Mirepoix: red onion, celery, carrot. Roasted cauliflower, quinoa, raisin, half and half, coconut milk, coconut flakes, curry powder, ginger.
This was a fun one, jam packed with pureed and chunks of cauliflower.
“I prefer men to cauliflowers.” Virginia Woolf
Mirepoix: yellow onion, celery, orange bell pepper, parsnip, fennel. Tempura shrimp, potato, zucchini, mushroom, green bell pepper, coconut milk, coconut cream, half and half, butter, fresh Thai basil, fresh basil, garlic, sambal oelek (Indonesian hot chili sauce).
The chili sauce added a sly underneath heat. And yay for coconut.
“Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?” Castle guard, Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Carrot, celery, onion, turkey bacon, potato, cabbage, milk, half and half, garlic, salt, black pepper, butter, Italian seasoning.
A perfect January chowder put together by Michele.
Mirepoix: red and yellow onion, red bell pepper, carrot. Chicken breast, baked brie en croute, potato, milk, fish sauce, garlic paste, herbs de provence, basil, black pepper.
Baked brie in a cream soup? Sounded fun, so in it went. Turned out great.
Mirepoix: yellow onion, bell pepper, carrot. Chicken thighs, mushroom, asparagus, potato, okra, carrot, basil, rosemary, Bengal masala, curry sauce, gherkin mustard, manicotta, ricotta, milk, paprika, vinegar, sugar.
The gherkins were right up front in Martin’s concoction. Let’s say “tamed tartness”.
Mirepoix: yellow onion, celery, rainbow carrot. Chicken thigh, portabella mushroom, potato gnocchi, mashed potato mix, milk, tomato paste, tarragon, garlic, parsley, fresh chive.
I found a fun Swedish fish recipe that was chowdery but also had tomato paste in it too. Sounded fun, so I tried it with chicken. I pureed the mirepoix for a little thickness.
“Bättre en fågel i handen än tio i skogen.” “Better a bird in the hand than 10 in the forest”. Swedish proverb
Mirepoix: yellow onion, red bell pepper, celery. Chicken thigh, freshly grated ginger, corn, mini-elbow macaroni, milk, honey mustard, parsley.
“Any administration foolish enough to call ketchup a vegetable cannot be expected to cut the honey mustard.” John Glenn, misquoted.
Sauteed portabella, chanterelle, and crimini mushrooms, milk, chicken thigh, potato, dill, tarragon, ghee, butter.
“When the men on the chessboard get up and tell you where to go, and you’ve just had some kind of mushroom, go ask Alice.” Grace Slick
Sauteed onion and celery, butternut squash roasted with oil, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, turkey, apples, milk, butter, curry powder, balsamic vinegar.
A jewel of the autumn: butternut squash. Michele completely killed on this one.
“Besides, they always smell of bread and butternut.” Lord Byron almost said this.
Mirepoix: yellow onion, celery. Thick cut bacon, white shroom, red and white potato, milk, peach, mango, mashed potato mix, turmeric, ginger, garlic.
Whoo boy this was good fun–just a touch of sweetness from the fruit. Huzzah! Forth Eorlingas!
“Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?
I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.” T.S. Eliot
Standard mirepoix. Chicken thighs, potato, mushroom, horseradish, garlic, garlic butter, parsley, cream, flour.
Pureed the potato and shrooms with the mirepoix.
Steve, a co-worker, had two cups of this. Even though he’s a Coug. Must have been all right!
Onion, celery, bacon, chorizo, pork pâté, green olive, elbow macaroni, cheese powder, mozzarella cheese, whipping cream, flour.
Pureed the pâté with the onion and celery– a super meaty base. Turned out pretty good. Maybe should have added some tabasco.
“Fettucini alfredo is macaroni and cheese for adults.” Mitch Hedberg.
Mirepoix: yellow onion, green bell pepper, celery. Top round steak, strip steak, potato, cauliflower, worcestershire sauce, sour cream, flour, ginger-turmeric milk, curry powder, coriander, cumin, ginger, turmeric, garlic.
Now I think of it, should have added lentils thus making it dal. Oh well.
“My best India v Pakistan moment is from our first match in the ICC World 2007, which was a tie.” Virender Sehwag
Standard mirepoix. Yam, sweet potato, milk, buttermilk, ginger, vanilla.
“I yam what I yam.” Popeye.
Onion, roasted corn, potato, cream, cream cheese, prepared mashed potatoes, coconut milk, rosemary, dill, garlic, butter, potato starch.
I first encountered potage in Tokyo, where it’s quite popular. Seemed a nice simple corn soup that I could jazz up a bit.
“I’m old enough to chew my peas and corn without choking.” Taj Mahal
Standard mirepoix. Hot dog, ham, potato, extra onion, cheddar cheese, garlic scape, basil, beef bouillon, milk, black pepper, flour.
“Is it a good hot dog? That’s all I want to know. I don’t think the personal health and purity of my colon is that important compared to pleasure.” Anthony Bourdain
Onion, carrot, potato, tomato, cod, corn,milk, Parmesan, butter, Italian seasoning, dill.
Michele came out swinging with this one. I love the addition of Parmesan cheese and tomato. Num!
Mirepoix: yellow onion, carrot, garlic scape. Cod (and lots of it), roasted cauliflower, asparagus, potato, milk, potato starch, ginger, garlic, dill, red pepper flakes.
Hooboy I love chowder. This one turned out well, although some coconut milk would have been fun to add.
” The sea was angry that day, my friends – like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli”. George Costanza
Red onion, carrot, garlic scape, turkey bacon, chicken, broccoli, funky rice, milk, black pepper, cumin, coriander.
Michele did a good job on this one. I love the mix of protein. Two types of rice used. A bowl of love.
Made today, 6/25/19
Standard mirepoix. Bacon, okra, fennel, potato, pobalano pepper, half and half, fish sauce, parsley, minced garlic, garlic scape, cream cheese, tarragon, glace de poulet, love.
The slick sliminess of okra. Such a joy, such a love.
Had never heard of garlic scape before, but holy smokes this is a killer ingredient. Tanta alegria e tanto amor. Que bom.
“It is impossible to love and to be wise”. Francis Bacon
Made 6/18/19
Mirepoix: yellow onion, green bell pepper, shallot. Ham, yellow and green zucchini, mushroom, fresh ginger, lime leaves, coconut milk, milk, red pepper flakes, Thai basil, garlic, black pepper.
We never have donations of lemongrass, and rarely have curry paste, so I can only try to approximate the Thai flavor. Although I’m unsure if Thais use ham in curry.
Yul Brynner would have dug it.
Made 8/1/18
Mirepoix: yellow onion, carrot, bok choy. Pre-made meatballs, potato, portobello mushroom, fromage blanc, lemon extract, half and half, fish sauce, tomato paste, tomato sauce, rice wine vinegar, garlic, paprika, black pepper.
Attila blessed it.
Made 8/7/18
Onions, carrots, celery. Pork Taco Mix, yams, black beans, chili powder, Italian seasoning, milk.
Often we get ingredients that are meant for restaurants. In this case, a bag of minced pork with taco seasoning. One could make a fine taco out this, but instead my partner Michele made a very tasty soup. I like the addition of yams. Huzzah!
Made today, 6/11/19
Mirepoix: yellow onion, celery. Bacon, roasted butternut squash, corn, hondashi, half and half, turmeric, paprika, garlic.
Used the rendered bacon fat to sweat the mirepoix.
“Hope is a good breakfast, but it is a bad supper“, as said Francis Bacon.
Made 9/25/18
Mirepoix: yellow onion, yellow bell pepper. Ground beef, potato, corn, fresh marjoram, garlic, parsley, butter, flour.
Often the ground beef we get is in the form of a howitzer shell, half frozen. I cut my thumb trying to get into this bag of fat, and had to go to the emergency care clinic up the road. I had walked half the way there when I noticed I still had my apron on.
At any rate Camille my partner took over what I had prepped. I hear it was fine.
Made 8/15/18
Mirepoix: yellow onion, red and green bell pepper, carrot. Roasted mushroom, potato, corn, cream corn, zucchini, parmasen cheese, fire roasted corn salsa, nacho salsa, garlic, fish sauce.
Probably should have added some potato starch.
“The only soup we have to fear is soup itself“.
Mirepoix: white onion, poblano pepper, red bell pepper. Chicken, zucchini, corn, cauliflower, flour, sage, lime juice, hondashi bonito bouillon, garlic, black pepper.
I really wish we had more hondashi. It gives such an umami umph.
Made 9/19/18
Standard mirepoix. Asparagus, beef, milk, Niko Niko rice, Greek yogurt, parmesan cheese, lime juice, garlic, butter.
Pureed calrose rice for thickness/silkiness. Had a nice little tang to it. Well received. No codpiece this.
Made 5/22/19
Mirepoix: yellow onion, parsnip, carrot, leek. Broccoli, cauliflower, mushroom, poblano pepper, cheddar cheese, feta cheese, fish sauce, nutmeg.
“Blessed are the cheese-makers”.
We’ve been totally blessed with a plethora of leeks recently. As things go around here, probably won’t see any more for a couple months. Just the way it is at a food bank.
Made 5/1/19
Mirepoix: leek, carrot, read and green bell pepper. Potato, mashed potato, orange zest, leek tops, pre-cooked chicken, spring onion, milk, butter, turmeric, ginger, minced garlic, dill, red pepper flakes.
Level 3 of The Inferno.
Turmeric gives such a great color.
Made 4/23/19
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
Mirepoix: yellow onion, green bell pepper, celery, parsley. Potato, Napa cabbage, mushroom, almond butter, butter, milk, flour, turmeric, ginger, green curry paste, fish sauce, cinnamon, sugar, red pepper flake.
I’d never heard of someone using almond butter in a soup, so in it went. Not any weirder than peanut butter.
Made 4/9/19
Mirepoix: yellow onion, parsnip, celery, carrot. Crimini mushroom, oyster mushroom, enotaki mushroom, red bell pepper, poblano pepper, roasted cauliflower, milk, corn starch, butter, tarragon, lime juice.
“Tis a far, far better soup we make…”
Pureed a bunch of the crimini with the mirepoix (once it was done) for extra thickness.
Made 4/3/19
Standard mirepoix. Potato, poblano pepper, yellow red and green bell pepper, mushroom, half and half, peanut butter, lime juice, honey, green curry paste.
Made 3/27/19
Mirepoix: red onion, celery, red and green bell pepper. Corn, potato, prepared mashed potato, milk, fried onion, ginger, turmeric, garlic.
If you’re wondering why some of my soups don’t look quite done, it’s because they will be reheated the following day and finished then. We shoot for about 80% completed on the day we cook.
Made 3/20/19
Standard mirepoix. Ham, tomato, red bell pepper, mushroom, farfalle noodles, milk, dijon mustard, paprika, garlic.
Ok ok, this is only borderline goulash–it was the closest I could get.
Mirepoix: yellow onion, yellow and green bell pepper, carrot. Smoked salmon, potato, cauliflower, fromage blanc, milk, whipping cream, potato starch, bacon mashed potato mix, fresh dill, tarragon, garlic.
Made 3/6/19
Mirepoix: yellow onion, yellow bell pepper, parsnip, garlic. Tomato, Mole Salami from Salumi, calrose rice, tomato sauce, milk, ginger, turmeric, truffle pesto, worcesterhire sauce.
The truffle pesto was powerful. Powerful like bull. After testing just a bit of it, the flavor was with me for a couple hours. Didn’t need to use too much.
After sweating the mirepoix, I added water, some bouillon, and rice. Once the rice was cooked, I pureed the mixture. Gave the soup a nice silkiness. Fun had by all.
Made 2/27/19
Mirepoix: white onion, carrot. Roasted cauliflower, parsnips, milk, red curry paste, sugar, garlic.
The curry paste had flames leaping off it. So hot you couldn’t really taste anything but the fire. I didn’t realize this until I had dumped in way too much (I was so excited to have real Thai flavor). Tasted good to me cause I have a tolerance for heat, but a lot of our clients aren’t so keen on spicy food. Thus perhaps could be called a failure.
Made 2/13/19
Mirepoix: red onion, carrot, celery. Potato, seared Polish sausage, lentil, whipping cream, dijon mustard, garlic, red wine vinegar.
Pretty straightforward, but dang I love this type of soup. Would have added more carrots, but alas, we had run out.
Made 2/5/19
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
Mirepoix: carrot, onion, bell pepper. Roasted zucchini, roasted mushroom, coconut milk, sweet coconut flakes, rice, fish sauce, garlic, dried and fresh basil, ginger, curry powder.
Fish sauce opened up again in my backpack, even though I had wrapped the top with saran wrap. Had to throw it into the wash machine again.
Made 1/22/19
Mirepoix: red onion, carrot, celery. White fish, roasted eggplant, mushrooms, red and green bell pepper, potato, milk, turmeric-ginger milk, thyme, dill, turmeric, ginger, garlic.
I think I’ve mentioned it before, but sometimes we get some pretty whacky donations. Simply had to use that turmeric-ginger milk.
1/15/19
Regular mirepoix. Potato, prepared mashed potato, yellow bell pepper, milk, coconut milk, sweet coconut flakes, corn, mushroom, cauliflower, feta cheese, fish sauce, flour, marjoram, dill, garlic, fried garlic.
Would have been nice to have green peppers to make the color scheme more interesting. Alas we had none.
Made 1/2/19
Mirepoix: yellow onion, yellow and red bell pepper, carrot. Roasted eggplant, roasted zucchini, coconut milk, green curry paste,Thai green curry simmer sauce, sweet coconut flakes, cream, fresh basil, chive, fried garlic.
This is the closest I can get to real curry without lemongrass (which we never have) and other Thai spices.
Made 12/26/18
Mirepoix: yellow onion, red bell pepper, jalapeno pepper, rainbow carrot. Beef, Napa cabbage, potato, butter chicken simmering sauce, whipping cream, coconut milk, sweetened coconut flakes, turmeric, coriander, cumin, garlic.
I mentioned in another post how the coconut milk was near insipid. Problem fixed with coconut flakes. Yay!
Made 12/18/18
Mirepoix: yellow onion, celery, red bell pepper, parsnip, carrot. Potato, zucchini, clams, white fish, clam juice, milk, fresh basil, chive, dill, thyme.
A hit. Had clients coming back for seconds.
Made 12/5/18
Mirepoix: yellow onion, carrot, bell pepper, poblano chili. Potato, zucchini, portobello mushroom, crimini mushroom, corn, mild salsa, milk, tomato bouillon, garlic, cumin, nutmeg, clove, tabasco sauce.
Viva sopa.
Made 11/14/18.
Red onion, crimini mushroom, portobello mushroom, oyster mushroom, potato, mashed potato mix, dijon mustard, half and half, cottage cheese, fresh basil.
The portobellos and some of the criminis were roasted. Other criminis were sauteed in butter. Other criminis were pureed with the onions in stock for thickness.
Made 11/16/18, Election Day. Yes I voted.
Regular mirepoix. Portobello mushrooms, crimini mushrooms, turmeric-ginger milk, whipping cream, potato, hominy, carrot, corn, ginger
Happy Halloween!
Another situation where I thought, “what the hades is this?” It was milk laced with turmeric and ginger. Too weird to pass up. Wish we had more fresh ginger, but as I’ve said before, we are at the mercy of our donors.
Made 10/31/18
Mirepoix: yellow onion, carrot, green bell pepper, milk, corn starch, potato, corn, shiitake, eggplant, thyme, dill, garlic.
Pretty straightforward. Probably would have been better if I had sauteed the shrooms in butter first, but oh well.
Made 10/3/18
Mirepoix: yellow onion, red bell pepper, carrot. Corn, potato, fish sauce, milk, flour, garlic, fresh tarragon.
Pretty simple, but man tarragon goes great in a chowder.
Made 9/26/18
Soup Kitchen Recipes 