Cucumber-Avocado with Cilantro Soup

Haven't tried this yet, but when I first found out I was pregnant and saw this I thought, this would be amazing!

1 Large English hot house cucumber or 3 small cucumbers, peeled, coarsely chopped (about 2-1/2 cups)
2 avocados, peeled, coarsely chopped (about 2 cups)
1 med sweet onion, peeled, coarsely chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
1-1/2 cups water
1 cup loosely packed cilantro leaves
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 to 1 whole small jalapeno, seeded, chopped
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp salt
Plain yogurt
Additional cilantro leaves for garnish

Combine first 9 ingredients in a blender, blend until pureed.  Thin soup with additional water, if desired.  Season to taste with additional salt, if desired.  Cover and refrigerate until cold, at least 3 hours and up to 1 day.  Ladle scant 1 cup soup into each 5 shallow bowls or teacups.  Top each serving with a dollop of yogurt and float cilantro leaves atop soup as garnish.  Serve chilled.
from Essentially Lilly's Guide to Colorful Entertaining

Latino Shrimp & Corn Bisque

1-1/2 lbs med (26-30 count) shrimp
3 c bottled clam juice
2 sprigs fresh parsley
1/8 tsp dried thyme
1/8 tsp whole black peppercorns
5 tsp (1/2 stick plus 1 tbls) unsalted butter
1 med onion, finely chopped
1 small celery rib with leaves, finely chopped
1/2 c diced (1/4 inch) chopped red bell pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 c flour
1/4 c dry sherry
1 tbls tomato paste
1-1/2 c fresh or frozen corn kernels
1/2 c heavy cream
salt & freshly ground pepper, to taste
chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish

Peel and devein shrimp, reserving shells. Coarsely chop shrim, then cover and refrigerate. Bring shrimp shells, 1 qt water, clam juice, parsley, thyme and peppercorns to a boil in a med saucepan over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 min to blend flavors. Strain and reserve liquid.

Melt butter in large saucepan over med-low heat. Add onion, celery, red pepper, and garlic, then cover. Cook until vegetables soften, ab 3 min. Sprinkle with flour and stir well. Whisk in reserved cooking liquid, sherry and tomato paste. Bring to simmer over med heat. Reduce heat to low and cook until lightly thickened, ab 3 min. (The soup can be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead, then cooled, covered and refrigerated. Reheat to simmering over low heat.) Stir in reserved shrimp, corn and heavy cream and cook just until the shrimp turn opaque, ab. 3 min. Season with salt and pepper. Top each serving with a drizzle of cream, if desired and sprinkle with cilantro.
Serves 8
From Essentially Lilly (Pulitzer) "Holidays" Cookbook

Goulash

Markus' Aunt from Switzerland makes this when she comes in the wintertime and he loves it. So

finally I asked her for it! It's long overdue to post it on the blog being that I got it in Apr 2009, but nonetheless it's pretty good. It's kinda like a beef stew, but not really. So in Ursula's own words:
"I send you the recipe I promised to give you"

2 persons

1 pound of beef ragout (stew meat)

2 carrots

2 celleries

2 onions
2 or 3 potatoes

garlic as much as you like or don't like
1 can tomatoes

Chop the veggies the same size as the ragout pieces are. stir fry the beef then add 1 spoon of flour salt pepper and 1 spoon of paprika and stir well. add 1 glass of redwine (you don't want to add wine ? no problem just add a little water) and 1 can of tomatoes then add all the veggies. it takes about 1 hour to simmer, you can always add some more gravy or water.

let simmer for 30-40 min, depends how tender the meat already is.

slice 2 or 3 potatoes the same size as the ragout pieces and add abt 30 min before the meat is ready and tender.

any questions ?? if not bon apetit

P.S. I really do think this serves more than 2 people just for the record.

from Aunt Ursula, Lugano, Swizterland

Black Bean Soup

This looks yummy. Had Taco Soup instead of this one, but it was a close second.

1 onion, chopped
1 carrot, grated
2 tbls vegetable oil
3 (15oz) cans black beans
3-4 cups chicken broth
1 cup salsa
1 (11oz) can Rotel
1 tbls cumin
1 tbls chili powder
juice of 1 lime
Chopped fresh cilantro to taste

Saute the onion and carrot in oil in large saucepan for 10-15 min or until tender. Process 1 can of undrained beans with 1 cup of broth in a blender until pureed. Add the puree to the onion mixture and mix well. Process another can of undrained beans and another cup of the broth in the blender until pureed and add to the onion mixture.

Stir the remaining can of undrained beans, remaning broth, salsa, undrained tomatoes, cumin and chili powder into the bean puree. Bring to a boil; reduce the heat. Simmer 20 min, stirring occasionally. Stir in lime juice and cilantro. Ladle into soup bowls and garnish with sour cream and chopped green onion tops.
Serves 6-8
River Road Recipes IV

Cheeseburger Soup

You know it's fall when.... Soups On!

1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup shredded carrots
3/4 cup chopped celery
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried parsley
6 cups chicken broth
2 lbs potatoes, peeled and diced
3 tbls butter or margarine
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 lb velveeta
1-1/2 cups milk
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

Ground beef in a dutch oven over med heat, (3 min) stirring until meat crumbles. Add onion and next 4 ingredients and saute 4 min or until beef is no longer pink. Drain well. Return beef mixture to dutch oven.

Stir in chicken broth and potatoes. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10-12 min or until potatoes are tender.

Melt 3 tbls butter in a non-stick skillet over med heat. Gradually stir in flour, and cook, stirring constantly, 2-3 min or until flour is lightly brown. Whisk flour mixture into simmering beef mixture; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 6 min or until thickened.

Whisk in cheese and next 3 ingredients just until cheese melts. Serve.
Makes 12 cups
From Southern Living Magazine, December 2004

Taco Soup

This can be made with shredded chicken or ground beef. I've had it with chicken and loved it, but it I think calls for beef. Yum!

1 can pinto beans (can use kidney if you prefer)
1 can corn (if you don't like a lot of corn use the niblet can)
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
1 or 2 boneless chicken breasts (or 1lb of ground beef)
taco seasoning
tortilla chips

Mix all ingredients together in pot and cook for about 20 min just to cook the tomato taste out of it. IF you like that kind of thing then warm and serve. Add water as needed. Serve with tortilla chips and garnish with sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese.
Serves 4

I got this from Donna Sanders and Christine Fausett (at church). We made it in Nauvoo :)

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Markus was very ill this morning, so I made him the classic sick food. It surprised me how yummy it was and sooo not salty! This is my new recipe for the week that I tried. Success!

3 qts homemade chicken stock (see recipe below), chilled- I didn't have time to chill mine
3 carrots, cut into 1/8-in thick rounds
Kosher salt
8 oz medium egg noodles
Cooked shredded chicken meat from homemade stock
Freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh dill, or 1 tbls dried
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat leaf parsley

Remove layer of fat from chilled stock and discard. Transfer stock to large stockpot; bring just to a simmer. Add the carrots; simmer until tender, about 6 min

Meanwhile, bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Cook noodles just until tender, about 6 min. Drain; add noodles to stockpot, along with shredded chicken. Season with salt and pepper. Heat until hot. When ready to serve, stir in dill and parsley.

**I cooked my noodles with my stock. I wanted mine super tender.

Homemade chicken stock

2 leeks, cut into thirds
1 tsp whole black peppercorns
6 sprigs fresh dill or 2 tsp dried
6 sprigs fresh flat leaf parsley
2 dried bay leaves
2 carrots, cut into thirds
1 4-lb chicken, cut into 6 pieces
1-1/2 lbs chicken wings
1-1/2 lbs chicken backs
2 48-0z cans low-sodium chicken broth, skimmed of fat.

Basically the recipe is a long drawn out process that cooks for about 4 or so hours, which who had that kind of time???

** I had to omit a few things that were fresh cause I didn't have on hand, but overall if you have the vegetables and season the stock well the soup is a no fail. Go easy on the salt as it could easily over power quick. I made my stock and didn't worry about skimming the fat. I also didn't use that much broth cause I didn't want to eat this for days, but with a few more than 2 people I might suggest that to allow room for seconds.

from The MARTHA STEWART LIVING Cookbook: The Original Classics (my newest cookbook)

Potato Chowder

YUMMY!!! I tried this for dinner tonight and I knew it would be good, but it was awesome instead. Definitely a keeper. Thought I'd share

1 lb potatoes, cubed and divided (about 3 med)
1-1/2 cups chicken broth (1 can)
1 cup thinly sliced carrots (I had baby carrots and they were perfect)
1 (11oz) can corn, drained
1/2 cup thinly sliced celery
1/2 cup chopped onions
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
2 tbls flour
1 cup half and half, divided (I ended up using more)
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 cups grated Swiss or Monterey Jack cheese

Combine half of potatoes with broth in a saucepan with tight fitting lid. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer about 10 min or until tender.

Mash potatoes with fork; stir in remaining potatoes, carrots, corn, celery, onions and next 3 ingredients. Cover, simmer until vegetables are tender.

Dissolve flour in 1/4 cup half and half; stir into chowder with remaining half and half and parsley. Cook, stirring constantly over medium heat until thickened slightly. Serve topped with grated cheese.
Makes 1-1/2 quarts
From Paula Deen Magazine Jan/Feb 2007

Crawfish Corn Chowder

My beloved best friend Lea-Lea gave me this one.  Her mommy makes it all the time and I think of the two of them often while cookin this one up.   Love to you both!

1 or 2 pkg crawfish tails

1/2 stick margarine (never have in my house)

1 (8oz) block cream cheese

1 cups half and half (1 pint)

1 can whole kernel corn, drained

1 can cream of mushroom soup

2 cans cream of potato soup

2 tbls crab oil

1/2 bunch of green onions

Melt margarine, cream cheese, & half and half together on low heat.  Stir continuously.  Add cream of mushroom and potato soups.  Once blended, in a separate saucepan bring to boil the crawfish tails & crab oil in water.  Drain, but don't rinse the crawfish.  Add crawfish to soup mixture along with the corn & simmer 20 min on low/med heat.

*Also forgot to mention you can use shrimp too and it's just as good.

from Karen Throckmorton to Leanne Nelson  to me :)

Baked Potato Soup

5 large baking potatoes, baked

1/4 cup butter or margarine (i don't keep margarine in the house)

1 med onion, chopped

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 quart half and half

3 cups milk

1 tsp salt

1/8 tsp white pepper

2 cups (8oz) shredded cheddar cheese

8 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled

To bake potatoes in the microwave, prick each several times with a fork.  Microwave 1-in apart on paper towels at high 14min or until done, turning and rearranging after 5  min.  Let cool. (The bigger the potato the longer it takes to cook)

Peel potatoes, and coarsley mash with a fork.

Melt butter in a dutch oven over med heat; add onion, and saute until tender.  Add flour, stirring until smooth.  Stir in potatoes, half and half, and next 3 ingredients; cook over low heat until thoroughly heated.  Top each serving with cheese and bacon.

Makes 12 cups

Southern Living Magazine, January 2003

Shrimp and Corn Soup

I can't believe I'm sharing this one, but since someone I love dearly was nice enough to share it with me I guess it's not a secret.  Thanks Kay-Kay for sharing, I'm not always the best at sharing a good thing.

2 cans cream style corn

1 can whole kernel corn

1 can rotel tomatoes

1/2 bell pepper, chopped

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup chopped parsley, (has to be fresh)

1 (8oz.) can tomato sauce

2 stalks celery, chopped

4 cups water

1 can cream of celery soup

2 tbls Worchestershire sauce

Tony's to taste (I never use this spice, I use something diffferent)

1-1/2 lbs. shrimp, peeled

1 bunch of green onions

Put all ingredients in slow cooker, EXCEPT the shrimp and green onions.  Cook on low for 8 hours.  Add shrimp during last hour of cooking and put slow cooker on high for the last hour.  Garnish with green onions.  It's just that easy!

*This makes soooo much soup and it's wonderful to freeze.  Don't make the mistake however of cutting the cooking time.  I wouldn't suggest that.

Easy Chicken and Dumplings

I found this in hopes to make something familiar for my husband who loved his grandmother's chicken and dumplings.  Tonight it's dinner.  Hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

1 (32oz) container low-sodium chicken broth

1 (14 1/2 oz) can low-sodium chicken broth

3 cups shredded cooked chicken (about 1 1/2 lb)

1 can reduced fat cream of celery soup

1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning

1 can refrigerated jumbo buttermilk biscuits

Stir together first 5 ingredients in a dutch oven over medium-high heat; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low; simmer, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes.  Place biscuits on a lightly floured surface.  Roll or pat each biscuit to  1/8 inch thickness; cut into 1/2 inch wide strips.  Return broth mixture to a low boil over med-high heat.  Drop strips, 1 at a time, into boiling broth.  Reduce heat to low; simmer 10 min, stirring occasionally to prevent dumplings from sticking.

Southern Living Magazine, November 2006

**I know this might probably be a wintertime dinner, but I love it any time of the year and I also season it up.  This recipe came from the South but it's bland just with poultry seasoning.  Don't be afraid to add to it.