NO SOUP FOR YOU! (joking, soup for all!)
I never thought I liked soup that much... like, it's barely a meal, right? But dammit I like creating soups! I totally want to open a soup 'n' sandwich shop.
First up, Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Soup.
It sounds weird, I know. I would not have thought any type of fish soup could be in any way appetizing, but it was really good, guys. Like, REALLY good.
I found this recipe online, but then I made some changes. I cut it in half for one, because that... that is a fuckton of soup and I was only making it for 2 people.
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium-sized onion (yellow or white variety, finely chopped)
1 large garlic clove (crushed & finely minced)
3/4 cup fresh dill (chopped) - I am not a fan of dill, so I omitted this, but if you like the taste, you could probs throw it in there
1 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning - I... don't know what that is? Also I couldn't find it at the store. Instead, I used Cajun seasoning b/c that shit is AWESOME
1 medium Tomatoe (ripe, seeded & chopped) - I didn't seed mine and it was fine
4 ounces smoked salmon (finely chopped) - salmon is fucking expensive, I found it on sale at Meijer
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour - I used whole-wheat, unbleached
4 cups water - I used 3 cups water, and 1 cup water + chicken bouillon
2 cups fresh spinach (10 oz pkg, stems removed & leaves finely chopped) - I didn't cut the spinach proportion down, and I think it could have used a little more actually, but up to you. I'd just use the whole package next time.
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese - I only used half the package (the original recipe calls for 2, but since I cut it in half I only bought one, but it seemed like A LOT, so I only used half a package and could have used even less)
1/3 cup vodka - Do not even understand WHY. (Also, my mom is my test subject and she would refuse to even taste it.)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice - could maybe use another tbsp
fresh ground black pepper (to taste)
snipped fresh chives (optional garnish) - Again, I don't like them. I used a little bit of fresh basil and the tops of green onions (chopped)
1. Melt butter in med-size stock pot over med heat. Add onion + garlic & saute till onions are soft, 10-15 minutes. (saute the onions for about 5 mins THEN add the garlic)
2. Stir in seasoning, tomatoes & smoked salmon. Cook 3 minutes. Then add flour & cook 1 min more.
3. Gradually stir in water & heat to a soft boil. Reduce heat & simmer uncovered over med-low heat for 20 minutes.
4. Stir in spinach & simmer 5 more minutes. My spinach got a little more limp than I generally like, so I would just stir it in real quick until it's all mixed in there and move on to the next step.
5. Stir in cream cheese (1 oz at a time) over low heat, allowing ea bit to melt into the soup. This took for-fucking-ever getting the pieces to melt. Make sure your cream cheese is room temp before you start.
6. When all the cream cheese has been added & the soup is smooth, stir in the vodka & lemon juice. Taste for seasonings - fresh ground pepper, bit of sea salt, fresh basil, and the chopped green onions (the top green parts, used the bottom white parts up top with the other sauteed onion).
& serve immediately.
I ate mine with crackers and strawberries because I am under the impression that strawberries go with everything (they do!) and it was DELICIOUS.
Anyway, enjoy!
cross-posted from dreamwidth - comments:
First up, Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Soup.
It sounds weird, I know. I would not have thought any type of fish soup could be in any way appetizing, but it was really good, guys. Like, REALLY good.
I found this recipe online, but then I made some changes. I cut it in half for one, because that... that is a fuckton of soup and I was only making it for 2 people.
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium-sized onion (yellow or white variety, finely chopped)
1 large garlic clove (crushed & finely minced)
3/4 cup fresh dill (chopped) - I am not a fan of dill, so I omitted this, but if you like the taste, you could probs throw it in there
1 tablespoon Old Bay Seasoning - I... don't know what that is? Also I couldn't find it at the store. Instead, I used Cajun seasoning b/c that shit is AWESOME
1 medium Tomatoe (ripe, seeded & chopped) - I didn't seed mine and it was fine
4 ounces smoked salmon (finely chopped) - salmon is fucking expensive, I found it on sale at Meijer
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour - I used whole-wheat, unbleached
4 cups water - I used 3 cups water, and 1 cup water + chicken bouillon
2 cups fresh spinach (10 oz pkg, stems removed & leaves finely chopped) - I didn't cut the spinach proportion down, and I think it could have used a little more actually, but up to you. I'd just use the whole package next time.
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese - I only used half the package (the original recipe calls for 2, but since I cut it in half I only bought one, but it seemed like A LOT, so I only used half a package and could have used even less)
1/3 cup vodka - Do not even understand WHY. (Also, my mom is my test subject and she would refuse to even taste it.)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice - could maybe use another tbsp
fresh ground black pepper (to taste)
snipped fresh chives (optional garnish) - Again, I don't like them. I used a little bit of fresh basil and the tops of green onions (chopped)
1. Melt butter in med-size stock pot over med heat. Add onion + garlic & saute till onions are soft, 10-15 minutes. (saute the onions for about 5 mins THEN add the garlic)
2. Stir in seasoning, tomatoes & smoked salmon. Cook 3 minutes. Then add flour & cook 1 min more.
3. Gradually stir in water & heat to a soft boil. Reduce heat & simmer uncovered over med-low heat for 20 minutes.
4. Stir in spinach & simmer 5 more minutes. My spinach got a little more limp than I generally like, so I would just stir it in real quick until it's all mixed in there and move on to the next step.
5. Stir in cream cheese (1 oz at a time) over low heat, allowing ea bit to melt into the soup. This took for-fucking-ever getting the pieces to melt. Make sure your cream cheese is room temp before you start.
6. When all the cream cheese has been added & the soup is smooth, stir in the vodka & lemon juice. Taste for seasonings - fresh ground pepper, bit of sea salt, fresh basil, and the chopped green onions (the top green parts, used the bottom white parts up top with the other sauteed onion).
& serve immediately.
I ate mine with crackers and strawberries because I am under the impression that strawberries go with everything (they do!) and it was DELICIOUS.
Anyway, enjoy!
cross-posted from dreamwidth - comments: