La Soupe Tricolore Food

TRI-COLOUR SWEET PEPPER SOUP

Steps:

• NOTE: Directions are for the original Sweet Pepper Soup. Sometimes, however, I like to "mix things up". For my second version, I reduce the chicken broth to 4 cups, add 1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes (I use Del Monte Petite Diced Tomatoes), 1-2 teaspoons of Dijon Mustard, and 1 cup of sour cream. It is a thicker, heartier soup that is equally enjoyable, just different.
• Melt one tablespoon of the butter over medium heat in a large Dutch Oven.
• Sweat the onions for 5 minutes until translucent and slightly yellow. I keep them covered during this process. If necessary, add additional tablespoon of butter so the onions do not burn.
• Add the three different coloured peppers, stirring well, to mix the soft onions and butter with the peppers. Set timer for 15 minutes; every 5 minutes, stir the peppers and onions and "taste test" the peppers to YOUR degree of doneness. We really enjoy a very soft pepper so it takes the full 15 minutes to achieve that texture.
• Add the six cups of chicken broth and the teaspoon of paprika and stir well, until combined. ( if using the can of diced tomatoes, use FOUR cups of chicken broth and the can of diced tomatoes).
• Bring the soup to a boil, reduce down to a simmer and cover. Every 5 minutes, gently stir the soup. Simmer for 30 minutes.
• If you choose to make this a richer soup, use an immersion stick blender to blend up the soup until it is coloured flecks of the peppers. Add the sour cream and Dijon mustard, stir well until heated. DO NOT BOIL!
• Serve immediately.

LA SOUPE TRICOLORE!

Steps:

• Make sure the cooked carrots, pumpkin, defrosted (cooked) spinach and artichoke hearts have been drained well.
• Put the carrots and pumpkin in a blender or processor, and add the sugar, salt, cinnamon and 1/2 cup sour cream. If you can find thick crème fraiche, it's better. If the colour is a bit pale, cheat and add a drop of yellow food coloring! Scrape out into a bowl and keep covered.
• Rinse your blender or processor bowl, then add the drained spinach, another 1/2 cup sour cream, the nutmeg and salt. Whizz, and scrape into a bowl & keep. (Again, you could add a drop of green food colouring).
• Process the artichoke hearts with the Laughing Cow cheese and a good pinch of salt.
• Heat the three ingredients in a warming oven (about 100 deg F, 80 deg C) until warm to hot, and also heat 4 small, shallow soup plates or other suitable containers.
• Use a double fold of foil, about the width of a school ruler, and put in the centre of a soup plate.
• Carefully (if you use both hands it works well!) pour in small amounts of the yellow soup mixture and the green spinach mixture, to just cover the bottom of the soup bowl. Remove the foil. You should have two colours of soup.
• Drizzle the artichoke mixture (or drop in small dots with a spoon) down that centre line.
• Complete your 4 plates, and serve each with a crescent roll if you like.