Monday, January 22, 2007

Super Soup

So, my TV died tonight after my parents and I watched "24." I was trying to rewind the tape for my roommate and the TV just shut off. Then every time we turned it back on, it turned off on its own after about 7 seconds. I am SO glad my parents are in town when this happened. My dad is going to take it to a repair shop for an estimate; I hope they can fix it soon because I like having the TV on when I study and to relax me at night. Anyway, this is a substitute tonight. Last week it was cold around here (highs in the 40's, for MS that's cold!). I decided to make a new soup recipe. I should have realized what the texture would be like when it was a Rachel Ray recipe. I mean, she has to cook these things in 30 minutes or less. Let me explain. In the South, we like our vegetables to be soft. now, I don't mean mush, but when you bite into them they don't crunch! They kind of melt. Anyway, I put the soup in my mouth and bit down and...CRUNCH! The veggies were no where near the bite I like them. SO, next time I make this soup, I will cook the veggies longer before I add the broth and sauce. This has a really good tomato flavor to it. It could probably use some herbs, just play around. I would make this again with the aforementioned changes.

Also, this is one of RR's "stoups." It really is pretty thick just because there is not much liquid. This isn't a problem, though. I actually used it as a potato topper Friday night. Pretty good. Because this is full of vegetables and tomatoes have so many antioxidants, this is my entry for Sweetnicks ARF day. Be sure to check her site out Tuesday night for more great recipes.
Tomato and Bean "Stoup"
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (I omitted as I didn't have any)
1 medium onion chopped
2 carrots (I used about 14 baby carrots) peeled and thinly sliced
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 small zucchini, sliced
2 cups vegetable or chicken stock
1 (15-ounce) can diced tomato
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (15-ounce) can small white beans or cannellini beans
1 (10 ounces) box, cut frozen green beans, (cooked to desired texture, this is how I would do it next time)
Salt and pepper
1 cup fresh basil, torn or shredded (OH, I forgot to do this!)
Grated Parmigiano or Romano

Put olive oil in a pot. Add garlic and crushed red pepper flakes, stir then stir in the onions, carrots, celery and zucchini. Cook 10 minutes (or until TENDER!), then add in the stock, paste, tomatoes and both kinds of beans. Bring soup up to a bubble and season with salt and pepper, to your taste. Simmer 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and wilt the basil into the soup. Ladle up the soup and serve with grated cheese and bread.

12 comments:

gail@more than a song said...

At least the TV died AFTER 24! That would have been bad if it had happened during it.

I think I made a RR stoup one time similar to this but it might have been tomato only, and it mostly seemed like canned tomatoes heated up so this one seems MUCH better with added veggies...I wouldn't want them too mushy but yes I bet cooking longer would make it better and the flavors might blend more.

Anonymous said...

Good luck getting your TV fixed. It's good to have some background noise when you're studying.

That soup looks good but I agree that veggies in soup should be on the soft side.

Anonymous said...

I agree, thank goodness it died after 24. Maybe the TV can't take all of Jack's magnificent charisma? Or was it the fact that James Cromwell will play his father? I screamed when I saw that!

Ditto for the soft veggies. The soup looks good to me though.

Anonymous said...

I just love soup~ and this looks quick and easy.
You'd better get the tv fixed before next week...can't miss an episode or you're lost.

Stacy at Exceedingly Mundane said...

Ack, hope the TV is fixed soon. We wouldn't make it very long without a TV :) Glad you got 24 in, let me know if you want to come watch next week!!!

I have a couple of RR "stoup" recipes marked to try sometime, but haven't gotten to them yet. I'm totally with you on the crunchy veggies, don't like that. I don't want them cooked to mushy nothingness, but I don't want them crunchy either.

Good review on the recipe :)

Unknown said...

Gail - I know...it would have been tragedy. FUNNY THING - when I was little, I always was afraid of plastic bags, especially around my "baby" brother because you were warned not to have them around children...then Jack goes and puts one over his brother's head...my worst nightmare! ;-) This was definitely a good soup.

Alisha - Thanks! I hope it is fixed soon. Glad I'm not alone of the softer veggies.

Sher - I think it was the plastic bag. Doesn't Jack know that's deadly?!...I think that was his point. It was (and still is) good...I'll just cook the veggies longer next time.

Sandi - I think it'll be fixed by then. Even if not, I have another TV in the den.

Stacy - Thanks for the offer but I do have another TV! My brother likes his broccoli basically mushy but I don't join him. I'm a tender kind of girl!

Anonymous said...

Now, with that fixed TV you need to get TiVo... it's the best thing out there!

I'm with you on the soft/tender veggies. Crunchy cooked veggies? No thank you!

Rachel Rubin said...

that looks really good! i could go for a nice warm soup.

i to have been having tv problems. my tv works but the digital recorder i have from my cable company that is like a tivo is on the fritz and i lost all my recorded shows i haven't watched yet! AAHH.

Unknown said...

Kristen - My dad fixed the TV!!!! I would love to have TiVo, but I'm a poor medical student and don't think I should use my loans for TiVo. Maybe one day!

Rachel - Try the soup out sometime. I think I may eat some tonight.

gail@more than a song said...

Yeah, that plastic bag thing freaked me out too! But obviously, from the previews, it doesn't hurt him too bad!

Anonymous said...

:( Bummer on your TV...if ours went out I would be very sad!

Annie said...

That looks good but I know what you mean about crunchy veggies. I like mine cooked as you said-to melt in my mouth!