Roasted Carrot & Ginger Soup

I wanted to serve soup and sandwiches for a recent lunch with family.  I found this great recipe for Carrot & Ginger soup.  Original Recipe can be found HERE. My mouth started watering almost immediately as I read the ingredients and directions.  I’ve left recipe almost intact – with a few minor alterations.  (More ginger and the addition of sour cream.)  I served the soup with French Dip Sandwiches.  Wow!  They were amazing and the combination of the soup and sandwiches was really well received.  Let’s just say there wasn’t a lot of talking going on at the lunch table – we were all too busy eating!

 

Ingredients:

 

2 lb. carrots, peeled and cut into large dice (3/4-inch)
2 tbsps olive oil
3 tbsps butter, unsalted
1 medium onion, medium dice
2 large ribs of celery, medium dice
3 tbsps fresh ginger, grated (I cheated and used ginger from a jar)
4 cups chicken broth
3 - 4 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 tsp ground white pepper

8 ounces sour cream (I used light)

 

Directions:

 

Preheat oven to 425°F.

 

Place the diced carrots in a large baking or roasting pan. Drizzle the olive oil over the carrots, sprinkle with a pinch of kosher salt and toss to coat evenly. Roast the carrots for 45 minutes, stirring the carrots after the first 25 minutes or roasting. Remove from oven.

 

Heat the butter in a large stock pot over medium heat. Add the onions and sauté for three minutes until translucent. Add the celery and ginger to the onions and sauté for 4 more minutes. Stir in the roasted carrots, broth, 3 cups of the water, salt, and white pepper.

 

Bring the soup to a boil and reduce the heat to medium-low so that it is actively simmering. Cover the pot with a lid and let simmer for 45 minutes.

 

Allow the soup to cool a bit.  In batches, transfer the soup to a blender and purée until completely creamy.  Adding a bit of extra water as needed.  Return the soup to the pot and stir in the sour cream.   

 

Reheat the soup if necessary, season with more salt to taste, and serve.

 

Serves 4-6. Refrigerate for up to 5 days.

 

Click here for printable recipe.

Melon Mojito Salad

I enjoyed this delicious salad on our recent visit to New Orleans.  I ordered it as the starter to my lunch at Café Adelaide & Swizzle Stick Bar.  (And, by the way, I highly recommend this restaurant for lunch.  They offer $.25 martini lunches.  Order an entrée and your martini’s are only $.25.  The menu says, “limit of three – because three’s all you need!”  Fabulous food, impeccable service and beautiful atmosphere!)  I have tried to duplicate the salad since my return home.  I think I’ve done an admirable job.  I’ve served it twice, and all have enjoyed it and raved over it.  So – enjoy!

 

Ingredients:

 

Seasonal melon, cut into small pieces  (I used watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew.  The melon will be arranged on the salad greens – so use enough for the number of salads you will be serving.)

Mint, chopped finely

1 – 2 Tbls dark rum, depending upon how much melon you’re using

 

Combination of greens, enough for the number of salads you will be serving  (I used Romaine and Red Leaf lettuce)

 

Chunks of Goat Cheese

 

Spiced Pecans (recipe follows)

 

Bacon Molasses Vinaigrette (recipe follows)

 

Directions:

 

Combine the melon, mint and rum in a container about 30 minutes before serving the salad.  I’ve made this as much as three hours before serving and the melon didn’t become mushy. However, I did place it back in the fridge to marinate.

 

Combine the greens in a large bowl.  Drizzle with Bacon Molasses Vinaigrette and toss.  Serve the greens on individual plates.

 

Scatter chunks of Goat cheese on top of the greens and then arrange the melon on top of that. Sprinkle the Spiced Pecans on top.  Serve and enjoy this refreshing and delightful salad.

 

Note:  You could also add some grilled chicken to make this a main course salad.

 

Spiced Pecans Recipe:

(Adapted From Alton Brown)

 

4 oz pecan halves

¼ tsp kosher salt

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

1/8 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoons brown sugar

½ tsp water

 

Mix the spices together in a small bowl and set aside.  Place the nuts in a cast iron skillet over medium heat.  Cook, stirring frequently, for 4 to 5 minutes until they start to brown and smell toasted.  Be careful they don’t burn.  Add the butter and stir until it melts.  Add the spice mixture and stir to combine.  Add the sugar and water, stirring until the mixture thickens and coats the nuts.  (Approximately 2 to 3 minutes)

 

Transfer the nuts to a prepared sheet pan (line a sheet pan with parchment paper – or spray with non-stick cooking spray) separate them with a fork or spatula.  Allow the nuts to cool completely before transferring to an airtight container for storage.

 

For this salad – you will break the spiced pecan halves into pieces for topping the salad.  I suppose you could start with pecan pieces – but I was afraid I would burn them more easily than starting with the halves.

 

Bacon Molasses Vinaigrette Recipe:

 

2 pieces of bacon, cut into small pieces – fry until crisp.  Drain on paper towel – reserve 1 tablespoon bacon grease

 

2 tablespoons good quality balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoon molasses

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 ½ teaspoons minced shallot

1 ½ teaspoons chopped fresh basil

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon bacon grease

 

Place everything, except the bacon, into a small blender.  (I use the small container of my Bullet for this)  Whirl until everything is completely combined and smooth.  Add the bacon to the vinaigrette.   Set aside. 

 

Note:  I’ve made this the night before making the salad.  However, I didn’t add the bacon until about 30 minutes before serving.  Just place in the fridge until ready to use.

Click here for printable recipe.

Eating My Way Through New Orleans

There is no doubt that the city of New Orleans lives within me.  Almost 25 years ago I took my very first trip there.  A little piece of my heart and soul stayed - and I return as often as I can to visit the city that holds my heart! 

 

On our most recent trip we tried to eat at restaurants at which we hadn't eaten before.  We have always had amazing meals in NOLA - and this time was no exception.  Just gives me more places to add to my list of recommendations.  In the past we have eaten at Emeril's, NOLA, Delmonico, Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse, Muriel's, Commander's Palace, Court of Two Sisters and Bayona - to name a few.  We've had Po-Boy's at Johnny's, Mother's and Parasol's.  All of them delicious.  But, as I mentioned, we wanted to try places to which we hadn't been before.  So, here is a visual tour of some of our best meals on our most recent visit to The Big Easy!

 

Kingfish

 

We celebrated my birthday at Kingfish, in the French Quarter.  Fabulous appetizers, which I neglected to take photos of.  But, the main course - a hearty 14oz RibEye Steak with Guava Butter French Fries... that was heavenly.  The steak was cooked to perfection with a touch of creamy horseradish on top and olive salad confit.  Wow!  This was wonderful!

 



 

Café Du Monde

No trip to NOLA would be complete without several visits for Beignet's and Café Au Lait.  Sooooo wonderful!!

 

 

Parkway Bakery

I neglected to take photos of the Surf & Turf Po-Boys that we consumed. (I was too busy eating and enjoying it!) Think delectable fall apart roast beef with a touch of gravy and mounds of grilled shrimp.  Oh My!  They were so good!  My son had the alligator sausage po-boy.  He loved it.  Of course, you MUST request your Po-Boys be "dressed".  (That means it has lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mayonnaise; onions are optional. Non-seafood po' boys will also usually have mustard; the customer is expected to specify "hot" or "regular"—the former being a coarse-grained Creole mustard and the latter being American yellow mustard.)  This wonderful neighborhood find is in Bayou St. John.  We will definitely return here on our future visits.

 

 

 

Atchafalaya

I wanted to go here for my birthday brunch - but waited too long to request reservations.  But, that's alright... it just extended the celebration by another day.  (Oh, who am I kidding... I celebrate my birthday for at least a month... and we've begun working up to "birthday season".  LOL)  The breakfast was so good.  Each of us had a version of Egg's Benedict - but Café Atchafalaya style.  I had Egg's Atchafalaya which was served on Fried Green tomatoes with lump meat crab. My son had the Eggs Treme and a side Alligator Sausage.  This was served on Boudin Cakes with Popcorn Crawfish.  The hubby had The Boudreaux which was served on Jalapeno Cornbread cakes with Alligator Sausage.  

 

 

 

They have an amazing Bloody Mary Bar!  Think "Salad Bar" but for your Bloody Mary's.  When you order one they bring the glass of vodka to your table, on ice.  You then build your own Bloody Mary by picking and choosing between three different mixes - Mild, Spicy and the House Green.  And, you get to add whatever garnishes you desire from the excellent and varied choices of vegies and garnishes.  We loved these!  (I had the Spicy on the left - and Hubby had the House Green)

 

 

 

 Commander's Palace

While we wanted to eat at "new to us" restaurants - we couldn't resist going to Commander's for their $.25 martini lunch.  We ate in the Garden Room - which is beautiful.  I had requested the Upstairs Garden Room - which I like even more - but they weren't sitting upstairs that day. 

We began with the famous martini's.  Vodka Please - Dirty - Three Olives.

 

For lunch, I had a Crab Boiled Seafood Tamale, Hubby had the Pickled Shrimp and Avocado Salad with Mango.  My son had Beef Carpaccio Panzanella Salad... and the guys had Chicken & Andouille Gumbo for starters (not pictured) and I had the Famous Turtle Soup... Heavenly.  We topped it all off with Baked Bread Pudding Souffle - AMAZING!

Commander's Palace is in the Garden District.  We usually take a cab there - so we don't have to worry about timing.  But, then we take the St. Charles Streetcar back after strolling through the area a bit.  Makes for a lovely day.
 

 

La Boca

Ok... this was INCREDIBLE!  La Boca is an Argentina Style Steakhouse in the Warehouse District and Zagat rated it the best steakhouse in New Orleans.

We started with the Gaucho Plate for appetizers - again, I was too busy eating to remember to take a photo.  The plate contained sausage, steak bites and sweet breads.  Everything was spectacular. 

When serving the steaks, they bring around a selection of steak knives and allow you to choose your own "weapon".  That was kind of fun!  All of our steaks were cooked to perfection.  No frills here - just delicious, mouth watering steaks.  (and the asparagus and French fries were pretty delicious too!) 

 

 

 

Herbsaint

We had a delicious dinner at Herbsaint on St. Charles in The Warehouse District. The Men had the Top RibEye with Fries - Oh My Goodness... that was the MOST amazing steak EVER! More like a tenderloin or Filet Mignon... Incredibly tender and delicious. I had Chicken & Andouille Gumbo and Shrimp with Tasso Ham Collard Greens served over the creamiest Grits I've ever had. Wonderful. Oh - I might have washed it all down with my very first Pimms Cup. Yum-O. Fantastic dinner with excellent service! Definite recommend!

 

 

 

Café Adelaide & Swizzle Stick Bar

Café Adelaide is on the corner of Poydras and S. Peters.  It is located in the Loew's hotel.  This is another Brennan's Restaurant - and they also participate in the fabulous $.25 martini lunch.  The food was delicious and the service and atmosphere were excellent.

Hubby had a Dirty Martini and I opted for a Cosmopolitan this time.  OK, we both had more than one... but we WERE on vacation after all!  ;-)

The Hubby and I both started with the Mojito Melon Salad. Wow! I have been working to recreate this one at home!  I think I've just about perfected it.  So, look for my recipe in the next few days.  Hubby had the Jalapeno Jelly Lacquered Chicken. I had the Black Skillet Roasted Drum with Spring Succotash and Son had the Chargrilled Skirt Steak Salad. Everything was Very Very Good!
 

 

 

 

 

Cocktails at The Carousel Bar in The Hotel Monteleone

After an afternoon of strolling through the French Quarter, we stopped at The Hotel Monteleone for a cocktail in The Carousel Bar. (Vodka Tonic's) It is delightful and a must see.  One of our favorite places to visit when in town.  The hotel is beautiful too.  So, if you're looking for accommodations in The French Quarter - this is one of my favorites. 

Muriel's

For our "last supper" we ate at Muriel's on Jackson Square. We have dined here for lunch on previous visits - but this was our first time having dinner there.

Hubby had New Orleans barbeque shrimp enhanced with Abita beer and rosemary; served with a chipotle-parmesan grit cake.  Son had the Wood Grilled Tournedos of Beef, which was Three Tournedos topped with a choron, au poivre and a chasseur sauce, with smoked bleu cheese mashed potatoes.  And I had Pan Seared Maple Leaf Duck Breast with Duck confit dirty rice and a fig reduction sauce . 

Everything was wonderful.  But, I resisted the urge to take photos.  My son was a little "over" us taking photos at every meal and felt that I was not displaying good table manners and that I was acting like a tourist.  Gotta love a teenager!  In any case - I promised him I wouldn't take photos at this dinner - so I didn't.  But, trust me... it looked and tasted amazing!

 

So, another adventure to the City that Care Forgot has come to an end.  It always saddens me when I have to say good bye to this beautiful city.  As usual, I cried on the way to the airport - and I'm already trying to plan our next trip back.  It gives me something to look forward too!

Until we meet again -

Au Revoir!