
Directions
PS: A year ago chocolate and peanut butter squared off and clashed in a titanic battle for the ages (www.moveablefeast.me/blog/chocolate-peanut-butter-tart), then there was an attempt to make up for that dessert bomb with some roasted shrimp and asparagus with shallot lemon vinaigrette (www.moveablefeast.me/blog/shrimp-asparagus-with-shallot-lemon-vinaigrette). PPS: "Iko Iko" is one of my favorite songs, takes me right back to New Orleans.
It's so rainy, windy, and grey here in the San Francisco bay area, it's actually reminding me of my native Oregon. Something that always cures the greyness is soup, and the BF and I have been enjoying this one a lot lately. As you know, am not a fan of eating the same thing two nights in a row, but we're actually going on three! [Ed. note: Oh no not another ToS violation.]
This takes no time at all to put together, and reheats very well. It's also not a super spicy soup, unless you want it to be. Depends on the salsa. I used my favorite Frontera brand Tomatillo Salsa and added one serrano pepper to the jalapeños as the BF and I do enjoy a bit of a kick. Final note, this is delicious served with white rice in it (or as a side), which helps offset the spiciness.
Adapted from: A Pinch of Yum
Number of servings: 4-6 Ingredients
PS: One year ago the BF/editor made me seriously LOL when he snuck in a Gollum/Lord-of-the-Rings GIF into a recipe for baked cod (www.moveablefeast.me/blog/baked-cod-with-sherry-herbs). [Ed. note: #SorryNotSorry]
This Russian cabbage borscht is another winter warm-up secret weapon. Not to be confused with borscht made with beets or various meats and winter vegetables; while that is good, this soup is pure Jewish comfort food. Just a handful of simple ingredients, mainly cabbage.
When I was a kid, momala made a cabbage borsht flavored with short ribs or brisket. Once the meat finished cooking, she would shred and add it back into the soup. After pouting, I would pick out all the meat and leave the cabbage. Then I would complain. A lot. (Cabbage: not a favorite.) My childhood best friend loved the soup, so much so that momala would joke that she was the rightful daughter, not me. Today, I would never dream of doing that. Cabbage is actually my favorite part. However, this version is different from my mom's soup, but an homage all the same. Kept her addition of golden raisins for the sweetness, but I made this version more brothy and added caraway seeds, V8 juice and cayenne for a little kick. Also, everything is finely chopped or minced rather than chunky. Always have to mention, the BF absolutely loves this soup. [Ed. note: Can confirm.] You can even make this vegan by using vegetable instead of chicken broth. Healthy, flavorful, delicious, inexpensive and it freezes very well. Makes a delightful lunch or perfect dinner paired with Russian rye or black bread. [Ed. note: HOW ABOUT VODKA OKAY JUST KIDDING] What's not to love? Momala would be proud!
Number of Servings: 10-12 cups
Instructions
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"The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written."
-Melody Beattie "The beginning is the most important part of the work." -Plato "Boy, this year sure was a long decade." -Anonymous Happy New Year! Here's a deliciously bright carrot soup made with ginger, coconut milk, fresh orange juice and infused with warming spices. Simple as can be, plus-bonus-it's vegan and gluten free. It's even BF approved, so you know it's good. [Ed. note: Can confirm. Also, my primary-care physician called. He said, "More vegetables."] The BF and I hope you're enjoying a wonderful holiday, and that this soup warms up any cold, wintry days. Adapted from: Feasting at Home Number of Servings: 8 cups Ingredients
Directions
Well we survived midterms [Ed. note: Anyone get the license plate of that truck that hit us?] and now, more importantly, it's two weeks until Thanksgiving!
It is never too soon to plan the meal. Right now I have a rough menu outline, but so far the only certainty is that this soup will start the evening off, either in a bowl or as soup shooters (shot glass). Have made a bazillion different kinds of butternut squash soup over the years, but this is "The One." Velvety, flavorful, filling, but not heavy. You'll swear there's cream in there. There isn't. You can even make this dairy-free/vegan by omitting the butter and substituting olive oil. Full disclosure, I tend to tinker with recipes to tailor it to my or the BF's taste, but this recipe, didn't change a thing [Ed. note: wut]. The soup works well on its own, but if you want to kick the flavor up a notch I suggest adding the red curry croutons. (Butternut squash and red curry are a match made in heaven.) Another handy tip, I find the hand-immersion blender very convenient, but if you want a truly smooth, velvet consistency, break out the big guns, your "serious" blender, and mix like you mean it. PS: Don't want to give away any secrets, but someone's birthday is coming up [Ed. note: wut]. Last year I didn't mess around and broke out Batman and the Joker for a positively killer caramel apple cake (www.moveablefeast.me/blog/caramel-apple-cake). PPS: Marlowe is very happy if you voted!
Adapted from: Corky, Lori, Dana and Tracy Pollan, The Pollan Family Table (soup) and Woks of Life (croutons)
Number of servings: makes about 2 quarts (4-6) Ingredients
Directions
We're getting deeper and deeper into October (don't know about you, but did this past week feel like a month or what?), which doesn't just bring us closer to my favorite holiday, Halloween, but all the signs are pointing to another very busy Thanksgiving-to-Christmas season. Meaning, with all of the impending insanity, it's always a good idea to have a few "make-ahead meals" on hand to save time on the off nights. Off nights that are better spent curled up with the BF watching a favorite show like Better Call Saul, or the World Series where his team the San Francisc—oh. Sorry. [Ed. note: Twist the knife, why don't you.]
This Moroccan stew is delicous the night it's made, and reheats well for lunches or make-ahead dinners, without losing any of its vibrant cumin, cinnamon and saffron flavors. Colorful and brothy, light and healthy, it's filling without being heavy. It's also vegetarian, but can easily be made vegan by replacing butter with olive oil and skipping the yogurt (see note). Changes made to the original Smitten Kitchen recipe: substituted yams for the plain potatoes (I recommend the dark red Garnet yam variety), and left out the preserved lemon. The BF loves it over couscous, but I love it on its own. My dinner guests love all the toppings. A supremely versatile dish you can whip out while you prepare for the costumed kids soon to run amok. Amok! Amok! Amok!
Adapted from: Smitten Kitchen
Number of servings: 6-8 Ingredients
Directions
NOTE: To veganize this, replace the butter with additional olive oil, use vegetable broth and skip the yogurt. PS: Sweet tooth? Did you miss a year ago when I whipped out the caramel apple cheesecake that destroyed the BF? [Ed. note: And no, she's not kidding.] (www.moveablefeast.me/blog/caramel-apple-cheesecake) PPS: Amok! Amok! Amok!
We're a ways from the Spring Equinox, and here in the bay area (California) it's getting all the way down into the 50s. [Ed. note: Can you smell the sarcasm?] Seriously, we know it's still extremely chilly in other areas of the country, and thought it might be nice to throw a sumptuous soup into the mix.
Rick Bayless says, "There are thick, pureed soups, soups that are like a winter blanket—you just want to wrap yourself in them when it starts snowing outside." And then there is tortilla soup, sopa Azteca, if you want to be authentic about it. A beautiful broth enriched with chiles, poured over chicken, topped with crunchy tortilla strips and finished with crema. It's not a "winter blanket" soup, it’s more like a light jacket. Still, it'll warm you up. Not only that, it's very versatile. You can add any combination of ingredients and toppings you prefer. I recently made this for a client's luncheon and prepared all the ingredients and toppings as a "soup bar." NOTES: If you are unable to find dried pasilla ancho or negro chiles, you can use powdered pasilla or ancho chile, and add ½-1 tablespoon to the pan about halfway through the cooking of the onion. If you're serving vegetarians, have cooked chicken on the side that can be voluntarily added. Black beans and corn are a nice vegetarian substitution. Adapted from: Laura Davidson, A Beautiful Plate and Rick Bayless, Frontera Grill/Topolobampo Servings: 4 Ingredients
Directions
Billie-First day at home.
So. That last week in December. The BF and I overdid it, too. Sweets, breads, so many rich foods, spirits. We understand.
Now that the calendar has been turned over, we're going to reboot our systems with this cleansing broth, which we like to have between meals (I drink a cup for breakfast). My BF and I have been eating low carb for many years. We try to mix a large variety of vegetables with smaller amounts of protein and no added sugar of any kind (including honey, agave or maple syrup) five or six days a week. The other day(s), we pretty much have whatever we want; on game days we often go for pizza...because it's game day. I adore anything flavored with ginger, and turmeric gives it such a gorgous shade of yellow. Try to find fresh turmeric at your grocery store or farmers market, if you can. (The first time I made this broth I used powdered turmeric and it was delicious. The next time I found fresh turmeric and it was markedly more intense.) Although I like this broth plain or with a few baby spinach leaves, it lends itself to add any number of ingredients to make it a more hearty entree. The basic recipe comes from one of my favorite bloggers, Sylvia Fountaine of Feasting at Home. The few changes I made are more suited to my personal taste of preferring broths and soups very, very clear. I strained it first through a strainer and then through cheesecloth not once, but twice. Enjoy, and Happy New Year! Adapted from: Feasting at Home Number of Servings: 6 Ingredients
Directions
NOTES: If you are cooking the broth uncovered for any length of time, remember it will reduce (intensifying the flavor and salt). So you will need to add more water, or it may be too salty. Dilute the broth to your taste.
The countdown begins: twenty-seven days until Halloween. The pumpkins have found a rightful place in the house. Pumpkin lights are up and dare I say cinnamon-apple-cider candles are lit and wafting their collective fragrance throughout the house. The boyfriend is asking for caramel apple cheesecake—which is a sure sign that autumn is here (at least inside our house). He does not get as excited as I do for fall to arrive [Ed. Note: Perhaps it's the annual fall reminder of how aged I have become, but I digress], but does enjoy the autumnal foods and cute costumed kids ringing our doorbell on the 31st.
Although this post is not a pumpkin recipe [Ed. Note: Spoiler alert--next week], it's the perfect transitional dish through the end of our regular bay-area Indian summers, when the Oregonian in me is chomping at the bit for crisper "soup, sweater, boot" weather. In the meantime, enjoy this healthy, flavorful soup.
Adapted from: A Beautiful Plate
Number of servings: 3-4 (makes 4 cups) Ingredients
Directions
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AuthorI'm Jacquie, personal chef & recipe developer in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Lover of books, bourbon, chocolate and movies. Archives
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