Cream of Mushroom Soup

Tonight is soup night. When the weather turns chilly and the leaves start drifting down quietly from the trees...when the wind blows a little colder, the sun sets a little earlier, the light is more golden, the acrid smell of burning wood melds with the sweet smell of damp leaves... it's fall. And fall means Thursday soup nights, my son's favorites.

This was actually, despite my deep love of mushrooms, my first attempt at cream of mushroom soup. No resource altered or guidance used. This is 100% me.

Ok, I know, the picture is terrible. My camera's battery decided to die right as I was being a genius, and ye old smart phone has only 8 megapixels. My bad. 

This is in no way, shape, or form fat free. It is lower in fat that the crap in the can and much yummier. 

Start with a bunch of different kinds of mushrooms. I used something like close to 2 pounds. 

See, mushroom-a-holic. 

I used Oyster, button, crimini and shittake. These were what was available at the local produce market. It's not mushroom season till March, so I make do.

You will also need:

1/2 and 1/2

Chicken stock or Better than Bouillon

Onion

Celery

Carrot

Garlic

Bay Leaf

Rosemary

Salt and Pepper

Butter

White wine

Milk 

Cut the onions into tiny bits, shred the carrots, chop the celery, rough chop the garlic, rough chop the mushrooms. 

Melt 2 Tbs of butter into the bottom of your stock pot (10 qt) on medium-high heat. Saute onion and garlic until onion is translucent. Add carrot and celery and cook for a few minutes. Add mushrooms mix gently so butter coats them. Add 1/2 c white wine, 4 cups of chicken stock, and 2 c milk. Add 1/2t rosemary and  2 bay leaves, Reduce heat to medium and watch carefully so the milk doesn't separate. Add 1 quart of 1/2 and 1/2. Heat through. Salt as needed (I used a lot). Soup should fill the stock pot about 3/4. 

Serve warm with bread and butter or a salad. 

And that's it. Super easy. Moderately healthy. Deliciously yummy. 

Creamy Coleslaw

Among the summer yummies that we think of is, of course, coleslaw. Imagine KFC style coleslaw or better yet, your favorite BBQ place's slaw. Creamy and melt in your mouth good right? Well, if veggies could melt.

This one is it's match, let me tell you.

And so simple.

Sigh.

So simple.

I promise you will not be able to resist taste testing... multiple times. This ended up being my dinner before dinner. 

And then half the bowl is gone, and you remember you had the family to share with... oops.

Oh, well. Make some more.

So we start with a head of cabbage. One small whole head will feed a bunch of people. Medium for a family reunion. Large for a family reunion plus all the in-laws.

Shred the cabbage however you feel is easiest. I used my handy dandy Cuisinart food processor with the shredding plate for mine. Made it nice and fine, kinda like you'd get at a restaurant. A plain old hand held grater works too, or cut it by hand.

While your shredding, grab an apple, zucchini, 2 carrots, 1/4 onion sliced, and if you are feeling adventurous, some red cabbage or radicchio.

Now for the magic. The sauce.

Ready for it?

Ready?

Mayo, sugar, apple cider vinegar, and a pinch of salt.

Yes, that's it. 

Told you it was simple.

Actually the magic is in the apple and zucchini you put in the salad. A little sweet, a little soft, makes it all the yummier. 

Mix all your ingredients together.

That's it.

No seriously.

Chill it 'till your ready to serve... and to keep from eating the whole thing!