Tag Archives: easy dinner

Creamy Leek & Potato Soup + America’s Test Kitchen’s Vegetables Illustrated Cookbook Review

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Cook’s Illustrated new cookbook Vegetables Illustrated is a beautifully compiled cookbook of delicious, easy to make, and crowd-pleasing recipes featuring vegetables as the star.  The cookbook reads like a reference guide with vegetables separated into individual chapters accompanied by tips, tricks, and innovative recipes that any meat lover will enjoy.

I chose the creamy leek and potato soup because I was craving something warm and comforting with the taste and colors of spring.  April in New England is a bit like Jekyll and Hyde, sunny and warm one day then raw and raining the next!  This soup did not disappoint in flavor or comfort.  The flavor of the leeks shines through while the thyme compliments its earthy flavor.  The addition of the russet potato and bread make this soup hearty without the addition of cream.  Seasoning to taste with salt and pepper is important as both bring out the flavor of the leeks.  I added a bit of Maldon sea salt flakes which is a must buy for any salt lover.  Just a sprinkle is all you need.  Serve this soup with fresh, crusty bread and you have comfort in a bowl.

Next on my list of must makes from this cookbook is the southwestern radish and apple salad, quickly followed by a carrot cake recipe that makes my mouth water every time I look at the photograph.  With four hundred and eighty-five pages of recipes, I have a lot to explore and just in time with fresh produce from farmer’s markets arriving soon.  You can purchase this cookbook here.  I highly recommend it.  Happy Spring!

I reached out to America’s Test Kitchen who sent me this cookbook for free.  All opinions are my own.

Creamy Leek and Potato Soup

Serves 4 to 6

Recipe from Cook’s Illustrated Vegetables Illustrated

 Ingredients:

2 pounds leeks, white and light green parts halved lengthwise and sliced thin, dark green parts halved and cut into 2-inch pieces, (be sure to wash all of it thoroughly)

2 cups chicken or vegetable broth (I used chicken)

2 cups of water

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 onion, chopped

Kosher salt and pepper

1 small russet potato, peeled, halved lengthwise and cut into ¼ inch slices

1 bay leaf

1 sprig of fresh thyme or tarragon (I used thyme.)

1 slice hearty white sandwich bread, toasted a bit and torn into ¼ inch pieces

Directions:

Add broth, water, and dark green leek pieces to a saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat.  Once boiling, reduce heat to low and cover.  Allow to simmer for 20 minutes.  Using a fine mesh sieve strain broth over an empty bowl while pushing on the solids to release as much liquid and flavor as possible.  Set aside.

Add butter to a now-empty saucepan and melt over medium-low heat.  Add sliced white bread, green leeks, onion, and 1 teaspoon of salt.  Reduce heat to low and cook stirring often until vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes.

Next, increase the heat to high and add broth, potato, bay leaf, and herb sprig.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to low and simmer until potato is soft and bread breaks down about 10 minutes.

Remove bay leaf and herb sprig.  Process soup in batches in a blender or use a handheld immersion blender to save you time.  Process until smooth.  Bring to a simmer and season to taste with salt and pepper.  Sprinkle with Maldon Sea Salt flakes and thyme leaves.  Serve with crusty bread if desired.  Enjoy!

 

 

Lemon Ricotta Zucchini & Tomato Galette + 5 Summer Savory Galette Links

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The blue sky  was splattered with gauzy clouds.  Our kite soared many feet above and danced in the mean ocean breeze while the kids chased its shadow down the long empty beach.  A perfect kinda day, really.  I felt you there, wrote your name in the sand and watched the tide selfishly whisk it away.  I smiled at the pointless gesture.  As if the sea were that kind.

Later, I bounced my youngest on my hip in the cool salt water pond and kissed his wet, chubby cheeks, all while he giggled at fun mommy.  The older kids swam around us like a school of trout, approaching and darting quickly away.  I passed our youngest off to J and returned to my sand covered beach chair.  I watched, fully present, something I hardly ever do.

Is there much more?  

You laughed.  The dead are so wise.  No, no there is nothing else.

I smiled, easy for you to say.

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Lemon Ricotta Zucchini Tomato Tart

A savory summer galette starring garden ripe zucchini and heirloom tomatoes paired with a bright lemon ricotta filling

serves 6

recipe adapted from Better Homes and Gardens and Cambridge School of Culinary Arts

Ingredients for filling:

1/2 of a 15 ounce package of your favorite refrigerated pie crust or use the recipe listed below

1 medium zucchini, thinly sliced (about 2 + 1/2 cups)

3 heirloom tomatoes, 1/4 inch slices

3/4 cup ricotta cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup goat cheese

1 tablespoon olive oil

zest of 1 lemon

juice of 1 lemon

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated black pepper + more to taste

kosher salt to taste

basil leaves, torn

1 egg

1 tablespoon water

Sea Salt

Optional: Balsamic glaze like this

Directions:

Sprinkle sliced zucchini lightly with salt.  Place in colander and drain for about 15 minutes.  Pat dry.

Pre-heat the oven to 400F.

Lightly flour a piece of parchment paper and roll out your pie dough to a 12 inch circle.  Transfer to a large baking sheet and set aside.

Using a medium bowl whisk together ricotta, Parmesan cheese, goat cheese, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, kosher salt and pepper.  Grab a spatula and spread the filling evenly over the dough leaving about 1 and 1/2 inch border.  Top with zucchini, followed by tomato slices and drizzle with a bit of olive oil.  Gently fold over pastry edge, pleating and pressing down as needed.

In a small bowl whisk together 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of water.  Using a pastry brush lightly brush the edges with the egg mixture.  Place in oven and bake until golden brown, 35-40 minutes.

Remove from oven and sprinkle with torn basil leaves and sea salt.  Drizzle all over with balsamic glaze, if desired.  Serve warm or at room temperature.  Galette is best the day it is made, but it does make a nice breakfast the next day.  If you have leftovers, store in an air-tight container at room temperature.  Bring to room temperature before eating.  Enjoy!

Pate Brisee or Short Pastry

recipe from the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts

Makes 1-9 inch pie crust

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour

1/8 tsp. salt

8 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter

3-4 tablespoons ice water

Directions:

Combine flour and salt in a large bowl.   Next add cold butter, cut into 1 inch pieces. Rub butter and flour between your fingertips until the butter is pea-sized. Dump dough onto clean counter. Form a “trough” lengthwise (vertically) through flour mixture. Add the water, one tablespoon at a time, and fluff it with your fingers until large lumps form and the pastry is blended. The dough should be a bit dry, not too wet.

Gather the dough together and flatten the dough with the heel of your hand so that the butter will layer between the flour (fraisage). Rotate dough and repeat once again.  Repeat a few more times.  Form into a disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least 1 hour.

5 Summer Savory Galette Links

Can’t get enough of heirloom tomatoes?  Head to Joy the Baker for her heirloom tomato tart recipe with sun-dried tomato pesto.  Yum!

Not sure what to do with all of your garden’s summer squash?  Try A Cozy Kitchen’s summer squash lattice ricotta tart.

Gluten-free?  Head to Tartelette  and try a gluten-free tart with savory greens, tomatoes and goat cheese.  While you are there be sure to check out Helene’s recipe for a Swiss chard, goat cheese and prosciutto tart.

If your CSA contains more Swiss chard than you can handle, try making Smitten Kitchen’s leek and Swiss chard tart!