Turnpike Soup Food

CHICKEN AND TURNIP SOUP

Steps:

• Place the potatoes, onions, chicken, carrots and turnip roots in a 5L (about a 6 quarts) pot. Add enough water to generously cover the ingredients (by about 3 inches). Add a pinch of salt.
• Bring to boil over medium-high heat. When the water starts boiling lower heat to a simmer. Let it do that, uncovered, until meat and potatoes are almost done (about 20 minutes). Add pasta and turnip leaves. Allow pasta to cook al dente. Correct salt to taste and it's done!
• To serve: Remove chicken and shred desired/needed amount. Place the rest of the chicken back in the pot (since I'm very lazy I usually just grab the piece of chicken I want with a pair of tongs or a fork and shred it in the bowl using my fork and spoon); Ladle soup into a (big) bowl. Garnish with a splash of red wine vinegar or a good squeeze of lemon. Add pepper and/or tabasco, if desired.
• Note: I'm still a student so I never use stock (bescause I've never made any and I've never seen those practical little xartons of ready made made stuff), which is why I cook the chicken with the bones and neck and all, but if you have homemade chicken stock use it and just add the parts of the bird you like (breast, thigh) cut into bite size pieces; I'm sure it will be just as good, if not better! :).

TURNIP SOUP WITH TURNIP GREENS

Steps:

• Peel the turnips (thickly, if they are large and mature) and slice them into rounds about 1/4 inch thick. Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil; then add 2 teaspoons salt and the turnips. Cover the pot and cook for 1 minute; then drain.
• Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in a soup pot with 1/2 cup water. Add the leeks, the blanched turnips, the thyme, and 1 teaspoon salt. Stew them, covered, over medium-low heat for 5 minutes, and then add the milk. Slowly heat it without bringing it to a boil, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the turnips are completely tender.
• Cool the soup briefly; then purée it in a blender. If necessary, thin it with additional milk or water. Season to taste with salt, if needed, and freshly ground pepper.
• Sort through the turnip greens and remove any that are bruised or especially tough looking, and wash them. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a pan, add the turnip greens, and cook them over medium heat until they are tender, about 5 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove the cooked greens to a cutting board and chop them, roughly or fine, as you prefer; then add them to the soup and serve. Or garnish with fresh chopped thyme.