Beets Cooking

Thanksgiving  is over.  A popular thing throughout the month, especially on Facebook, is sharing a daily “I am thankful for…”  I love this idea but when faced with coming up with one thing, once a day, that I am thankful for I usually fail.  There are so many things that I am thankful for both big and small.  As a way to wrap up my Thanks, I am going to attempt to acknowledge SOME of the things that make my life rich here….

Being an American voting-living in Vermont-living in Burlington – the change of seasons and the variety of light that accompanies the change-the smell of the air on a cold November morning -my house-my children (even when they fight, tantrum, and call my name WAY too much)- my husband that makes me laugh every day -my pets- my extended family-my friends-my garden- local food-music-Breaking Bad, Mad Men & Downton Abbey-the release of the last Twilight movie (harnessing my inner teenager)- and the list goes on and on and on.  It is really hard to list all of the things that I am thankful for.  Maybe if I did it once a day for 365 days I could nail them all?!

Oh…one more thing that I am really thankful for?  All of you that order meals and soup on a weekly basis.  You all make it possible for me to do what I love to do on a weekly basis!  For that I am EXTREMELY THANKFUL!

Now on to the soups…

Carrot & Red Lentil Soup w. Coconut Milk-yum, yum, yum-Ingredients:  Olive oil, red onion, leeks, cumin, fresh thyme, garlic, small amount of tomato, tomato paste, carrots, red lentils, water, bay leaf, coconut milk, lime, fresh cilantro, kosher salt & pepper.  Garnished w. lime wedges & fresh cilantro.  Vegan, Vegetarian & Gluten-Free.  13. per quart served w. bread.

Chili…this is not the black bean & beef chili that has MANY FANS, but is is a good one none the less.  Ingredients: Plainfield ground turkey, canola oil, garlic, onions, red peppers, green pepper, jalapeno peppers, poblano pepper, black beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, mexican oregano, cilantro, kosher salt & pepper.  Garnished w. Monterey jack, sour cream & scallions.  Gluten-Free, 13. per quart served w. bread for dipping.

Chocolate Chip Tahini Cookies: Classic Chocolate Chip w. Walnuts Cookies w. the unexpected addition of tahini…yummy!  1. per cookie

Happy Veteran’s Day & Happy Birthday to my late Grandmother!

Italian Wedding Soup- I always thought its name stemmed from the fact that it was used to celebrate weddings!  Wrong.  A quick look at Wikipedia explains that it is a mistranslation of the Italian phrase “minestra maritata” or “married soup”- meaning that green veggies and meat go well together.  I love this definition and how it can be applied to cooking in general and especially soups!  One of the great things about soups is its marriage of flavors.  This week I will offer Italian Wedding Soup & Lentil Mushroom Soup.  Earthy lentils and woodsy mushrooms are also a match made in heaven!

Italian Wedding Soup.  Ingredients:  Chicken stock, celery, carrots, garlic, onions, olive oil, kosher salt, pepper, meatballs (ground beef & ground pork, bread crumbs, garlic, Parmesan cheese, eggs, dried basil, kosher salt & pepper), baby pasta, fresh spinach & fresh parsley.  Garnished w. Parmesan cheese.  13. per quart served w. bread for dipping.

Mushroom Lentil Soup.  ingredients: Olive oil, garlic, onions, celery, carrots, Portobello mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, button mushrooms, brown lentils, white wine, veggie stock, bay leaves, fresh thyme, kosher salt & pepper.  Garnished w. a mixture of fresh parsley & scallions.  Gluten-Free, Vegan & Vegetarian.  13. per quart served w. bread for dipping.

Carmel Apple Cookies…a soft apple cookie with caramel frosting topped with PECANS OR NOT…your choice.  1.50 per cookie.

What a week.  Full moon, super storm Sandy, Halloween, highs near 70, highs near 40, final election day push.  Ahhhhh…I am looking forward to some sunshine, the end of sugar wax candy & the election being OVER (keeping my fingers crossed on this one)!  Warm up and relax with a quart or two of soup!
Eggplant Parmesan Soup…. this has been on the request list for a while.  If you like eggplant parmesan you will like this soup!  Ingredients:  roasted eggplant, olive oil, garlic, onions, celery, stewed tomatoes, tomato juice, veggie stock, white wine, dried oregano, dried basil, garlic croutons, Parmesan cheese, kosher salt & pepper.  Garnished w. extra Parmesan cheese & garlic croutons.  Vegetarian…if you would like this soup and are Vegan let me know.  I can omit the Parmesan from your portion.  13. per quart served w. bread.

Beef Stew…yum!  Ingredients:  all-purpose flour, boneless beef chuck, vegetable oil, onion, garlic, tomato paste, baby Yukon gold potatoes, carrots, celery, kosher salt & pepper, fresh parsley.  13. per quart served w. bread

Sweet Treat:  Banana Sheet Cake w. Cream Cheese frosting 2. per piece