Sweet Potato Carrot Soup

Makes 8 generous servings. 

Turmeric, ginger and cumin make for a restorative soup at any time of the year, but especially on cold days.

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 tablespoons extra -virgin olive oil

• 2 teaspoons turmeric

• 1 teaspoon cumin

• 2-inch piece ginger, peeled, grated

• 2 large Vidalia onions, peeled, cut into medium pieces.

• 2 medium sweet potatoes (1¼ pounds), peeled cut into medium pieces

• 2 medium carrots (¾ pounds), peeled cut into medium   pieces

• 4 cups vegetable broth

• One 13.5 ounce can unsweetened coconut milk

• 2 -3 tablespoons lime juice

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

• Sunflower seeds, toasted for garnish

PREPARATION:

1. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan. Add the turmeric, cumin and ginger and stir for a few minutes.

2. Add the onions, sweet potatoes and carrots. Sauté for a few minutes. 

3. Add the coconut milk and 3½ cups broth. Bring to a boil and cook for about 30 minutes or until the potatoes and carrots are soft.  

4. Puree in a Vitamix until smooth.

5. Adjust the consistency with the reserved broth and season to taste with lime juice, salt and pepper.

6. Garnish with toasted sunflower seeds.

NOTE:

If you freeze the soup, be sure to whisk it as it is boiling to bring it back to its silky texture.    

Sweet Potato Soup

Makes 4 generous servings.

A soup for all seasons, this recipe can be served hot, cold or at room temperature. It freezes well. 

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 medium sweet potatoes, about 1 pound

• 1 medium Vidalia onion

• 3 ½ cups vegetable broth

• ¾ cup coconut milk

• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1 -2 tablespoons lemon juice

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

• Sunflower seeds toasted for garnish

PREPARATION:

1. Peel the potatoes and onion and cut into thick slices.

2. Place the potatoes, the onion, 3 cups of broth, coconut milk and nutmeg into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat, cover and cook until the potatoes are soft, about 25 minutes.

3.  Puree in a Vitamix until smooth. Adjust the consistency with the reserved broth and season to taste with lemon juice, salt and pepper. 

NOTE:

If you freeze the soup, be sure to whisk it as it is boiling to bring it back to its silky texture.   

Carrot Turmeric Soup

Makes 4-6 servings.

A soup for all seasons, it can be served hot, at room temperature or cold. It freezes very well to have on hand.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 tablespoons extra -virgin olive oil

• 1 onion, sliced

• 2 garlic cloves quartered

• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric

• 1 teaspoon ground cumin

• 4 medium carrots, peeled, sliced thinly

• 4 cups vegetable broth

• 2 tablespoons tahini

• 1-2 tablespoons lime juice

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

• Garnish, 2 tablespoons toasted cashews, coarsely chopped, or toasted sunflower seeds.

PREPARATION:

1. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan. Add the onion, garlic, turmeric and cumin. Sauté for a few minutes. Add the carrots, 3 ½ cups broth and tahini.

2. Bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat and cook covered for about 30 minutes, or until the carrots are tender.  

3. Puree in a Vitamix until smooth. Adjust the consistency with the reserved broth and season to taste with turmeric, cumin, tahini, lime juice, salt and pepper.

NOTE:

If you freeze the soup, be sure to whisk it as it is boiling to bring it back to its silky texture.

Barley Soup

Makes 6 servings. 

This soup is a variation on the traditional MUSHROOM BARLEY SOUP, which is generally made with chicken stock.

INGREDIENTS:

• ½ an ounce dried porcini mushrooms

• ¾ boiling water

• 2 garlic cloves

• 2 leeks

• 2 medium carrots

• ¾ pound shiitake mushrooms

• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

• ½ cup medium pearl barley

• 4 cups vegetable broth

• 1 bunch fresh dill, leave some for garnish

• Kosher salt,

• Freshly ground black pepper

PREPARATION:

1. Place the porcini mushrooms in a small bowl and pour boiling water over them. Cover and let stand for 15 minutes. Strain the mushroom liquid through a fine mesh sieve and squeeze the mushrooms over the sieve to extract more liquid (if you do not have a mesh sieve, line a colander with paper towel). Set liquid aside. Wash soaked mushrooms carefully to remove any sand, only if needed. Chop the mushrooms coarsely. 

2. Peel the garlic and chop coarsely.

3. Cut off and discard dangling roots and tough green leaves of the leeks. Cut the white part and the light green part of the leeks into medium to small cubes. Place in a sieve and rinse thoroughly under cold running water to remove the sand.  

4. Peel the carrots and cut into medium to small cubes.  Discard the shiitake stems, wipe the mushrooms with a damp paper towel and quarter them.  

5. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan, and add the garlic, leeks and carrots.. Sauté for a few minutes Add the porcini and shiitake mushrooms and stir for a minute. Add the barley, porcini liquid, vegetable broth and dill.

6. Bring to a boil over high heat, lower the heat and cook, covered, for about 40 minutes. The barley should be tender. Discard the dill.

7.  Season to taste with salt and pepper and garnish with snipped dill

Broccoli Cannellini Soup

Makes 6 generous servings. 

Thick, creamy, hearty and nutritious, this soup freezes very well.  

INGREDIENTS:

• I bunch broccoli, about 1½ pounds

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 onion, coarsely chopped

• 3 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

• One 15.5 can cannellini beans, drained

• 6- cups vegetable broth

• 2 tablespoons lime juice

• Kosher salt,

• Freshly ground black pepper

• Chives for garnish, snipped with scissors

PREPARATION:

1. Cut the broccoli into medium florets. Trim the stems, peel, and also cut into pieces; rinse all.   

2. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan, add onion and garlic and sauté for a few minutes.  Add the broccoli, the beans and 6 cups of broth.  Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and cook covered for about 20 minutes or until the broccoli is soft. 

3. Puree in a Vitamix and season to taste with lime juice, salt and pepper. 

4. Serve garnished with chives.  

Cremini Mushroom Soup

Makes 4-6 servings. 

Mushrooms are one of my favorite fall/winter vegetables. This soup has a creamy consistency and a distinct mushroom flavor.

INGREDIENTS:

• ½ an ounce dried porcini mushrooms

• ¾ cup boiling water

• 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 onion, coarsely chopped

• 2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

• 1 pound cremini mushrooms

• 3 cups vegetable broth

• 1½ cups unsweetened soy milk

• Small bunch dill, leave some for garnish

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

PREPARATION:

Place the porcini mushrooms in a small bowl and pour boiling water over them. Cover and let stand for 15 minutes.

1. Strain the mushroom liquid through a fine mesh sieve and squeeze the mushrooms over the sieve to extract more liquid (if you do not have a mesh sieve, line a colander with a paper towel). Set liquid aside. Wash soaked mushrooms carefully to remove any sand, only if needed.  Set aside.   

2. Wipe the cremini mushrooms with a damp paper towel and quarter (it is not necessary to trim the stems).

3. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium saucepan and sauté the onion and garlic for a few minutes. Add the remaining oil, the reconstituted porcini mushrooms and the cremini mushrooms. Sauté over high heat, stirring until the mushrooms are almost wilted.

4. Add the mushroom liquid, 2½ cups broth, soy milk and dill.  Bring to a boil over high heat, lower the heat and cook covered for 20 minutes.  

5. Remove the dill and puree everything in a Vitamix until smooth. Adjust the consistency with the reserved ½ cup broth.

6. Season to taste with lemon juice, salt and pepper. 

7. Garnish with dill snipped with scissors.

NOTE:

Unfortunately, unlike most of my soups, I do not recommend freezing this one. The soy milk tends to separate and the soup loses its creamy consistency.      

Red Split Lentil Soup

Makes 4 -6 servings. 

This is a hearty, thick, and nutritious winter soup, which also freezes very well.

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 onion, finely chopped (See Note)

• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

• 1 teaspoon turmeric

• 2 carrots, coarsely chopped

• 1 potato, coarsely chopped

• 2 cups red split lentils

• 6 cup vegetable broth

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

PREPARATION:

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan and sauté the onion and garlic for a minute.

2. Add the turmeric and the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and cook, covered, for about 40 minutes, until the lentils are soft. It is important to stir the soup from time to time.

NOTE:

I chop the vegetables in a food processor fitted with the steel blade.

The garlic and onion I chop together, carrots and potato separately. Be sure to quarter the vegetables first.

White Vegetable Soup

Makes 4 -very generous servings . 

This is a non-pureed, thick vegetable soup of only white vegetables. The addition of grainy mustard and lemon juice gives the soup a nice bite. It’s especially delicious with a crusty bread as the cold season approaches.

INGREDEINTS:

• 3 leeks

• 4 cloves garlic

• 1 parsnip

• 1 small celery root, about 1 pound

• 1 small cauliflower

• 4 tablespoons extra -virgin olive oil

• 4 cups vegetable broth

• 1 ½ tablespoon grainy mustard

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• Leaves from 6 thyme sprigs

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

PREPARATION:

1. Cut off and discard dangling roots and tough dark green leaves of the leeks. Cut the white and some of the green parts into thin slices. Place in a sieve and rinse thoroughly under cold running water to remove the sand.

2. Chop garlic coarsely

3. Peel the parsnip and cut into small cubes

4. Peel the celery root, remove the dark embedded spots and cut into small cubes. Cut the cauliflower into small florets. 

5. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan and sauté all the vegetables, stirring, for a few minutes. Add the broth and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat, cover, and boil gently for 30 minutes until the vegetables are soft. 

6. Add the mustard, lemon juice, thyme, salt and pepper and season to taste.

Green Soup

Makes 6 servings.

Full of vitamins, minerals and proteins, this soup freezes well and is delicious hot, cold or at room temperature.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 medium broccoli, about 1 pound

• 3 ½ to 4 cups vegetable broth

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

• ½ pound baby spinach

• One 13 ounce package frozen sweet peas, thawed

• ½ cup loosely packed mint

• 3-4 tablespoons lemon juice

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

PREPARATION:

1. Cut the broccoli into small pieces, peel the stem and cut the stem as well.

2. In a large saucepan, bring 3 ½ cups of broth to a boil, add the oil, the broccoli, spinach, peas, and mint. Bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat and cook, covered, until the broccoli is soft, about 20 minutes.

3. Puree in a Vitamix until smooth. Adjust the consistency with the extra broth.

4. Season to taste with lemon juice, salt and pepper.

Vegetable Barley Soup

Makes 8 servings.

This thick winter soup warms the heart. The barley, napa cabbage and miso give it a distinct flavor.   

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 leeks

• 4 garlic cloves

• 2 carrots

• 8 shiitake mushrooms

• Napa cabbage, about 1½ pounds  

• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

• ½ cup medium pearl barley

• 7 cups vegetable broth

• 2 tablespoons white miso paste

• 1 cup tightly packed flat leaf parsley, coarsely chopped  

• 10 ounces shelled frozen edamame, thawed

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

PREPARATION:

1. Cut off and discard the roots and tough green leaves of the leeks. Cut the white part and light green part into thin slices. Place in a sieve and rinse thoroughly under cold running water to remove all the sand.

2. Peel and chop garlic coarsely. Peel the carrots and slice thinly. Wipe mushroom caps, discard the stems and slice thinly.

3. Discard outer Napa cabbage leaves and cut the rest thinly.    

4. Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Add the leeks and garlic and sauté for a few minutes. Add the carrots, mushrooms and cabbage and sauté for a few minutes more. Add the barley, broth and miso.

5. Bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat, cover and cook for 30 minutes. Add the parsley and edamame and continue cooking for another 10 minutes.  

6. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Lentil Soup

Makes 6 servings.

This soup is protein rich, thick, and delicious winter fare. It also freezes very well.  

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 onion, coarsely chopped

• 4 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped

• 2 carrots, coarsely chopped 

• 2 parsnip, coarsely chopped

• 1 cup French green lentils

• One 14 ounce can of Pomi chopped tomatoes

• ½ teaspoon paprika

• 5-6 cups vegetable broth

• 5 sprigs tarragon plus extra for garnish

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

PREPARATION:

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan.

2. Add the onion and garlic and sauté over low heat for about 4 minutes.

3. Add the carrots and parsnip and stir for a few minutes.

4. Add the lentils, tomatoes, paprika, and 5 cups of broth. Bring to a boil over high heat, then lower the heat, cover and cook for 30 minutes; the lentils should be soft.

5. Remove the tarragon sprigs, adjust the consistency with the reserved 1 cup of broth and season to taste with salt and pepper.    

NOTE:

Except for the onion and garlic, I quarter all the vegetables and chop them individually, in a food processor fitted with the steel blade.  

Mushroom Chestnut Soup

Makes 6 servings. 

This thick, creamy soup has a distinct flavor of mushrooms. It is perfect for the fall/winter season.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 ounce dried imported porcini mushrooms

• 1 cup boiling water

• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 onion, coarsely chopped

• 2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

• 1 pound white cultivated mushrooms

• 3½ ounces vacuum packed roasted chestnuts (See Note)

• 4½ cups vegetable broth

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice, approx

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

• Dill or chives, snipped with scissors for garnish

• Truffle oil for garnish

PREPARATION:

1. Place the dried mushrooms in a small bowl and pour boiling water over them. Cover and let stand for 30 minutes. Strain the soaking liquid through a fine sieve, squeezing mushrooms over the sieve to extract more liquid (if you do not have a fine mesh sieve, line your sieve with paper towel).  

2. Wash the mushrooms carefully to remove any sand and set aside.  

3. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan, add the onion and garlic and sauté for a few minutes. 

4. Wipe the white mushrooms with a damp paper towel, slice in half and add to the onion/garlic  

5. along with the porcini mushrooms and chestnuts. Sauté for a few minutes. Add the mushroom liquid and 4 cups of the vegetable broth.

6. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes.  

7. Puree in a Vitamix in 2 batches until very smooth. 

8. Adjust the consistency with the reserved broth and season with lemon juice, salt and pepper. 

9. Garnish with dill, or chives and truffle oil.

NOTE:

I use Galil brand chestnuts. They come vacuum packed in 3½ ounce packages. 

Creamy Roasted Tomato Soup

Makes 4-6 servings. 

If you enjoy the pure taste of tomatoes you may want to try this recipe, which I make at the height of the tomato season. In this soup I do not add any liquid and the quantity that is produced will depend on the juiciness of the tomatoes.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 head garlic

• 2 pounds ripe plum tomatoes

• 2 pounds ripe regular tomatoes

• 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 6 sprigs thyme, plus some petals for garnish

• ½ teaspoon sugar

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

PREPARATION:

1. Preheat the oven to 400F. 

2. Peel the garlic. Rinse, core and cut all the tomatoes into large pieces. Place garlic, tomatoes and thyme in a large pan, about 9x13x2. Drizzle with oil. Season with salt and pepper. 

3. Roast for 1 hour. The tomatoes will be very soft. 

4. Puree until smooth in a Vitamix.

5. Season with sugar, salt and pepper.

6. Serve garnished with thyme.

Creamy Gazpacho

Makes 4 servings. 

This delicious, easy to make creamy gazpacho is best made with local farm tomatoes, which unfortunately, are usually not available until the end of July through early October. This soup is really a faux gazpacho because I cook the soup for a short time, then I puree it and serve it chilled with condiments. It can also be frozen, but be sure to whisk it well to bring back its creamy consistency.

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 onion, coarsely chopped

• 3 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

• 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, cut into pieces

• 1½ pounds ripe tomatoes

• 1½ cups tomato juice

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground pepper

• Kirby cucumber, diced (See Note)

• Bell pepper, seeded, diced

• Snipped chives with scissors

PREPARATION:

Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for a few minutes.

Add the sun-dried tomatoes.

Rinse the tomatoes, remove the core, cut into small pieces and add to the saucepan along with the tomato juice. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce the heat and cook, covered, 15 minutes. The tomatoes will be soft.  

Puree in a Vitamix until silky and smooth.  Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper.

Chill and garnish with the cucumber, bell pepper and chives.

NOTE:

I prefer to use Kirby, Persian or English cucumbers because they have fewer seeds and are less watery.  

Cauliflower Soup with Coconut Milk

Makes 6 servings. 

This soup is good for all seasons. It’s creamy, light and delicious, with a distinct flavor of turmeric and coconut milk.  Depending on the season, I serve it hot, room temperature or even cold.  

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 Vidalia onion, coarsely chopped

• 3 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped

• 1 large cauliflower, about 2 ½ pounds

• 2 ¾ cups vegetable broth

• 1 cup coconut milk

• 1 teaspoon turmeric

• 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

• 1 tablespoon, lime juice, approx.

• Toasted sesame seeds for garnish.

PREPARATION:

1. Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Add the onion and garlic. Sauté over low heat for a few minutes.  

2. Cut off the green leaves of the cauliflower and the heavy stem. Discard both. Cut the head into small pieces and rinse.

3. Add to the onion and sauté for a minute.

4. Add 2 ½ cups of the broth, coconut milk, turmeric and crushed red pepper. Bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat and cook, covered, for about 25 minutes. The cauliflower will be soft.  

5. Puree in two batches in a Vitamix until smooth.

6. Adjust the consistency with the reserved broth and season to taste with salt, pepper, crushed red pepper and lime juice.

Winter Vegetable Soup

Makes 6-8 servings. 

Nourishing, hearty, with a rich flavor of vegetables, tomatoes and basil, this soup freezes very well and is convenient to have on hand for unexpected guests.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 onion

• 4 garlic cloves

• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 2 parsnips

• 2 carrots

• 1 zucchini

• 6 cultivated mushrooms

• 1 small cauliflower

• 1 ½ cups chopped tomatoes, Pomi brand (See Note)

• 3-4 cups vegetable broth

• One 15.5 can butter beans, drained (See Note)

• 2 cups tightly packed basil leaves, torn to small pieces

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground black pepper  

PREPARATION:

1. Peel and cut the onion and garlic into large pieces. Chop coarsely in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. 

2. In a large saucepan heat the oil and sauté the onion/garlic for a few minutes.  

3. Peel and cut the parsnips and carrots into large pieces. Chop coarsely and add to the saucepan. 

4. Wipe the zucchini, trim the ends, cut into large pieces. Chop coarsely and add to the saucepan. 

5. Wipe the mushrooms with a damp towel, quarter, chop coarsely and add to the saucepan. 

6. Separate the cauliflower into small florets and also add to the saucepan.  

7. Sauté all for a few minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes, vegetable broth, butter beans and basil. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and cook covered for about 30 minutes or until all the vegetables are soft.

NOTE:

I chop all the vegetables SEPERATELY in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. It is important to cut the vegetables into large pieces before chopping.   

I use Pomi brand chopped tomatoes. They come in cartons. Leftover tomatoes can be frozen. 

I use Goya brand beans.  

Leek and Lettuce Soup

Make 4 – 6 servings. 

Potatoes, leeks and lettuce make for a creamy, delicious winter soup.

INGREDIENTS:

• 4 medium leeks

• 3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped

• 3 tablespoons extra -virgin olive oil

• 1 pound Golden Yukon potatoes

• 1 medium head Boston lettuce

• 3 cups chicken broth

• ½ teaspoon curry powder, approx.

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

• Garnish with snipped chives

PREPARATION:

1. Cut off and discard the dangling roots and most of the green parts of the leeks. Discard one or two tough outer leaves. Cut the white and light green parts into slices. Place in a sieve and rinse thoroughly under cold running water to remove any sand. Drain.  

2. Peel the potatoes and cut into small pieces. 

3. Separate lettuce leaves, wash and spin dry.  

4. Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Add the leeks and garlic and sauté for a few minutes. Add the potatoes, lettuce, curry powder and 2 ½ cups of broth.

5. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and cook, covered, for about 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are soft.  

6. Puree in a Vitamix until smooth and creamy. 

7. Adjust the consistency with the ½ cup reserved broth. Season to taste with curry powder, salt and pepper. 

Broccoli Soup

Makes 4 servings. 

This soup is pure simplicity and delicious. It should be part of your repertoire of soups to make throughout the year.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 bunch broccoli, 2 stalks, about 1 ½ pounds

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped

• 3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped

• 3 cups chicken broth 

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

• Chives for garnish, snipped with scissors

PREPARATION:

1. Cut the broccoli into small pieces, peel the stems and cut into small pieces. Rinse.  

2. In a medium saucepan heat the oil. Add the onion and garlic and sauté over low heat until soft, a few minutes.

3. Add the broccoli and 2 ½ cups of broth. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, cover and cook until the broccoli is soft, about 20 minutes. 

4. Puree in a Vitamix adding the reserved ½ cup of broth, as needed.  Season to taste with lemon juice, salt and pepper.

5. Serve garnished with snipped chives.

Savoy Cabbage Soup

Makes 6 generous servings. 

Freezer friendly, thick, nutritious and great on a cold, winter day, this soup can be a meal in itself if cooked with meat. I chop all the vegetables in a food processor to save a lot of time.

INGREDIENTS:

• ¾ ounce dried porcini mushrooms

• 1 cup boiling water

• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 2 onions, quartered

• 4 cloves garlic, quartered

• 2 carrots, cut into large pieces

• 1 small Savoy cabbage, about 11/2 pounds or regular cabbage.

• 6 cultivated mushrooms

• 14.5 ounce can crushed tomatoes

• 4 cups vegetable broth

• Small bunch dill, tied with a string, leave some for garnish

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

PREPARATION:

1. Place the dried mushrooms in a small bowl, pour boiling water over the mushrooms, cover and let stand for about 20 minutes. Strain soaking liquid through a sieve lined with a paper towel, squeezing mushroom over the sieve to extract more liquid. Set liquid aside. Wash soaked mushrooms carefully to remove any sand, pat dry with paper towels and chop coarsely. 

2. Chop the onions and the garlic coarsely in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Do the same with the carrots. Discard the outer leaves of the cabbage, quarter, core and chop coarsely.   

3. Wipe the cultivated mushrooms with a damp paper towel, quarter and chop coarsely.

4. IT IS BEST TO CHOP EACH VEGETABLE SEPARATELY.    

5. In a large saucepan heat the oil, add the onions, garlic and carrots and sauté for about 5 minutes. Add the cabbage, both mushrooms, mushroom liquid, tomatoes, vegetable broth and dill.   

6. Bring to a boil over high heat, lower the heat then cook gently, half covered for about 30 minutes. The Savoy cabbage will be a little crunchy.   

7. Season to taste with salt, pepper. 

8. Garnish with dill snipped with scissors.

Tomato Soup

Makes 2 servings. 

This is a soup without the addition of any liquid. The taste and the consistency is totally dependent on the quality of the tomatoes.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pound ripe tomatoes

• 2 garlic cloves, quartered

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 5 thyme sprigs, plus leaves from 2 sprigs for garnish

• Kosher salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

• 1 teaspoon sugar

PREPARATION:

1. Rinse, core and slice the tomatoes. Place them in a saucepan along with the garlic, olive oil and thyme.

2. Bring to a gentle boil, cover and cook over low heat until the tomatoes are very soft, about 15 minutes. Stir occasionally.  

3. Discard the thyme and puree in a Vitamix until very smooth.

4. Season with salt, pepper and sugar. Garnish with thyme.