Tomato Sweet Potato Bisque With Pesto Grilled Cheese Croutons Recipes

Steps:

• Add the butter to a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Once the butter melts and becomes foamy, add the garlic, onions and ginger and saute until tender and fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the chipotle pepper and saute for 1 minute longer while breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Add the chicken broth, apple cider and sweet potatoes. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sweet potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Puree the soup using an immersion blender until smooth and velvety. Finish by stirring in the heavy cream. Top each bowl with sour cream if using.

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, salt, pepper and onion and cook until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the broth, diced tomatoes with their liquid, tomato sauce, Parmesan rind and 1/4 cup of the basil and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes. Remove the Parmesan rind and puree the soup with an immersion blender until smooth.
• In a small saucepan, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter. Whisk in the flour and continue to cook, whisking, until the mixture is lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the cream and cook, stirring, until thickened. Add the cream mixture to the soup and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the soup has thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a medium skillet over medium heat until foamy. Place 2 of the bread slices in the skillet; top each bread slice with 2 cheese slices, 2 tablespoons of the chopped basil and another bread slice. Cook until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted, about 3 minutes per side. Cut each sandwich into 9 pieces.
• Serve the soup with the grilled cheese croutons and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup basil.

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium high heat.
• In a small bowl, combine butter and thyme. Spread over one side of each bread slice with the butter mixture.
• Place 3 slices in the pan, buttered side down. Top with the cheese, then with remaining bread slices, buttered side up.
• Cook, turning once, until toasted on both sides, 3-5 minutes per side.
• Remove the sandwiches from the pan. Let them cool slightly, then cut them into 1" squares. Use in soups(tomato is especially nice), on top of salads, etc. Enjoy!
• Makes about 60 croutons.

Steps:

• Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Add the oil and heat until just hot. Add the carrot, celery, onion, and ½ teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions just turn translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Add the jalapeno, garlic, thyme, and basil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are nice and brown, about 7 minutes.
• Stir in the tomatoes with their juices, then stir in the stock and sweet potato.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a steady simmer. Simmer until the sweet potato is very, very tender, about 1 hour. The sweet potatoes should be soft enough to mash easily with the back of a spoon.
• Remove and discard the thyme sprigs.
• Using an immersion blender or stand blender (working in batches if necessary), puree until silky smooth.
• Reheat the soup over low heat.
• Stir in the cream.
• For a thinner soup, stir in more stock.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve hot.

Steps:

• In a 4-qt saucepan or similar size soup pot, combine the onion and oil. Cook over med-high heat, stirring frequently, 3-4 minutes, until onion is soft and beginning to brown.
• Stir in the broth, sweet potatoes, ginger root, thyme, allspice, and crushed red pepper. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat; simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the sweet potatoes are just tender, 7-8 minutes.
• Scoop up 3 1/2 cup vegetables, then 1 cup broth from pan and place in a food processor. Process until completely pureed and smooth. Return the pureed mixture to the saucepan.
• Combine about 2/3 of the canned tomatoes and the peanut butter in the processor. Process until well blended. Return the pureed mixture, then the remaining tomatoes, to the saucepan.
• Bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook 2-3 minute longer, until the bisque is piping hot and the flavors are blended. Taste and add salt and pepper, if desired.

Steps:

• In a large pot or Dutch oven such as Le Creuset, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook over medium-low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Stir in the chicken stock, tomatoes, saffron, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Bring the soup to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, fill a medium pot with water, add 2 teaspoons salt, and bring to a boil. Add the orzo and cook for 7 minutes. (It will finish cooking in the soup.) Drain the orzo and add it to the soup. Stir in the cream, return the soup to a simmer, and cook for 10 more minutes, stirring frequently.
• Serve hot with Grilled Cheese Croutons scattered on top.
• Heat a panini grill. Place the four slices of bread on a cutting board and brush lightly with the melted butter, being sure to butter the corners. Turn the slices over and pile Gruyere on two of the slices. Place the remaining two slices of bread on top of the Gruyere, buttered sides up.
• Grill the sandwiches on the panini grill for about 5 minutes, until nicely browned. Place on a cutting board, allow to rest for 1 minute, and cut into 1-inch cubes. Yield: 4 to 6 servings
• Note: The Grilled Cheese Crouton recipe was halved for the taping of this episode.

Steps:

• In a large soup pot, combine the onion, celery, carrot, sweet potatoes, broth, curry powder, thyme, pepper, cayenne and white wine.
• Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, 30-40 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are soft.
• With a slotted spoon, remove about 1 1/2 cups of the vegetables and set aside.
• Puree the remaining soup with a hand blender (or food processor) until smooth.
• Return the vegetables to the pot.
• Stir in the and coconut milk and milk, and heat through.

Steps:

• For the Tomato Bisque: In a large soup pot melt bacon fat, add onions and celery. Cook onions and celery until translucent, do not brown. Add tomatoes, basil and cook for 2 minutes. Add tomato juice, V-8 juice, tomato paste, chicken stock and simmer 15 minutes. Add heavy cream and bring back to a boil. Turn off heat and add the tub of cheese. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• For the Garlic Croutons: In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together. Place the ingredients on a baking sheet and bake at 325°F until a golden brown, approximately 15 minutes.
• Final Presentation: Place soup in bowl, add croutons in soup and garnish with chives.