No-Soak Black Bean Soup

Crock pot to the rescue again.  This soup is filling, delicious and easy as pie.(Somehow, the words easy as soup don’t roll off the tongue in the same way, although the taste certainly does.)
Add 1-tablespoon olive oil  to a 5-qt slow cooker and turn it to the highest setting.  Stir in 1 chopped medium yellow [...]

Parmesan Soup

Heat 1 1/2-tablespoons unsalted butter and 1 1/2-tablespoons olive oil in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat.  When hot, add 1 1/2-cup chopped shallots (about 1/2 pound or 5 large shallots).  Cook, stirring often, until softened and translucent, for 3 to 4 minutes.  Add 3/4-pound Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes, peeled and cut into [...]

Chippewa Soup

Restaurant chefs commonly work long, frequently frenetic hours.  Understanding that their livelihood depends not only on the quality of the meal, but also on the uniqueness of their offerings, it is easy to understand why most are reluctant to share the recipe for a particular dish.
Locally, the recipe for a seasonal soup favorite that has been drawing [...]

Roasted Red Pepper Bisque

Roast* 15 large sweet red peppers, or open 1 (one) 48-oz can of already roasted sweet red peppers that have been drained, rinsed and drained again.  Using a food processor that has been fitted with a steel blade, whirl the peppers, in batches, to form a puree.  Reserve. 
In a large stockpot, melt 1/2-cup (1 stick) unsalted butter [...]

Rustic (End of) Summer Vegetable Soup

First step is to make wide home-made noodles, known as Paparadelle.  Using a pasta machine and your favorite pasta recipe,  (the basics are 4 eggs, 3 cups white flour, tablespoon or two of water and a pinch of salt that has been kneaded until a consistent color and texture.)  Cover the dough with a slightly damp [...]

15-Bean Soup

Wash and pick over 1 (16-oz) pkg. of 15-bean soup mix, discarding the seasoning packet.  Soak beans in water overnight.  Drain beans, put in a large soup pot with a ham bone or ham hocks.  Add 10-cups water and 4 cloves garlic, minced.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours, skimming [...]

Sausage and Bean Chowder

In a large skillet, brown 1 pound bulk hot port sausage.  Drain excess fat.  Transfer sausage to a large kettle.  Add 2 (two) 16-oz. cans kidney beans, drained, 2 (two) 14-oz. cans stewed tomatoes, undrained, 2 cups tomato juice, 1 large onion, chopped, 1 bay leaf, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt, 1/2 teaspoon [...]

Apple and Butternut Squash Soup

A quick stop at the farmer’s market yesterday afternoon whetted my appetite for one of my favorite soups.  New crops of apples and some early butternut squash lined the stalls.  Rainy weather is forecast for the weekend.  This delicious soup will be perfect.
Melt 1 tablespoon unsalted butter in a large soup pot.  Saute 1 medium diced onion until soft, about 5 [...]

Oyster Stew Rafalko

In a food processor, finely chop 1 onion, 1 carrot, 1 celery stalk including leaves and 1 tablespoon  parsley.  in  a large pot over moderate heat, melt 2 tablespoons bacon fat and 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter.  Add the finely chopped onion mixture.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened.  Add 2 cups chicken broth, 3 large boiling potatoes*, [...]

Minted Cantaloupe Dessert Soup

Reflecting on the dry heat of this August day, visions of something cool and sweet comes to mind.  A visit to the creamery for an ice cream cone is one possibility, but it’s one more stop, and it’s so out-of-the-way to get to the stand….  Hopefully, your pantry is well-stocked, but if not, a trip to the grocery store was on the [...]