I made this last night for tonight’s Soup Swap.   The recipe came from the Winter 2009 issue of Cook’s Illustrated Soups & Stews.  I recommend buying this publication.

Garlic -Potato Soup

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 medium leek, white and light green parts halved lengthwiese, washed, and chopped small
• 3 medium garlic cloves, minced
• 2 whole heads garlic, rinsed, outer skin removed, and top 1/3 of heads removed
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 1/2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1 pound Red Bliss potatoes, unpeeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 1/2 teaspoons inched fresh thyme
• salt
• pepper

Garnish Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup minced fresh chives
• Garlic Chips (recipe follows)

Process:

1. Melt butter in Dutch oven over medium heat.  When foaming subsides, add leek and cook until soft (do notbrown), 5 to 8 minutes.  Stir in minces garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.  Add garlic heads, broth, bay leaves, and 3/4 teaspoon salt; partially cover pot and bring to simmer over medium-high heat.  Reduce heat and simmer until garlic is very tender when pierced with tip of knife, 30 to 40 minutes. Add potatoes and continue to simmer, partially covered, until potatoes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes
2. Discard bay leaves.  Remove garlic heads; using tongs or paper towels, squeeze garlic heads at root end until cloves slip out of their skins.  Using fork, mash garlic to smooth paste in bowl.
3. Stir cream, thyme, and half of mashed garlic into soup; heat soup until hot, about 2 minutes.  Taste soup; add remaining garlic paste if desired.  Using immersion blender, process soup until creamy, with some potato chunks remaining.  Adjust consistency with more broth if necessary.  Season with salt and pepper and serve, sprinkling each portion with chives and garlic chips.

Garlic Chips

Ingredients:

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 6 medium garlic cloves, sliced thin lengthwise
• salt

Process:

1. Heat oil and garlic in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Cook, turning frequently, until light golden brown, about 3 minutes.
3. Using slotted spoon, transfer garlic to plate lined with paper towels; discard oil.
4. Sprinkle lightly with salt

This is another great recipe that we recently tried from Alice Waters’ “The Art of Simple Food”.  Everything in it is wonderful. Buy it. Nightbird Books usually has it in stock.  — chris

Algerian in origin, this recipes makes a colorful, tasty hors d’oeuvre.  Serve it at room temperature with toasted croutons or pita bread and marinated olives. Warm, it makes a great side dish with baked fish and Chermoula.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch thick slices
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 onion, diced fine
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp ground caraway
• 1 to 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
• Salt
• Chopped cilantro

Steps:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add carrots and garlic cloves.
2. Cook until the carrots are tender. Drain.
3. Heat in a small heavy pan the olive oil.  Add onions. Cook until soft, about 7 minutes.
4. Crush in a mortar and pestle or under a heavy skillet the cumin and caraway. Add to the sautéed onions with salt.
5. Add the drained cooked carrots and garlic and cook for a couple minutes more. Off the heat, mash into a coarse purée with a potato masher or fork.
6. Add lemon juice and taste for salt.  Adjust as needed.
7. Garnish with chopped cilantro.

This came with the Carroll Electric Bill (Bella Vista).  Odd, but kinda tasty.

1 large coffee mug
4 tablespoons plain flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons baking cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
Small splash of vanilla

Add dry ingredients to mug and mix well.  Add egg and mix thorougly.  Pour in milk and oil.  Mix well.  Stir in chocolate chips, and vanilla.  Place mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes on high.  Cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don’t be alarmed! Allow to cool, and tip out onto a plate if desired.  Serves 2.