Date: Mon, 31 Oct 94 15:56:00 EST
From: SALLY MARTINY (MARTINY.SALLY@epamail.epa.gov)
Comforting Quick "Cream" Soups
These are my favorite after-work-no-time-to-cook winter dinners. Add
a salad and a slice of bread and I'm happy. This is usually enough
for myself. It's very easy to multiply it for more people. The
proportions I use are usually 1 part potato to one part other
vegetable. You can raise the proportion of vegetable to potato; the
potato merely adds creaminess and mellows the flavor.
********************
Place 1 cubed potato and water (or stock) to cover into a saucepan.
Bring to a boil, then simmer. Add ONE of the following combinations:
--------
2 peeled stalks of broccoli (or one cup of florets) chopped, a bit of
dried onion, and a vegetable bouillon cube, OR
2 carrots, chopped, and 1/4 teaspoon of curry powder, OR
1 cup of mushrooms and 1-3 tablespoons of your favorite wine, OR
2 stalks of celery, chopped, and 1/4 teaspoon of tarragon, marjoram,
or savory, OR
1 package of frozen spinach or kale, a grating of nutmeg and a 1/4
teaspoon of lemon juice, OR
1 cup of frozen corn and 1 teaspoon of fresh parsley, OR
1 cup of frozen peas, 1/8 teaspoon each of ginger and cinnamon, a
goodly amount of pepper, and 1-3 teaspoons of vinegar (interesting
and tasty combination, based on a medieval recipe), OR
1 sweet potato or half an acorn squash, peeled and chopped, and 1/2
teaspoon of Italian herb mixture
*****
Simmer the soup until the vegetables are tender. Puree in blender or
food processor until smooth. Add salt/pepper to taste. Serve forth.
NOTES:
Instead of stock or vegetable bouillon cubes, you can take out 1/2
cup of soup after pureeing and dissolve a tablespoon of miso in it,
then return it to the pot and mix.
Almost all of these combinations are good with the addition of 1/2 an
onion and a clove or two of garlic sauteed in sherry.
Other possible additions (not combined, of course):
a tablespoon of tomato paste
1/2 cup of leftover beans or grains
a few dried mushrooms or dried tomatoes
a few tablespoons of sauerkraut
a tablespoon of capers or chopped pickle added before serving
a tablespoon of yogurt swirled in right before serving (pretty!)
toasted pumpkin/squash seeds or wheat germ sprinkled on top
kwvegan vegan