Uncle Bills Asparagus Soup Food

UNCLE BILL'S FRESH YOUNG PEA & VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• In a cooking pot on medium-high heat, melt butter and add olive oil.
• Add chopped onions and saute' on medium-high heat for 5 minutes.
• Add garlic and saute' for another 2 minutes.
• Add chicken broth and water and bring to boil.
• Add chicken soup base, cubed nugget potatoes, and cook for 4 minutes.
• Add carrots, dill weed, parsley and continue to cook for another 5 minutes or until carrots are just tender, but still firm.
• Add cauliflower, celery, young peas, red pepper, green onion, white pepper, seasoning salt, Idaho potato flakes and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes.
• Reduce heat and add whipping cream slowly, stirring all the while when adding.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.
• Remove soup from heat and let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
• Refrigerate any unused portions.

CREAM OF ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with 2 cups water and fit with a steamer basket. Bring to a boil. Add the asparagus and steam until tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the asparagus to a cutting board and pour the water from the pot into a large measuring cup; add more water if needed to equal 2 cups. Set the pot aside.
• When the asparagus is cool enough to handle, trim off the tips and halve lengthwise; toss with a pinch of salt. Save these pieces for garnish. Add the remaining asparagus pieces to a blender with 1 cup of the reserved steaming water and blend until very smooth.
• Melt the butter in the pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until it begins to soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds more. Sprinkle in the flour and stir to combine.
• Slowly whisk in the half-and-half and remaining 1 cup reserved steaming water until smooth. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and the coriander. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture starts to thicken, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Stir in the asparagus puree. Taste and adjust the seasonings (add more salt if it needs it!) and let the soup heat through. Ladle into bowls and garnish with the asparagus tips. Season with pepper.

UNCLE BILL'S ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Break off tough ends of asparagus and discard.
• Cut tips off asparagus and set aside.
• Cut remainder of asparagus stems into 1 inch pieces.
• In a frying pan, add butter and chopped onions and saute' until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.
• In a large saucepan, add water, cubed potatoes, asparagus pieces, saute'ed onions and cook until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes.
• In a food processor or blender, puree' soup in batches and return to saucepan.
• Add chicken soup base, fennel seeds, pepper, salt and asparagus tips and cook on medium heat until tips are soft and start to dissolve, about 10 minutes.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.
• Serve soup hot.

ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• For the soup: In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, bring the oil to medium heat. Add the shallot and salt and pepper to taste. Sweat until translucent, about 1 minute, being careful not to brown. Add the asparagus to the pot and sweat until beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the peas and sweat another minute. Pour in the white wine and deglaze the pot. Add 5 cups water and continue simmering until crisp-tender, another 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
• Working in batches (and carefully as the liquid will be hot), puree the soup until smooth in a blender. In the last batch, add the baby spinach and puree; this will give the soup a vibrant green color. Strain back into the pot through a fine mesh sieve. Return to a simmer until slightly thickened, 4 to 6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat.
• For the Parmesan breadcrumbs: While the soup simmers, pulse the bread in a food processor until you have very coarse crumbs. Once processed, transfer the breadcrumbs to a medium mixing bowl. Drizzle with a generous amount of olive oil. Toss with the thyme. Season mixture with salt and pepper. Transfer to a parchment-lined sheet tray. Using a grater, finely grate a few tablespoons of Parmesan over the breadcrumbs. Place into the oven and bake until golden and crispy, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool.
• To serve: Ladle the soup into shallow serving bowls. Sprinkle evenly with a few teaspoons of Parmesan breadcrumbs and top with a dollop of creme fraiche. Garnish with chopped chives, cilantro leaves, a squeeze of a lime wedge and a splash of extra-virgin olive oil. Serve immediately.

UNCLE BILL'S VEGETARIAN MINESTRONE SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Add chopped onion and sauté for 4 minutes or until just lightly browned.
• Add water, zucchini, carrots, canellini beans, celery, basil, oregano salt, pepper, tomatoes and garlic.
• Bring to boil; reduce heat, cover and simmer on medium-low heat for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add macaroni, cover and cook an additional 10 minutes.
• Adjust spices to suit your taste.
• Serve hot.

UNCLE BILL'S CHICKEN SOUP

Steps:

• In a large heavy bottom cooking pot, heat olive oil and butter over medium-high heat.
• Add onions, leeks, carrots celery and garlic and cook, stirring for about 3 minutes or until vegetables are slightly softened but not browned.
• Add chicken broth, water, bay leaf, thyme and rosemary.
• Bring to boil.
• Cut chicken into bite size pieces and add to soup along with the diced mushrooms.
• Add noodles and bring soup to boil.
• Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until noodles are tender and the chicken is cooked through.
• Remove bay leaf and discard.
• Stir in parsley, salt and pepper.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.
• Serve soup hot.
• Refrigerate any unused portions.
• NOTE: Homemade Chicken or Turkey Stock is so much better than purchased broth.

UNCLE BILL'S BROCCOLI SOUP

Steps:

• In a saucepan over medium-high heat, melt butter.
• Add onions, carrots, garlic and cook for 5 minutes or until softened, stirring occasionally.
• In a medium size cooking pot, add water and chicken soup base and bring to boil.
• Add precooked onion/carrot/garlic to soup.
• Add broccoli florets, reserving (6- 8 pieces) of broccoli florets to be added near the end of cooking.
• Reduce heat and simmer covered, until broccoli is tender, about 15 to 20 minutes.
• In a blender or food processor, puree' soup in batches and return to cooking pot.
• Stir in half and half cream and remaining broccoli florets.
• In a cup, mix together flour and 1/4 cup water to form a thin liquid.
• Bring soup to boil; add flour mixture to thicken soup as desired, stirring constantly.
• Add soy sauce, black pepper and stir well.
• Garnish with chopped parsley when serving.
• You can also use some carrot curls for garnish.
• Serve soup hot or cold.

UNCLE BILL'S ASPARAGUS PASTA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• In a large skillet, melt butter with olive oil over medium heat.
• Add garlic; cook and stir for 3 minutes.
• Stir in the asparagus; cover and cook for 1 minute.
• Add the mushrooms, ham, basil, oregano and rosemary.
• Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until asparagus is crisp-tender, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in tomatoes, salt and pepper.
• Cook 3 minutes longer or until heated through.
• Meanwhile, cook linguine according to package directions.
• Drain and place in a large bowl.
• Add asparagus mixture and toss to coat.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

UNCLE BILL'S BOW TIE PASTA WITH ASPARAGUS AND ALFREDO SAUCE

Steps:

• In a large cooking pot or pasta pot, add 16 cups of water or until 3/4 full in pot.
• Add olive oil and salt and bring to boil.
• Add bow tie pasta and cook uncovered for 12 to 15 minutes or until el-dente.
• In the meantime, break off tough ends of asparagus and discard.
• Place asparagus in a small 5" x 8" microwave safe casserole dish.
• Add 2 tablespoons of water to dish.
• Place dish in microwave and cover with a plastic round cover.
• Microwave on HIGH (full power) for 4 minutes.
• Immediately remove from microwave, drain and immerse in cold water to cool.
• When cooled, drain and cut asparagus into 1/2" pieces; set aside.
• In a small frying pan, add 2 tablespoons of butter, garlic, onions and red hot pepper flakes and saute on medium-high heat for about 4 minutes or until onions are translucent, stirring often.
• In a medium-size saucepan on medium-high heat, add 1/2 cup of butter, cream cheese, whipping cream and lemon juice.
• Bring to boil, reduce heat and cook until cheese is melted, stirring constantly.
• Add garlic/onion mixture to cream cheese mixture and whisk well to blend.
• Add nutmeg, pepper, salt and parmesan cheese and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes until the sauce starts to thicken; stirring often.
• When bow tie pasta is cooked, drain well and add cream mixture to the pasta; stir well to coat pasta.
• Add additional grated parmesan cheese if desired.
• Serve immediately with garlic bread, cooked chicken or prawns.
• You may also use linguini, spaghetti, rotini and any other penne pastas.