Mirepoix: yellow onion, celery, carrot, chive. Clams with juice, shrimp with juice, potato, camembert cheese, orange and green bell pepper, cauliflower, egg yolks, ghee, butter, fish sauce, milk, whipping cream, fresh basil, tarragon, dill, cinnamon, garlic.
So now I know that “liaison” is the official word that means adding starch or egg yolks to thicken soup. So today I liaised with yolks–creamy thickness.
Mirepoix: yellow onion, celery, parsnip (let’s call that the “snipoix”). Ham, apple, potato, cauliflower, apple sauce, cream cheese, flour, dill, tarragon, garlic, black pepper.
A zippy fruit and dairy treat, soup style.
“Anyone who has declared someone else to be an idiot, a bad apple, is annoyed when it turns out in the end that he isn’t.” Friedrich Nietzsche
Mirepoix: yellow onion, celery, red bell pepper. Lamb, chicken sausage, turnip, potato, mushroom, potato chips, tomato paste, flour, cumin, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, bay leaf, chocolate powder, coffee, paprika, garlic, beef bouillon, tomato bouillon.
I don’t think I’d ever used lamb before–it was good fun using this shy protein. Plus the mix of seasonings was a hoot.
Skirt steak, ground beef, onion, celery, carrot, potato, zucchini, asparagus, tomato, tomato sauce, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, garlic, Italian seasoning.
Perfectly hearty soup to ward off the winter chills. By Michele.
Tri-tip steak, potato, cauliflower, mashed potato, roasted potato, sun-dried tomato, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, goat cheese.
One of the very few times we didn’t have any onions. I’m crying for not crying.
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
Mirepoix: yellow onion, celery, orange bell pepper, parsnip, fennel. Reindeer sausage, summer sausage, Italian sausage, pâté, apple, potato, sauerkraut, chive, mint, rosemary, thyme, turmeric, garlic, white pepper, orange juice, pomegranate juice, corn starch.
A piquant mixture with an intriguing medley of sausage. Martin produced this baby.
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 yellow and white onion, carrot, yellow bell pepper. Ham, potato, chanterelle shroom, crimini shroom, one morel shroom, pre-made garlic mashed potato, butter, worcestershire sauce, milk, tarragon, garlic.
I just love tarragon. Hmm, maybe I’ll put it on my pizza tonight.
Onion, celery, chicken, roasted cauliflower, yam, chanterelle mushroom, potato, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, cumin, butter, garlic.
Michele’s excellent mélange made on Christmas Eve morning, 2019. Yum.
“A first-rate chicken soup is more creative than a second-rate painting.” Abraham Maslow, slightly altered.
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: red yellow and white onion, carrot, celery, red bell pepper. Tri-tip, potato, shroom, flour, tomato bouillon, tomato paste, garlic, beef bouillon, fresh sage, fresh rosemary, mashed potato mix.
The mashed potato mix really thickened this up.
“My friend said to me, ‘You know what I like? Mashed potatoes.’ I was like, Dude, you have to give me time to guess. If you’re going to quiz me you have to insert a pause.” Mitch Hedberg
Celery, onion, beef, potato, asparagus roasted with white balsamic vinegar, sour cream, worcesterhire sauce, dijon mustard, Italian seasoning.
A Swedish delight brought home by Michele.
The Swedes make Britpop better than the Brits, and make some good movies, too:
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
Onion, celery, carrot, chicken, roasted cauliflower, potato, cumin, chili pepper, black pepper, Italian seasoning.
Michele made great use of roasted cauliflower here. Delectable.
“I want there to be no peasant in my kingdom so poor that he cannot have a chicken in his pot every Sunday,” Henry IV
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
Mirepoix: yellow onion, celery, red bell pepper, carrot, garlic. Ham, Greek yogurt, mushroom, potato, corn, whole wheat penne, apple, more onions, okra, more carrots, cumin, rice wine vinegar, fresh basil, chive.
Martin’ Hellenistic adventure. I love the use of okra.
We owe so much to Greek philosophy:
Standard mirepoix. Ham, potato, vindaloo spice mix.
Michele went Indian with this tasty concoction. Tasted great.
Maybe Mohamet or Jugdish could have made similar.
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
Onions, tenderloin, sirloin, potato, potato gratin mix, dijon mustard, tarragon, garlic, risotto rice with porcini.
Hooray for beef. “Fetchez la vache”.
Mirepoix: red onion, orange bell pepper, carrot. Bacon, salumi soppressata, mole salami, potato, porcini mushroom gravy, cinnamon, garlic, beef stock
Very very umami. Yum.
Onions, carrot, celery, beet, parsnip, potato, ground turkey, Italian seasoning, sherry, cumin, garlic butter, thyme
Another killer from Michele.
“Who was this blundering idiot who said, ‘fine words butter no parsnip?’ Half the parsnips of society are served and rendered palatable with no other sauce.” William Makepeace Thackery
Mirepoix: red onion, carrot, celery. Pork pistachio pâté, potato, green bell pepper, chopped pistachio, pineapple, salsa, chevre, garlic, oregano, coriander, worcestershire sauce.
“You beat your pate and fancy wit will come. Knock as you please, there’s nobody at home.” Alexander Pope. I suppose he wasn’t speaking of pâté, but it’s fun to think he was.
Mirepoix: yellow onion, rainbow carrot, celery. Bacon, sausage, pepperoni, sauerkraut, potato, apple, more onion, more carrot, paprika, dill, radish tops.
So tangy, a great mix made by Martin. Makes you think you’re in Central Europe.
“General Lee took possession of Chambersburg on his way to Gettysburg. Among the first things he demanded for his army was five barrels of Saur-Kraut.” Editor, The Guardian
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, carrot, celery, fennel, chicken thighs, potato, Frontera Chicken Citrus Marinade, basil, cumin, orange juice.
The orange juice made this a tart delight. Michele did great on this one…I mean, just look at it!
“The Golden Orange, the Orange of Discord, was thrown by Eris the Goddess of Strife into the wedding feast, thus prompting the eventual ruin of Troy.” Anonymous, quoted incorrectly.
Onion, carrot, celery, ground turkey, potato, broccoli, squash, garlic butter
A subtle and intestine-warming offering by my Tuesday partner Michele.
“My sense of humor is a turkey, and I pull it out of the oven and baste it in reality”. Tracy Morgan
Mirepoix: red onion, carrot. Cod, potato, zucchini, cottage cheese, fish sauce, worcestershire sauce, garlic, curry paste, Thai basil, dried basil, coconut milk, lemon thyme, lemon juice, sugar.
Maybe should have put some flour in to thicken, but I’m hoping that when it’s reheated tomorrow the potatoes will break down. That would be nice.
จับปลาสองมือ
Translation: Catch a fish with two hands.
Meaning: You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
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. Stew beef, bacon, weisswurst, potato, tomato, potato starch, brown sugar, chardonnay vinegar, rosemary, cumin, cinnamon, chili powder.
“I would like to find a stew that will give me heartburn immediately, instead of at three o’clock in the morning.” John Barrymore
Mirepoix: yellow onion, green and red bell pepper, carrot (sweated in ghee). Tenderloin, ribeye, potato, garlic scape, teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, sugar, ginger, garlic, rice vinegar.
Nikujaga is a great, down-home simple dish of meat and potatoes, something I enjoyed often in Tokyo. This is my homage.
Onion sweated in ghee, gefilte fish, potato, matzo, garlic scape, egg, black pepper, paprika, lemon juice, sugar.
Gather round ye Israelites and gentiles, Martin has made another another scrumpy soup. Although as he notes, gefilte fish was enjoyed through the Balkans and central Europe as a soup of celebration.
The fish cakes and potatoes melted into the broth just like the face of that Nazi in Raiders of the Lost Ark.
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
Carrot, onion, celery, shrimp, cod, potato, tomato, corn, rice, chives, Italian seasoning, coriander, butter.
Michele was working on a pretty good cod chowder when out of the blue Chuck, another worker here, brought her a bag of shrimp. Rejoice in the kismet.
“O cold! O shivery! It was your ambrosial beauty. Forget, forgive. Kismet. Let me off this once.” James Joyce
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
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
Yellow onions, potato, zucchini, broccoli, freekah, paprika, garlic, sriracha, fish sauce.
“Awwww freekah, Le Freak, c’est chic”. Nile Rogers helped me with this one.
According to Wikipedia, freekah is ” a cereal food made from green durum wheat that is roasted and rubbed to create its flavor. ” Rubbed? Your guess is as good as mine, but had no protein, so in it went.
Made 8/14/18
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: red onion, celery, red bell pepper, jalapeno pepper (the “Hot Holy Trinity”). Roasted corn, cauliflower, potato, garlic, dill, thyme.
The little bite from the jalapeno did the trick. Well received.
Made 8/22/18
Mirepoix: white onion, celery, poblano pepper. Chicken, mushroom, potato, hondashi, fresh ginger, rice wine vinegar, garlic.
“Ask not what the soup can do for you, but what you can do for your soup”. One of the few times rice wine vinegar was available, so in it went. The fresh ginger made all the difference.
Made 9/11/18
Standard mirepoix. Rotisserie chicken, garlic roasted carrots, green and red bell pepper, garlic mashed potatoes, Yum Yum sauce, fish sauce, garlic.
Yum Yum sauce is a Japanese marinade. In homage to Reiwa Tenno.
Made 5/28/19
Mirepoix: red onion, celery, red bell pepper, carrot, poblano pepper, parsley. Beef, potato, asparagus, blue berries, chopped walnuts, fish sauce, worcestershire sauce, garlic, fresh oregano, fresh thyme, fresh rosemary, sugar.
A blueberry by any other name would taste as sweet.
Made 5/21/19
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: 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
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: 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
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: 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 bell pepper, carrot. Potato, roasted carrot, mashed potato, butter, curry powder, garlic, parsley.
The prepared mashed potatoes thickened it nicely.
Made 12/19/18
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, celery, parsnip, carrot. Roasted cauliflower, roasted carrot, potato, cumin, coriander, ginger, garlic, turmeric.
Well, sort of a dal.
Totally cool to have parsnips. We get them rarely.
Made 12/5/18
Mirepoix: yellow onion, carrot, green bell pepper, jalapeno pepper, celery. Tomato, frozen breaded shrimp, frozen breaded squid, potato, tomato paste, tomato bouillon, thyme, garlic.
When I walk in, I have no idea what ingredients will be available. Sometimes it’s a bit funky, like breaded shrimp and squid. Just gotta think, “can do”.
Made 11/21/18
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
Standard mirepoix. Chanterelle shrooms, potato, carrots, milk, parmesan cheese, cottage cheese, feta, fresh Thai basil, garlic
To thicken it, I pureed a bunch of shrooms with the mirepoix. It was irritating as a hemorrhoid separating the twigs, pine needles, and whatever from the box of shrooms.
Made 10/24/18
Made 10/24/18
Standard mirepoix. Potato, kohlrabi, carrots, dried cherries, curry powder, garlic.
I pureed the mirepoix with some of the potatoes to add some creaminess (had no flour nor starch).
Made 10/10/18
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
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 