Soup...Super...Supper!

I love soup for supper...my husband not so much...but he doesn't cook, so I win!

Back in the day when we were first married, soup for supper was a necessity because it was basically what we newlyweds could afford.  Once the children came along, soup was a great budget stretcher and awesome way to sneak vegetables into finicky eaters' diets.

As my culinary curiosity and my need to practice skills developed, I found that making soups and stews were economical ways to practice cooking, examining flavor profiles and creating recipes.

Today, I try to make soup a main course meal at least once a week...and as the cooler weather sets in, I often serve a small bowl or"verrine"  a 4 ounce serving in a tavern glass...kind of like a large shooter... as our starter before meals, three or four times a week.  Again, it is a great way to get more vegetables into our diets, and because we are eating in courses, the pace of our meal slows down...and we eat smaller main plates...being kinder to our waistlines as well as wallets!

I love legumes...and I first had the lentils featured in this recipe in Lyon, France.  I'd never had lentils before...I think they had a reputation of being peasant food...and can be yucky if not treated as a proper main ingredient.  The bowl I ordered was kind of stew-like, thick and rich, with the integrity of the lentils still intact...it was richly flavored with mire-poix (carrots, onions and celery) , a hit of cumin and top off with the loveliest slice of perfectly prepared fois gras...peasant food, my eye!

Ever since Lyon, I keep a few jars of lentils on my counter...and I will make a batch on a cool day...serve some for supper and save some in the freezer for when Bill is off traveling for business...when he is away, I have soup for supper almost every day!

The inspiration for this lentil soup recipe came to me via a sausage soup recipe I found in a charity cookbook..the WCRB Horn Of Plenty Cookbook II...I added the lentils and some dark greens to stretch the recipe when our budget was tight...

Please enjoy...Lentil Soup with Sausage and Greens
Serves 6-8 as a main course

Ingredients
2 links spicy Italian sausage, casing removed
1 carrot, small dice
2 ribs of celery, trimmed and small dice
1 medium Vidalia onion, small dice
4 cloves of garlic, minced
5 ounces baby spinach, stems trimmed and chopped
5 ounces baby kale, stems trimmed and chopped
5 ounces escarole, chopped
1 tbsp. tomato paste
14.5 ounce can of fire roasted diced tomatoes
8 ounces brown lentils or green lentils du Puy, checked for stones and rinsed
2 bay leaves
2 tbsp, chopped flat leaf Italian parsley
1/2 tsp. cumin
Salt and pepper
5 cups low sodium chicken broth
Olive oil for cooking and finishing the soup
Parmesan cheese, for garnish
Optional:  Parmesan cheese rind** ( I save the rinds of cheese in a plastic bag in my freezer. When added to a soup or sauce, the rind adds a richness and slight saltiness that adds depth of flavor to any long simmered dish). 

Method
Heat 2 tbsp. olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat.
Brown the sausage until golden brown and crumbly.
Remove from the pan on a paper towel lined plate; set aside.
Add the carrot, onion, celery, garlic, parsley, cumin and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Cook, stirring occasionally until the vegetables soften and start to brown, about 10 minutes.
Increase the heat to medium high and add the tomato paste, stirring constantly until the paste darkens and becomes fragrant, about 3-5 minutes.
Add the spinach, kale and half the escarole and cook until they start to wilt.
Add the broth, 2 cups of water, lentils, canned tomatoes, bay leaves and Parmesan rind, if using **.
Bring to a boil and then reduce heat to low, simmering the soup until the lentils are soft...about 1 hour.
Ten minutes before serving, stir in the remaining escarole and return the sausage to the pot.
Taste for seasonings and adjust.
Serve in warmed bowls...drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and additional cheese for garnish.

To make this a vegetarian meal, omit the sausage,  and use low sodium vegetable broth.

Serve with a crusty loaf of French bread or Sour Dough.

Recommended wine:  Cotes du Rhone

Bon Appetit!

Autumn Classic: Pork Chops and Applesauce

All you children of the 1970's...if I say "Pork chops and applesauce," in my best Humphrey Bogart impression, does an image of Peter Brady in a fedora pop into your head?

Pork and apples...a quintessential autumn pairing... my children will not eat most pork without a side of my homemade applesauce.  The apples do some sort of magic and enhance the subtle flavor of  pork.

As it is apple picking time here in the Northeast, a trip to our local orchard provides us with some eating apples, baking apples, apple butter and apple cider.  My cider-braised pork chops use some of each of these to make a splendiforous supper for a crisp Fall night.

Please enjoy....Cider Braised Pork Chops with Sauteed Brussel Sprouts 
Serves 4

Ingredients
4 bone in pork chops, at least 1 inch thick
1 tbsp.  vegetable oil
1 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 large onion, halved and sliced thinly
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 carrot, grated
1 Granny Smith apple, grated
1/4 cup apple butter or natural applesauce ( if using applesauce, add 1/4 tsp. each, clove, cinnamon and nutmeg)
1 cup apple cider
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. fresh thyme, minced
1 tsp. fresh sage, chopped
2 tbsp. all purpose flour
Salt and pepper, hefty pinch of each
Parsley, chopped for garnish
Eating apple, sliced thinly for garnish

Method
Preheat oven to 300*F.
Place oven rack in lower middle position.

Hear oil and butter in a Dutch oven over medium high heat.

Season pork chops with salt and pepper.
Brown the pork chops in the heated fat, cooking 3-4 minutes per side.
Transfer chops to a plate and set aside.
Reduce heat to medium.
Add the onion, fresh herbs, grated carrot and apple to the pot, cooking until soft, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the flour and coat the onion mixture thoroughly.
Next, add the garlic, flour and half the apple butter, stirring until well incorporated and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
Stir in the apple cider and remaining apple butter; using a wooden spoon, gently scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan and bring to a gentle boil.
Layer the chops on top of the apple mixture.
Cover and transfer to preheated oven.
Braise the pork and apple mixture for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, until the chops are completely tender.

Transfer the pork chops to a warm platter and garnish with thinly sliced apples and chopped parsley.
Strain the sauce into a fat separator.
Allow the sauce to cool long enough for the fat to rise to the surface.
Return the sauce to the pan and heat over medium low.
Whisk in cider vinegar, and a dollop of apple butter or apple sauce into the strained sauce.
Taste for seasoning and adjust.

Pour sauce into a warmed serving bowl to share at the table.

Sauteed Brussel Sprouts
Serves 4

Ingredients
2 cups Brusssel Sprouts, washed, halved and outer blemished leaves  removed
3 strips thick cut bacon, diced
1 tbsp, unsalted butter
1/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
1 small shallot, minced
1/2 cup apple cider
1/4 cup water

Salt and pepper to taste

Method
Heat a large saute pan over medium high heat.
Cook bacon until crisp,
Remove bacon to a paper towel lined plate and reserve.
Lower heat to medium.
Remove all but 1 tbsp, bacon fat from the pan.
Add butter to the pan and melt.
Add the shallot and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
Add the prepared Brussel Sprouts and toss in the shallot mixture, then turn the sprouts cut side down.
Cook until slightly browned, about 5 minutes.
Increase the heat  to medium high and add the cider and water.
Cover and cook for another 3-5 minutes, or until fork tender.
Toss in the dried cranberries and cook for another minute or two,
Check seasoning and adjust.
Remove from the heat to a warmed serving dish,
Garnish with reserved bacon bits.

Recommended Beverages:  Sparkling Cider
Chilled Gewurztraminer
Samuel Adams Octoberfest

Bon Appetit!

Take it Slow in a Busy Month: More Slow Cooker Recipes

As families adjust to new schedules and calendars fill up with extra-curricular activities, now more than ever is it important to share family meals!

A menu, a budget and a calendar system that highlights everyone's activities are life savers when it comes to piecing together quality time...here's a point to consider...few think twice about putting piano lessons, soccer practice/games, and homework time on a busy kid's schedule...why wouldn't you want to add a high quality time activity like a dinner on the schedule too?  At dinner you can talk about all the above said activities.  Talking about homework strategies, new friends, skill sets learned at school and on the field...all these wonderful conversations can take place over breakfast, snack time and or dinner...you just have to make it your priority and in so doing, you let your family know that they are your priority too.

Recent studies from federal, state and local agencies, focusing on youth risk behavior demonstrate that families who eat 4 or more meals together during the week and at least twice on the weekends, see a dramatic reduction in youth risk behavior.  Children are less likely to experiment with drugs, alcohol and tobacco.  Children who spend this quality time at the table have greater self esteem, perform better in the classroom and on the field and are better at forming healthy relationships with peers.

Family dinners do not have to be gourmet feasts...a special occasion dinner from time to time helps though...from burgers, fries and a side salad from the local fast food joint (skip the soda and ask for milk or water please) to a one pot wonder simmered all day...coming together at the kitchen table, on a picnic blanket or out on a picnic table ...not in the back seat of a moving car or sweating on the sidelines at half time...but a dinner together...as an independent activity is important for happy, healthy families.

My mother, a working woman used to make this crock pot roast for us and the left overs were chopped up to make a minestrone soup for later in the week...a two-fer!

Please enjoy...Spicy Italian Pot Roast

Ingredients
4 lb. beef rump roast
1/2 cup red wine
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms (I used to pick these out...yuck)
1 large onion diced
1 carrot, grated
Mix together the following seasonings and set aside
1 tsp, each:  garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, dried basil, kosher salt
1/2 tsp, freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

1 8 ounce can unsalted tomato sauce
2 tbsp. tomato paste
2 tbsp, flour
2 tbsp. softened butter

Optional:  add 1 cup red and or green pepper strips to the pot 1 hour before the end of cooking time

Method
Season the roast all over with  half of the seasoning mixture.
Place the roast in the slow cooker. (optional step...to really boost the flavor, brown the seasoned roast on all sides in a 2 tbsp, vegetable oil, in a large skillet over medium high heat then transfer meat and juices to the slow cooker).
Layer the mushrooms, garlic. carrot and onions on top of the roast.
Sprinkle the remaining seasoning mix over the mushrooms, garlic and onions.
Gently pour the wine and tomato sauce into the slow cooker.

Cover and cook on low for 10- 12 hours or on high for 4-6 hours.  Meat should be fork tender.
To make a thicker sauce, remove the meat and vegetables to a platter and cover with foil.
Strain the liquid into bowl removing any fat and veggie bits; you can strain off and discard any fat that separates from the meat juices

Turn slow cooker to highest setting.
In the bottom of the crock pot, whisk together 2 tbsp. flour and 2 tbsp. softened butter until a smooth paste forms.
Add in the tomato paste and reserved liquid, whisking well to avoid lumps.
Cover and cook for 10 minutes and the mixture starts to thicken.
Return the meat and vegetables to the pot and reheat on high for 15- 20 minutes.

Serve with pasta or polenta.

Recommended wine:  Chianti Classico


Two-fer...Minestrone Soup

Ingredients

1 cup of left over Spicy Italian Pot Roast, chopped
1 small onion, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 ribs celery with leaves, diced
1/2 cup shredded cabbage
1 medium zucchini and or summer squash, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced

1/2 frozen peas
1/2 cup corn
1/2 cup lima beans

1  14 1/2 ounce can chick peas or kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 tsp. fresh thyme
1 tsp.  fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 tsp. dried oregano

Optional:  1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes

2 cups water
1 cup low sodium beef broth
1 cup low sodium crushed tomatoes

Method
Place all the ingredients except the zucchini and frozen vegetables into the slow cooker.
Stir to mix thoroughly.
Cover and cook on low for 10-12 hours (High 4-6 hours)
During the last hour of cooking, add the zucchini and frozen vegetables.
Taste and adjust seasoning.
Turn crock-pot on high for the remaining hour.

Ladle over elbow pasta and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.
Garnish with fresh basil.
Enjoy with a salad and a loaf of crusty bread.

Recommended wine:  Barbera d'Asti

Bon Appetit!

An Apple (Muffin) a Day....

One of the things I love and will miss about living in the country is our proximity to farms, farmers' markets and orchard.  I just have jump in the car and 15 minutes in any direction, I have fresh produce at my finger tips!

Nothing beats a sunny September Saturday, with a hint of of autumn in the breeze and strolling through rows and rows of apple trees...Macintosh, Spy, Jona-Gold, Macouns, Cortlands and Crispins...and many heirloom varieties as well. I mean, really does an apple taste any better than whence you pluck it from the tree, polish it on your shirt sleeve and take that first overly big, crunch from the juicy pomme? My mouth is watering as I think of it!  On apple picking day, we eat apples for lunch!

From pies to chutney and Dutch Baby pancakes to apples smeared with peanut butter...I love to nosh on apples and this recipe for apple muffins is wonderful as a breakfast treat, after school snack or served warm with cinnamon whipped cream as dessert.

According to Bon Appetit magazine, the three best apple for varieties for baking are:  Crispin (aka Mutsu), Pink Lady and my favorite, HoneyCrisp!

Please enjoy Apple and Spice Muffins...
makes 18-24 muffins

Ingredients
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
2 large eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
3 cups unbleached flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp, baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp.  ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
1 cup apple cider or apple juice
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups peeled and diced apples (you may sprinkle some cider or lemon juice on them to prevent browning)
Demerara sugar to sprinkle on unbaked muffin tops.

Method
Line 2 twelve hole muffin tins with cupcake liners or grease well the muffin tin and set side/
Preheat the oven to 400*F.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars.
Add in the eggs one at a time, incorporating the first well, before adding the second, and beating until no yolk can be seen.
On a large strip of wax paper, sift together the flour, salt, soda, powder, cinnamon and cloves.
In a measuring cup, combine cider and vanilla.
Alternating one third at a time,  add the dry and wet ingredients into the butter mixture (start by gently, pick up the edges of the paper with the dry ingredients and funneling it into the bowl with the butter mixture).
Mix well.
Gently fold in the apples and stir until they are lightly coated with the batter.
Using an ice cream scoop, fill the muffin tins 3/4 full with batter and sprinkle with the Demerara sugar.
If there are any empty muffin wells, fill them 1/2 way with water to insure even baking.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean.
The muffins should be golden brown with a light crumb on the sides when the paper is pulled away.

Not that they will last, but these muffins freeze well.  Wrap individually in plastic wrap and then store in a freezer safe container or bag.

Recommended beverage:  Hot cider infused with cinnamon!

Bon Appetit!

What's New Beef Stew?

Keeping up with the slow cooker theme, I thought I'd share my slow cooker beef stew recipe.  This is one of those recipes that if you set aside some time on the weekend, make it ahead, and, you can pop this in the fridge to keep until you need it later in the week...although I wouldn't go longer than three days in the fridge...if you want it for later than that, do all the prep work for the meat. onions and stewing liquid and put it in a freezer safe container and when your are ready to cook it...get the rest of the stuff prepped the night before and toss it all together in the morning before you head off for the day.

One of the great things about this recipe is it can be tweaked to your family's taste...kids don't like carrots?  Try parsnips or rutabaga...Want to add some greens?  Toss in a half a bag of frozen peas or 2 cups fresh spinach about 1/2 hour before the end of cooking time...et voila...veggies galore!

I tend to season as I go, but with a light touch...slow cooking can get salty fast, so be careful when salting and seasoning...by taking a few extra prep minutes before assembling the final slow cooker contents, you can build flavor by browning some of your ingredients in a saute pan.  Added steps I know, but they are worth the effort with marvelous flavor in your end product.

Please enjoy...

Beef Brew 'n' Stew
Serves 6-8

Ingredients

2 lbs. trimmed stew meat (I ask my butcher to cube a nice chuck roast)
2 tbsp. flour

4 slices bacon

2 tbsp. vegetable oil

1/2 tsp.  kosher salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp.  onion powder
1/2 tsp.  cumin

2 large onions, halved and cut into 1/2 inch thick slices
6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

1 12 ounce bottle of beer (do not use an IPA...too bitter) I like Guinness or Sam Lager
1 cup low sodium beef broth
1/2 cup water

1 lb. Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 2 inch chunks
1 lb.  carrots peeled and cut into 2 inch chunks
1/2 lb. parsnips peeled and cut into 2 inch chunks

Bouquet garni :  in a piece of cheese cloth place 1 large bay leaf,  4 sprigs of thyme, 5 sage leaves , several stems of parsley and 1 large sprig of rosemary.  Tie  the cloth into a bundle using cooking string.

1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 tsp.  brown sugar

Method

In a large zip top bag, combine the flour,  with half of the following: salt, pepper and onion powder.
Add cubed meat to the bag and toss to evenly coat the meat with the flour.
Set aside.

Heat a large skillet, over medium high heat.
Add bacon and cook until crisp.
Remove bacon from the pan to a paper towel lined plate. Reserve bacon for optional garnish.

In the bacon drippings, add half the beef and cook until brown on all sides.
Remove the meat to the plate with the bacon and repeat with remaining beef.
(Add up to an additional tbsp. of oil to the skillet if needed.)

Add remaining oil to pan and swirl to coat pan.
Reduce heat to medium-low.
Add the onions, garlic, and cumin and saute for 8 minutes or until the onions are soft and begin to brown.
Add the beer to the pan and gently scrape the bottom of the pan to remove browned bits.
Increase the heat to medium-high and bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.
Add the beef stock  and water along with remaining salt, pepper, onion powder; continue to simmer for 5 minutes.
Turn off heat and carefully pour the mixture into a prepared 6 quart crock pot.
Carefully stir in the mustard, vinegar and brown sugar, stirring to incorporate well with the onion mixture.
Nestle the bouquet garni, into the liquid.
Layer in the beef and the root vegetables.
Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours.

If desired, you can add frozen vegetables like peas, beans and or corn to the stew 30 minutes prior to the end cooking time.

Remove bouquet garni before serving.

To serve, garnish with parsley and crumbled bacon bits.

Serve with a biscuits or a crusty loaf of bread.

Wine recommendation:  California Zinfandel, Cotes du Rhone or new world Malbec!
Bon Appetit!

I'm Ba-ack...with Chicken and Chickpeas for Supper!

It's been a while. I took some time off to find my voice, hone my skills and do lots and lots of research. I've been a busy lady!  But, I've missed writing and sharing cooking ideas with you.

Recently, I was talking to friends on Facebook, and the subject of make ahead meals evolved into slow cooker meals for busy school nights. I chimed in that I enjoy a tasty Chicken and Chickpea Tagine recipe that I've adapted from Cooking Light Magazine 12/13...well the requests poured in and I thought what better a "rentre'" to the Cook's Concern than this?!?

I love this dish because it is easily doubled (if using a large Dutch oven at 300* for 3- hours or 2 slow cookers) so you can freeze half for another busy school night! The recipe is adaptable to your tastes if some of these warm spices are not up to younger kids' palates... and feel free to toss in some other hearty vegetables like carrots, butternut squash or rutabaga ( I'd say 1/2 cup per person) if you are trying to up the nutrition all in one pot! I have substituted cannelini beans, with the final product creamier and more stew-like. I hope you enjoy!

Chicken and Chickpea Tagine with Warm Spices
Serves 8
 250 calories per serving

 Ingredients
1-2 tbsp. olive oil
 8 chicken thighs, skins removed
 2 large onions, chopped
6-8 cloves of garlic, minced
Combine the following dry seasonings in a bowl:
 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. white pepper
1 tsp. ground coriander
 1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. smoky paprika
 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. turmeric
 1/4 tsp. allspice
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
 1/2 cup dried apricots, diced
1/2 cup dried plums, diced
 2 (15 oz.) cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed
 Lemon wedges and 1/3 cup cilantro leaves or baby spinach as garnish

  Method 
 Heat a large skillet over medium high heat.
Add oil and coat the pan evenly.
Sprinkle a healthy pinch of the seasoning mixture over the meatier side of chicken.
Add chicken to pan, meaty side down in the skillet and cook on one side for about 5 minutes or until well browned.
Remove from the pan and place in a dish; set aside.
Add onion and garlic to the pan and the remaining seasoning mixture.
 Saute for 3-4 minutes or until the onions soften.
Add the stock to the pan and loosen any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet.
 Bring the mixture to a boil.
 Once boiling, turn off the heat and carefully pour the liquid mixture into the slow cooker.
 Stir in the chickpeas and dried fruit.
 Arrange the chicken thighs, browned side up evenly over the chickpea layer.
Pour in any collected meat juices.
 Cover and cook on LOW for 7 hours.
(All slow cookers vary in heat and timing. Follow your slow cooker's manufacturer's instructions if they vary greatly from the recipe.)
 After cooking, serve the chicken and chickpea mixture with wedges of lemon and garish with chopped cilantro or spinach.
 Suggested sides: Steamed green beans or sauteed spinach.
 Recommended wine: A crisp Italian Pinot Grigio or a Citrus-y Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand

 Bon Appetit!