The University of Illinois published a study on matching personalities with soup preferences a few years back in the Journal of Database Marketing Lifestyle and Personality Clusters. The four most popular soups were chicken noodle, tomato, minestrone, and vegetable. These four top soups were cross-tabulated with personality and lifestyle traits. What's your soup say about you?
A simple staple like a potato can make for a very hearty and satisfying soup.
Potato Leek Soup
Makes eight servings
chefgeorgehirsch.com | From George Hirsch Living it UP! cookbook
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 Tablespoons butter
1 cup sweet onion, chopped
1 leek, whites only, washed and chopped fine
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
3 cups Yukon Gold Potatoes, *scrubbed & medium diced
3 cups chicken broth
6 Tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
1/4 cup half and half
1/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded RECIPE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW
Preheat a medium-sized soup pot. Add olive oil, butter, onion, leek, and garlic. Cook for two minutes until the onions are translucent. Add nutmeg, chicken broth, and 2 tablespoons of chives. Bring soup to a boil, then lower it to simmer, cooking for 45 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
Puree half of the soup mixture, leaving the remaining chunky bits of potatoes. Ladle the soup into bowls and top each serving with a drizzle of cream, cheddar cheese, and the remaining fresh chives.
*Good to Know: Wash potatoes and leave skins on to preserve the nutrients in the potato's flesh—a great source of vitamin C, vitamin B6, copper, potassium, and dietary fiber.
Tip: Cut any additions into small or a maximum of one-half to one-inch pieces. Why so small? Simply, it fits on a soup spoon.
Severing Suggestion: Serve soup as a starter for Corned Beef & Cabbage
