The Week of the Carrot

It all started when my co-worker told me about his chilled carrot soup with coconut foam. My interest was instantly piqued and I quickly became obsessed with the idea of making my own carrot soup. During the course of that same week, two other co-workers came forth with their recipes and thus the week of the carrot was born. There was no question that my Sunday post was unfolding before my eyes. My adaptation was warm and involved pureed celery root, red curry paste, coconut milk, lime zest, and cilantro. The taste was delectably sweet and the texture... velvety smooth. Thick like bisque and full of flavorful heat, it was the perfect lunch on a chilly afternoon. Carrots - not just for rabbits anymore.

Cure for a Cold

Well, autumn is officially here. It's time for scarves, jackets, and the sniffles. Chicken soup is the undisputed remedy for cold weather ailments, so today I made a big pot of the hearty panacea. I started with a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and picked it clean of all the meat. After setting the meat aside, I boiled the carcass and it's remnants along with a red onion, some celery stalks, three carrots, and several cloves of garlic to create a delicious base for the soup. Once the stock was strained I added in some freshly chopped carrots, potatoes, celery, onion, and spinach. With a healthy pinch of pepper, this nutrient packed soup was locked and loaded and ready to tackle any intruding germs. (Sniffles BEWARE!)