Leek and potato soup in a hurry
Hearty Leek Soup, economical and on the table in nothing flat.
With two big leeks languishing in my fridge, I needed to make soup. That was my penny-pinching side talking to me. Then another thought popped into my head: So what if I didn’t get around to using a couple of leeks? It’s not like wasting tenderloin steak. That was my lazy side talking to me.
Still, I didn’t really have anything planned for dinner. Yes, those two leeks were going to get their 15 minutes of fame. That’s about how long it took to make the soup and a salad to round out supper. I don’t have an exact recipe for the leek soup, but it’s based on standard cream soups that are in many recipe books. I just started chopping and putting things together.
Leek and potato soup (four or five servings)
2 large leeks, trimmed and then chopped into discs
1 peeled and cubed Idaho potato
3 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 cups chicken broth (I use organic free-range)
1/2 cup heavy cream
Salt
Pepper
Melt the butter in a deep pan and saute the leeks and onions. Add the flour, stirring constantly. When you have a paste forming around the leeks and onions, add the chicken broth and cubes of potato. Let the mixture simmer, watching as the soup thickens.
When the potatoes have softened, add the cream, seasoning with salt and pepper according to your taste, then maybe some green onions or chives for contrast.
Janet Cleaveland
What happens when a retired journalist spends a lot more time in the kitchen than in past years? She tries new dishes and jumps at the chance to write a blog about food, family and good times. My kids are grown now, but I'll be looking back at how they learned to cook, what recipes my husband (the Intrepid One) and I are experimenting with, and how food and conversation make for happy times in the kitchen. I worked for The Columbian for 15 years as a copy editor and another 10 elsewhere, though I didn't start out as a journalist. I thought I wanted to teach English literature. My husband grew up in Clark County, and I've lived here since 1983. My kids have grown and left home. Like my husband of 52 years, our adopted chocolate Lab would never pass up a chance for a tasty meal.