Soups and Starters (recipes)

Scroll down for recipes: Baked Potato Soup, Cream of Asparagus Soup

Baked Potato Soup

(This is my firs recipe entry, so bear with me, I promise they will get better. I won't have pictures till I make things again, but I will eventually start adding lots of pictures.  If you are like me, you need visual aids to have success with most recipes!)

I found this in a random cookbook of my mother-in-law's. If you have never made a gravy before in your life, I would look up a video instruction.  Other than that it's a pretty easy recipe.  Enjoy!

 8       slices of bacon

1 C     yellow onions

2/3  C all-purpose flour

6 C chicken broth

4 c diced and peeled baked potatoes

1 ½ C heavy cream

¼ C fresh parsley, chopped

1 ½ tsp granulated garlic

1 ½ tsp dried basil

1 ½ tsp salt

1 ½ tsp Tabasco sauce

1 ½ tsp black pepper

1 C grated cheese

¼ C green onions, diced

*Tip: Bake the potatoes the day before and refrigerate. Haven't tried it yet, but I bet boiled potatoes would work just as well.

·    Fry bacon until crisp.  Drain on paper towels, when cooled, crumble.  Save   drippings

·   Cook yellow onions in the bacon drippings over medium high heat until soft, about 3 minutes

·   Add flour a little at a time, whisking very quickly to prevent lumps.  Cook for about 4 minutes, whisking the whole time.(this is the part that is a lot like making gravy.  The trick to this part..that took A LOT of practice for me, is to do it very quickly and stir like crazy...after adding the flour you will end up with a paste like substance.)

·   Slowly add chicken broth, whisking to prevent lumps.  Cook until liquid thickens. (If you can, pour broth slowly with one hand and whisk like you have never whisked before with the other until it all loosens up and becomes liquidy again.)

·   Reduce heat to a simmer and add potatoes, cream (I would start with 1 C, taste it adding more to your taste...it was a little rich for me) bacon and parsley (but reserve some for garnish), garlic, basil, salt, Tabasco sauce (I used Louisiana hot sauce), and pepper.

·   Simmer for 10 minutes-DO NOT BOIL.

·   Add cheese and green onions.  Heat until cheese melts. (I assumed you stir it in...the recipe I got this from didn't say.

·   Garnish with more cheese, bacon, parsley and green onion.

       Serve immediately.

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Cream of Asparagus Soup

       The weather took a turn for the colder and I came down with a bug out of no where.  I remembered I had this little recipe tucked away and have been wanting to try it.  While driving my 3 year old to school, I decided, even though I was feeling worse than the bottom of an old shoe, this comfort food would do just that.  I stopped and picked up some asparagus and boy was it worth it. If you like asparagus, you will absolutely love this simple dish.

  1/ 2 C    butter

  1/2         onion (chopped, about 1/2 C)

  1 clove  garlic, crushed

  Salt and pepper

  2 lbs      fresh asparagus, ends trimmed and cut into 1 in pieces

  5 C         chicken stock (or water with 3 chicken bullion cubes)

  1 pint    sour cream, room temperature

  2 tsp       smoked paprika (optional for garnish)    



  

•   Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.           Add onion and garlic.  Saute for 5 minutes or until onions are translucent.  Season with salt and pepper to taste. 

  

•      Add asparagus and saute for about 4 more minutes.  Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil.  Reduce to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes or until asparagus is tender. 

• Carefully transfer to a blender or food processor, liquid and all and puree until smooth. 
• Stir in sour cream and season to taste with salt and pepper. 
• Transfer to serving bowls and dust with paprika.  ( I also garnished mine with a little fresh Parmesan as well) 

When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes.  Transfer liquid to blender or food processor and fill it no more than half way full. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid.  This prevents the vaccum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high until smooth.