CLAP soup

Ok, not as clever as it could be, but it works. Carrot, Leek, Apple and Parsnip.

Served with cheese biscuits it is an amazing delicately sweet soup that is super-filling. With vegetable stock it's totally vegetarian, milk being the only animal product. Someone try this with soymilk and let me know, yes?

CLAP soup

3 tbsp (45 mL) olive oil
3 well washed Leeks; use white and pale green part sliced
4 sliced, large Carrots
2 sliced, large Parsnips
2 peeled and chopped Apples (I used Granny smith)
2-1/2 cups (625 mL) veg stock, preferably the non-tomato-containing kind Or...chicken if that's all you have.
4-5 cups (1-1.25 L) Milk, any variety
salt and pepper
Basil

In large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add leeks, carrots, parsnips and apples and cook about 5 minutes, stirring often. Cover, reduce heat to low and cook 10 minutes to soften vegetables. Stir in basil, stock and sugar, bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer until vegetables are very tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Cool slightly. Working in batches, purée vegetables in blender or food processor with some of the milk. Return soup to saucepan and stir in remaining milk. Heat through but do not boil. Season to taste with salt and pepper and thin with additional milk, if desired.

Cribbed and adjusted from a Foodland Ontario recipe.
A certifiable hit with El Hubbito and the carnivorous girl buddy.


I thought it was about time to actually USE this blog, and this was my first hit of 2008.
Coming soon: The recipe for the Famous Oatcakes!

Begin the Beguine

So here we are, issue no. 1 of Lifestyles of the Poor and Paranoid!

Yeah, so...where to start? "A beginning is a very delicate..." Nah, it's been done. "Call me..." No, please!

At any rate, here shall be recipes, crafts, pictures, ideas, thoughts, musings. And soup. I love soup. Soup is cheap, soup is filling, soup is nutritious.

How bout we just start with a recipe?

Salsa Soup

Yummy, cheap, and fairly good for you!

This soup is good for any cooked meat, except ham or pork. Pig just tastes wrong! You could also use leftover chicken and make this instead of say, pot pie or chicken salad, etc. I've had a friend make it with tofu and vegetable broth, and it was delicious that way, too!

1-2 cups of cooked meat, cubed or cubed protein of your choice

1 can broth+1/2 can water

1 jar salsa. small jar, you know, regular size. not the giant ones.

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 cup frozen corn or one can of corn, drained

goodies of your choice: olives, pimientos, etc.

about 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa or 1/2 tsp grated mexican chocolate (unsweetened)

cumin, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, and the hotness of your choice.
this is especially good with Ancho pepper powder, or chocolate chipotle sauce.

Cook about 30 minutes, or until everything is hot, and has had a chance to blend.

you can add rice to this soup if you want, but it's really tasty with tortilla chips!