Spicy Bratwurst and Black Bean Soup

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Onion, carrot, celery, bratwurst, black bean, raisin, tomato, tomato sauce, green pepper, salt, black pepper, cumin, Italian seasoning, cayenne.

The cayenne was close to landing a knock-out heat punch, but the raisins totally evened it out. Another home run delivered by Michele.

“I once walked in on my grandparents making love. And that’s why I don’t eat raisins.” Zach Galifianakis

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Kale and Bacon Soup

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Mirepoix: yellow onion, celery, red bell pepper. Bacon, kale, bok choy, yogurt, extra onion, ginger, cayenne pepper, coriander, cumin, lemon/ginger juice.

So this train derailed–it was originally headed toward saag station, and just never got thick/mushy/creamy enough. But the pureed kale really infused the stock wonderfully, so I just threw in some bok choy too and called it a day.

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Cuban Ham Soup

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Mirepoix: yellow onion, red pepper, carrot, garlic, celery. Ham, roasted butternut squash, potato, coconut flakes, cinnamon, paprika, cayenne pepper.

As you may have noticed, there’s been a lot of ham soups recently. That’s what happens when we are donated two giant slabs of it. Fun to see how each soup maker added their own twists.

“If we had some eggs, we could have eggs and ham. If we had some ham.” Groucho Marx

Ottoman Chicken Soup with Asparagus

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Mirepoix: yellow onion, rainbow carrot, celery. Chicken thighs, asparagus, artichoke heart, red bell pepper, worcestershire sauce, Greek yogurt, mint, paprika, cayenne pepper, raspberry jam.

Forget the Sick Man of Europe moniker. These flavors rock together.

“Dünyanın bir tarafında bir yerde, bir piyango çekiliyor, savaş yapılıyor ve hepimizin alınyazısı da böylece uzak­larda belirtiliyordu.” Ivo Andrić

I have no idea what the quote means, but that’s a pretty funky looking language!

Montezuma’s Fish Taco Soup

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Standard mirepoix. Cod, green and yellow zucchini, Tostitos Fiesta Bowl bean dip platter, red and orange bell peppers, yogurt, jalapeno relish, Juanita’s Fiesta Bag of corn chips, cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic.

Eeek ugly picture. Oh well, at least it tasted good!

And remember, if there’s ever a taco emergency, call 9 Juan Juan.

Nutty Barley Soup

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Chicken stock, barley, chopped almonds, peanut butter, kale, carrot, roasted red bell pepper, fish sauce, roasted chicken demi-glace, cayenne pepper, paprika, Tuscan white bean puree spread.

At times the boss man needs a super quick and easy soup when customer flow is heavy (sometimes it’s as simple as broth and canned chicken). So as my second soup of the day, I splashed this one out.

Basically throw ingredients into a pot and heat. But I just had to have some fun with it, hence the nuts.

“The Germans have sent some people forward to take our surrender.”  Brig. Gen. McAuliffe replied, “nuts”.

Vegetable Medley Soup

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Mirepoix: yellow onion, leek, fennel, carrot, celery, red bell pepper. Tomato, green beans, leek tops, yellow bell pepper, portobello mushroom, balsamic vinegar, worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper, tarragon, oregano, basil.

A Pippin would complain: “needs rashers of bacon”. Sorry, it wasn’t available that day, my woolly-footed rascal.

Made 4/24/29

Chicken Dumpling Soup

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Mirepoix: leek, yellow onion, fennel, carrot, celery, red bell pepper. Chicken, zucchini, portobello mushroom, corn, dumpling, almond butter, worcesterhire sauce, dill, cayenne pepper, minced garlic.

Dumplings were hand-made with milk, flour, parsley flakes, and dried basil.

made 4/24/19

Catfish Stew

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Mirepoix: yellow onion, green and red bell pepper, poblana pepper, carrot. Catfish, Brussels sprouts, morel mushrooms, apricot jam, strawberry jam, paprika, worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper, lime juice.

I didn’t have the luxury to fry the catfish properly as any Cajun would, so my bad. But it turned out pretty good–got kudos from another volunteer and some clients.

As I think I’ve mentioned before, sometimes we get unexpected donations. This time it was a huge box of morels. The heaven’s light shone through.

Made 4/17/19

Modi’s Indian Beef Stew

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Mirepoix: red onion, celery, red and green pepper (I think that’s the Holy Trinity, no?). Beef, potato, cauliflower, tomato, mushroom, cumin, coriander, cayenne pepper, paprika, sugar, lime juice, worcestershire sauce.

“You’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din”.

And as Morrissey says, “I am cumin and I need to be loved”.

Made 4/10/19

Spicy Peanut Chicken Soup

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Standard mirepoix. Chicken, roasted eggplant, okra, red green and yellow bell pepper, asparagus, parsnip, peanut butter, coriander, cayenne pepper, garlic, cinnamon, curry powder, whipping cream, milk, lime juice.

Met Market packaged vegies are hit and miss. The parsnips in this soup were good–seasoned with rosemary, if a bit soft. But the prepared carrots and mirepoix taste weird. I think maybe they use vinegar or something else as a preservative. At any rate, by the time they get to us, they are acidic and stink. Go figure.

Adams Peanut Butter is good in soups. Others can be a bit too sugary.

Made 1/30/19

Moqueca (Brazilian Fish Soup)

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Standard mirepoix. Tomato, white fish (the package had no label; it might have been cod), fresh coconut water, coconut milk, cumin, oregano, parsley flakes, paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic.

Que bacana–leite de côco. Não tenho a mínima ideia do que tipo de peixe usei– não tinha etiqueta. Talvez fosse bacalhau.

Feito 10/10/18

West African Peanut Beef Soup

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Mirepoix: yellow onion, carrot, green bell pepper. Butternut squash, potato, beef, asparagus, peanut butter, curry powder, cayenne pepper, coriander, lime juice, garlic, cinnamon

Clients and staff liked this one a lot, and it was great to work with real beef that wasn’t ground and fatty.

Made 10/3/18