Fresh, healthy, Corn Soup

Today I went to Meadow Lake with a few friends from the department.  It was lovely...I worked a little on the diss.  Then I came home and cooked.  After I went to the grocery store.  I think I am on a corn kick.  Corn soup was the meal for the week.  I also cooked up some sweet brown rice (sticky rice) that I am going to dish up with some sauteed veggies.  I used a modified corn soup receipe.  It was an experience to say the least.  I really, really, really need a new, bigger food processor. 

Here is what I ended up using in the soup. 

4 ears of fresh corn (local)
1 medium/large potato (grown in this here state!)
1 medium onion (I used two small, one red, and one white from the farmers market)
1 TBS organic butter
1/2 tsp salt
4 cups of veggie broth


Here's what I did:

First, get the corn off the cob.  This was interesting.  I used a knife.  Some of it got on my cutting board...some of it all over my kitchen.  Note: this was a theme with this soup.

Put that to the side.

Chop the onion and the potatoes.  I cut the potatoes in about inch squares.

Put the onion in a pan with the butter and the salt.  Sautee.

Put the onions, broth, and potatoes in a bigish pot and cook for 10 minutes at a boil.

At about 10 minutes add the corn and cook for another 2 minutes.

Then take your food processor.  NOTE if you have a small food processor drain the veggie mixture out!!!  Take the veggies (or the veggies and broth if you have a big processor) and process to a puree. 

If you put the soup mixture in the processor that is too small it will end up all over your kitchen...360 degrees style.  Trust me, I know. 

Mix it all together and you have a pretty good damn soup. 
The recpie on line says you can add cilantro, avocado, or some kind of chille...or something as a garnish when you serve it on top.  I make it for the week, so I haven't tried it with this but I bet it is good! 


This soup is pretty tasty.  It can be served cold or hot.  Delicious!  Enjoy.

(The pictures don't do the taste justice, so they are not included.)

Delicious

My mom is an amazing cook.  It is kinda a lot of pressure being her daughter.  Oh...wait...my dad is a chef by trade.  PRESSURE.  Anyways.  I am pretty self-critical about the way I cook, but today's dinner was delicious.  And here is what it is in case you were wondering.

(the other pot is couscous for the veggie leftover if I run out of pasta)

 Put a pot of water on the stove to boil for the pasta.
 Then cut up:

3 baby yellow squash
2 baby zucchini
2 medium gold onions (I would have used red if I had them)
2 medium tomatoes
These were all from Farmers market
about 2 heaping tsp of minced garlic




Put some oil a large skillet and heat some oil on about medium heat...I would say I used a few teaspoons or a tablespoon of oil (i used peanut to mix it up, but olive would be delicious too) enough to cover the pan when you move it around a bit.

Put in the onions and garlic and let them saute a wee bit then add the other squash.  The key is to cut them pretty small.  Mine liked kinda like corn kernels. 

Put your pasta in and follow the instructions.  I LOVE Buitoni agnolotti wild mushroom pasta (LOVE LOVE LOVE...more than I love wheat thins...whoa).  Yes, this is a link to the pasta....delicious.   



Add about a Tablespoon of basil pesto (I am a basil fiend...so add what you like) and about 10 basil leafs chopped up to the veggie mix. 

Here is what it looked like when it was done...I added parmigiana cheese (duh), salt, and pepper. 

Not as good as mama's...but pretty tasty

MMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmm!

 

 

This was delicious.  So as I work on an APA presentation for my students, and skyped with my mama, i ate this wonderful goodness....mmmmm.  And I have leftovers. 

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 30

Well...today was difficult.  I won't go into it too much, but I am almost as busy this year with responsibilities as I was last year (minus a a few classes) but PLUS a job search and a dissertation.  ERG.  So I was a big crying mess today.  I am not sure if I really did much fun...but I did realize that i have a few amazing people in my life that I am so thankful for.  If I every question why I moved out here, i have a few friends that make it all worth it, and i would not have moved out here, I would not have met them.  I am so thankful...which is different that fun, but in the long run, way better.  I am also SO SO So thankful for my best friend.  I am not sure how I got lucky enough to have her dropped into my life.  I love that we are different in so many ways, but in the ways that count we are so alike.  Anyhow, The fun things i did today were talk to my BFF and a few of my so good friends here.  This semester is going to be hell...but at least I got some rad people hang with. 

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 29

Well...one day left of fun...ok, not really.  I am thinking about another blog project.  My friend April has a blog where she posts food that she makes (yummy recipes...check it out).  Maybe I will do that.  I love to cook and today was no exception.

I worked on an ethics presentation today with one of my amazing peers.  Then...I came home and cooked!  Mmmmmm.

Sweet potato and bok choy soup

This was all pretty tasty as well.  It is called ABC Juice and it is from the Reboot website.  I am going to have it for breakfast tomorrow.  It has pears, apples, celery, beets, carrots, cabbage, chard, hum...and maybe a few other things.  

 

Also...I ate about 2 pounds of blueberries today. 

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 28

What a lovely lazy day!!!!  Farmers Market this morning was so great.  We got lots of lovely stuff--blueberries, squash, squash blossoms, acorn squash, tomatoes.  mmmmm!  Then stopped by to see a friend at the co-op and pick up a few more things on my list. 

Then home to make these lovely bites.

Squash Blossoms

A simple mix of one organic egg, some organic milk, and a pinch of salt then dipped in rice flour

Pan fried

 If you are going to make these little treats be sure to take the stamen out of the middle.  I looked up a simple recipe for a pan fry.

The rest of the day was spent looking for new dress shirts and bikes and movies and candy.  Yep.  A great Saturday.   

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 27

Well---I had my first Ethics committee meeting.  I think it will be fun since all the members are new except for the chairpeople.  It won't be fun if we have to make ethical decisions, but they said that doesn't happen that often.  I am excited to get involved in some committee work in the field.  I feel like an adult.  I guess it only has taken me 30 years.  I also went to the doctor.  My body is being freakin' weird.  Shingles---WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME???  Yuck.  I seriously have shingle tingle everywhere...headaches, back pain...the doctor said it is possible it is all related to the shingles.  F.  I want it to be over.  Five weeks, seriously?  I was going to start a juice fast today but then I decided to not be a crankypants during my last three days of vacation.  The manfriend and I went to an Italian place for dinner.  It was ok, but nothing like mom and dad.  Then the man went home and I went out with some of the new friends.  That was fun...not to mention the band was good at the Flipside.       

30 Fun things in 30 Days: Day 26

Well, my last year of the doctoral program has officially started.  We had our masters orientation and set up our schedules.  I have more obligations than I had wanted, but some of them I volunteered for, and I am getting paid to earn an education in one of the best programs in the US, and if my instructors trust me enough to run labs and teach beginning counselors than who would I be to not do whatever they ask without questions?  We had a cookout tonight with the professors and the doc students.  It is strange to me how quickly the last two years have gone.  I can remember two years ago, being at the party at a strange professors house and feeling out of place and missing home.  I always knew this was the right decision (ok...maybe not always, but I had very little doubt).  I have met so many amazing friends here.  I have learned so much about myself. 

The more I am here in this conservative little town the more I realize that I believe in goodness and energy and the importance of putting good things in your body, mind, and spirit.  I think the only way I can clarify my current existence is based on the above notions.  If I had believed that I was a sick person instead of a person who was sick, I would probably be dead.  I probably have my mother to thank for that.    Now, that said, I can be a snarky bitch.  I am working on it.  Really.

The next year is going to be a rollercoaster.  Good thing i got a wristband.

Cider with a few new friends is always a wonderful nightcap.