fall food – Florida Girl Cooks http://floridagirlcooks.com Seeker of sunshine + exquisite food Sun, 03 Feb 2019 18:29:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.1.1 96532064 Vegetable Bake http://floridagirlcooks.com/vegetable-bake/ Wed, 21 Oct 2015 18:05:09 +0000 http://floridagirlcooks.com/?p=986 The beginning of this pregnancy has felt to me like nothing short of a train wreck as far as keeping up with cooking and eating healthy. I’ve craved the naughtiest of foods and have ...

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The beginning of this pregnancy has felt to me like nothing short of a train wreck as far as keeping up with cooking and eating healthy. I’ve craved the naughtiest of foods and have been feeling to nauseous to cook much of anything or stand in the kitchen for any length of time. This recipe is my attempt to get back to eating healthy and cooking for myself and family. I love these vegetables and love them even more roasted and tender! Try this vegetable bake this fall, even though it hasn’t felt like much of a fall so far this year. 

vegetable bake, fall food, comfort food, paleo, healthy eating, cooking light, dinner

Vegetable Bake

Ingredients

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra if required
1 large onion, thinly sliced
3 garlic cloves, sliced
800 g large potatoes , chopped into 1cm cubes
6 medium tomatoes, thinly sliced
1 Malanga, peeled and cubes
1 Routabaga, cubes
1 lb purple potatoes
1 lb carrots, thinly sliced
1 cup kale, coarsely chopped
1 – 16 0z can tomato paste
1 tbsp dried oregano
2 tbsp flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

Prepare

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Add the onion and garlic to the pan, with a little more oil if necessary, and sauté for 5 minutes, until softened.
3. Add tomato paste, stir and simmer just three minutes.
4. Chop all vegetables and heat some olive oil in dutch oven medium heat and cook the vegetables adding more oil if necessary, for 5–7 minutes, until softened and golden.
5. Sprinkle with oregano and parsley and season generously with sea salt and ground black pepper. Drizzle with a little more olive oil before transferring to oven.
6. Roast for 50 minutes or until the top has browned and vegetables are tender. Allow to cool slightly before serving.

Vegetable Bake
Serves 10
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Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 10 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 10 min
Ingredients
  1. 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra if required
  2. 1 large onion, thinly sliced
  3. 3 garlic cloves, sliced
  4. 800 g large potatoes , chopped into 1cm cubes
  5. 6 medium tomatoes, thinly sliced
  6. 1 Malanga, peeled and cubes
  7. 1 Routabaga, cubes
  8. 1 lb purple potatoes
  9. 1 lb carrots, thinly sliced
  10. 1 cup kale, coarsely chopped
  11. 1 - 16 0z can tomato paste
  12. 1 tbsp dried oregano
  13. 2 tbsp flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Add the onion and garlic to the pan, with a little more oil if necessary, and sauté for 5 minutes, until softened.
  3. Add tomato paste, stir and simmer just three minutes.
  4. Chop all vegetables and heat some olive oil in dutch oven medium heat and cook the vegetables adding more oil if necessary, for 5–7 minutes, until softened and golden.
  5. Sprinkle with oregano and parsley and season generously with sea salt and ground black pepper. Drizzle with a little more olive oil before transferring to oven.
  6. Roast for 50 minutes or until the top has browned and vegetables are tender. Allow to cool slightly before serving.
Florida Girl Cooks http://floridagirlcooks.com/
vegetable bake, fall food, comfort food, paleo, healthy eating, cooking light, dinner

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BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP http://floridagirlcooks.com/butternut-squash-soup/ Tue, 06 Oct 2015 01:53:33 +0000 http://floridagirlcooks.com/?p=831 Butternut Squash is the staple produce item in our house during the fall. Yes I can hear you saying, “But you live in Florida, isn’t it summer year-round?” My response to that would be ...

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Butternut Squash is the staple produce item in our house during the fall. Yes I can hear you saying, “But you live in Florida, isn’t it summer year-round?” My response to that would be simply…”Duh!” But it’s ok even us summer-toasted Floridians can enjoy fall or at least pretend. Butternut squash soup was the first food I introduced to my boys when they were babies and they love it just the same now at the ages of 3.5 and 5. I bought the Whole 30 book this summer and immediately thumb-nailed the recipes I’d like to make and this one was the first. This is an easy recipe that can be enjoyed on its own or would compliment well with my Gorgonzola and Pear Salad. The only thing I omitted was ginger because we recently made and ate and Carrot Ginger Soup so it’s a bit played out for us right now. Floridians sit back and enjoy this soup while you open up your windows to the three degrees cooler temperature while everyone else just enjoy accordingly with your real change of weather. Happy fall to all!

butternut squash soup, fall food, soup, comfort food, healthy

Butternut Squash Soup

Ingredients

3 tbsp. clarified butter
1/2 cup diced onion
3 cups diced and seeded peeled butternut squash
2 cloves garlic
4 cups chicken broth
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/4 cup heavy cream (if you’re feeling naughty)

Prepare

1. Prepare produce as needed.

2. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat, swirling to coat the bottom of the pot. Add onion and cook until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the squash and garlic and still until the garlic becomes aromatic, about 1 minute.

3. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil over high heat. Boil until the butternut squash is soft, about 10 minutes. Remove the pot from heat.

4. In one or two batches, transfer soup to a food processor or blender and blend on high speed until smooth in texture. Return the pureed soup to the pot.

5. Heat the soup over medium-high until it thickens. Add heavy cream if you’d like to incorporate into this recipe at this time and cook for 5 more minutes .

5. Heat soup for 7-10 more minutes and season with salt and pepper. Serve and enjoy!

Butternut Squash Soup
Serves 2
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Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
30 min
Total Time
40 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
30 min
Total Time
40 min
Ingredients
  1. 3 tbsp. clarified butter
  2. 1/2 cup diced onion
  3. 3 cups diced and seeded peeled butternut squash
  4. 2 cloves garlic
  5. 4 cups chicken broth
  6. 1 tsp salt
  7. 1/2 tsp. black pepper
  8. 1/4 cup heavy cream (if you're feeling naughty)
Instructions
  1. Prepare produce as needed.
  2. In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat, swirling to coat the bottom of the pot. Add onion and cook until translucent, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the squash and garlic and still until the garlic becomes aromatic, about 1 minute.
  3. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil over high heat. Boil until the butternut squash is soft, about 10 minutes. Remove the pot from heat.
  4. In one or two batches, transfer soup to a food processor or blender and blend on high speed until smooth in texture. Return the pureed soup to the pot.
  5. Heat the soup over medium-high until it thickens. Add heavy cream if you'd like to incorporate into this recipe at this time and cook for 5 more minutes .
  6. Heat soup for 7-10 more minutes and season with salt and pepper. Serve and enjoy!
Adapted from Whole 30 Cookbook
Adapted from Whole 30 Cookbook
Florida Girl Cooks http://floridagirlcooks.com/
butternut squash soup, fall food, soup, comfort food, healthy

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MATZOH BALL SOUP http://floridagirlcooks.com/matzoh-ball-soup/ Thu, 10 Jan 2013 01:28:02 +0000 http://floridagirlcooks.com/?p=456 I’ve been wanting to make matzoh ball soup for the longest time now…since I went to TooJay’s for the first time when I was younger. I came across this recipe from Williams-Sonoma’s website. Despite ...

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I’ve been wanting to make matzoh ball soup for the longest time now…since I went to TooJay’s for the first time when I was younger. I came across this recipe from Williams-Sonoma’s website. Despite what many people think about Williams-Sonoma recipes, this one like many others on their website was extremely simple. And the flavor you ask? WOWZAS! It sure brought the Jewish out of me that I never even knew existed. I paired this matzoh ball soup with a glass of Maneshewitz and Beastie Boys music since they are my favorite Jewish boys! It was the perfect dinner!

Matzoh Ball Soup

Ingredients

6 eggs
6 Tbs. melted chicken fat or vegetable oil
12 1/2 cups chicken stock
3 boxes matzoh meal
1 seasoning packet from matoh meal box
1 tsp. salt, plus more, to taste
1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper
3 Tbs. chopped fresh dill
2 Tbs. minced shallots
1 carrot, peeled and finely grated
2 cups peeled and finely diced carrots

Prepare

1. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, 4 Tbs. of the chicken fat and 1/2 cup of the stock and whisk until well blended.

2. Stir in the matzo meal, the 1 tsp. salt, the pepper, dill, shallots and grated carrot. Refrigerate for about 1/2 hour.

3. In a large pot over medium-high heat, bring the remaining 8 cups stock to a simmer. Pour in contents of one matzoh seasoning packet and stir.

4. Meanwhile, with wet hands, gently form the matzo meal mixture into small balls about 1.5 inches in diameter.

5. Slip the matzo balls into the simmering stock.

6. When they rise to the surface, reduce the heat so the stock is barely simmering. Cover and cook for about 35 minutes.

7. Meanwhile, in a sauté pan over medium heat, warm the remaining 1 Tbs. chicken fat.

8. Add the diced carrots and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes; do not allow them to brown. Set aside.

9. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the matzo balls to a bowl.

10. Strain the stock into a clean pot and return the matzo balls to the soup.

11. Ladle the soup and 1 matzo ball into each of 6 warmed bowls.

12. Garnish with the sautéed carrots.

 

Matzoh Ball Soup
Serves 8
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Prep Time
40 min
Cook Time
50 min
Total Time
1 hr 30 min
Prep Time
40 min
Cook Time
50 min
Total Time
1 hr 30 min
Ingredients
  1. 6 eggs
  2. 6 Tbs. melted chicken fat or vegetable oil
  3. 12 1/2 cups chicken stock
  4. 3 boxes matzoh meal
  5. 1 seasoning packet from matoh meal box
  6. 1 tsp. salt, plus more, to taste
  7. 1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper
  8. 3 Tbs. chopped fresh dill
  9. 2 Tbs. minced shallots
  10. 1 carrot, peeled and finely grated
  11. 2 cups peeled and finely diced carrots
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, 4 Tbs. of the chicken fat and 1/2 cup of the stock and whisk until well blended.
  2. Stir in the matzo meal, the 1 tsp. salt, the pepper, dill, shallots and grated carrot. Refrigerate for about 1/2 hour.
  3. In a large pot over medium-high heat, bring the remaining 8 cups stock to a simmer. Pour in contents of one matzoh seasoning packet and stir.
  4. Meanwhile, with wet hands, gently form the matzo meal mixture into small balls about 1.5 inches in diameter.
  5. Slip the matzo balls into the simmering stock.
  6. When they rise to the surface, reduce the heat so the stock is barely simmering. Cover and cook for about 35 minutes.
  7. Meanwhile, in a sauté pan over medium heat, warm the remaining 1 Tbs. chicken fat.
  8. Add the diced carrots and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes; do not allow them to brown. Set aside.
  9. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the matzo balls to a bowl.
  10. Strain the stock into a clean pot and return the matzo balls to the soup.
  11. Ladle the soup and 1 matzo ball into each of 6 warmed bowls.
  12. Garnish with the sautéed carrots.
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma
Florida Girl Cooks http://floridagirlcooks.com/
Matzoh ball soup, soup, Jewish cooking, fall food, comfort food

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LATKES http://floridagirlcooks.com/latkes/ Sat, 25 Jun 2011 02:10:38 +0000 http://floridagirlcooks.com/?p=458 I have always wanted to make this delicious Jewish side. Potato Pancakes…a.k.a. Latkes are so simple to make and have a simple-comfort food feel as you take each bite! The first time I made ...

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I have always wanted to make this delicious Jewish side. Potato Pancakes…a.k.a. Latkes are so simple to make and have a simple-comfort food feel as you take each bite! The first time I made this I didn’t have a corse grater (of course that was one of the many things I gave away when I first moved into our home). I used a fine grater and so it didn’t have that potato strand / hashbrown look to it. I also didn’t have a fine strainer so it was too watery the first go around. It came out tasting the same but was more of a fritter ball. So in my recent shopping adventures (since the usual involves just going to Publix or Costco) I picked up a corse grater and fine strainer. I made the meal and WOW! It came out exactly as pictured in the Rachael Ray magazine and had a crunchier textures around the edges. Latkes are definitely a hit at my house…even my son Jacob enjoyed them!

Note the original recipe called for vegetable oil and since we are trying to be more health conscious  we substituted it with canola oil! 🙂

Ingredients

1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
Salt and pepper
1 lb. large yukon gold potatoes
1/2 large onion
2 tbsp. potato starch
2 eggs, beaten
canola oil, for frying

Prepare

1. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream and chives; season with salt and pepper.
2. Using a box grater set in a wide, shallow bowl, coarsely grate the potatoes and onion; stir to combine.
3. Using your hands and working in batches, squeeze out as much liquid as possible; transfer the potato-onion mixture to a bowl.
4. Stir in the potato starch and 1 tsp. salt.
5. Mix in the eggs.
6. Transfer the mixture to a fine strainer; drain.
7. In a large skillet, add enough oil to measure a depth of 1/4 inch, then heat over medium heat.
8. Working in 2 batches, scoop 1/4-cup mounds of the mixture onto a cutting board and flatten to form 3-inch-wide pancakes.
9. Using a spatula, place the pancakes into the pan and cook, turning once, until golden, about 5 minutes; drain.
10. Sprinkle with salt and serve with the chive sour cream.

Latkes
Serves 8
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Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
25 min
Total Time
45 min
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
25 min
Total Time
45 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 cup sour cream
  2. 1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
  3. Salt and pepper
  4. 1 lb. large yukon gold potatoes
  5. 1/2 large onion
  6. 2 tbsp. potato starch
  7. 2 eggs, beaten
  8. canola oil, for frying
Instructions
  1. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream and chives; season with salt and pepper.
  2. Using a box grater set in a wide, shallow bowl, coarsely grate the potatoes and onion; stir to combine.
  3. Using your hands and working in batches, squeeze out as much liquid as possible; transfer the potato-onion mixture to a bowl.
  4. Stir in the potato starch and 1 tsp. salt.
  5. Mix in the eggs.
  6. Transfer the mixture to a fine strainer; drain.
  7. In a large skillet, add enough oil to measure a depth of 1/4 inch, then heat over medium heat.
  8. Working in 2 batches, scoop 1/4-cup mounds of the mixture onto a cutting board and flatten to form 3-inch-wide pancakes.
  9. Using a spatula, place the pancakes into the pan and cook, turning once, until golden, about 5 minutes; drain.
  10. Sprinkle with salt and serve with the chive sour cream.
Florida Girl Cooks http://floridagirlcooks.com/

latkes, potato pancakes, Jewish cooking, fall food, comfort food

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CARROT GINGER SOUP http://floridagirlcooks.com/carrot-ginger-soup/ Fri, 15 Oct 2010 13:56:14 +0000 http://floridagirlcooks.com/?p=741   Want a warm soup with a spicy kick to accompany one of these oh-so cool, sunset lit evenings? This carrot ginger soup is just the soup for you! I’ve made this Williams-Sonoma recipe once ...

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Want a warm soup with a spicy kick to accompany one of these oh-so cool, sunset lit evenings? This carrot ginger soup is just the soup for you! I’ve made this Williams-Sonoma recipe once before and it definitely will not be the last time I make it in my house! It’s intricate flavor with a good dose of vitamin C is sure to leave you comforted and feeling healthy while keeping the fall blues and colds away. I hope you enjoy a bowl or maybe two! 🙂

carrot ginger soup, soup, fall food, comfort food, gluten free, healthy, ginger, citrus

Carrot Ginger Soup

Ingredients

For the chicken stock:
6 lb. chicken backs and necks
1 large or 2 medium yellow onions, quartered
through the stem end
1 large carrot, peeled and cut into 1-inch lengths
1 large celery stalk with leaves, cut into 1-inch
lengths
1 garlic clove, peeled
3 or 4 fresh flat-leaf parsley sprigs
1 bay leaf
8 to 10 whole peppercorns

1 large sweet onion, such as Vidalia or
Walla Walla
1 lb. carrots
2 garlic cloves
2-inch piece fresh ginger
1 orange
2 Tbs. unsalted butter
1 tsp. kosher salt
1⁄8 tsp. freshly ground pepper
Several blades of fresh chives

Prepare

Combine the stock ingredients
In an 8-quart heavy-bottomed pot, combine the chicken parts, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, parsley, bay leaf and peppercorns. Add water just to cover the ingredients by 1 inch.

Bring the stock to a boil
Place the pot over medium-high heat. Without stirring, slowly bring the liquid to a boil. As soon as you see large bubbles begin to form, reduce the heat until only small bubbles occasionally break the surface of the liquid. Use a large slotted spoon to skim the grayish foam that rises to the surface as the liquid reaches a boil, then continue skimming, without stirring, for the first 10 minutes.

Simmer the stock
Simmer the stock, uncovered, adjusting the heat periodically to keep the stock at a slow simmer, for 2 to 2 1¿2 hours, adding more water, if necessary, to keep the ingredients just covered. Do not stir but continue to skim the surface every 30 minutes or so.

Strain the stock
Line a fine-mesh sieve with a triple layer of cheesecloth that has been dampened and squeezed dry, and place it over a large bowl. Place the bowl in the sink, if you like, to make cleanup easier. Using a slotted spoon, remove the larger solids, then ladle or carefully pour the stock through the sieve. Discard the solids in the sieve.

Cool and defat the stock
If you are using the stock immediately, use a large spoon to skim and discard the fat from the surface of the stock, measure out 6 cups and proceed to the next step. If you are not using the stock immediately, cool it in an ice bath until it is at least room temperature. Cover the stock and refrigerate it overnight. The next day, use a large spoon to lift off the fat solidified on the top. Measure out 6 cups of the stock and set it aside for the soup. Cover and refrigerate the remaining stock for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Prepare the vegetables
First, dice the onion: Cut the onion in half lengthwise and peel each half. One at a time, place the onion halves, cut side down, on the cutting board. Make a series of lengthwise cuts perpendicular to the board, then a series of horizontal cuts with the knife blade parallel to the cutting board, and lastly cut crosswise to create 1¿4-inch dice. Be sure to stop just short of the root end; it holds the onion together as you cut. Next, slice the carrots: Peel the carrots, then cut them into slices 1¿4 inch thick. Finally, mince the garlic: Place the garlic cloves on a work surface, firmly press against them with the flat side of a knife and pull away the papery skin. Mince the garlic.

Prepare the ginger and orange zest
Using a paring knife or vegetable peeler, remove the thin beige skin from the fresh ginger, then use a rasp grater to grate enough ginger to measure 1 1¿2 tsp. Use the same fine rasps to grate 1¿2 tsp. zest from the orange. Make sure to grate only the colored portion of the orange peel, leaving the bitter white pith behind. Reserve the orange for another use.

Sweat the vegetables
Place a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-low heat and add the butter. When the butter has melted and the foam begins to subside, add the onion and cook, stirring often, until it softens and is just translucent, about 10 minutes. You do not want the onion to take on any color. This process of slowly cooking the vegetables without letting them brown is called sweating. Add the garlic to the pot and cook, stirring, until it is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the carrots and salt to the pot and stir to coat the carrots well with the butter.

Simmer the soup
Add 2 cups of the reserved stock to the pot. The stock should cover the carrots; if not, add more stock. Place the pot over high heat. As soon as you see large bubbles begin to form, reduce the heat until only small bubbles occasionally break the surface of the liquid and cover the pot. After a minute, check to make sure the stock is still at this gentle simmer. Re-cover and cook until the carrots are tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, about 20 minutes. Uncover and remove from the heat. Let the soup cool to lukewarm.

Puree the soup
Insert an immersion blender into the pot and puree the soup, moving the wand to ensure that all the ingredients are evenly pureed. Take care to immerse the blade completely to prevent spattering. (You can also use a food processor or blender for this step.)

Finish the soup
Preheat an oven to 200°F and place individual bowls in the oven to warm. Return the soup to medium-low heat and gradually whisk in the remaining 4 cups stock. Stir in the ginger and the orange zest. Reheat gently, stirring every now and again, until the soup is hot, about 10 minutes.

Adjust the seasonings
Add the pepper, then taste the soup. It should have a deep carrot flavor enhanced by onion and garlic, with accents of orange and ginger. If you feel the soup tastes dull, stir in a little more salt or pepper to perk up the flavors.

Serve the soup
Using kitchen scissors, snip the chives into tiny pieces. Ladle the soup into the warmed bowls and garnish with the chives. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

Chef’s Tips: If you already have chicken stock on hand, use 6 cups prepared chicken stock and begin the recipe with the paragraph that says, “Prepare the vegetables.”

Because soups reduce in volume as they simmer, which concentrates their flavors, always season them at the end of cooking. If done at the beginning, you might end up with an overseasoned soup.

Carrot Ginger Soup
Serves 4
Write a review
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Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
40 min
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
40 min
For the chicken stock
  1. 6 lb. chicken backs and necks
  2. 1 large or 2 medium yellow onions, quartered
  3. through the stem end
  4. 1 large carrot, peeled and cut into 1-inch lengths
  5. 1 large celery stalk with leaves, cut into 1-inch
  6. lengths
  7. 1 garlic clove, peeled
  8. 3 or 4 fresh flat-leaf parsley sprigs
  9. 1 bay leaf
  10. 8 to 10 whole peppercorns
  11. 1 large sweet onion, such as Vidalia or
  12. Walla Walla
  13. 1 lb. carrots
  14. 2 garlic cloves
  15. 2-inch piece fresh ginger
  16. 1 orange
  17. 2 Tbs. unsalted butter
  18. 1 tsp. kosher salt
  19. 1⁄8 tsp. freshly ground pepper
  20. Several blades of fresh chives
Instructions
  1. Combine the stock ingredients
  2. In an 8-quart heavy-bottomed pot, combine the chicken parts, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, parsley, bay leaf and peppercorns. Add water just to cover the ingredients by 1 inch.
  3. Bring the stock to a boil
  4. Place the pot over medium-high heat. Without stirring, slowly bring the liquid to a boil. As soon as you see large bubbles begin to form, reduce the heat until only small bubbles occasionally break the surface of the liquid. Use a large slotted spoon to skim the grayish foam that rises to the surface as the liquid reaches a boil, then continue skimming, without stirring, for the first 10 minutes.
  5. Simmer the stock
  6. Simmer the stock, uncovered, adjusting the heat periodically to keep the stock at a slow simmer, for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, adding more water, if necessary, to keep the ingredients just covered. Do not stir but continue to skim the surface every 30 minutes or so.
  7. Strain the stock
  8. Line a fine-mesh sieve with a triple layer of cheesecloth that has been dampened and squeezed dry, and place it over a large bowl. Place the bowl in the sink, if you like, to make cleanup easier. Using a slotted spoon, remove the larger solids, then ladle or carefully pour the stock through the sieve. Discard the solids in the sieve.
  9. Cool and defat the stock
  10. If you are using the stock immediately, use a large spoon to skim and discard the fat from the surface of the stock, measure out 6 cups and proceed to the next step. If you are not using the stock immediately, cool it in an ice bath until it is at least room temperature. Cover the stock and refrigerate it overnight. The next day, use a large spoon to lift off the fat solidified on the top. Measure out 6 cups of the stock and set it aside for the soup. Cover and refrigerate the remaining stock for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
  11. Prepare the vegetables
  12. First, dice the onion: Cut the onion in half lengthwise and peel each half. One at a time, place the onion halves, cut side down, on the cutting board. Make a series of lengthwise cuts perpendicular to the board, then a series of horizontal cuts with the knife blade parallel to the cutting board, and lastly cut crosswise to create 1/4-inch dice. Be sure to stop just short of the root end; it holds the onion together as you cut. Next, slice the carrots: Peel the carrots, then cut them into slices 1/4 inch thick. Finally, mince the garlic: Place the garlic cloves on a work surface, firmly press against them with the flat side of a knife and pull away the papery skin. Mince the garlic.
  13. Prepare the ginger and orange zest
  14. Using a paring knife or vegetable peeler, remove the thin beige skin from the fresh ginger, then use a rasp grater to grate enough ginger to measure 1 1/2 tsp. Use the same fine rasps to grate 1/2 tsp. zest from the orange. Make sure to grate only the colored portion of the orange peel, leaving the bitter white pith behind. Reserve the orange for another use.
  15. Sweat the vegetables
  16. Place a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-low heat and add the butter. When the butter has melted and the foam begins to subside, add the onion and cook, stirring often, until it softens and is just translucent, about 10 minutes. You do not want the onion to take on any color. This process of slowly cooking the vegetables without letting them brown is called sweating. Add the garlic to the pot and cook, stirring, until it is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the carrots and salt to the pot and stir to coat the carrots well with the butter.
  17. Simmer the soup
  18. Add 2 cups of the reserved stock to the pot. The stock should cover the carrots; if not, add more stock. Place the pot over high heat. As soon as you see large bubbles begin to form, reduce the heat until only small bubbles occasionally break the surface of the liquid and cover the pot. After a minute, check to make sure the stock is still at this gentle simmer. Re-cover and cook until the carrots are tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, about 20 minutes. Uncover and remove from the heat. Let the soup cool to lukewarm.
  19. Puree the soup
  20. Insert an immersion blender into the pot and puree the soup, moving the wand to ensure that all the ingredients are evenly pureed. Take care to immerse the blade completely to prevent spattering. (You can also use a food processor or blender for this step.)
  21. Finish the soup
  22. Preheat an oven to 200°F and place individual bowls in the oven to warm. Return the soup to medium-low heat and gradually whisk in the remaining 4 cups stock. Stir in the ginger and the orange zest. Reheat gently, stirring every now and again, until the soup is hot, about 10 minutes.
  23. Adjust the seasonings
  24. Add the pepper, then taste the soup. It should have a deep carrot flavor enhanced by onion and garlic, with accents of orange and ginger. If you feel the soup tastes dull, stir in a little more salt or pepper to perk up the flavors.
  25. Serve the soup
  26. Using kitchen scissors, snip the chives into tiny pieces. Ladle the soup into the warmed bowls and garnish with the chives. Serve immediately.
Notes
  1. Chef's Tips: If you already have chicken stock on hand, use 6 cups prepared chicken stock and begin the recipe with the paragraph that says, "Prepare the vegetables."
  2. Because soups reduce in volume as they simmer, which concentrates their flavors, always season them at the end of cooking. If done at the beginning, you might end up with an over-seasoned soup.
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma
Adapted from Williams-Sonoma
Florida Girl Cooks http://floridagirlcooks.com/
carrot ginger soup, soup, fall food, comfort food, gluten free, healthy, ginger, citrus

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SWEET POTATO FRIES http://floridagirlcooks.com/sweet-potato-fries/ Fri, 23 Jul 2010 18:22:57 +0000 http://floridagirlcooks.com/?p=865 This isn’t the wildest recipe I’ve made to date but it truly is the most comforting, and sometimes that’s just what I need from a meal. Sweet potato fries are my go-to, feel-good side ...

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This isn’t the wildest recipe I’ve made to date but it truly is the most comforting, and sometimes that’s just what I need from a meal. Sweet potato fries are my go-to, feel-good side dish. Enjoy this easy self-pleaser…or…party-pleaser!

Sweet Potato Fries

Ingredients

2 medium sized sweet potatoes
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 tsp sea salt

Prepare

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Peel the sweet potatoes, then chop into thin 1/4 inch strips.
3. Place the cut sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil followed by sprinkling the seal salt. Toss until combined.
4. Roast in the oven for 30-35 minutes, or until crispy on the edges.
5. Serve and enjoy!

Sweet Potato Fries
Serves 8
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Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
35 min
Total Time
45 min
Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
35 min
Total Time
45 min
Ingredients
  1. 2 medium sized sweet potatoes
  2. 1 tbsp. olive oil
  3. 1 tsp sea salt
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Peel the sweet potatoes, then chop into thin 1/4 inch strips.
  3. Place the cut sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil followed by sprinkling the seal salt. Toss until combined.
  4. Roast in the oven for 30-35 minutes, or until crispy on the edges.
  5. Serve and enjoy!
Florida Girl Cooks http://floridagirlcooks.com/

The post SWEET POTATO FRIES appeared first on Florida Girl Cooks.

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