Our cool Thanksgiving starts with chilled Sweet Potato Vichyssoise

The unexpected coldness of this soup adds an elegant surprise to our Thanksgiving dinner first course.

SINCE FOREVER, MARION HAS MADE THIS ELEGANT CHILLED SOUP as the first course of our Thanksgiving dinner. It is light and creamy, and relies on homemade chicken stock as its base. This being the day before Thanksgiving, whether you’re hosting or guesting, the menu is probably already set and undoubtedly rich with its own traditions. But we just wanted to share one of our traditions with you. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. You’ll find recipes for the vichyssoise and the homemade stock here.

Beef stew from the South of France: Daube Provençal

White wine, orange zest, cloves and olives make Daube Provençal a brighter South-of-France take on Boeuf Bourgignon. Recipe below.

SAY TRADITIONAL FRENCH BEEF STEW and what usually springs to mind is Boeuf Bourgignon, the classic hearty, meaty stew of the Burgundy region, made with mushrooms, bacon, pearl onions, carrots and a big-bodied red wine, usually Burgundy. But the South of France has its own traditional stew, Daube Provençal, with a distinctively brighter flavor. Continue reading “Beef stew from the South of France: Daube Provençal” →

Healthy, autumnal, delicious: Cauliflower Potato Soup

Cauliflower (roasted or not), potatoes, miso paste and aromatics create a healthy, satisfying vegetarian soup. Recipe below.

OTHER PEOPLE IMPULSE-BUY SHOES, OR JEWELRY, OR CANDY. Me? Well, just before our Upper Peninsula trip, I bought: a cauliflower. Which I forgot about until a couple of days ago when Terry reminded me of its existence. There it was, that forgotten impulse purchase, lurking in the produce bin, amazingly still white and fresh. Continue reading “Healthy, autumnal, delicious: Cauliflower Potato Soup” →

Black-Eyed Peas with Coconut Milk and Berbere

A mix of African and global ingredients bring big flavor to this creamy, spicy, hearty stew. Recipe below.

WE CAN’T STOP THINKING ABOUT THIS STEW. Thick and creamy and spicy, it is an absolutely satisfying meal in a bowl, filled with a mix of big flavors that all blend into a delicious ensemble dish, with nothing grabbing the spotlight. As we ate it the other night, we kept saying “this is so good” over and over. Continue reading “Black-Eyed Peas with Coconut Milk and Berbere” →

Slow Cooker Green Chile Chicken Soup

Canned green chiles, cumin, oregano and aromatics make for a chicken soup that will warm up even the coldest night. Recipe below.

OFFICIAL AUTUMN IS JUST DAYS AWAY, and weather in Chicago has already been hinting at the crisp, cool days and nights to come. Perfect weather for warm, comforting soups. The canned green chiles in this soup dial up the warmth, adding spiciness and lively flavor. Continue reading “Slow Cooker Green Chile Chicken Soup” →

Many inspirations, one delicious bowl—Asian Fish Soup

A mix of Asian cuisines and ingredients creates a flavorful, spicy, satisfying soup. Recipe below.

OUR RECENT WISCONSIN ROAD TRIP ended with a quick swing through Madison, where Laurel and Raffy took us to the amazing, delightful Ahan for lunch. Our takeaway? WOW! Continue reading “Many inspirations, one delicious bowl—Asian Fish Soup” →

Weeknight-quick Lemony Shrimp and Bean Stew

Shrimp, white beans, lemon, paprika and a mix of aromatics create a hearty, big-flavored stew that is weeknight quick. Recipe below.

EVERY TIME WE HAVE SHRIMP, WE WISH WE MADE IT MORE OFTEN. Shrimp is deliciously versatile, quick and easy to cook, low in calories and high in protein. Having tried it once, this weeknight-quick stew is something we’re definitely going to make more often. Continue reading “Weeknight-quick Lemony Shrimp and Bean Stew” →

Cullen Skink, a traditional Scottish smoked fish soup—creamy, buttery, hearty

Butter, whole milk, potatoes and leeks add richness and stewlike heartiness to this Scottish favorite. Recipe below.

SCOTLAND KNOWS ITS WAY AROUND COLD WEATHER, pretty much year ’round. I’ve written here about a wintry summer visit there years ago with my brother. So it’s easy to understand how the fishing village of Cullen, on Scotland’s windswept northeast coast, would create such a hearty, warming, almost stewlike soup. And how Cullen skink has become something of a national treasure. Continue reading “Cullen Skink, a traditional Scottish smoked fish soup—creamy, buttery, hearty” →

Jocón de Pollo: Guatemalan Chicken and Tomatillo Stew

A lively, comforting traditional Guatemalan stew with Mayan roots. Recipe below.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING. When Marion recently came across a mention of jocón, a Guatemalan chicken and tomatillo stew, the yo-yo that is winter weather this year had just taken another chilly dive. We were ready for something warm, stew-y and comforting. Something just like this. Continue reading “Jocón de Pollo: Guatemalan Chicken and Tomatillo Stew” →

A comforting, rustic soup born in the South West of France: Garbure

Hearty, meaty and stuffed with vegetables, including white beans and cabbage, garbure is a soul-satisfying French tradition. Recipe below.

WINTER WEATHER BRINGS OUT THE SOUP LOVER IN EVERYONE. And for us, that means a world of soups to explore. Marion recently discovered garbure, a hearty traditional favorite in the South West region of France—think Toulouse, Bordeaux, Gascony, the Pyrénées along France’s border with Spain. It generally features white beans and savoy cabbage, but it’s not a bean soup or cabbage soup. Continue reading “A comforting, rustic soup born in the South West of France: Garbure” →