5th Annual Spokane Soup Swap

5th Annual Spokane Soup Swap

Thursday, January 31, 2012           

6:00-8:00pm

Located at the home of Cheryl Corrigan-Matamoros,

3806 W Woodside Ave.

328-9563 or 979-0462

Soup Swap Guidelines

1.     Make one or two soups that will freeze well and place into one quart containers.  6 quarts is suggested, but any less will do. Freeze the filled quarts.

2.     Make a copy of the recipe to bring. If you are able, think about those in our community who are hungry and gather a can or more of soup to donate to

2nd Harvest Food Bank of the Inland Northwest.

3.     Show up at 6:00 with your 6 quarts of frozen soups in a box or bag to carry them in, your recipe, and your hunger. If there are any instructions other than warm and serve, please accompany each quart of soup with those instructions.

4.     6:00- 7:00 visit with friends and meet new friends.

 Eat:  Soup and accompaniments will be served by hostess for your evening meal.

5.     7:00 Soup Swap:  take a number, you could be first to choose, or you could be last!  You take home the number of quarts you brought.

6.     8:00 Take your soup home and put in your freezer!

I got the idea for the Soup Swap on the internet while looking for new recipes.  The man who started it is in Seattle.  This is his website:

http://soupswap.com/   My own blog is found at spokanesoupswap.blogspot.com   I have another food blog about the meals I make at “Garland Cookday”, a freezer meal preparation event. http://corriganscookday.wordpress.com

Please RSVP by email and I will confirm.

cec037@yahoo.com

If you can’t come and want to have your own soup swap, feel free to copy this invitation and use it. Let me know when your swap will be!

Chicken and St. Maries' Wild Rice Soup

This recipe is for making ahead and freezing. If you leave the milk out you can add any type of milk you want 30 minutes before serving. You can add skim to cream or evaporated milk. Let me know how you like it!

St. Maries’  Wild Rice and Chicken Soup (bag or container)

3 cups cooked chicken, cut up (can use shrimp, but don’t bring, add when almost cooked)

1/4 cup butter

 ¼ C bacon bits

1 1/2 cup carrots, diced

1 1/2 cup celery, diced

1 1/2 cup onion, diced

8 ounces wild rice mix, uncooked

1/2 cup all purpose flour

4 cups 2 % milk

3 cups chicken broth

1 49.5 oz can chicken broth

Melt butter in a large stockpot over medium heat. 

Add bacon and vegetables.

Cook until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. 

Add rice and 2 cups of the broth. 

Cover and simmer for 30 minutes. 

Stir flour into remaining 1-cup broth. 

Add to soup and stir until bubbly.

Add milk and heat through. 

Let cool down before putting in containers/bags with individual’s chicken for freezing.  

Serves 8.

Make sure each person gets a 49.5 oz can of chicken broth for use when reheating.

 

Soup Swap 2012

At 6:00 the guests arrived laden with quarts of soup. All talk with introductions and "how do I know you?" or "how do you know Cheryl?". After gabbing about life we began with Mint Juleps. One guest brought homemade french bread, so we were drooling over that. The Gumbo smelled amazing! I was so looking forward to enjoying this meal after its aroma filled my house all day.Soon we were serving up; spoon of white rice in the bowl and cover it with Gumbo. Shortly after I was hearing the comments. They loved it! Although I have a New Orleans heritage with my Mom growing up there, I hadn't made Gumbo in over 15 years. I soon found out what a mistake that was! The flavors had melded together to create an indescribable burst of flavor in my mouth that I call "A circus in my mouth." The french bread was baked to perfection!

After the meal we did our soup talk, then swap.....then more talk....and more talk.....

Soup Swap Tonight!

I'm looking forward to getting together for eating and swapping soup tonight! One friend made homemade french bread for our meal.I'm so looking forward to homemade bread, as I'm not much of a baker. Tonight I will be serving New Orleans Style Gumbo.

Here's comment about Gumbo:
Gumbo isn't about recipes. Gumbo is cooked with instinct and heart. Gumbo is a dish you are taught, not something you can make by reading a recipe. My gumbo won't taste like yours and yours won't taste like mine, altough mine tastes pretty similar to my Mom's, but that is probably because she taught me how to make it. If you have the ability to cook with pinches, dabs and shakes, if you can season, then taste, then season a little more until it tastes right to you, then you can make gumbo using this "recipe".

I will be posting the recipe later.

Fennel: You too can use it!

The colors, sounds and smells are energizing when strolling down the shops in the Pike Street Market in Seattle, Washington. The vegetables, which are meticulously arranged in the public market, are awaiting to be a part of your next soup. After purchasing some fruit for a snack and herbs for our big Turkey dinner next week, I commented on how beautiful the fennel was. It was only $1.99 for the bulb! After bagging up my purchase the employee handed me the bag and asked what I use fennel for. I promised her one of my favorite recipes and here it is! If you are a part of the Seattle Soup Swap, go on down to the market and purchase these fresh vegies!


Crock Pot Chicken and Vegetable Tortellini Stew (bag)
2 lbs raw chicken (brown or white), sliced in bite sizes
3 C drained, rinsed garbanzo beans
1 ½ C frozen carrots, sliced diagonally, or matchsticks
3 garlic cloves, minced
½ C fennel bulb, chopped
1 ½ C onion chopped
1½ C baby spinach leaves packed
3 T fresh basil leaves chopped
½ t ground pepper
1 48 oz. can chicken broth
1 C water (extra liquid for cooking tortellini in pot)
1 C dried tortellini

Place everything except the tortellini in the Crock Pot.
Put on low for 6-8 hours.
30 minutes before eating add the tortellini, or cook tortellini separately and add at end in soup bowls.If cooking the tortellini separately, omit the 1 C of water in the Crock Pot.
Garnish with fresh Parmesan cheese

When in the mood for the Orient

I can't claim this dish to be of a certain origin, but it is a combination of different recipes to create a soup with ingredients I already had on hand. The meatballs were premade and in the freezer from a Cookday that I do every 6-8 weeks. All I really had to do was get those and some broth out of the freezer (homemade) and away there it was! I also made some fresh spring rolls. Let me know if you want the recipe, they turned out fantastic!

Glass Noodle Meatball Soup

10-12 meatballs, 1 inch when baked
8 C broth (chicken or vegetable)
1 T Fish Sauce
1 t soy sauce
Dash ginger
6 oz vermicelli noodles, broken up into 2 inch pieces
4 green onions, diced small
2 C shredded bok choy cabbage


Meatballs:
1 lb ground beef
1/3 cup minced onion
1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
2 t minced parsley
1/2 t salt
<1/8 t black pepper
1 egg

Make meatballs with a mix of any ground meat.
You can drop this into the boiling broth and cook thoroughly or bake separately and drop into the broth later. I prefer the later as the broth is clearer when meat is cooked separately.
When broth and liquids have boiled and meat is cooked, add noodles and vegetables.
Soup will be done in 6 minutes when noodles are clear and soft.

Wow it's Time!

....for the winter staples. I went to the store and found that the summer produce is gone and the winter produce has taken over. The squash soup is great, but variety is the spice of life! Try this for a side dish or inexpensive lunch or dinner.This recipe freezes well for later menus. I usually purchase the Garam Masala at World Market, but if you are adventurous, try the recipe below the soup recipe to prepare this Indian staple. Let me know how it goes.

Cream of Broccoli Soup

1 ounce butter
1 onions, finely sliced
1 carrots, finely sliced
1 stalk celery, finely sliced
1 -2 head broccoli
4 cups chicken stock
3/4 cup milk or 1 can evaporated milk
1 t garam masala
salt and pepper as desired
Directions:
Melt butter in saucepan, add onion, carrot and celery.
Saute gently until soft, about 4 minutes.
Trim the woody ends of the stalk and peel.
Roughly cut up heads and remaining stalk.
Add broccoli to pan with chicken stock, milk.
Season with spices.
Bring to a boil, cover and simmer 25 minutes.
When broccoli is tender, transfer vegies to a blender or use immersion blender.
Blend on high until all ingredients are smooth.
Return mixture to saucepan.
Heat until lightly boiling and thickened.


Garam Masala

4 tbsps coriander seeds
1 tbsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp black peppercorns
1 ½ tsps black cumin seeds (shahjeera)
1 ½ tsps dry ginger
¾ tsp black cardamom (3-4 large pods approx)
¾ tsp cloves
¾ tsp cinnamon (2 X 1” pieces)
¾ tsp crushed bay leaves
Preparation:
Heat a heavy skillet on a medium flame and gently roast all ingredients (leave cardamom in its pods till later) except the dry ginger, till they turn a few shades darker. Stir occasionally. Do not be tempted to speed up the process by turning up the heat as the spices will burn on the outside and remain raw on the inside.
When the spices are roasted turn off the heat and allow them to cool.
Once cooled, remove the cardamom seeds from their skins and mix them back with all the other roasted spices.
Grind them all together, to a fine powder in a clean, dry coffee grinder.
Store in an air-tight container in a cool, dark place.

Great Soup for the Fall

Butternut squash is one of my fall favorites. I created this recipe from a group of butternut squash recipes. I really like the flavor of the roasted onion, garlic and squash. This soup makes a great side dish for dinner or main course for lunch. I like making a double batch and freezing it by the quart. The quart is just enough soup for my husband and I for lunch on a cold weekend. I will also take one out of the freezer and give it away to someone who needs a quick meal.

I learned something about low sodium chicken broth the other day.I looked at all the canned and boxed chicken broth labels. I compared the amounts of sodium in the ones labeled low or less sodium and the regular versions in each brand. Some brands versions of low or less sodium had more sodium in them than the regular version of another brand.So, if you care about sodium intake, look at all the labels!
Here is the soup recipe for today!

Roasted Onion and Squash Soup
1 ¾ lb. butternut squash, roasted until soft
1 large onion, peeled and quartered
3-6 garlic cloves
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon red curry paste
dash cayenne pepper
5 cups chicken broth (low sodium)
1 bay leaf

1. Place squash cut side down in a greased baking pan. Place one onion and 3-6 cloves of garlic on the baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes or until tender. Take onion and garlic out. Bake squash an additional 20-30 minutes until tender. When cool enough to handle, scoop out pulp; set aside.
2. In a large saucepan, saute onion and garlic in oil until tender. Add the flour, salt, curry and cayenne until blended. Stir in broth. Add bay leaf. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Cool to room temperature.
3. In a blender or food processor, place half the broth mixture and squash; cover and process until smooth. Repeat with remaining broth mixture and squash. Return to the saucepan; heat through.
Use below recipe for topping.
In a large

CILANTRO CREAM TOPPING:

1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk or cream
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro or
parsley

It's 5:30 and no dinner!

Sometimes this happens to me, even though I have meals in the freezer. Fortunately, I also usually put some cooked meat in the freezer for days such as tonight. Between all morning with my Mom at the Dr., then helping a friend...ok, we were mostly visiting, but we did accomplish an important task, then transporting my daughter from school to home, I was finally free at 5:30 to cook! Here's what I came up with:

Chicken and Vegetable Soup
2 C cooked diced chicken (found in freezer)
2 Quarts frozen Chicken Broth (homemade)
2 C Boiling Water
1 large onion, diced
4 garlic cloves. Minced
4 medium carrots, sliced
1 small zucchini, sliced
3 T fresh parsley, minced
1 T dry basil
1 t dry thyme
¼ t black pepper
1 shake red pepper flakes
1 can white beans, drained and rinsed
½ C dry pasta (left over in the cupboard)
Salt as desired

Get out soup pot and sauté pan.
Place frozen broth and water in soup pan, turn to medium and defrost.
Place 2 T Olive oil in sauté pan and place onion in. Stir and add garlic. I sprinkled ½ teaspoon kosher salt over the mixture at this point.
When onion is becoming clear, place mixture in soup pot.
Saute carrots and zucchini for 7 minutes then place in soup pot.
By now broth is boiling and it’s time to add the spices.
Add the pasta and beans.
Keep the broth at a light boil.
The soup is done when the pasta is al dente.
Turn the stove to warm and serve!
Serve with roasted garlic bread, which I had left over from the night before…..we dip it into balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil..YUM!

Honestly, we were eating by 6:30pm!

Time to make Soup!

The weather is getting cold in the Northwest United States and I have made several soups for my family already! We are experiencing the gorgeous sunny fall days we often get in the Inland Northwest.Before I go out to enjoy this day, I am going to give you some recipes. This first recipe I usually use Italian Sausage for it's wonderful flavor. If you make this you can make several at a time and put some in the freezer for later. This recipe indicates that.If you want to eat it right away, you can saute the vegetables before adding them to the pot or Slow Cooker. I usually make my own broth, but I put a can in the recipe so you will know how much you need. If it seems too thick you can always add water or more broth.


Pasta E Fagioli Soup (bag or container for Crock Pot)

1 lb ground meat or Italian Sausage, cooked and drained
1 C diced onion
1 C diced or sliced carrot
1 C celery, chopped
2 C diced tomatoes, undrained
1 C kidney beans, drained
1 C garbanzo beans, drained
2 t Italian seasoning
3 cloves garlic minced
¼ C chopped parsley
3 drops Tabasco sauce
1 C marinara sauce
8 oz pasta
1 49.5 oz can of beef broth (Take Home)
Place pasta in small bags.
Place all ingredients in individual’s bag or container except beef broth.
Freeze
Later if cooked from frozen:
Thaw and place into crock pot with can of broth.
Cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.
Place pasta in crock pot the last 30 minutes, or cook separately and add when ready to serve.
In our house this recipe is served with soft hot bread sticks or sourdough bread, with a small dish of olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dip it into. We sprinkle fresh romano or parmesan cheese on the top of the hot soup have a red wine for the adults and an Italian soda for the children.


This second recipe is tonight's dinner. It is my own recipe, but is always adapted to the vegetables I have on hand. You can substitute any vegetables for celery, leak, mushrooms, spinach, green beans, zucchini or others. Use your imagination! I happened to have kale, basil, thyme, and parsley from the garden, a turnip which was given to me, and corn out of someone else's garden.

Lentil Soup

6 C chicken stock
1 (500 g) bags lentils, thoroughly washed and drained
1 C chopped cooked chicken or ground meat
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 large onions, diced
1 large red pepper, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 Cups corn, cut from cob or frozen
½ Cup kale, chopped
½ C diced turnip
2 medium tomatoes, diced
¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 chili pepper, deseeded, minced (pick one that has the heat you enjoy)
1 tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
1 teaspoon dry thyme
1/2 tablespoon fresh ground pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
shaved parmesan cheese
1 C cut prosciutto, ham, or bacon, if wanted

Add stock, lentils, salt, pepper, onions and garlic to a pot and bring to the boil.
Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and cover.
This is where I start to chop up vegetables and add as each vegetable is prepared.
Add meat.
Wait until the lentils are fully cooked to add the tomatoes and tomato paste.
At this time add parsley, oregano and basil, and then simmer for another 10 minutes.
If the soup dries out add hot water.
Before serving, add shaved Parmesan as a garnish and enjoy with a crispy warm bread roll, butter and nice glass of red.

Soup Swap Guidelines 2010

Soup Swap Guidelines:
1.Make one or two soups that will freeze well and place into one quart containers to freeze. 6 quarts is suggestes, but any less will do. Freeze the filled quarts.

2. Make a copy of the recipe to bring. If you are able, think about those in our community that are hungry and gather a can or more of soup or other food to donate to the 2nd Harvest Food Bank of the Inland Northwest.

3. Show up at 6pm with your 6 qts of frozen soups in a box or container and copies of your recipe. If there are any special directions for heating up your soup please attach to your quart containers.

4. 6-7 visit with friends and meet new ones. Enjoy your evening meal served by ME, your hostess. Soup of course!

5. 7pm Soup Swap: take a number, you could be firsst to choose or you could be last! You take home the number of quarts you brought.

6. 8pm Take your soup home and put in your freezer.

Please rsvp here or at cec037@yahoo.com

2nd Annual Spokane Soup Swap

The 2nd Annual Spokane Soup Swap will be Thursday, January 28, 2010. Come 6-8pm to 3806 W Woodside for dinner and swap. RSVP through this site.

Curried Squash Soup

1 ¾ lb. butternut squash, roasted until soft
1 large onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon red curry paste
dash cayenne pepper
5 cups chicken broth
1 bay leaf

1. Place squash cut side down in a greased baking pan. Bake, uncovered, at 400 degrees F for 40-50 minutes or until tender. When cool enough to handle, scoop out pulp; set aside.
2. In a large saucepan, saute onion and garlic in oil until tender. Add the flour, salt, curry powder and cayenne until blended. Stir in broth. Add bay leaf. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Discard bay leaf. Cool to room temperature.
3. In a blender or food processor, place half the broth mixture and squash; cover and process until smooth. Repeat with remaining broth mixture and squash. Return to the saucepan; heat through.
Use below recipe for topping.


CILANTRO CREAM TOPPING:

1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro or
parsley

African Peanut Soup

2 Sweet Potatoes, peeled and cubed 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 Yam, peeled and cubed 6 C Chicken Broth + 2 C water
1 Sweet onion, chopped 1 ½ t cumin
1 red bell pepper, diced 2 C prepared salsa
3 cloves garlic, minced ½ C creamy peanut butter
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

Fill Soup pot with broth, water, chicken, cumin and salsa.
Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer 2 hours.
Sauté potatoes, yam, onion, bell pepper, garlic and jalapeno.
Shred cooked chicken and place into soup pot.
Put sautéed vegetables in soup pot.
Simmer 1-2 more hours or in crock pot 4-5 hours.
Last 10 minutes whisk in peanut butter.
Makes 6+quarts.