Asparagus Soup

1/2 cup chopped Onion
1/2 cup chopped Celery
1 bunch chopped Asparagus
2 cloves Garlic
3/4 cup Chicken Broth

Save the asparagus tips for blanching and garnishing the soup.

Saute the onion, celery and garlic in a little bit of olive oil. Once the onions and celery start to sweat add the chopped asparagus. Let them cook for 5 - 8 minutes. Add salt and pepper.

Then and the chicken broth and let it come to a simmer and let it boil for 8 -10 minutes.

Use a immersion blender to blend the soup. Garnish with the blanched tips.

Mushroom Soup

So, this is my third post in a weeks time, not bad :) I'm doing much better than i thought I would.
This time its a soup, I don't know why they say that if you can make a good soup you are a good chef. 'Cause this soup is so simple to make, than so many other things that I have tried my hand at. And it turned out so good, so delicious. I packed it up for Shaunak for his lunch at work, he enjoyed it so much, couldn't stop raving about it. So here you go...

Yields - 2 Servings

Ingredients :

1/2 pound assorted mushrooms stemmed and chopped(i just picked up few of each of the following from the grocery store - chanterelle, portobello(only 1 is enough), creminni, shiitake, oyster, etc. Its ok if you don't get one or two kinds of mushrooms)
1/2 c. Yellow Onion chopped
2-3 cloves Garlic
1/2 tsp. dried Thyme
1/2 tsp. dried Rosemary
3 c. low sodium Chicken Broth
1/2 c. Dry White Wine
1/2 c. Chopped Arugula
1/4 c. Walnuts
1/2 c. skimmed Milk
1 tbsp. Olive Oil

Directions:

Heat olive oil in a large pot, add garlic and onions and saute until golden brown. Add mushrooms and saute for 2 mins. Add wine, chicken broth, milk and simmer for 10 mins. Add salt and pepper to taste. Blend the mixture in the pot itself, with an immersion blender. Add arugula and Walnuts. Serve Hot.

Eat healthy, stay healthy...
Dips.

Tips:

1. Do not wash the mushrooms in water, they become rubbery. Gently brush the dirt off with a damp kitchen towel.
2. If you do not have an immersion blender, blend the mixture before adding the chicken stock.