Calling all cooks - great soup recipe? Help, please!

[AllyOops]

Book club is here tomorrow night...it's The Book Thief so I am making soup and homemade bread. In the book, they ate a lot of pea soup but I think any soup will be fine. I make a great chili but was thinking that wouldn't be too true to the book. I'm not a soup maker - help! What should I make? Any suggestions? Easy but delicious? Especially a delicious pea soup recipe? Others are bringing apps, a potato side dish, salad, and dessert. I just need to figure out this soup thing. Thanks for any advice from the cooks on this board!

Ally

[JensOH]

Broccoli cheese soup

I make this all the time it's easy. (I always double the recipe and freeze half)

3 cups of broccoli cut up
1 can of chicken broth (14.5 oz)
1 tsp of salt
1/4 tsp of pepper
3 tb of flour
1/2 cup of cold water
8 oz of 1/2 and 1/2
2 cups of shredded sharp chedder cheese

Cook broccoli/broth/salt and pepper in a sauce pan until boling and then cook for 8 minutes with lid on the pot.
Wisk the water and flour together and add in the pot slowly
Keep stiring for a minute
Add in 1/2 and 1/2 slowly - do not boil
Once mixture is hot again add in the cheese until it is all melted

[psilverman]

Just about any pureed soup would probably work

My favorite (of course if you know me on here) is butternut squash. Cut it in half lengthwise, take out the seeds, put on cookies sheet brushed or sprayed with olive oil and sprinkled with salt (i use foil to help with cleanup) and roast in a 375 over for anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour until you can pierce all the way through with a sharp knife with barely any resistance. Let it cool and peel away shell or scoop away the flesh and put in food processor or blender with some chicken stock (I use the carton kind) or a mix of chicken stock and milk.... add salt and pepper to taste and I usually add ground dry thyme or sage (or both) -- just a pinch or so. When you serve it you can serve with grated cheddar cheese, lumps of goat cheese, a spoonful or sour cream, croutons, or whatever you want -- or just straight with some warm bread.

You can boil broccoli and/or cauliflower. I cut up a whole head of cauliflower or broccoli or a mix and then cover with chicken (or veggie) stock and bring to a boil then turn down the heat and simmer until it is VERY soft (fork goes through easily). Then puree it in the blender or food processor with milk, half and half (I've done fat free half and half) or a combination. Add salt and pepper. If you have time, sautee some chopped onion or shallots until it is very soft and sweet and puree that in too for flavor (this is good with the butternut squash too). I'd flavor with a little fresh grated nutmeg just before serving (just a brush on each bowl or a pinch in the pot) -- and again, you can pass grated cheddar or some diced tomatoes for people to garnish their own soup.

Just remember, if you have pureed with milk, when you reheat do so very gently and don't let it boil.

[Dawnn]

I've made this before and it's super good, but you need a ham bone! Any chance you can make a small spiral ham for dinner and then use the ham bone from tonight's dinner? The key to a good soup is to let it simmer for a long time and don't mash the peas too early and don't mash them too much otherwise it's pureed more like baby food. let them settle by themselves and minimally mash if at all before serving...http://allrecipes.com/recipe/split-p...e7=Home%20Page - also look at the first reviewer- on the recipe this is basically what I do on technique- i add carrots to the recipe and a bay leaf (I take out the bay leaf before serving).
I would add crusty french bread for dipping into the soup. I'll be right over

[Dawnn]

You gave me a great idea! I have a ton of fresh broccoli and i'm going to try your recipe this weekend. Thanks!

[mrd]

I've got a couple.

Let me know which ones you might be interested in and I'll post the recipe...

I've got a delicious carrott puree soup that has a lot of cumin in it.

Also, a lemony chicken and orzo soup

turkey and parmesan meatball soup is another favorite around here.

I have a thai coconut milk/corn soup, but that one is intended to be cold and tastes better when it sits for a day.

I also have a very quick tofu vegetable soup with basil.

If you're interested in any of them, let me know and I'll post the recipe.

[Lanie]