29 Jan
French Onion Soup
Posted by Michelle as Soups, Stews and Chili | 27 Comments
French Onion Soup is something that I always thoroughly enjoy when given the opportunity to order it at a restaurant. A stunningly white crock full of aromatic, brothy onion soup topped with a chunk of baguette and smothered in bubbly, browned Gruyere cheese that is dripping over the top and down the sides. I love to savor that cheesy baguette, and take only a little bit off with each spoonful. I can never make it last for the entire bowl of soup, but pulling a soup spoon out of a crock of French onion soup with cheese stretching itself thin is just about the most wonderful site in the culinary world.
I have been aching to make French Onion Soup at home for some time now, as it was on my original Top 100 list, and I am so thankful that I finally got around to doing it. I’m pretty sure I still smell like onions, but wow, this recipe rivals some of the best French onion soup I have had at great restaurants. It’s that good. Perhaps even better.
17 Nov
Thick and Hearty Chili
Posted by Michelle as Soups, Stews and Chili | 26 Comments
Although it’s been rather spring-like here lately (oddly enough, it doesn’t quite feel fall-like), the bare trees and leaves littering the grass had me in the mood for a warm bowl of chili. I have somewhat of a love/hate relationship with chili. I love, love, love to eat it. But I hate trying to find recipes that I like. I never seem to find anything that knocks my socks off, and after doing another round of searching I finally decided to go with my gut and created my own recipe based on what I know I like and don’t like. I suppose that technically this would be considered Chili con Carne with beans (although chili powder is used in place of actual chili peppers). I love beans in my chili, so that’s a staple, and I really like the texture to be thick and hearty. If a spoonful can sit on top of a piece of bread without running off, then it’s a winner. I think I finally put together a recipe that incorporates all of my favorite aspects of chili; it has earned a permanent place in my recipe book, and I will certainly be making it again and again.
06 Aug
Italian Wedding Soup: Guest Post on Carrie’s Kitchen Creations
Posted by Michelle as Soups, Stews and Chili | 8 Comments
Carrie of Carrie’s Kitchen Creations reached out to fellow bloggers asking if anyone would be interested in guest posting while she adjusts to life with a newborn, and I was happy to volunteer. I decided to do a throw back to the very first post here on Brown Eyed Baker – Italian Wedding Soup – which kicked off this blog in February 2007. When I look back at the tiny picture and the one sentence introduction I smile about my first blogging efforts, and how much the site has grown in the time that has since passed.
To hear more about the wedding soup, get the recipe and see more pictures, head on over to the Italian Wedding Soup guest post on Carrie’s Kitchen Creations.
19 Feb
Ham and Split Pea Soup
Posted by Michelle as Soups, Stews and Chili | 7 Comments
Let’s be honest – split pea soup is by far one of the least appetizing dishes to look at. My grandma always made this when I was a younger and I would never dare go near it – it looked far too unappealing for my underdeveloped taste buds. As a result, I had never tried the soup, instead being turned off by its looks. My grandma recently returned home from a stint in the hospital and rehabilitation center and I thought that making her a pot of soup for when she got home would be a nice gesture. Knowing that ham and split pea soup has long been one of her favorites, I took the opportunity to try something new and work with an ingredient I had never used before (dried peas).
20 Oct
Chili… On a Chilly Fall Day
Posted by Michelle as Soups, Stews and Chili | 11 Comments
Fall seems to have taken a permanent hold over the last few weeks and as a result, I’ve been craving a warm and hearty comfort meal full of flavor. What cures that craving better than a big bowl of chili that has slowly simmered for hours? Not much, right? I have only ever made one other version of chili, which is the one my mom made growing up. While it’s certainly a great meal, it’s not quite authentic – it doesn’t contain much in the way of seasonings and includes rice. So I went off in search of a more traditional chili recipe.
30 Sep
Cream of Mushroom Soup
Posted by Michelle as Soups, Stews and Chili | 13 Comments
Again, I’m sorry, I’m such a bad hostess. I chose this recipe and then couldn’t even get it in by the deadline of last Thursday. My deepest apologies to Ina and all of the Barefoot Bloggers. However, I am SO glad that I made the time to whip this up. This soup is absolutely fabulous! It did take a little bit of time from start to finish (probably about 2 hours), but it was well worth it. This soup is so full of flavor and so much better than any canned soup you might buy.
16 Jul
Pasta Fagioli
Posted by Michelle as Soups, Stews and Chili | 21 Comments
Well, after not really getting sick for two years, I’ve been hit with a whopper of a cold, in the middle of a July heat and humidity wave, no less. Regardless of the heat, what do most people crave when they’re buried under blankets on the couch all day (assuming there is central A/C involved)? Soup! And so soup is what I made tonight, and let me tell you – it soothed me just as I hoped it would. Pasta Fagioli reminds me of a small little cafe on the campus of my college (which I attended all too long ago) – I always used to stop there if I had a night class and get a cup of pasta fagioli. This soup is the ultimate in comfort – full, hearty, and paired with the garlic herb breadsticks I made, totally deserving of being a complete meal.
21 Apr
LiveSTRONG with Cheddar Corn Chowder
Posted by Michelle as Soups, Stews and Chili | 18 Comments
When I saw that winoesandfoodies.com was hosting the LiveSTRONG blogging event, I knew immediately that I wanted to participate. The only problem was trying to figure out what I wanted to make that was yellow! This blogging event is something a little extra special in the blogging community and was created to remember how cancer affects each and every one of us, to remember those loved ones that are no longer with us, support those still fighting, and celebrate with those who have won the fight.
The A Taste of Yellow blogging event invites food bloggers to make yellow food (and blog about it) to show our support for LiveSTRONG Day 2008, which is on May 13, 2008. My entry is submitted in memory of my dad, David, who lost his battle with cancer of the blood on April 4, 1999.
His story and Cheddar Corn Chowder after the break…
10 Oct
Hearty Beef Stew
Posted by Michelle as Soups, Stews and Chili | 7 Comments
Beef stew always reminds me of having fall and winter dinners at my Grandma’s. She would make a dish similar to this and I would always take as little meat and vegetables as possible and lots of juice so that I could soak it up with lots of bread! Stew is definitely a comfort food for me, and as fall started to roll in yesterday it was a perfect night to enjoy it. This recipe produced the classic flavors that I always associate with stew, and the meat was beyond tender – absolutely perfect! Thank you to Good Things Catered for sharing such a fabulous recipe – one that I will be saving as my standard stew recipe!
I went all out and baked homemade dinner rolls to serve with the stew. Stay tuned for another blog post dedicated to the rolls!
23 Sep
An Non-Traditional Take on Chili
Posted by Michelle as Soups, Stews and Chili | 2 Comments
There are a million different versions of chili and most people have their tried and true favorite. I typically don’t like very spicy dishes, so this chili recipe that my mom passed along to me from another family member fits the bill for me. It’s warm, hearty and not too spicy (not spicy at all if you leave out the chili powder!). The addition of rice and omission of beans certainly make this nontraditional! This chili can be thrown together in less than 30 minutes so it’s also perfect for a quick meal!
Chili-Rice Dinner
(Source: My Mom)
3/4 lb. ground beef
1/3 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1 pkg (10-oz) frozen sweet whole kernel corn
1 cup diced green pepper
1 can (15-oz) tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
1 cup instant rice
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1. Brown beef and onion in a skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add spices, corn, green pepper, tomato sauce and water. Cover and bring to a full boil, stirring occasionally.
3. Stir in rice, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes.
Sprinkle with cheese.
