Rich and Rustic Mushroom Soup

Cream of Mushroom Soup

Don’t confuse this wonderful adventure in soup making with the canned condensed version on the grocery shelves….it is not even close.  This is a rich soup with a robust and rustic nutty flavor that can hold its own as the main course of a meal.

Ingredients

·         5 cups sliced fresh mushrooms

·         1 1/2 cups chicken broth

·         1 tablespoon fresh thyme finely chopped (you can use dried if you prefer but it won’t have the same fresh flavor – if using dried herb, adjust to ¼ teaspoon)

·         3 tablespoons butter

·         3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

·         1/4 teaspoon coarse ground sea salt

·         1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

·         1 cup half-and-half

·         1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce

·         1 tablespoon sherry

·         Optional 1 teaspoon sour cream for garnish

from the grocery store, you can purchase the standard white button mushrooms, or by selecting another variety you can change the overall flavor of your soup.

Directions

I prefer to sauté my mushrooms before beginning the soup making process to bring out more of the rustic nutty flavor.

1.   In a large heavy skillet melt about 1 tablespoon of butter until it just begins to foam and then quickly add your mushrooms.  Sauté mushrooms with fresh thyme until tender and slightly browned - about 8 to 10 minutes. Take care to move your mushrooms gently around the skillet to avoid them breaking apart and losing all of their moisture.

there are several varieties of Thyme, I prefer the broad leaf  for this recipe.

2.   In blender or food processor, blend the mushrooms and the remaining 1½ cups of broth until almost smooth, leaving some chunks. Set aside. (You may puree until smooth if you prefer.  I like to leave some bits of mushroom in mine for texture.)

3.   In a heavy saucepan, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, whisk in the flour until smooth. Add the salt, pepper, half and half, Worcestershire, and mushroom puree. Stirring constantly, bring soup to a boil and then reduce heat to low/medium and continue to cook until thickened – about 15 minutes. Adjust seasonings to taste.  Add sherry just before removing from heat.

Prep time:  20 minutes

Cook time: 25 minutes

Serves:      6 – 8

Serve this rich soup with a fresh Caesar Salad, crusty bread and a fruit and cheese plate for a delightful winter dinner.

fresh romaine (I use organic hearts of romaine), homemade crusty croutons, and fresh grated Parmesan are key to the start of a great Caesar Salad finish it off with your favorite Caesar dressing.

awesome pantry from closet-solutions.com

Before beginning any new recipe, check your Pantry to be sure you have all of the ingredients on hand....

Pantry List

ü  1 quart fresh mushrooms
ü  Chicken broth – 1 lg can or 2 small cans
ü  One bunch of fresh thyme
ü  1 pint Half and Half
ü  1 stick of butter
ü  All purpose flour
ü  Sea Salt
ü  Black Pepper
ü  Worcestershire Sauce
ü  Sherry (optional)

Kitchen Tool List

ü  Cutting board
ü  Slicing knife
ü  Measuring Spoons
ü  Measuring Cups
ü  Large heavy skillet
ü  Spatula
ü  Blender or Food Processor
ü  Large heavy sauce pan
ü  Whisk
ü  Large spoon
ü  Soup ladle

Left over soup is not likely with this tasty recipe, however if there is, consider making homemade scalloped potatoes for tomorrow’s dinner!

Sister

I think it's a Michigan thing, this calling each other Sister than by our names, or maybe it's just a term of endearment that has been with Sister and me for years and years.  I can't recall the last time I called my sister by her name - even when referring to her to others - its always Sister.


My sister is my best friend.  We are separated by ten years and thousands of miles, and yet are as close as a whisper when we need each other.  I swear I can hear her call to me in the rustle of the leaves on the trees when she needs me.

                                                                     My Sister Bonnie

                                                             

We have the same crazy sense of humor, the same passion for our sons, we each have one - who we adore, and although I like to think I’m creative, my sister is the most talented person I know!

                                                          Bonnie and her son Shannon

We are so connected that we can carry on entire conversations without ever finishing a sentence, and repeatedly, much like Name That Tune; we can finish the thought of the other often when she utters just one or two words.

I have been busy preparing for our annual Cottage Christmas Sale and must confess I have procrastinated to the last minute …… using a multitude of excuses, I’m afraid.  One excuse, and I must say a very good one, was that my Sister, my nephew Shannon and his lovely wife Joann, along with babies Alivia and Grant in tow, came for Thanksgiving weekend.  And as you all know, you must have a clean house when family comes, so I devoted my limited time to cleaning and shopping and preparing, and ignored the cottage and barn. 

It’s been three years since my sister’s last visit, and our barn is a new addition since then.  She was so eager to see it, and was a bit shocked to see the pile high of furniture and smalls stacked everywhere when the sale was but a mere two weeks away.  “Don’t worry” she said, “we’ll work in here every night while I’m here” HA, well that didn’t happen.  Every day was full of conversation, adoring babies, meals, and more conversation – before we knew it, our three and half days were gone – and we were saying our tearful goodbyes!

                                                        Shannon, Joann and Aliva visited 

                                                                  the Butterfly Place!

Her visit was over before we knew it and not only hadn’t we spent anytime working on the sale, but I hadn’t spent even a minute in the cottage or barn that entire week.  Since they departed on Tuesday, I’ve made great progress all week, staging new displays, unpacking the last of the Christmas treasures, and putting finishing touches here and there.

This morning my sister called, quite early, to catch me before I headed over the barn to work to share a dream she had last night.  She dreamt that we had been working in the barn together and we hung chairs and small furniture from large hooks all around the perimeter of the room.  Well it is a great idea, in fact it’s such a great idea that I had sent Farmgirl Mister Jim out yesterday morning to buy large hooks so we could hang chairs and small furnishings around the perimeter of the barn!    Yes, my sister and I are quite connected!

So here is a picture of the chairs some of the chairs we’ve hung from the walls, (we hung 8!) and wow, does it add more display space for all of our treasures.

  

Farmgirl Sisters Cottage Christmas sale is Saturday, December 10 – and a full 12 hours long 8AM – 8PM and we so hope to see you there!  Check us out on facebook: farmgirl sisters or at www.farmgirlsisters.com for more information and directions!  We're easy to find, right in downtown Branson, just one block off Hwy 65 and Hwy 76!  

A Real Treasure

Farmgirl Mister Jim clucks and sputters with every load of pickin’ treasures I bring home, always commenting as he helps unload, “this really is enough….”

Well today, FGM Jim had an epiphany! Pickin’ really can be for profit and even a good profit! 

Occasionally I will visit an on-line auction site, enter a few minimum bids and then wait to see what happens.  If I win it great, if not, oh well, there will be others.

Recently I happened upon what appeared to be a small vintage beaded evening bag, and the opening bid was less than $5.  So I placed the opening bid and never looked back.  Three days later, I received an email announcing I had won the bag.  It arrived about a week later, and it really is quite lovely.

Wanting to know a bit more about the bag I started to research on the internet and was shocked what I found.  First my bag is as much as 100 years old!  I immediately called to Jim to come look.  My little beaded bag sells for anywhere from $285.00 and up.  Well Jim jumped on his computer and continued the search for an hour, pulling up every version of French steel beaded bags he could find.  Some listed for as much as $400.00!  Needless to say, future pickin’ is now encouraged!

The most difficult part of finding treasures like this little bag is that I find them to sell, and often I don’t want to let go of them. 

This is so true of this gorgeous French Steel-cut Beaded Purse.  It is a shimmery beauty with long lattice fringe, beautiful pink lining, and sewn in ribbon Made in France.  Ornate detailing and a delicate button with loop closure.  Beautiful bead work makes this an outstanding example of this art form, every little bead hand done, and none missing.  A heavy bag, dating to the late 1800's early 1900's. 

But alas, my little find is for sale, and to all you collectors out there, it is in fabulous condition, all fringe in tack, button and loop in tack, handle intact.  Lining is clean and Made in France task is clean and intact.

Add this to your collection for $225.00