NO Cream of Potato Soup

This recipe is 100% mine & Taste-tested by one of my BFF’s "Dupli-Kate"-who has been asking for the recipe…so here it is folks! It is a great version for a “Cream of whatever” soup base without the use of Flour, Milk, Butter or Cream. Just add in which ever veggies you would like and omit the ones you want also. “*” represents things that can be substituted or replaced.

In a large stock pot boil until tender: You can keep the skins on the potatoes!!!
2 Large Idaho Potatoes diced (these break down and offer a thickening starch naturally)
8-10 Small Red or Golden Potatoes diced
1 tsp. Salt

After potatoes are started, In a stock pot sauté the following diced veggies together:
2 T. Olive Oil
½ Large white or yellow Onion
1 Leek stalk (light green-white) Dark green portion is tough!
2 Ribs of celery
1 Cup of Mushrooms*
2 Cups of Swiss Chard*
¼ tsp Dill
1 tsp Thyme
1 tsp Rosemary
2 T fresh Parsley
Salt & Pepper to taste

Sauté all veggies and herbs together. As potatoes cook in the water and sautéed ingredients have softened up, place about 3 cups of potato water in with veggies you will know when the potato water turns a bit cloudy. (The starch will aid in thickening, along with helping to create a vegetable broth.) Place lid on pot to keep moisture in.

When potatoes are soft- Place ½ of potatoes on stock pot with veggies and broth. Reserve the other half and place in blender with small amount of water to “emulsify” the mixture on high. CAUTION: Place a thick towel over top lid of blender BEFORE blending. The heat will cause it to burst thru the top if not careful!!!! Blend on high until there are no lumps and pour mixture into stock pot with veggies! Stir and let this cook a few minutes –about 10- stirring occasionally. Add salt and pepper to taste. And serve!

Let me know if you make it and how it turns out!

Bon Appetit!

Carnivore vs. Herbivore!!!

My Best Friend (http://www.rawsierra.blogspot.com/) “dared” me to post this picture! And of course being the girl I am,…I took the dare! One may ask “how do you live in a household of men who are Carnivore’s (Major-meat-eaters) as an Herbivore (Vegan)?” Easily!!! I am the Chef in the house; therefore all our meals are based around MY MENU!

My lifestyle change is “MY” change. I would not impress my feelings or desires about meat in my house on my men. A caveman is still a caveman…even in 2010! It just means that as the shopper for my cavemen, their meat is as ethically treated as possible and hopefully without chemicals, antibiotics, and preservative free. {Trader Joe’s Plug inserted here :o)} As much as possible, I try to provide beans, legumes and "other" protein sources as substitution for them, but ultimately they want meat!...So I say give them meat-but make it a good lean-free of "crap"-substitution. The human diet requires only 3 oz. of protein a day to manufacture all necessary Amino Acids and needs for the body-the size of a deck of cards. With propper diet and meal planning, a caveman and an herbivore can live happily ever after!

xox
Leslie