Tag Archives: Thanksgiving

A Souper Tasty Treat

Everyone knows that Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and for our guests, my soup is one of their faves. To address the, “I wish I could take some home” requests, this time I’m making two pots of the recipe below – one for the holiday and the other for doggy bags (or doggy bowls, in this case). 

Although I prefer not to be a short-order cook, I enjoy catering to my customers when possible. My kids like their soup as smooth as silk, calling for a professional…my Vitamix machine. Known for creating superior smoothies, the Vitamix produces rich and creamy soups that you can either eat with a spoon or sip from a mug. My 9-year old mom, on the other hand, would like to eat her soup with a fork. She prefers to “taste every ingredient,” so her bowl is barely blended. For the rest of the crowd, I quickly pass an immersion blender through the pot to create a hearty mixture.

What originally started out as a classic split pea recipe evolved to welcome the sweet flavors of butternut squash, carrots, and apple cider. Not only does it taste great, this steamy bowl of goodness is an excellent source of hunger-squashing protein and heart-healthy fiber that acts like a speed bump to a big meal by taking the edge off of your appetite. Studies show that soup and other watery foods can assist in weight control…a concept you may want to keep in mind after the holiday!

         Here’s wishing you a souper holiday filled with warmth inside and out!  Continue reading

Posted in General | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Souper Holiday

Heart and belly-warming, my Thanksgiving soup keeps guests coming to our house year after year. The addition of butternut squash, carrots and cider naturally sweeten this thick, rich, wholesome, not-your-typical split pea soup recipe. Thi steamy bowl of goodness can be eaten as an appetizer or as a main dish when you add chunks of chicken (or leftover Thanksgiving turkey.)

Bean soups in particular are excellent sources of protein, and heart-healthy fiber and antioxidants.  Soup also serves as a speed bump to the big meal to follow and can take the edge off of your appetite. Studies show that a soup and other watery-containing foods course assist in weight control.

So here’s wishing you a souper holiday filled with warmth inside and out!

Souped-up Split Pea Soup

Ingredients:

1 package green split peas

1 package yellow split peas

2 cans (48 oz. each) chicken broth (low sodium type)

2 boxes frozen butternut squash

1 large onion – chopped

1 small bag of baby carrots – chopped

6-8 garlic cloves – chopped

1 cup apple cider

+ any seasoning you love to taste!

Pour cans of chicken broth into a large pot. Rinse and mix both bags of peas in a colander and then add them to the broth. Heat on high heat and stir regularly. Add the butternut squash (Ok if it’s still frozen.) Add apple cider.

In a food processor, chop together the onion, carrots, garlic and then add to the pot along with any other seasonings or spices of your choice.

Cook together until the peas are soft, stirring regularly throughout. (Spoon off and discard any “foam” that forms during the process.)

Bon Appetit!

Posted in General | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A Safe and Sound Thanksgiving

It’s not just baseball players that hope to be safe at the plate. With the holiday season upon up, even those who don’t generally take to the stove will be cookin’ up a storm for families and friends. And with that great power…comes great responsibility.

Although I can’t always guarantee that every one of my dinner guests will rave about every dish I put on the table I can guarantee that my creations are safe to eat. Now that may sound like a ‘duh’ statement, but I have been to houses where I’ve seen some food handling practices that would have deserved a violation if the word ‘restaurant’ was on their door instead of a house number.

There are 76 million foodborne illnesses that sicken Americans each year. Some of these food-related issues originate at places we cannot control — at the farm, through transportation, at restaurants, and in supermarkets. But it’s the preventable problems that I’d like to address, which begin in our own kitchens. Here are some simple storage, handling and cooking suggestions to protect those you are thankful for:

  • Keep hot food hot (temperatures between 160° to 212°F destroy most bacteria). You don’t have to buy a fancy device to tell whether your food is cooked properly but don’t just rely on your eye. You’ll know your bird is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
  • Keep cold food cold (40°F or below). Put a food thermometer inside your fridge all year round so you can tell that your food is being maintained at a proper temperature. It’s inexpensive and invaluable.
  • Cook food thoroughly, following the food safety label found on packages. With my book, Read It Before You Eat It, you already know that I am a label nut. Most people don’t realize that many labels also contain specific cooking instructions. Turn the package over for these important tips.
  • Keep raw food, like meat and poultry, separate from produce and cooked foods to prevent cross contamination, and keep work surfaces clean. The easiest way to remember this is to buy cutting boards of different colors – use the green one for veggies and the yellow one for meats and only let them touch in the dishwasher!
  • Be sure to wash your hands with warm, soapy water before, during, and after handling food. Seriously – don’t pet the dog and then chop chicken. Have hand soap readily available so that this practice becomes second nature and teach your kids the importance of this everyday exercise.

Although it’s always important to take a close look at the foods you are eating, it’s essential to also pay attention to the steps taken before that food even enters your mouth. So the next time you go to a friend’s house and you notice them tying their shoe and then cutting the carrots, if you see something say something! It’s a good practice in and out of your home.

Posted in General | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment