Serving This Week 1-11 to 1-15-2021
Come and see what I will be cooking up on Marilyns Treats this week!
This is what I featured on my blog 1-11 to 1-15-2021. On Tuesday was New England Clam Chowder. Wednesday was Hearty Minestrone. Thursday was Watercress Soup. And Friday was Creamy Ham Chowder. Enjoy!
If you missed what I served up last week please click Serving This Week 1-4-to 1-8-2021.
New England Creamy Clam Chowder
I fell in love with cream soups when I was dating my husband.
Until then, cream of tomato was the only soup I liked and Campbell condensed soups didn’t do anything for me.
Then the world opened my eyes as I started dining out out with my now husband.
Somehow, the finicky eater I am was willing to try new foods (I didn’t want to be a wuss), and now many of my favorite foods are those I had never tried before.
Clam chowder is now my number one go to soup, and since vacationing in North Carolina every year, I just can’t get enough!
This recipe is so easy the family will think to took a cooking class.
And the flavor and presentation of your Clam Chowder won’t give you away!
The canned clams are already to go into the soup. But you can also buy Little neck clams and scrub them yourself. I prefer not to.
The flour and potatoes make a starchy base for the chowder. The heavy cream is what helps thicken it but also makes the base creamy.
I like to top my chowder with finely chopped parsley. You can also add bacon or croutons on top instead. That depends on your own taste.
Once your family smells the aroma coming from the kitchen there will be no calling them to sit down at the table.
The steam rising from the bowls will let them know to pick up a spoon and start enjoying this New England Creamy Clam Chowder!
Hearty Minestrone Soup
We were treated to an early anniversary meal the other night by my eldest son.
He chose the restaurant. It was one close to us that I have always wanted to try.
We had heard many good reviews about the place. And the daughter of one of the ladies I go to church with owns it.
I was shocked and surprised by the multiple course meals.
The amount of food, and the ambience of this little hole in the wall restaurant was so romantic.
This meal, fit for a king and queen, took almost two hours to devour eat. We started with a glass of wine which I haven’t had in over 40 years. (I am definitely a beer girl).
I learned that I love Pies Porter water wine.
Next was the WARM homemade bread and. breadsticks.
They were followed by an antipasto tray.
The next course was an Italian salad with homemade dressing.
A bowl of this Minestrone Soup, and a dish of spaghetti with homemade noodles and marinara sauce filled both of us nit leaving room for the rest of the meal.
And a cake was provided to us for the dessert.
All this before the main entree of Broasted Chicken and ribs
I think this soup was the piece de resistance.
Chock full of vegetables in a hearty broth, this Minestrone Soup Was everything you could want.
We could smell the soup before it came to the table.
It was quiet after that as both my husband and I enjoyed the flavors of the soup.
Pairing the hearty soup with the long breadsticks Coated in garlic, butter and salt this Minestrone Was the best I ever had.
Of course when I got home I immediately looked for a recipe similar to The one we enjoyed.
This was it!
And the fact it came from the site Everyday Diabetic Recipes I knew that I could have all I wanted.
Watercress Soup
I found this recipe took me outside my comfort zone as I never cooked watercress before.
Since I loved the soup at a restaurant I tried it anyway.
And I am glad I did.
Raw watercress has a peppery taste, similar to other related plants like wasabi. Once cooked the pepperiness of watercress diminishes, leaving a distinctive vegetable flavor.
Clean the watercress well in a couple of changes of cold water to make sure there’s no grit. You can use all the leaves and tender stems, but any stems that feel especially tough and woody, don’t use it.
The deep green color and the unique flavor of the Watercress Soup makes it a perfect addition to a special dinner.
It is also a great choice for a get together for any reason.
I followed the recipe step by step.
The directions looked harder than it actually was to make.
It also didn’t take as long as I allowed for a first attempt.
I will definitely make this Watercress Soup again.
My family found it delicious.
Some added different toppings according to their preferences.
If you want a creamier soup, blend a few tablespoons of heavy cream into the soup as you blend.
You can garnish this soup in any number of ways, from a spoonful of yogurt or cream swirled over the top with fresh herbs, to a handful of seeds or bits of crumbled bacon strewn over the top.
For me, the bacon idea sounded interesting. So for my bowl I swirled a bit of yogurt and added crumbled bacon to finish it off.
Sorry I didn’t take pictures of those finished bowls.
My only excuse is we were too busy eating our soup!
Creamy Ham Chowder
What is the best, creamiest and simplest Ham Chowder you can eat?
Why, this Homemade chowder from your own kitchen!
Treat yourself to a creamy, colorful, and low-cal ham chowder.
From crisp onions and carrots to cheesy broccoli florets, this heartwarming, slow-cooked dinner is brimming with healthy and delicious toss-ins.
My mom would add steamed bright green colored broccoli florets to give us any extra vitamins and nutrients we needed.
An entire serving is only 171 calories.
Well, before you add the bread and butter to the table.
Being a bacon girl, I like to add bacon bits to the top. This isn’t as healthy but it adds an additional flavor that I like in a chowder.
And this Ham Chowder was made just to add bacon.
The more ways I find to add bacon, the more recipes I make
Do I hear a YES?
I love to use my Crock Pot all year long.
And when I use it to make soups, chilis or stews it inspires me to start early and let them cook all day.
I can close my eyes right now and smell that delicious aroma coming from the kitchen.
Anticipating how hungry my family is when they come home I make sure the table is already set.
I never forget to have all their favorite add-ins in bowls already on the table.
some sort of bread or room temperature butter is also within their reach.
A nice Caesar salad, or better yet a spinach salad with my Hot Bacon Dressing is already prepared to ear after the chowder.
I love to have my salad last give more time for conversation. That way I can catch up on how the day went for everyone.
Mealtime should be family time. And with everyone in my home running in different directions, I take it when I can get it.
I have some great tips on getting the most from your crock pot at How Not To Make The Worst Crock Pot Meal Ever.
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