December 10, 2001

• Thank you for all the encouraging comments.  It sounds like we are all in need of some sleep - hmmm, maybe that's the topic of a future blog.

  
  

  Prize Winning Soup

  
  

  The Christmas Holiday is a wonderful time in our church calendar.  We don't just have a choir performance on Christmas Eve (at Midnight) but also craft auctions, a soup cook-off, children's plays, handbell choir performances . . . and our church takes the role of Salvation army bellringers every Saturday through the season.  Unfortunately, I was out of town and missed my opportunity to sign up for bell ringing , but I made it back in time for the really important event.

  
  

  Last night was the big soup cook-off.  Each pot of soup has a little gift bag next to it.  People vote for the soup they like best with money.  All the money raised goes to a scholarship fund to pay the way for needy children to go to summer camp, so there is a noble purpose behind this competition.

  
  

  Having said that, let me get to the good stuff.  My pastor Darrel, is known for coming up with odd combinations for his entry.  Yesterday morning in Bible Study, he made the brag that no one could come up with anything odder than his entry.  I couldn't let that one slide.  

  
  

  I have a recipe for a soup that is served in the premier Louisville restaurant, Lilly's.  Lilly's' chef  gets featured in magazine articles and on Discovery channel shows about cooking.  And the soup that made her famous?  Pumpkin, Pear, Jalapeno soup.  Oh, yes.  If ever there was a soup that begged to be classified "odd entry" this was it.

  
  

  The competition was hot and fierce.  The winning entry was "Kill a Chicken Chili" - it was tasty and deserved to win.  My littlest child "voted" for a cheesy potato soup that wound up as the second place winner.  And my oldest son "voted" for an Italian soup that SHOULD have placed in the finals considering the sheer amount of it that was consumed.  But, alas, it fell victim to the "voting" war between the odd versions.  Traditionally, you cast your dollar bills for the soup you think is best, and you cast your quarters for the soup that is "most different."  This year the "most different" element raised enough money to edge out all the rest of the competition. 

  
  

  Darrel's entry was a Curry Cheese soup.  Not bad.  Very tasty in fact.  But, not quite as odd as mine.  The Pumpkin/Pear/Jalapeno soup raised $14.25.   I now have bragging rights for the next year and a new hurdle to top in my quest for continuing excellence . . .

  
  

  Recipe for Lilly's Pumpkin Pear Jalapeno Soup

  
  

  In large saucepan, heat 2 Tablespoons of olive oil

  
  

  Saute' 1 large Bermuda oinion (chopped)

  
  

  1/4 t cumin powder

  
  

  3/4 t curry powder

  
  

  Add: 1 large can of pumpkin (Lilly's doesn't do it with canned, but hey there is a limit to my commitment to cook like a chef)

  
  

  6 cups of chicken stock

  
  

  1 t salt

  
  

  1/2 t pepper.  Simmer for 30 minutes.

  
  

   

  
  

  In a skillet, heat 2 T of butter

  
  

  Saute' 2 Anjou pears (sliced)

  
  

  1 T fresh jalapeno (diced) - I learned last night that if you use canned jalapenos left over from when you HAD to have nachos at midnight, only dice TWO little rings.  A Tablespoon is too much.

  
  

  Add: 1/2 c brown sugar

  
  

  3/4 cup half and half or whipping cream

  
  

   

  
  

  Remove from heat.  Put pears in food processor with a cup or so of the simmered pumpkin and puree.  Serve with a dollop of sour cream.

  
  

   

  
  

  For a slightly sweeter soup, you can substitute Sweet Potato for the Pumpkin.  Your guess is as good as mine how much to use, but I'm thinking two medium sweet potatoes would about do it.

  • 8:48 am
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