Cream of Chicken (or Turkey!!) Soup

By Michelle Abendschan, on November 20th, 2009%

soup

While growing up Cream of ____ soups were always just something to make casseroles with — but not anymore! Wow, this was tasty! I tweaked it a little from the original by adding garlic, thyme, hot sauce and mushrooms and I was so pleased with the results. This is definitely what is going to happen to some of our leftover turkey and turkey stock next weekend. In fact, it’s a great recipe for that as I’ll probably have leftover cream, veggies and everything else. So will you, so you should definitely make this soup.

I cooked the mushrooms in a separate pan because I didn’t want them to soak up all the butter and I didn’t want to add more butter. I’m not sure you have to do that, but that’s the way I did it.

Cream of Chicken Soup
Adapted from a recipe by Food Network Kitchens
6 tbsp unsalted butter
1 white Spanish onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 leeks, cleaned well, white part chopped
3 medium carrots, chopped
1 tbsp olive oil
12 cremini mushrooms, chopped
1/2 cup AP flour
7 cups chicken broth, homemade or low-sodium canned
4 sprigs parsley
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 bay leaf
2 3/4 cups cooked, diced chicken
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tbsp dry . . . → Read More: Cream of Chicken (or Turkey!!) Soup

Mediterranean-Style Baked Halibut Steaks

By Michelle Abendschan, on November 11th, 2009%

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This is a great, quick meal. I found this recipe online, at Bigoven.com when I was looking for something to do with frozen halibut steaks.

Sometimes I make this at night (not even for dinner) and we take it for lunches the next day. It reheats well and is always tasty. Plus, best of all, it is a great use for the wild, frozen halibut steaks that they have at Trader Joe’s. Thus, it qualifies as a Cheap Fish Project.

If you do use steaks, just cut the skin off if you prefer (I do) and defrost if your fish is frozen. You could of course, use fillets here but it works just wonderfully with the steaks.

Mediterranean-Style Baked Halibut Steaks
Adapted from a recipe on Big Oven
1 tbsp olive oil + more for baking dish
1 small zucchini, chopped
1/2 white onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp dried thyme or oregano
1/4 cup white wine
1 small tomato, diced
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
salt & pepper
2 6-oz halibut steaks

If your halibut is not defrosted, you can do that in some cold water. Just submerge the package for 15 or so minutes and that should do it.

halibut

Preheat oven to 450 degrees . . . → Read More: Mediterranean-Style Baked Halibut Steaks

Sour Cream Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Streusel

By Michelle Abendschan, on November 2nd, 2009%

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This was an experiment that I took to work for a Halloween party last week. It was an extra fun cake to make, as I had just bought myself a new bundt cake pan in honor of National Bundt Cake Day coming up on November 15!

Where did I learn that bit of trivia? Why here: Food Librarian’s ‘I Like Big Bundts’ extravaganza! Now that is an awesome task right there. While I am not delightfully crazy enough to make a bundt a day, I did make one — this Sour Cream Pumpkin Bundt with a Streusel-y inside.

The recipe is from Libby’s (the makers of canned pumpkin), although I used a can of Trader Joe’s Organic canned pumpkin. The cake turned out so well! I added orange zest, pecans and a few more spices to the streusel and I also used a chocolate ganache as a glaze, rather than a traditional powdered sugar icing.

Sour Cream Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Streusel
recipe adapted from Libby’s
Streusel
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp orange zest
2 tsp unsalted butter
1/4 cup chopped pecans
Cake
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups . . . → Read More: Sour Cream Pumpkin Bundt Cake with Streusel