Monday, January 30, 2012

Carrot Fennel Soup

What a great soup. Delicious! A repeat in the house.

2 medium fennel bulbs with fronds
1 pound carrots, quartered lengthwise
1 medium onion, quartered
1 garlic clove
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 1/2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
2 1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon fennel seeds

Preheat oven to 450°F with rack in lowest position.
Chop enough fennel fronds to measure 1 tablespoon and reserve. Discard stalks and remaining fronds. Slice bulbs 1/4 inch thick and toss with carrots, onion, garlic, 3 tablespoons oil, sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Spread in a 4-sided sheet pan and roast, stirring occasionally, until browned and tender, 25 to 30 minutes.
Blend half of vegetables in a blender with broth until very smooth. Transfer to a medium saucepan. Repeat with remaining vegetables and water. Thin to desired consistency with extra water and simmer 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, finely grind fennel seeds in grinder and stir into remaining 2 tablespoons oil. 3Serve soup drizzled with fennel oil and sprinkled with reserved fronds.

Cooks’ notes:
•Soup can be made 1 day ahead and chilled.
•Fennel oil can be made 2 days ahead and kept at room temperature.

Recipe Link on:
Epicurious

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Pain aux bananes et au chocolat de Mathieu Darche

750 mlde farine tout usage non blanchie
10 ml de poudre à pâte
10 ml de bicarbonate de soude
250 ml de beurre non salé, ramolli
500 ml de sucre
2 oeufs
5 ml d'extrait de vanille
4 à 5 bananes mûres, écrasées à la fourchette (625 ml)
250 ml de crème sure
125 ml de cassonade
310 ml de pépites de chocolat

Placer la grille au centre du four. Préchauffer le four à 180 °C (350 °F). Tapisser trois moules à pain de 23 x 13 cm (9 x 5 po) de papier parchemin en le laissant dépasser sur deux côtés. Beurrer les deux autres côtés.

Dans un bol, mélanger la farine, la poudre à pâte et le bicarbonate. Réserver.

Dans un autre bol, crémer le beurre avec le sucre au batteur électrique. Ajouter les œufs, la vanille et mélanger jusqu’à ce que la préparation soit homogène. À basse vitesse, incorporer les bananes puis les ingrédients secs en alternant avec la crème sure.

Répartir la moitié de la préparation dans les moules à pain. Parsemer avec la moitié de la cassonade et des pépites de chocolat. Couvrir avec le reste de la pâte et terminer avec le reste de la cassonade et des pépites de chocolat. Cuire au four environ 55 minutes ou jusqu’à ce qu’un cure-dent inséré au centre de la pâte en ressorte propre, mais légèrement nappé de chocolat fondu.

Source: Ricardo

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Triple Cheddar Potato Soup

2 tbsp PC Fresh churned butter - salted
1 large onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
1 small clove garlic, peeled
1 container (900 ml) PC Organics Chicken Broth - Ready to Use
2 Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and chopped (about 2 1/2 cups)
1 cup beer
1 cup PC Triple Cheddar shredded cheese
4 slices cooked PC Applewood bacon


1. In saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Cook onions, carrots and whole garlic clove for 10 to 12 minutes or until softened and golden. Stir in broth and potatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer; cover and cook for 12 to 15 minutes or until potatoes are very tender. Stir in beer; cook 1 minute longer.

2. Using immersion blender, purée soup. (Or purée in batches in a blender.) Return puréed soup to medium-low heat. Stir in cheese until it melts. Serve sprinkled with additional cheese and chopped fresh chives, if desired.

Chef's Tip
Crumble up some cooked Applewood bacon for extra flavour.