Emprimir
Correo Electrónico
 |
Direcciones
I think it’s here, folks. For real this time. I think we can (finally) safely say that Spring has arrived and won’t take off again. I know it’s a risky statement, given the crazy weather we’ve had, but I feel good about saying that this time. I really do.
(Fingers crossed.)
A couple of days ago, I met my beautiful sister-in-law, Karin, for lunch at one of my favorite local spots. The restaurant changes their menu monthly based on what’s seasonally available. It’s very much farm-to-table, homegrown, and delicious. They were featuring a spring pea and mint soup that day, and as the sun was shining (finally!) and the birds chirping, I figured I had to give it a try.
It was light and fresh, and just the most vibrant,…
View Full Recipe at Chew Nibble Nosh
%20safely%20say%20that%20Spring%20has%20arrived%20and%20won%E2%80%99t%20take%20off%20again.%20%20I%20know%20it%E2%80%99s%20a%20risky%20statement,%20given%20the%20crazy%20weather%20we%E2%80%99ve%20had,%20but%20I%20feel%20good%20about%20saying%20that%20this%20time.%20%20I%20really%20do.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E(Fingers%20crossed.)%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EA%20couple%20of%20days%20ago,%20I%20met%20my%20beautiful%20sister-in-law,%20Karin,%20for%20lunch%20at%20one%20of%20my%20favorite%20local%20spots.%20%20The%20restaurant%20changes%20their%20menu%20monthly%20based%20on%20what%E2%80%99s%20seasonally%20available.%20%20It%E2%80%99s%20very%20much%20farm-to-table,%20homegrown,%20and%20delicious.%20%20They%20were%20featuring%20a%20spring%20pea%20and%20mint%20soup%20that%20day,%20and%20as%20the%20sun%20was%20shining%20(finally!)%20and%20the%20birds%20chirping,%20I%20figured%20I%20had%20to%20give%20it%20a%20try.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIt%20was%20light%20and%20fresh,%20and%20just%20the%20most%20vibrant,%20beautiful%20spring%20green.%20%20It%20was%20seasoned%20gently%20with%20mint,%20and%20just%20so%20perfectly%20encompassed%20everything%20beautiful%20about%20spring.%20%20And,%20as%20you%20can%20probably%20guess,%20I%20was%20kind%20of%20obsessed%20with%20it.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ESo,%20naturally,%20I%20came%20home%20and%20wanted%20to%20try%20to%20replicate%20it.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI%20found%20many%20similar%20recipes%20online,%20but%20I%20decided%20to%20try%20Ina%20Garten%E2%80%99s%20version%20because,%20well,%20Ina%20never%20steers%20me%20wrong.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI%20started%20by%20chopping%20up%20a%20sweet%20onion,%20a%20handful%20of%20fresh%20mint,%20and%20a%20couple%20of%20leeks.%20%20Leeks%20are%20grown%20in%20sand,%20so%20they%20can%20often%20be%20gritty%20in%20between%20those%20thin%20layers,%20so%20I%20always%20toss%20my%20chopped%20leeks%20in%20a%20bowl%20of%20cold%20water.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EI%20give%20them%20a%20good%20swish,%20and%20all%20of%20the%20sand%20and%20grit%20falls%20to%20the%20bottom%20of%20the%20bowl.%20%20Then,%20I%20just%20scoop%20the%20clean%20leeks%20from%20the%20top.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EOnce%20the%20few%20items%20that%20needed%20to%20be%20prepped%20were%20prepped,%20I%20got%20to%20cooking.%20%20I%20melted%20a%20dab%20of%20butter%20on%20the%20stove%20top,%20and%20saut%C3%A9ed%20the%20onions%20and%20leeks%20over%20low%20heat%20until%20they%20had%20softened.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ETo%20that,%20I%20added%20in%20four%20cups%20of%20chicken%20stock,%20brought%20that%20to%20a%20boil,%20and%20then%20added%20five%20cups%20of%20frozen%20peas.%20%20I%20was%20really%20hoping%20to%20find%20fresh%20peas,%20but%20I%20didn%E2%80%99t%20have%20any%20luck.%20%20The%20frozen%20peas%20worked%20beautifully,%20though.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIt%20only%20took%20a%20few%20minutes%20for%20the%20peas%20to%20cook%20through,%20and%20then%20I%20took%20the%20soup%20off%20the%20heat%20and%20stirred%20in%20salt,%20pepper,%20and%20a%20handful%20of%20chopped%20fresh%20mint.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThen,%20the%20soup%20took%20a%20turn%20in%20the%20blender.%20%20I%20blended%20it%20in%20batches,%20until%20it%20was%20perfectly%20creamy%20smooth%20and%20just%20the%20prettiest%20color.%20%20This%20isn%E2%80%99t%20split%20pea%20soup.%20%20These%20peas%20haven%E2%80%99t%20been%20cooked%20to%20death,%20so%20that%20bright%20spring%20green%20just%20absolutely%20pops%20through.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EYou%20could%20stop%20right%20here%20and%20serve%20it%20up.%20%20It%E2%80%99s%20that%20tasty.%20%20But,%20I%20finished%20the%20soup%20off%20by%20stirring%20in%20some%20creamy%20creme%20fraiche%20and%20minced%20fresh%20chives.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EYou%20could%20substitute%20full%20fat%20sour%20cream%20for%20the%20creme%20fraiche,%20but%20be%20aware%20that%20it%20could%20curdle%20a%20bit%20if%20the%20soup%20simmers.%20%20Your%20best%20bet%20would%20be%20to%20add%20the%20sour%20cream%20off%20the%20heat.%20%20Creme%20fraiche%20is%20super%20creamy,%20and%20not%20quite%20as%20sour%20as%20sour%20cream.%20%20A%20little%20goes%20a%20long%20way!%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThis%20simple%20pea%20soup%20was%20absolutely%20delicious.%20%20It%E2%80%99s%20so%20perfectly%20vibrant,%20and%20tastes%20light%20and%20fresh.%20%20It%E2%80%99s%20exactly%20the%20soup%20we%20need%20for%20spring,%20as%20we%20crawl%20out%20of%20our%20dens%20and%20into%20the%20sunlight%E2%80%A6that%20I%E2%80%99m%20really%20hoping%20sticks%20around%20this%20time.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EFingers%20still%20crossed.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ESPRING%20PEA%20SOUP%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EAdapted%20from%20Ina%20Garten%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ESpring%20Pea%20Soup%20%20%20Author:%20Adapted%20from%20Ina%20Garten%20%20Recipe%20type:%20Soup%20%20Cuisine:%20Spring%20%20%20Prep%20time:%20%2010%20mins%20%20Cook%20time:%20%2020%20mins%20%20Total%20time:%20%2030%20mins%20%20%20Serves:%206%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3E2%20Tbsp.%20unsalted%20butter%202%20cups%20chopped%20leeks,%20white%20and%20light%20green%20parts%20(2%20leeks),%20cleaned%201%20cup%20chopped%20sweet%20onion%204%20cups%20chicken%20stock%205%20cups%20fresh%20shelled%20peas%20or%202%20(10-ounce)%20packages%20frozen%20peas%20%E2%85%94%20cup%20chopped%20fresh%20mint%20leaves,%20loosely%20packed%202%20tsp%20kosher%20salt%20%C2%BD%20tsp%20freshly%20ground%20black%20pepper%20%C2%BD%20cup%20creme%20fraiche,%20or%20full%20fat%20sour%20cream%20(*see%20note%20in%20post)%20%C2%BD%20cup%20freshly%20chopped%20chives%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EMelt%20the%20butter%20in%20a%20large%20saucepan%20over%20medium-low%20heat.%20Add%20the%20onions%20and%20the%20leeks%20to%20the%20pot,%20and%20cook,%20stirring%20occasionally,%20until%20the%20onions%20have%20softened,%20about%205-10%20minutes.%20Add%20the%20chicken%20stock%20and%20bring%20to%20a%20boil.%20Add%20the%20peas%20and%20cook%20for%203%20to%205%20minutes,%20until%20the%20peas%20are%20tender%20(but%20not%20mushy).%20Frozen%20peas%20will%20take%20less%20time,%20around%20the%203%20minute%20mark.%20Remove%20the%20pot%20from%20the%20heat%20and%20stir%20in%20the%20mint,%20salt,%20and%20pepper.%20Add%20one%20cup%20of%20the%20soup%20to%20a%20blender,%20place%20the%20lid%20on,%20and%20puree%20until%20smooth%20on%20low%20speed.%20Open%20the%20vent%20hole%20in%20the%20top%20and%20gradually%20add%20more%20soup%20as%20the%20blender%20runs,%20until%20the%20blender%20is%20%C2%BE%20full.%20Pour%20the%20pureed%20soup%20into%20a%20large%20bowl,%20and%20repeat%20with%20remaining%20soup%20in%20the%20pot%20until%20all%20of%20it%20is%20pureed.%20Pour%20the%20soup%20back%20into%20the%20pot.%20At%20this%20point,%20the%20soup%20could%20be%20chilled%20and%20finished%20off%20later.%20When%20ready%20to%20serve,%20warm%20the%20soup%20back%20up%20over%20medium%20heat.%20Remove%20from%20the%20heat%20and%20whisk%20in%20the%20creme%20fraiche%20and%20chives%20before%20serving.%20ENJOY!%20%203.4.3177%3C/p%3E){kind=link}