Tomato Sweet Potato Bisque With Pesto Grilled Cheese Croutons Recipes

Steps:

• Add the butter to a large soup pot over medium-high heat. Once the butter melts and becomes foamy, add the garlic, onions and ginger and saute until tender and fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add the chipotle pepper and saute for 1 minute longer while breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Add the chicken broth, apple cider and sweet potatoes. Bring to a simmer and cook until the sweet potatoes are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Puree the soup using an immersion blender until smooth and velvety. Finish by stirring in the heavy cream. Top each bowl with sour cream if using.

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, salt, pepper and onion and cook until softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the broth, diced tomatoes with their liquid, tomato sauce, Parmesan rind and 1/4 cup of the basil and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 30 minutes. Remove the Parmesan rind and puree the soup with an immersion blender until smooth.
• In a small saucepan, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter. Whisk in the flour and continue to cook, whisking, until the mixture is lightly browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the cream and cook, stirring, until thickened. Add the cream mixture to the soup and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until the soup has thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a medium skillet over medium heat until foamy. Place 2 of the bread slices in the skillet; top each bread slice with 2 cheese slices, 2 tablespoons of the chopped basil and another bread slice. Cook until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted, about 3 minutes per side. Cut each sandwich into 9 pieces.
• Serve the soup with the grilled cheese croutons and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup basil.

Steps:

• In a large pot or Dutch oven such as Le Creuset, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and cook over medium-low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Stir in the chicken stock, tomatoes, saffron, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Bring the soup to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, fill a medium pot with water, add 2 teaspoons salt, and bring to a boil. Add the orzo and cook for 7 minutes. (It will finish cooking in the soup.) Drain the orzo and add it to the soup. Stir in the cream, return the soup to a simmer, and cook for 10 more minutes, stirring frequently.
• Serve hot with Grilled Cheese Croutons scattered on top.
• Heat a panini grill. Place the four slices of bread on a cutting board and brush lightly with the melted butter, being sure to butter the corners. Turn the slices over and pile Gruyere on two of the slices. Place the remaining two slices of bread on top of the Gruyere, buttered sides up.
• Grill the sandwiches on the panini grill for about 5 minutes, until nicely browned. Place on a cutting board, allow to rest for 1 minute, and cut into 1-inch cubes. Yield: 4 to 6 servings
• Note: The Grilled Cheese Crouton recipe was halved for the taping of this episode.

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon each butter and oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the celery, carrot, onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until the vegetables are lightly browned and soft, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the paprika and red pepper flakes. Sprinkle with salt and a few grinds of pepper.
• Pour the wine over the vegetables and simmer until the wine evaporates, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the marinara and chicken stock. Bring to a boil and then simmer over low heat until all the vegetables are very soft, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat a large nonstick skillet with remaining tablespoons butter and oil over medium high. Place a slice of bread in the skillet and sprinkle the cheese on it. Place the remaining slice of bread on top of the cheese and press down with a spatula. Cook, flipping halfway through, until the cheese melts and both slices of the bread are crispy and golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Cut the cheesy bread into bite-size pieces. Set aside.
• Puree the soup with an immersion blender until completely smooth. Ladle the soup into 4 deep bowls, top with the cheesy croutons and sprinkle with the basil.

Steps:

• Add butter and oil to a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Once the butter foams, add the onion and garlic and saute until soft, about 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the corn and cook for 1 more minute.
• Add the sweet potatoes, chicken broth, apple juice, 2 teaspoons seasoning, white pepper, remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt, allspice, and cayenne. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes are cooked through and fork tender, about 20 minutes.
• Use an immersion blender and puree the bisque until smooth. Taste for seasoning, then stir in the heavy cream. Rewarm over low heat. Transfer to serving bowls and garnish with Sage and Savory Croutons.
• Heat olive oil in saucepan over low heat. Carefully add the bread to the saucepan and toss until browned. While browning, sprinkle with poultry seasoning. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and carrots; cook and stir 3-5 minutes or until tender. Add red pepper and garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in tomatoes and broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, 15 to 20 minutes., Meanwhile, place half-slices of bread 2 in. apart on two baking sheets lined with greased foil. Drape a quarter-slice of cheese over each piece. Cut olive slices to resemble eyes and mouths; top cheese with olive pieces. Bake until cheese is melted, 3-5 minutes. Cool slightly., Puree soup using an immersion blender. Or cool soup slightly and puree in batches in a blender. Return to pan and stir in pesto, salt and pepper; heat through. Divide soup evenly among five bowls. Top each with ghost croutons. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Heat a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Add the oil and heat until just hot. Add the carrot, celery, onion, and ½ teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions just turn translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Add the jalapeno, garlic, thyme, and basil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are nice and brown, about 7 minutes.
• Stir in the tomatoes with their juices, then stir in the stock and sweet potato.
• Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a steady simmer. Simmer until the sweet potato is very, very tender, about 1 hour. The sweet potatoes should be soft enough to mash easily with the back of a spoon.
• Remove and discard the thyme sprigs.
• Using an immersion blender or stand blender (working in batches if necessary), puree until silky smooth.
• Reheat the soup over low heat.
• Stir in the cream.
• For a thinner soup, stir in more stock.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve hot.