Soup Days....

Soup days are here.  I could almost do a post a day about soup.  In the past it has been suggested that I open a soup-cafe...that serves nothing but soup--all day every day--only soup....okay, and maybe coffee...oh and chocolate.  That would cover the three most important food groups, non?

It's the last day of Christmas vacation.  Les enfants head reluctantly gleefully back to school tomorrow.  With our clean-slate for the new year, French Guy and I plan to organize, simplify, prioritize and schedule our entire family life for 2012....in one day--tomorrow.  Yep.

In the meantime, I am (as best I can on one foot--Christmas Eve injury---don't ask.) back in the kitchen with new inspiration--Winter comfort food--and the top of the list of never-fail best comfort food ever--is soup.  I don't have one favorite kind--not even one category I lean towards--I love variety--vegetarian soups, creamy soups, meat soups, seafood soups, spicy, broths, chowders, bisques, gumbos.....

The 'soup de jour' is Curry Cauliflower--thanks to the mammoth size chou-fleur mon mari brought home from the market...which could have fed a family of ten, with leftover.  So today the remainder became soup---with the stock I made from a chicken this past weekend.  Note about broth/stock when in France--you have to make it.  No Pacific-Brand, Swansons, or Imagine Brand boxed yummy broth--the choice here is little foil wrapped cubes or make it yourself.... so there.  Which sometimes makes soup creating a tiny bit less spontaneous. 

Oh, also in the picture is an attempt at a seedy, whole grain gluten-free bread--I am still working on it...will post recipe once it is perfected.

Here's the recipe for the soup:

1 large cauliflower (pre-steamed to be tender)
2 white potatoes (steamed and diced)
2 shallots diced
1 clove minced garlic
4 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
1/2 tbs. tumeric
2 tbs. sweet curry
1 tsp. hot curry (more or less to taste)
1 tsp. cumin
salt and pepper
1 cup full fat coconut milk

In a large pot in 2 tbs. olive oil, cook onions and garlic until soft--add spices and stir for one to two minutes.  Add broth, then cauliflower and potato and cook until completely soft.  Using a stick blender--puree until smooth.  As a finally step add coconut milk and salt and pepper to taste.  A big spoon of sour cream or creme-fraiche is lovely on the top if you can do dairy.

Lovely.  Happy 2nd day of 2012.  Bon Appetit!