Two Soups, One a Celebration of Summer, The Other of Fall


This time of year I start getting restless. There are only a few more weeks until we head back home. For some reason the process never gets easier, there is so much to do to prepare for the trip back. This is when I begin earnestly cleaning out the freezer and pantry drawers. Many strange meals will be eaten. The garden will be winterized, the outside furniture brought in and the gutters cleaned. Our trip back will include a few days in Northern CA. We plan to spend time in the Mendocino area with a stop by glass beach and bowling ball beach and hike the trails.

Here are two soup recipes, one I made last week with late summer corn and the other yesterday with the season’s first butternut squash; both veggies from the farmers market. One a celebration of summer; the other of fall. In the corn chowder cumin and turmeric was added to give the soup a nice flavor twist. And with the butternut black bean soup, cumin and red pepper flakes were added for a spicy finish.

Corn Chowder


Slightly adapted from 50 chowders by Jasper White.

Ingredients:

3 medium ears corn (husk, and cut kernels from cobs)
3 slices bacon (cut into 1/3 dice)
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium olive (diced)
2 stalks celery (diced)
2 sprigs fresh thyme, (leaves removed and chopped)
1/2 ground cumin
1/8 turmeric
3 medium Yukon potatoes (cut into ½ dice)
3 cups chicken broth
½ cup heavy cream
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon fresh chives (for garnish)

To prepare:

Heat a soup pot over medium low heat; add bacon. Cook until bacon is crisp. Pour off all but one tablespoon of fat, keep bacon in pot. Add butter, olive oil, onions and celery; stirring occasionally cook about 5 minutes then add cumin and turmeric stirring more often for another 3 to 4 minutes. Add potatoes and stock and cook until potatoes are cooked through about 15 minutes. Turn off heat and add corn, cover and let sit about 10 minutes. Remove completely from heat. Stir in the cream, salt and pepper to taste.

To serve: dish into bowls and garnish with chives.

*Some mix cornstarch and water and stir in before cream is added to thicken, I prefer more of a soupy soup, not as thick.

Butternut and black Bean Soup


Ingredients:

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion (diced)
2 cloves garlic (chopped)
½ bunch chard (de-stemmed and cut into ribbons)
1 small butternut squash (about 2 cups)
1 15-ounce can organic black beans
½ teaspoon cumin
4 cups vegetable broth
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon of cilantro for garnish

To prepare:

In a soup pot on medium heat add olive oil and onion, stirring occasionally about 8 to 10 minutes until golden brown, add garlic stirring constantly for about a minute. Add chard, squash, black beans and cumin stirring another minute or so add red pepper flakes and broth.  Cover and simmer 20 to 25 minutes, remove lid, salt and pepper to taste.

To serve: dish into bowls and garnish with cilantro


Comments

  1. I need these hot soup.suffering from severe throat pain. ..looking so delicious

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  2. Hi Cheri,
    Well, I could imagine that the weather to make people restless ...
    These 2 bowls of soups look so tasty ... but think I like that Corn Chowder more ... hee ... hee. Thanks for sharing and will sure to try it out.

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  3. Cheri, both your soups look like comfort-food - utterly delicious and just perfect for this time of year! The Corn chowder as well as the Butternut and black bean soup with all the lovely veggies and spices would most certainly get my attention!
    Lovely post and great recipes, dear friend!
    Andrea

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    1. Thanks Andrea, soup is such great comfort food, great ways to end and begin seasons.

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  4. Both soups look very delicious and comforting, Cheri.

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  5. I think that has to be my favourite thing about this time of year, all the delicious soups.

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  6. Soups are such a great way to clean out the fridge and pantry! these both sound delicious.

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  7. i love both of these soups! i like how you're ushering out summer and welcoming fall in the same way. :)

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  8. i'd not like the relocation part either. :)

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  9. Cheri:

    Wow so much to do before you go home and you have the time to both make and post about 2 recipes. Well done. They both look delicious. Thank you so much.

    As promised, I posted a link to your corn chowder (and squash) recipe on my recent soup post. Readers can find them here: http://dena-testa.squarespace.com/blog/2015/8/31/corn-chowder .

    Enjoy the getting ready and have a safe trip home.

    D

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Dena, sometimes the emotional part is harder going back and forth if that makes any sense.

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  10. Both soups are perfect. I'm pinning both to use 'em when the cold arrives!

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  11. The corn soup looks really good. I hope the move back home goes well. That pumpkin soup with the black beans looks very tasty with lots of wonderful flavours. It's almost getting too warm for soup here; our seasons are really changing for the better (not a fan of winter) xx

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    1. Hi Charlie, we are just coming into fall, one of my favorite seasons. Take care!

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  12. A summer soup and a fall soup! You always make it sound so magical where you live. Not sure i would want to leave.

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    1. Hi Abbe, I really don't want to leave, I love it here, but the family is back in Phoenix and Tucson.

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  13. Yum!
    How absolutely delicious!
    Thanks for sharing
    Julie
    Gourmet Getaways

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  14. Soup is such wonderful comfort food. Every time I make and eat it, I think I should do it more often. It must be hard transitioning back...hope it's as smooth a process as possible.

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    1. Hi Monica, some years are harder than ever, not sure why. Anyway I agree soups are great comfort food.

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  15. That has to be so hard to pack up and go home - best of luck!! These soups both look super delicious and comforting!

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  16. I'm so excited to be just about back in soup weather. It's still hot here in NC but I've already made two! Yours both look yummy. Hope your trip goes well Cheri!

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    1. Thanks Chris, everything always works out fine, it's just me.

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  17. Oh, Cheri, your summer sounds so wonderful! Change is always hard, but your few days in CA sound like they will make for great transitioning days. I love that you've made these soups for two seasons. I always love your recipes, but especially enjoy tasty and wholesome soups. All the best for the next few weeks. I know there's some hard work ahead, but enjoy as well!

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    1. Hi Helen, I know it's pretty sad but I talk my husband into a side trip on the way back to kind of soften the blow because of the hot Phoenix weather. Take care!

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  18. Both soups sound very good, Cheri! I love the bacon and spices in the corn chowder. I have yet to cook with tumeric, but would like to try it soon so I know what it tastes like. I hope you enjoy your last couple weeks in Oregon. It has not been as hot here this week, and the monsoons are still hanging on which is nice.

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    1. Hi Shari, I heard the monsoons were spectacular this year........love tumeric, I bet you would like it.

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  19. Oh, Cheri, your timing is perfect! The weather just dropped from 7 days in the 90's to a rainy 70 degrees today. Soup weather has arrived---and both of yours look fabulous.

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    1. Thanks Liz, this is such a wonderful time of the year.

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  20. One season ends and another begins. Personally I love this time of year where squash and pumpkins rule.

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    1. I do too Val, but I don't think I can name a special season as they all have there strong points. Change is nice!

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  21. Safe travels if I don't wish you later. Love the corner chowder :)

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    1. Thanks Tandy, you too. I bet Scotland is wonderful this time of year.

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  22. I love homemade soups, especially in the fall–these both sound so good!

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  23. Hi Cheri - I can relate to the weird meals that happen when you are cleaning the fridge after a long time in a vacation place! But some of them are really fun. Love your soups - soup is a favorite meal of mine!

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  24. Never though to combine butternut and black beans - sounds great! Love the corn chowder too. You are so lucky to have that lovely place to hang your hat for the summer. Sounds pretty wonderful to me! Safe and happy travels

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  25. Don't think I'd want to leave your wooded wonderland either, Cheri. Although my niece and great-nephew love the glass beach! Delightful soups to celebrate Indian summer and the approaching autumn =)

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