If you following many food blogs, you're sure to hear bloggers talking about the wonderful friends they've made through the blogging community. You won't hear any differently here. I can honestly say some of my best friends are my fellow food bloggers. And today, one of my friends is hurting. She's suffered a loss she never should've suffered. An unexpected loss. One that turned her world upside down. It isn't fair.
I want to give her a hug and tell her everything will be okay, but I'm not close enough to hug her and I can't tell her everything will be okay. How do you tell someone something like that when a life-long constant is gone? How?
If you're like me, you cook. You put a big pot of something on the stove and let it simmer away until it feels right. You bring the only bit of comfort you can through belly-warming food made with love. You hope it's a small consolation at an otherwise topsy-turvy time.
So, my friend, this is for you. It's made with care and love and thoughts of peace and healing. I hope it helps.
Herbed Potato-Leek Soup
adapted from epicurious
Ingredients:
3 lbs. russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1-in. pieces
9-10 c. low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
3 large leeks (white and pale green parts only), chopped
1 1/2 c. half and half cream
1/4 c. minced fresh chives or green onion tops
2 TBSP minced fresh basil or 2 tsp. dried, crumbled
1-2 TBSP minced fresh dill or 1-1 1/2 tsp. dried dillweed
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. salt, plus more to taste
fresh black pepper, to taste
hot pepper sauce, to taste
chopped fresh chives, green onion tops, or dill sprigs, to garnish
Directions:
1. Bring first 10 ingredients to boil in heavy large pot or
Dutch oven over high heat. Boil 15 minutes.
2. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until
potatoes are very tender and soup thickens slightly, about 30 minutes.
3. Using an immersion blender, puree soup to desired consistency. Alternately, carefully puree soup in a blender 2 c. at a time. Season with additional salt, pepper, and hot pepper sauce.
4. Ladle soup into bowls. Garnish, if desired, and serve with love.