Sweet Potato Bisque

Is there anything better than a piping hot bowl of soup on a chilly day? Try my version of sweet potato bisque. It's healthy, delicious and very satisfying. Don't be intimidated by the length of the recipe as most of it is spices. The prep is a little labor-intensive but the end result will be a savory, sweet, soul-warming treat that is totally worth the effort.

Sweet Potato Bisque

Seasoned & Stirred by LB Turner

Serves 6-8

2 1/2 pounds of sweet potatoes (peeled & sliced)

1/2 medium onion (chopped)

1 cup chopped celery

3 tablespoons cooking oil

16 oz. low-sodium chicken stock (or veg stock)

2 cups light coconut milk (or soy, almond, etc.)

1/2 cup white wine

1 tablespoon fines herbes

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon turmeric 

A pinch of ground chipotle pepper (or cayenne), cinnamon & ginger to taste

Notes: Depending on the size of your skillet, you may need to use two of them. If you do not have the fines herbes (a blend of parsley, chives, tarragon and chervil), feel free to substitute it with approx. 1 teaspoon thyme or 1 teaspoon basil or 1/2 teaspoon oregano.

Heat the cooking oil in a large skillet. When oil is hot, carefully add the sweet potatoes, onions, celery and all of the seasonings EXCEPT the nutmeg and 2 tsp of the fines herbes. Saute until the potatoes are golden brown and the veggies translucent. Remove the pan from the flame and add the wine to deglaze the pan. Continue to cook over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes or until the alcohol has evaporated.

Add the chicken stock, cover and continue cooking over low heat for another 10-15 minutes until the potatoes are tender. Turn off the heat and let cool for 5 minutes (there should still be a little chicken stock in the pan).

Puree the potato/veggie mixture in a food processor or with an immersion blender, adding the milk a little at a time. Blend until smooth and creamy (the consistency should be thick but if it is too thick for you, add a little more milk). Transfer the soup to a large pot and add the nutmeg and the remaining fines herbes. If necessary, let the soup simmer for 5 minutes over a low flame to reheat. Do not let it boil! Stir well and serve with a green garden salad or fresh bread (I highly recommend the tomato basil bread from Panera Bread or any crusty, artisan bread).

Consider adding this soup to your holiday party menus. In smaller portions, it serves a lot of people and can be prepared and refrigerated for up to three days in advance! Reheat over a low flame and stir a little freshly-grated nutmeg and fresh herbs in just before serving.

SOUPer Giveaway

People often ask me what my favorite dishes to cook are and as long as I've been cooking, that's still a really tough question to answer because I enjoy cooking and baking all types of food.  I usually end up responding "soups and salads" because they are my among my favorites.

I love soups so much I could cook and eat soup every day.  Doesn't matter what's going on with the weather or what's in the fridge...I can always find a reason or ingredients to cook up a super-satisfying, yummy pot of soup. So,  it seems appropriate that my first blog giveaway would be soup-themed.

Enter the giveaway to win this SOUPer prize package (valued at approx $75):

1. 500 Soup Recipes Cookbook (World Publications Group) - Beautifully illustrated, 251 page hardcover cookbook featuring all types of soup recipes including classics, chilled soups, exotic soups and more as well as stock recipes and cooking/prep tips.

2. A 2 quart Godinger Soup Tureen with Silver finish rack and Ladle 

Prize includes free priority shipping.  Entries will be accepted from today, March 21 - midnight March 30.  One lucky winner's name will be drawn from the pool of submissions on Wednesday, March 31th.

Please read the following directions carefully and be sure to also read "More info about this giveaway" as they contain specific information about how to qualify for the giveaway.  To be considered for this giveaway, you must do steps #1 and #2 (you must do both to qualify). If you do not do both and you do not leave your email address and location, you will not be considered for this giveaway: 

1. Leave a comment to this post to tell me what your favorite soup(s) is/are and why it is your favorite.  Feel free to post the recipe or a link to the recipe if you'd like.

2. Join the Love With Food Blog Fanpage on Facebook by clicking the "Become a Fan" button to the right or through the link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=322712503134#!/pages/Love-With-Food-Blog/10150144093810195.

More info about this Giveaway:

1. Sorry, this giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada only

2. All entrants: You MUST leave your email address AND location in your post (example: lotusrising523(at)hotmail(dot)com, Baltimore, MD) as I will be contacting the winner via email

3. The winner may keep the prize for themselves or gift it to someone else (the recipient mus also be a resident of the US or Canada)

That's it folks! If you have any questions, email me at lotusrising523(at)hotmail(dot)com.  GOOD LUCK! :>).

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Want an opportunity to win more free stuff?  Enter my Amethyst Rising blog giveaway for a chance to win an Amethyst Rising Spa Pampering Gift Set.