Uncle Bills Vichyssoise Soup Food

VICHYSSOISE SOUP

Steps:

• Put potatoes in salted water and cook, until almost done.
• Remove potatoes, mash and then add to chicken stock.
• Add garlic and 2 tablespoons butter/margarine and simmer for about 5 minutes.
• Put potato stock through a strainer and remove any lumpy pieces.
• In a separate cooking pot add 1 tablespoon of butter/margarine and add the celery, stir for 1 minute and remove.
• In the same pot put in 2 tablespoons butter/margarine, add leeks and cook until slightly translucent.
• Add potato stock to leeks, stir and simmer for about 5 minutes.
• Add Instant mashed potatoes and stir briefly.
• Turn off heat and add half & half cream, stir, add salt & white pepper to taste.
• Add Caraway Seeds and/or a pinch of Curry Powder.
• Let cool and then add the cucumbers and celery- both should remain crunchy!
• Put into a big glass jar/container and CHILL in refrigerator.
• Serve in individual bowls with a pinch of either parsley and/or perhaps a pinch of Mrs Dash or Paprika on top for color.
• Have available sour cream on the side!

UNCLE BILL'S LIGHT VEGETABLE SOUP

Steps:

• In a large cooking pot, add broth, water and chicken soup base and bring to boil.
• In the meantime, in a frying pan on medium-high heat, melt butter, add onions and saute for 5 minutes or until translucent.
• Add tomatoes and cook until reduced and sauce starts to thicken, about 10 minutes; set aside.
• To the cooking pot, add carrots, potatoes, garlic, white pepper, salt, chili powder, hot red pepper flakes, dried dill weed and pasta and cook until pasta is el dente, about 10 minutes.
• Add onion/tomato sauce, celery and tiny peas and cook for another 5 minutes.
• Adjust seasonings to taste.
• Serve soup hot.
• Refrigerate any unused portions.
• You can use all water instead of chicken broth or vegetable broth. Use 1 vegetable bouillon cube or 1 teaspoon of chicken soup base for each 2 cups of water.
• You can also use a small penne pasta of your choice, or pearl barley, macaroni or basmati rice instead of small shell pasta.

UNCLE BILL'S CREAMY, SAVORY TOMATO SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat olive oil and butter over medium-high heat.
• Add onion and saute' until translucent, about 2 minutes, stirring often.
• Add garlic and thyme and saute' for 2 minutes.
• Add crushed tomatoes, sun-dried tomatoes and balsamic vinegar.
• Bring to simmer, about 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Reduce to low and stir in baking soda.
• Add half and half, stir well and bring to a simmer. DO NOT BOIL.
• Use an immersion blender to puree' soup in the saucepan or puree' soup in batches in a food processor or blender.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• 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.

VICHYSSOISE

Steps:

• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large pot.
• Add 3 peeled and cubed potatoes and 3 trimmed and chopped leeks.
• Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring, until softened.
• Add 4 cups stock. Boil, cover, lower the heat and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Purée, then let cool. Stir in 1/2 cup or more cream before serving.
• Garnish with chopped chives.

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 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 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.