Broccoli and Cheese Soup

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Broccoli & Cheese Soup

A good recipe for a soup that doesn’t take all day to make is a real lifesaver. Especially one as hearty and filling as this broccoli & cheese version. It takes only a few short minutes to throw together, and the flavors are just out of this world.

It’s rich and hearty, but still doesn’t weigh you down the way many dairy-based soups do. The addition of fresh broccoli really adds a freshness to the flavor, and you can never go wrong adding plenty of cheddar cheese to anything in my book.

My girlfriend came over for lunch about a month ago or so, and I made this served with some crusty bread and a salad. We both loved it, and I’ve been thinking about making it again ever since. It reheats great as well, which is always a plus. Would also be great for a last minute, easy dinner!

Broccoli & Cheese Soup

4 Tbsp butter
1/2 cup onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups half and half (or 1 cup of milk and 1 cup of heavy cream)
3 cups chicken stock
1/4 cup corn starch
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 bay leaf
2  carrots, peeled and shredded
4 cups broccoli florets (about 1 head)
8 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
kosher salt and black pepper

Cook the butter, onion, and garlic on about medium heat until tender.

Slowly add the half and half and chicken stock. Mix the corn starch with a little bit of water until there are no clumps and add it to the rest. Add the nutmeg and bay leaves and cook on medium low until thickened.

Add the carrot and broccoli and simmer until tender. Discard the bay leaves. Add the 3/4 of the cheese and stir until melted. Season with salt and pepper and serve topped with additional cheddar cheese.

Source: slightly adapted from Yammie’s Noshery

Fresh Strawberry Syrup

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Homemade Strawberry Syrup

It’s the end of March, officially spring, and there’s 6-inches of snow on the ground outside my front door right now. While I love snow, I’ve had my fill of snow cream for the year. It astonishes me that it can be 70 degrees one day, and 20 the next!

One thing that does have me feeling like spring are the delicious strawberries I’ve been getting at the store recently. While snow might be still blanketing the ground here – in warm, sunny Florida it’s strawberry season! So whenever I see any berries from the sunshine state  in my local grocery store, I can’t pass them by without picking up a package. I haven’t had bad berries yet!

Most of the time they just get gobbled up, before getting the chance to be transformed into something else in a recipe. But, I did get a chance to make this delicious strawberry syrup a couple of weeks ago. It’s perfect over a scoop of vanilla ice cream, stirred into a cold glass of milk, served over hot Belgian waffles, or mixed into a cocktail to give it a fruity twist. It’s also wonderful to toss with some fresh sliced strawberries and then pour into a graham cracker crust for an easy, but delicious dessert.

The batch I made barely lasted a week, and I’ve already made it a couple of times since then. It’s so wonderfully versatile, and it’s nice to have that burst of fresh strawberry flavor in my refrigerator anytime I’d like!

Fresh Strawberry Syrup

4 cups strawberries, rinsed and hulled
1 3/4 cups of water
1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

Crush the berries in a heavy saucepan. Add one cup of water and the lemon zest. Bring mixture to boil then reduce heat to a simmer for five minutes. Skim any foam that forms off the top.

After five minutes of simmering, set the mixture aside to cool.

Meanwhile, place the sugar and the remaining 3/4 cup of water in a small, heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook until the syrup reaches 260°F on a candy thermometer. Set aside.

Strain cooled strawberry mixture through cheesecloth, squeezing to separate the majority of the seeds.

Pour the strained strawberries into a heavy saucepan with the sugar syrup. Bring to a boil and cook for eight minutes.

Store in Mason jar or another air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Source: adapted from StrawberrySue.com

Balsamic-Roasted Brussels Sprouts

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Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Growing up, Brussels sprouts were always one of those things that I thought I didn’t like – probably because they were usually frozen and then steamed. All in all, mushy and flavorless. A few years ago I took a recommendation I’d seen somewhere and tried roasting them. Mind blown. Wonderful rich flavor, tender yet with some bite left, not to mention they were absolutely beautiful when cooked.

At first I roasted them simply with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. But somewhere along the line I started adding a little balsamic vinegar into the mix before roasting, and I haven’t looked back since. It adds a depth of flavor and a slight tangy note that pairs so perfectly well with the veggie. Some people add it after the roasting process, but I like to add it before as the heat really mellows the flavor of the vinegar as well – mingling all those flavors together.

They’re great served with just about anything, and I’ve even been known to save leftovers to toss with a little bit of pasta with olive oil and garlic the next day. Makes a delicious and easy lunch!

So if you think you don’t like Brussels sprouts, definitely give this recipe a try. I promise it will be eye opening and life changing! People are always shocked when I tell them that they’re one of my little ones favorite vegetables, but when they’re this good – there is no excuse for anyone not to love them. Give them a try!

Balsamic-Roasted Brussels Sprouts

1 lb Brussels sprouts, bottoms trimmed (larger sprouts can be halved)
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper

Preheat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

Place Brussels sprouts on baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and vinegar. Season with kosher salt and black pepper. Toss with clean hands to distribute oil and seasoning evenly.

Roast in oven for about 20-25 minutes, until sprouts are easily pierced with a knife and starting to brown on the edges. Remove from oven and serve immediately.

Chipotle Honey Lime Pork Tenderloin

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Chipotle Honey Lime Pork Tenderloin

There are so many things to love about pork tenderloins – they’re relatively lean and healthy, the cook quickly, and they really absorb whatever flavors you decide to throw at them. I’ve made quite a few versions in the past, but I think this one is definitely in the running as my new favorite!

I’m a huge fan of anything chipotle-flavored anyways, but I’d never think to add honey to the mix. Plus with the addition of tart lime juice and zest and fresh cilantro it really made for a combination that was out of this world. You make a large batch of the marinade, then reserve half to drizzle over the tenderloins right before serving. I also think it would be a fabulous salad dressing!

I went ahead and doubled the marinade recipe  as I was using two pork tenderloins. The leftovers were great on Cuban sandwiches and quesadillas – so I’m glad that I went ahead and cooked two. This is one we’ll be coming back to again and again in our home, as everyone really enjoyed it!

Chipotle Honey Lime Pork Tenderloin

1 whole pork tenderloin, about 1 pound
1 tsp lime zest
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1/4 cup honey
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 chipotle chile pepper in adobo sauce
1 tsp vegetable oil
1 Tbsp  fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

Place the lime zest, lime juice, honey, salt, and garlic in a small, lidded jar and shake to combine. Pour half of the marinade mixture into a 1-gallon resealable bag, add the chipotle pepper, and move around to combine.

Add the pork tenderloin to the bag and seal, removing as much air as possible and place in a container to catch any leaks. Marinate in the refrigerator for 6 to 24 hours, rotating the bag halfway through the time. Place the remaining marinade in a covered container and refrigerate until ready to use.

Light grill and bring to medium-high heat, about 450 degrees. Brush the grill with vegetable oil. Remove the tenderloin from the bag and place in the center of grate. Discard bag with marinade. Cover and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, turning every few minutes, until the tenderloin reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees F.

Remove the tenderloin from the grill and let rest for 10 minutes. Remove to a cutting board and slice. Drizzle with reserved marinade. Garnish with cilantro and serve with reserved marinade on the side.

Source: slightly adapted from Alton Brown