We all lead busy lives, and as a Realtor I am always rushing to point A and B, compiling reports, previewing homes and obviously meeting clients and customers! Many of our clients have young children and of course many of them have the occasional sniffle. I have personally found that if I make soups, and have them on hand, not only do they make an easy light dinner (if served with a salad) but they also help ward off colds . Not only that but cooking can be a great stress reliever.
What are my favorite soups to make?
So easy to make (must be!) are Chicken soup, pea soup, leek and potato soup, cabbage soup and the kitchen sink soup!
Here are my easy recipes:
Chicken Soup:
Either use chicken bones if you have any left over from making chicken, or buy some chicken necks (less expensive), 2 containers of chicken broth (unsalted fine), a few carrots, a large onion, a few potatoes and some celery! Place all into the pot. If you use the neck bones you might want to strain before serving. That is it! Cook at a low heat for an hour or so and season with salt and pepper as desired. You can also add garlic, parsley if desired but it’s good without!
**You can add matzo balls if desired, or dried lentils, split peas – whatever you wish!
Pea Soup:
Great with left over ham and/or buy a smoked turkey leg/wings or smoked ham hock. I still like to use a base of the carrots, onion, garlic celery, a few potatoes, and two 48 oz containers of chicken stock (as I usually have that on hand), and add the dried split peas (green/yellow/red) – a cup each. Again, let it simmer for just over an hour to ensure that all is cooked! You can add dried hot peppers to this if you like too. One of the reasons soup is so good is that you can easily adjust it to suit your tase and mood! It is also economical and good for a few days!
Leek and Potato Soup:
4 nicely sized leeks (make sure they are washed correctly and sliced through to ensure no dirt within), a large onion, 4 potatoes, and again while you can use vegetable stock, I always use chicken stock. Salt, pepper ( I like to use white pepper). First you cook the onion and until translucent with 2 tablespoons of butter and oil, add the leeks, cover and let sweat for 10 minutes on low heat until the leeks are softened. Add the broth, potatoes, and let it simmer for 20-30 minutes until everything is cooked and softened. Puree with a hand blender and done! You can serve with a swirls of sour cream if you feel adventurous but no need!
Cabbage Soup:
A personal favorite. I sauté a large onion until translucent in a little olive oil, then add well washed cabbage which has been cut into thin threads ( I am not over particular – we are all busy so as long as it’s all sliced into ribbons -all good!). I let it sweat covered for 10 minutes or so, and then add a few potatoes cut up, again the 2 containers of chicken broth, salt and pepper to taste and that is it! You just have to let it simmer for 30 minutes or so, and so healthy! You can also add a few cut up tomatoes if desired and parsley. Anything you like and to taste!
The Kitchen Sink Soup:
A past client made this and I copied it! She used anything that was left over in the refrigerator and with today’s high food prices, this is a great way of incorporating left over vegetables.
Sauté that large onion once again (don’t you find that the refrigerator should never be without onions, carrots and celery in the winter months?), and perhaps with carrots and celery if you have, and then add what you have in the fridge! It could be potatoes, peppers, hot peppers, ginger and the key to this soups are the spices? I love to cook Indian food, and so my cupboard has Garam Marsala, Turmeric, Cumin, cardamon, coriander, and you add perhaps a tablespoon of each (or to taste), again add the chicken broth and let it all simmer for an hour or so. It is soooo good! If you have left over chicken – add that too! This I would serve over rice.
Stay healthy! I am here for all of your real estate needs!
Westchester is GREAT!
