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ProfessorGAC

(69,852 posts)
Fri Oct 4, 2024, 05:45 PM Oct 4

Tried Something New Today!

Cream of Potato Soup with leeks, mushrooms & crispy bacon.
No recipe. The winging it is the fun for me.
I just boiled cubed potatoes until cooked.
While that was happening I caramelized onion in olive oil. At about the ½ point I added the leeks & minced garlic. Just the onions were browning in added the mushrooms, the added 5 ounces of sherry. Reduced until the liquid was nearly a syrup.
Added chicken stock, and brought to a boil again. During that I added salt, paprika, red pepper flakes, white pepper, allspice & cinnamon.
Took ⅔s of the potatoes and pureed them in a 2:1 mix of heavy cream & 2% milk.
Added those to the veggies & stock. The added the rest of the cooked chunk potatoes.
Finally, added stock until the consistency was of a soup, not a gravy.
Salted little by little until flavors maxed out. Then added a half capful of vanilla extract.
When everything was hot, I added a half stick of butter.
Just before serving, I added the crispy bacon, scallion tops, and chopped parsley.
My wife couldn't stop eating it. It was pretty darned good, if I say so myself.

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Tried Something New Today! (Original Post) ProfessorGAC Oct 4 OP
I rarely use recipes. amerikat Oct 4 #1
I can't really SEE recipes any more Warpy Oct 5 #9
Techniques are more important than recipes! Saviolo Oct 5 #12
Sounds delicious! Diamond_Dog Oct 4 #2
That sounds really good! RainCaster Oct 4 #3
Yukon Gold & Peeled ProfessorGAC Oct 4 #5
Sounds really good. I'll try soon, after I restock up w/ some add'l ingredients. Thanks for the heads up. SWBTATTReg Oct 4 #4
You offer takeout I'll need a quart to go Duncanpup Oct 4 #6
There's Some Left ProfessorGAC Oct 4 #7
Save soup for Vince Duncanpup Oct 5 #10
I use recipes as a base, slightlv Oct 5 #8
I Started Cooking After I Retired ProfessorGAC Oct 5 #11

Warpy

(113,130 posts)
9. I can't really SEE recipes any more
Sat Oct 5, 2024, 12:16 AM
Oct 5

but even when I could, the ex would complain bitterly that I never made anything the same way twice. Oh, he didn't have preferences one version to the next, I think he just wanted a little more predictability. He was SOL I pretty much made whatever out of whatever I had.

Saviolo

(3,321 posts)
12. Techniques are more important than recipes!
Sat Oct 5, 2024, 12:54 PM
Oct 5

Once you know how a thing works, you can slot in any ingredients and know how it'll come out.

slightlv

(4,325 posts)
8. I use recipes as a base,
Sat Oct 5, 2024, 12:12 AM
Oct 5

and then wingit while I'm cooking the dish. So far, everything's been well-received at my house. Hubby's in awe of my being able to pick a spice or herb based on smell or "look." I learned all I know about real cooking from my Dad!

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