Chilled Carrot Soup

Although July has almost passed (how quickly!), we still have August to face here in DC.  August comes in with more heat and humidity, and by its end everyone cannot wait for fall.  I’m sure others also have to deal with this heat- and this soup is perfect for it.

None of us want to stand in the kitchen, so this is a great soup to make over a weekend (less than 30 minutes), and then be able to pull it out for lunch or dinner throughout the week!  If you have an overabundance of tomatoes, feel free to add those it- it’ll change the flavor profile a bit, but it’ll add a great taste!

Need other ideas for cold soups?  Try these: cucumber gazpacho, shrimp gazpacho, or a tomato soup with basil.

Chilled Carrot Soup
Fifth Floor Kitchen original

1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, roughly chopped
6 garlic cloves, halved
2 lbs carrots, peeled, roughly chopped
1/2 tsp curry powder
4 cups water
1 cup almond milk
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

In a large pot heat olive oil, then add the onion.  Sauté the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.  Then add in the garlic and carrots, cook for another 5-8 minutes.  Next, stir in the water and curry powder.  Bring to a boil, and then simmer for another 15 minutes.

Finally, pour all of this into a blender (or food processor), and blend until the consistency is to your liking.  Then pour it back into a pot, add in the almond milk, salt and pepper.  Cook for another 5 minutes.

Serve this warm, or you can keep it in the fridge and serve this chilled.

Corn & Black Bean Burger with a Fresh Carrot Salad

As I’ve mentioned (probably numerous times) we don’t have a grill here.  I like burgers.  There is something amazing about a fresh bun, tomato and an onion.  Although it’s unfortunate that we don’t have a grill, it is fantastic that it forces us to make different kinds of burgers.  There are so many to choose from, and there are different variations.  Some might not be very pretty to look at, but they are all full of flavor.

Now, when you think of a burger, the side that goes with it is usually fries.  Trying to be healthy, and take advantage of all of the fresh vegetables that are around, I try to find other options.  This was very colorful and light carrot salad, so perfect to go with a filling burger!

And remember, this is great for any friends that are vegetarians!

Corn & Black Bean Burger
Adapted from: Eat, Live, Run

1-2 jalapeños, roughly chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cans of black beans, rinsed & drained
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp ground pepper
1 tbsp flaxseeds
1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
2 tbsp tomato sauce
1/2 cup of frozen corn, defrosted
2 tbsp olive oil
4-6 burger buns
4-6 slices of onion
4-6 tomato slices
1 avocado, sliced
burger condiments of your choice

Add the jalapeños and garlic to a food processor and mince finely.  Add 1 can of beans, cumin, salt, chili powder and ground pepper, pulse the processor some more until the mixture looks like a bean dip.

Transfer the bean mixture to a bowl, then add: flaxseeds, Panko breadcrumbs, tomato sauce, corn and the second can of beans.  Stir everything until it is well blended.  Make patties out of the mixture, we made 4 (very) large one’s.  I think 6 is actually the more appropriate size.

Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.  Add the burgers (we had 2 at a time) and fry for about 5 minutes on each side.

We served the burgers on a fresh bun, with onion slices, tomato slices avocado slices.  Feel free to add ketchup, mustard or other condiments.

Fresh Carrot Salad
Adapted from: So Good and Tasty

4-6 carrots, peeled and shaved
3 tbsp olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp cilantro, minced
3 tbsp parsley, minced
1 tsp salt
juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp cayenne pepper

Combine all of the ingredients, but the carrots.  Whisk together.  Then pour over the shaved carrots.  Toss well, and then put into the fridge for at least 30 minutes.  Enjoy when chilled.

Minestrone with Arugula

Another soup, but this one has fresh arugula, which made it that much more delicious!  I’ve never actually thought about putting arugula into soups, or pasta (as we have done here with the No-Cook Spaghetti Sauce), but it’s a great idea.  It gives the soup a different dimension.

Choosing arugula is also showing how much I cannot wait for spring…which I think is almost here.  I think everyone is ready for the warm weather, for fresh vegetables and fruits.

The Penn Quarter Farmers Market had its opening day 2 weeks ago.  Granted, it’s still the end of winter so there aren’t too many fruits or vegetables there just yet.  Although, we’ve gotten some fresh eggs both weeks.  It’s easier to get up in the morning when there are scrambled or fried eggs waiting to be made.

Minestrone with Arugula
Adapted from: Vegetarian Times Magazine

2 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 celery stalks, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp paprika
2 bay leaves
1 28-oz can of diced tomatoes
14-oz vegetable broth
1 15-oz can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cup water
1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
3 cups of fresh arugula, thinly sliced
1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese, shredded (optional)

Heat olive oil in a large pot.  Over medium heat, cook the onion, celery and carrots until vegetables are softened.  Then, stir in tomato paste, paprika, and bay leaves.  Cook for 1 minute, making sure the vegetables are covered with the tomato paste.  Add the can of tomatoes with the juice, broth, beans, macaroni and water.  Heat to a boil, and then cook over medium heat for 20 minutes.

Add arugula into each soup bowl, and pour over the soup.  Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese on top.

Mushroom Bolognese Fettucini

Although I might say this about a lot of dishes, I really did find this one to be truly amazing!  Both of us love mushrooms, so when I spotted this recipe- it was definitely a must-try.  It does take a little bit of time to simmer the sauce, therefore I would recommend it for a weekend evening.  But it’s well worth the time, every single bite.  The variety (and amount) of mushrooms in the sauce gave it a meaty texture.  Serve it with a glass of red wine (especially since you had to open a bottle for this recipe), and you’ve got yourself a treat.

Mushroom Bolognese Fettucini
Adatped by: The Italian Dish Blog

3 tbsp olive oil
2 carrots, peeled & diced
2 celery ribs, diced
1 onion, diced
salt & pepper to taste
4 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 cups red wine
1 lb baby portabella mushrooms, chopped
1/4 cup shiitake mushrooms, chopped
1 1/2 cups beef broth
2 15-oz can crushed tomatoes
2 tbsp sugar
2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp crushed red pepper

Heat olive oil in a large pot, then saute the onion, carrot, celery and garlic.  Add the salt and pepper to taste (recommendation, about 1-2 tsp).  Let the vegetables cook for about 5-10 minutes on low heat, until the onions are translucent.  Add the wine, and cook for another 5 minutes.  Then add all of the mushrooms and the rest of the ingredients.  Simmer, uncovered, for about 45 minutes to an hour; until the liquid has cooked off.  Feel free to add salt and pepper to taste if needed. 

* This step is optional.  We took half of the sauce and pureed it. We mixed the two halves together, and then poured it over the cooked fettucini.

Homestyle Lentil Soup

There are still a couple of nights that are still a little chilly, so a soup night is always something to look forward to.  And fresh bread to add to this soup, is just perfect.  We usually pick up a baguette at Cowgirl Creamery, where there is always a couple of fresh ones.  I enjoyed this soup since it not only had the lentils, very filling, but it also has plenty of vegetables- which are always tasty in a soup. 

Homestyle Lentil Soup
Adapted from: Honest Fare Blog

2 cups lentils
4 carrots, cut diagonally about 1/4 inch thick
1 15-oz can diced tomatoes
1 yellow onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
6 cups of water
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp fresh thyme, chopped
1 tsp fresh oregano, chopped
3 bay leaves
1 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp paprika
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Heat oil in a large pot.  Once heated, add onions, garlic and carrots.  Saute until lightly brown, then add tomatoes, herbs and paprika.  Stir and cook for 3 minutes.  Then add water, bay leaves, Worcestershire sauce, lentils, salt and pepper.  Cover, and bring to a boil. 

Once the soup is boiling, reduce heat to simmer.  Then simmer the sopu for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the lentils are cooked.  Ladle some in a bowl, and serve with fresh bread.