Fall is sharing her last glimpse of color and the calendar is inching ever closer to Thanksgiving. Soon we will be decking the halls. Where has this year gone? It has been a good one, even if I haven’t shared much here. There has been lots of time with the “Littles” who are quickly growing out of that nickname. There has been a bit of traveling and some adventures closer to home. I confess that most of my sharing has been on Facebook and you can check it out there :
https://www.facebook.com/MamaDisKitchen/
https://www.facebook.com/jolynn.brunodiehl
Now, for a recipe. Once the weather starts to turn cooler, the kitchen turns to making soup. I love the warmth of a bowl of soup. It can feel like a hug that warms the body and soul. This is a simple soup that uses simple ingredients, most coming out of the pantry or refrigerator. Stock in a box and cooked chicken combine with frozen vegetables and milk to create a creamy yet light soup that can be considered to be on the side of healthy.
You can use Rotisserie Chicken or cook your own (to be shared in a future post), substitute other vegetables and add herbs of your choice. Make it richer with cream or leave the dairy out. Whatever you do, please make the Puff Pastry Croutons. As soup toppers go, it may change your life.
This is a wonderfully comforting soup, perfect for those cooler evenings. It is a more or less healthy version of a classic that can be made more luxurious by substituting heavy cream for the milk. As always, make it your own and please add, subtract or substitute as you wish.
- 1 Cup Chopped Onion
- 2 Cloves Garlic, finely chopped
- 1-1/2 Cups Cremini Mushrooms, Sliced
- 1-1/2 Cup Yukon Gold Potatoes 1/2 - 3/4 inch dice
- 1 Tbsp. Butter
- 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
- 1 Quart Chicken Stock
- 1 Small Bunch Fresh Thyme
- 2 Cups 2% Milk
- 2-3 Tbsp, Cornstarch
- 2 Cups Cooked Chicken Breast
- 2 Cups Frozen Mixed Vegetables Thawed
- 1 Tbsp. Seasoning Blend of your choice I used Montréal Chicken
- 1/3 Cup Parsley, chopped
- 1 Sheet Puff Pastry
- Olive Oil Cooking Spray
- Salt and Pepper To taste
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Heat a soup pot over medium heat. Add the butter and olive oil. Once the butter has melted, add the onions. Sweat the onions until they begin to wilt. Add the potatoes, garlic, and mushrooms and continue to cook until everything is softening and smelling wonderful. This whole step should take around 10 minutes or so.
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Add the stock and the small bunch of Thyme. Bring up to a simmer and cook for about 5 minutes. Add the milk and return to a simmer.
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Make a slurry out of the cornstarch with a little water. Add to the pot and bring just to a boil. Reduce the heat and stir frequently until the soup begins to thicken. If you want a thicker soup, add another batch of the slurry.
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Add the chicken, mixed vegetables, and the seasoning. You could also add chopped fresh herbs along with or instead of the seasoning blend. Let everything simmer for a few minutes. Stir in the parsley and serve. Pass the croutons at the table.
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Puff Pastry Croutons: Cut the pastry sheet into 1 inch squares (or whatever size you want) Lay on a parchment lined baking sheet (make sure they are not touching). Spray lightly with the Olive Oil spray and sprinkle with Coarse Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper. Bake in preheated 400 degree oven until puffed and golden, 9-10 minutes. Serve as a topping for the soup.
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