Mad Hungry for Lentil Soup!

Have you seen Mad Hungry? It's a cooking show with Lucinda Scala Quinn (Martha Stewart's Food Director).  I love how she teaches as she cooks and her style is easy and appealing to families. As I type my kids and hubby are finishing up bowls of her Vegetable Lentil Soup. Eric says it is the first he's ever had and he thought is was great--but he likes basically everything. Surprisingly the kids devoured it too. The Garlic Croutons garnishing the top is what I think made it appeal to everyone. Lentils are not something I cook a lot, but I should. They are full of fiber and protein and they are really inexpensive--just what this mama is needing in her kitchen. Did I mention this recipe came together in about 15 minutes? It simmered for 30 more- and was delish!

Barley Beef Soup

I love a really thick soup. Okay- really, I love any soup! I could eat soup for lunch everyday of the year. My whole family really loved this recipe- it is in my file now.

P.S. (Aren't my new bowls cute? A gift from my favorite sister in law!).

Recipe coming later today...

Potato & Leek Soup

Dinner a couple of nights ago was this amazing soup! I had some leeks from Farmer and the Dale (a local CSA that delivers) and some nice red potatoes and it was raining...it was going to be a match made in heaven.

Here are the Leeks and Potatoes after they have roasted in the oven for a good 40-45 min with some olive oil and salt and pepper...yum! I had to take a taste and make sure they were tender, wow! MENTAL NOTE: make this as a side dish for another meal, maybe with a pork roast or some chicken. This combo is really delicious, you MUST try!

Here are the leeks and potatoes in the food processor getting ready to be pureed with some chicken stock.

And the soup finishing up on the stove, I didn't have any arugula, creme fraiche or shallots, so I can only imagine how much better it is going to be the next time I make it with those three ingredients. I did add some sour cream instead of the creme fraiche and I just topped the soup with Parmesan for garnish.

The finished product waiting to be enjoyed!

We rounded out the meal with a salad with chicken, pear, toasted walnuts and a little red onion with a balsamic vinaigrette and this great bread machine white bread that is started in the bread machine and then finished in the oven to give it that 'real bread' look. It is the best and easiest white bread that I've tried so far in the bread machine.