Second Time Around Mushroom Soup Food

CHEF JOHN'S CREAMY MUSHROOM SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large soup pot over medium-high heat; cook mushrooms in butter with 1 pinch salt until the mushrooms give off their juices; reduce heat to low. Continue to cook, stirring often, until juices evaporate and the mushrooms are golden brown, about 15 minutes. Set aside a few attractive mushroom slices for garnish later, if desired. Mix onion into mushrooms and cook until onion is soft and translucent, about 5 more minutes.
• Stir flour into mushroom mixture and cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes to remove raw flour taste. Tie thyme sprigs into a small bundle with kitchen twine and add to mushroom mixture; add garlic cloves. Pour chicken stock and water into mushroom mixture. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1 hour. Remove thyme bundle.
• Transfer soup to a blender in small batches and puree on high speed until smooth and thick.
• Return soup to pot and stir in cream. Season with salt and black pepper and serve in bowls, garnished with reserved mushroom slices and a few thyme leaves.

CREAMY TWO-MUSHROOM SOUP

Steps:

• Bring the broth and 3 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepot. Remove from the heat, add the dried mushrooms and set aside to steep for about 20 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the mushrooms and reserve the broth. Roughly chop the mushrooms.
• Heat the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, white mushrooms and three-quarters of the chopped porcini and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and mostly dry, about 6 minutes. Add the thyme, shallot and leek and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, about 4 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes more.
• Strain the reserved mushroom broth into the pot and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Add the bay leaf, reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.
• Remove and discard the bay leaf. Working in batches, transfer the mixture to a blender and carefully puree until smooth, taking care not to fill the carafe more than half full per batch. Strain the soup, return to the pot and reheat over medium heat.
• Whisk in the cream, sherry, 1 teaspoon salt and several grinds of pepper. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with the remaining chopped porcini mushrooms and the parsley.

SECOND TIME AROUND VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• With a food mill puree the leeks, carrots, and potatoes. Transfer the puree to a saucepan. Add enough broth to turn the puree into a souplike consistency and bring to a simmer. If desired, add heavy cream to taste. Season with salt and pepper. Ladle into soup bowls and garnish with snipped chives.

SECOND TIME AROUND MUSHROOM PIZZA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Set the dough (of choice) on a baking sheet. Spread the sauce over the top, then dot with mushrooms and cheese. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 10 minutes.