Fantastic Carrot Soup

The simple carrot. One of the few things that are better (a million times better actually) here than in the US. A danish carrot is super fresh, juicy, tender, and sweet. I bought whole organic carrots while in the US over Christmas, and they were pale, tasteless, and rubbery.

My dad said it was probably the soil/climate they came from. The US carrots (although organic) were likely grown in hot and dry soil - whereas DK carrots come from - yep - DK, where the soil is cool and moist. And just in case the difference has something to do with their specific variety - I'll be smuggling vegetable seeds back to the US with me.

The reason behind making carrot soup was that I had just bought a new 2 kilo bag, and I needed to use up the rest of the old bag - about 1/4 kilo of carrots. It was probably their orange color that reminded me of Joanna's Red Lentil Soup. So I basically made the lentil soup - except I substituted the carrot for the lentils. The soup was served over baked white fish, and with a sprinkle of parsley.


My husband LOVED it, and said that if he were served this in a restaurant he would be very satisfied. That's a lot coming from him.

3 key ingredients:
1. Garam masala - At first I forgot to add this. After it was added the flavors were mouth watering.
2. Lemon - I added this last. It made the soup go from yummy, to tickle your tongue yummy.
3. Parsley - Just added one more level.

I think this would even make a nice cold or just barely warm summer soup (since it contains coconut milk). Incidentally, I was a bit worried yesterday about making another dish that required a whole can of *bad* coconut milk. So I did a little surfing and found out its GOOD for you (as long as you don't buy light or bad quality).

Tonight the plan is to served the extra soup over pasta. Maybe with a sprinkle of bacon, and a side of broccoli.

My recent thrift store find - 8 Bavarian fish plates. In a 70's style of brown; but I seem to go for that sort of thing. Like old macrame - I just love that stuff.

Scrambling

It's Pete's birthday today. Since I don't bake, my husband does the cakes around here, and he likes to get fancy. Conservatively he spent over 6 hours yesterday making Cake #1 which was brought to daycare today. Its R2D2.


He also cooked cake # 2 yesterday, which he will be frosting tonight for the playgroup party. I've been planning and gathering things for this party for a good three weeks now. Stuff is hard to find here, plus its harder for me to find things since this "isn't really my thing" (party planning). You know all those people who you see on TV, shopping for a new home, and they need a giant kitchen cause *they like to entertain*...that's not me. I like cook and share my food, but not under such make-or-break situations.

Anyway, I chose to make these two things for tomorrow which I've just started preparing (then I decided I needed a coffee break and here I am). For the Moms Only (kids get the standard...fruit, veggies, bread, butter...) I'm making:

1. Cilantro & lime pesto, which I'll serve along side some nice wheat øko french bread. I take a good bunch of cilantro, and about a half bunch of flat leaf parsley and food processor that with olive oil, garlic, and lime juice. I taste it all along the way because the lime can become overpowering quickly. This sauce is great on white fish too.

2. Bulgar salad with chickpeas, roasted peppers, and spiced cumin dressing (from A Year in a vegetarian Kitchen by Jack Bishop). Why this recipe? I had everything I needed to make this salad except lemons and cayenne pepper - both of which were easy to get.

Soon to be pesto.


Roasting peppers.


Here is a pic of the Mexicansk chicken that I cooked up last weekend. I'd never tried one of the pre-seasoned birds before. It was fine, not really any flavors to really pull out other than maybe paprika and salt. It was very juicy, but I think that that's because it was brined or something. I put clementines under the skin - heard that one on the radio. Not bad, but overall not special enough to buy again.


The peppers seem cool enough to peel, so now its back to cooking. And after that, the night will be spent crafting party decorations. I am sick to death of Wally or pirates for boy party decorations, so I've opted to make my own. So far, they are not bad - not perfect - but hey. It seems like I've put more effort into this thing than my own wedding.

Oh yeah, one more thing.


Isn't it nice. I got it at the DanMission today for 3 kronner (60 cents)! I like the bog berry theme, and it will make a nice fruit dish.

Used Goods are Good Goods

Check out my new finds from the Danish Mission (charity store). A nice little handmade vase by Karen in 1993 - it says so on the bottom. Some mauve-ish wool yarn - lots of it and a bargain at 12 Kronner, and a book - its in danish, and I got it in the religion section, but I was just looking for a book to paste things into and this one had a nice cover.


This was dinner last night. Regular salmon and cauliflower. The rice however, is a dish I've made twice now and I really like it. Its brown rice with a smattering of wild rice in it. I cook it on the stove top with mushrooms, carrots, celery, garlic, and vegetable bullion. Its filling, comforting, and tasty.


I'm also cooking *cakes* a lot these days. Peter doesn't like bread or toast, and I feel like he should have some - Who doesn't eat a bit a of bread each day, you can only take so much fruit and veggies. Plus I can make these eggless, with spelt flour, or even throw in some ground flax - and he still thinks he's getting a treat.

When I get a break from playing cars or star wars with Pete I've been working on a few knitting projects. This one I've finished knitting, but I need to felt it. I tried to felt a swatch in my front loading machine and it didn't shrink or felt in the least. So this might have to go back to the states with me to finish it the way I want.

My Latest Find

Its been a typical Saturday so far...we wait alot, and we gather food. First it was off to the mall - early as we could - so that I could wait in line for my $70 haircut. Its cute, and I haven't had one since the end of February, so its justified. She cut my bangs an interesting way - very short and straight underneath, with longer wisps on top. Sooo European.

Then off we went to the Bazaar to get Rich his $20 haircut, some produce, and some bread and pitas. While waiting for Rich, Pete and I went over to the charity shop next to the Bazaar, where I found this nice wall sconce. Its not signed, so it must be someones cast off from pottery class; but I like it.


We are having some Swede's over for dinner this evening. I bought two half chickens (they seemed bigger than one whole chicken for some reason) and Rich is marinating them his favorite way - garlic, lime, and axiote (a.k.a. achiote, or recado). We'll be cooking it out on the charcoal grill. Mmmmmm...I can't wait for dinner. Hope these Swedes like Mexican.