stew & soup recipes: cold tomato bisque recipe by jacques pepin

As the temperatures climbed into the 90’s today it was clear what would be on the table for dinner; some form of cold soup. Cold soups are so very easy and extremely fresh and healthy. It is a simple thing to take a walk through your local farmers market and find the produce that will yield a of a wide variety of cold soups. Tomatoes are plentiful this time of year and throughout the summer. Tomatoes are a fruit that is rich in lycopene. Solanum lycopersicum is a member of the nightshade family and originated in South America, most likely Peru. This versatile fruit was hailed as an aphrodisiac by the natives of South America. When the fruit was brought back to Europe the French seemed to feel the same way as the peoples of South America and they named this new fruit “pomme d’amore”, love apple. There is some... Read the Rest →

 

stew & soup recipes: what's the difference between stock and broth?

Walking to our local farmers’ market is one of my favorite Saturday morning chores during the spring and summer. It is a joy to meet our local growers and purchase their produce. Even when I don’t need too much produce I still go. I can’t resist and at times I almost take it for granted that each week there will be a plethora of fruits and vegetables available. Today I am reminded to be grateful for the luxury of the farmers’ market. On May 11, 1934 a massive storm swept through America sending over 350 million tons of soil into the air. Over two days high level winds blew topsoil from the Great Plains to the east coast. The dust storm did not just happen out of the blue. Since the pioneers began settling the Great Plains farmers cleared the land that was once covered in prairie grass which served... Read the Rest →

 

stew & soup recipes: what’s the difference between stock and broth?

Walking to our local farmers’ market is one of my favorite Saturday morning chores during the spring and summer. It is a joy to meet our local growers and purchase their produce. Even when I don’t need too much produce I still go. I can’t resist and at times I almost take it for granted that each week there will be a plethora of fruits and vegetables available. Today I am reminded to be grateful for the luxury of the farmers’ market. On May 11, 1934 a massive storm swept through America sending over 350 million tons of soil into the air. Over two days high level winds blew topsoil from the Great Plains to the east coast. The dust storm did not just happen out of the blue. Since the pioneers began settling the Great Plains farmers cleared the land that was once covered in prairie grass which served... Read the Rest →

 

stew & soup recipes: are koreans rude…and a soup recipe called kimchi jjigae

I am going to state right here at the beginning of this post that this post is an opinion based on personal experience and is in no way, shape or form meant to be hateful. It is the truth and based on 3 separate events: A few months ago I went to my dry cleaners/seamstress. I had to fit into a gown and I had gained a few pounds over the past few years. It is a beautiful, classic gown that is timeless. I decided I’d have it let out and diet. I’d rather starve myself for a month than go shopping for clothing so this was my solution. I put the gown on for my seamstress. She eyed me up and down as I stood there embarrassed to have gained weight and horrified I’d have to let this gown out. Then, she said, “Ohhh…you got more here and here.... Read the Rest →

 

stew & soup recipes: are koreans rude…and a soup recipe called kimchi jjigae

I am going to state right here at the beginning of this post that this post is an opinion based on personal experience and is in no way, shape or form meant to be hateful. It is the truth and based on 3 separate events: A few months ago I went to my dry cleaners/seamstress. I had to fit into a gown and I had gained a few pounds over the past few years. It is a beautiful, classic gown that is timeless. I decided I’d have it let out and diet. I’d rather starve myself for a month than go shopping for clothing so this was my solution. I put the gown on for my seamstress. She eyed me up and down as I stood there embarrassed to have gained weight and horrified I’d have to let this gown out. Then, she said, “Ohhh…you got more here and here.... Read the Rest →

 

kitchen myths & fads: msg and a tofu kombu white miso soup recipe

MSG is one of those things that people hear about, know it is in Chinese food and that it either makes them feel sick after consuming or it does not. Very few people have any idea what MSG is or from where it comes. I was one of those people. I was recently discussing, with a coworker, how I could not eat certain foods with MSG because they give me a headache. She balked. She said there was nothing wrong with MSG being added to food. I mistakenly guessed that she knew details regarding MSG. “What is MSG?” I asked “Monosodium glutamate, “says my coworker. “What is monosodium glutamate?” My coworker then says, “I don’t know. They put it in food.” Uh, huh. I realized I must research this mysterious food additive since I know I ‘m not the only one who gets headaches because of it and it is... Read the Rest →

 

kitchen myths & fads: msg and a tofu kombu white miso soup recipe

MSG is one of those things that people hear about, know it is in Chinese food and that it either makes them feel sick after consuming or it does not. Very few people have any idea what MSG is or from where it comes. I was one of those people. I was recently discussing, with a coworker, how I could not eat certain foods with MSG because they give me a headache. She balked. She said there was nothing wrong with MSG being added to food. I mistakenly guessed that she knew details regarding MSG. “What is MSG?” I asked “Monosodium glutamate, “says my coworker. “What is monosodium glutamate?” My coworker then says, “I don’t know. They put it in food.” Uh, huh. I realized I must research this mysterious food additive since I know I ‘m not the only one who gets headaches because of it and it is... Read the Rest →

 

tastily touring: visiting belarus with a borscht recipe

Belarus, once under the government of the USSR, gained its independence in 1991. Currently bordered by Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, The Republic of Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. Belarus is among 15 countries that were once a part of the USSR and are now a Newly Independent States (NIS). However, Belarus has maintained a close relation with Russia unlike any of the other countries formerly a part of the USSR. Belarus shares a long and rich history with the many other countries in Eastern Europe. Inhabited since prehistoric times the first record of permanent settlements dates back to the 6th century AD. Ruled by the princes of Kiev, Mongols, Lithuanians, Poles and Muscovites, Belarus finally came under Russian control under the rule of Catherine the Great in 1772. It wasn’t until the dissolution of the Soviet Union that Belarus finally became independent. Alexander Lukashenko has... Read the Rest →

 

stew & soup recipes: peanut butter pumpkin soup

Remember our recent post that discussed cooking down and pureeing a pumpkin for future use? If you haven’t had a chance to read it, please take a peek, then get that nearly frost bitten pumpkin that is sitting on your porch and get busy making your own pumpkin puree. You will need it for another of our recently posted recipes: pumpkin tartlets as well as this next pumpkin recipe that we’d like to share with you. This recipe will both surprise and delight you. It was given to us by a relative who declared that is would become a Thanksgiving tradition. And, as predicted, it has been ever present on our Thanksgiving table. We would never think of omitting this from our celebration, not that our families would let us, always asking on Thanksgiving morning, “Are you making that pumpkin soup?” Of course we are and so will you once... Read the Rest →

 

stew & soup recipes: peanut butter pumpkin soup

Remember our recent post that discussed cooking down and pureeing a pumpkin for future use? If you haven’t had a chance to read it, please take a peek, then get that nearly frost bitten pumpkin that is sitting on your porch and get busy making your own pumpkin puree. You will need it for another of our recently posted recipes: pumpkin tartlets as well as this next pumpkin recipe that we’d like to share with you. This recipe will both surprise and delight you. It was given to us by a relative who declared that is would become a Thanksgiving tradition. And, as predicted, it has been ever present on our Thanksgiving table. We would never think of omitting this from our celebration, not that our families would let us, always asking on Thanksgiving morning, “Are you making that pumpkin soup?” Of course we are and so will you once... Read the Rest →

 

soup & stew recipes: mulligan stew

They come from every walk of life. They represent a multitude of ethnicities. They are the men and women who don’t know what the words “I can’t” or “I quit” mean. They are called Jar Heads, Leatherneck and Devil Dogs. They are United States Marines. They have been described by many, but I think that Rear Admiral Stark’s assessment is about as accurate as they come: “Marines I see as two breeds; Rottweiler or Doberman, because Marines come in two varieties, big and mean or skinny and mean. They’re aggressive on the attack and tenacious on defense. They’ve got really short hair and they always go for the throat.” “America’s 911 Force”, The United States Marine Corps is who our nation turns to in times of need. Marines are America’s premier expeditionary force, mobilizing with speed on the ground, in the air and by sea. For 236 years Marines have... Read the Rest →

 

soup & stew recipes: mulligan stew

They come from every walk of life. They represent a multitude of ethnicities. They are the men and women who don’t know what the words “I can’t” or “I quit” mean. They are called Jar Heads, Leatherneck and Devil Dogs. They are United States Marines. They have been described by many, but I think that Rear Admiral Stark’s assessment is about as accurate as they come: “Marines I see as two breeds; Rottweiler or Doberman, because Marines come in two varieties, big and mean or skinny and mean. They’re aggressive on the attack and tenacious on defense. They’ve got really short hair and they always go for the throat.” “America’s 911 Force”, The United States Marine Corps is who our nation turns to in times of need. Marines are America’s premier expeditionary force, mobilizing with speed on the ground, in the air and by sea. For 236 years Marines have... Read the Rest →

 

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