No-Cook Raw Corn and Chilled Shrimp Soup Recipe – Sublime Summer Bliss in a Bowl in Just 20 Minutes

July 27, 2011 in Appetizers, Entrees, Healthy Fare, Side Dishes

Corn Soup Square

No-Cook Raw Corn Chilled Soup with Shrimp, Avocado and Cherry Tomato Garnish

About a year ago I discovered raw corn.

Oh, sure, I have feasted for years on the whole-cob hot-and-steamy dripping-butter-to-your-elbows cooked corn. Summer just isn’t complete if you haven’t had your fill of that all-American summer staple. But RAW corn? I never would have tried it in a dish until the last few years of my adventurousness in the kitchen.

Let me tell you what: this soup will make you a believer in raw corn. This is not just any old raw corn recipe. This is Oooh and Aaaahhhhh raw corn. Crave-worthy raw corn. Raw corn to write home about.

This soup, the creation of my culinarily talented mom, Carol, takes minutes to make and yet is sublime and elegant. (Did I just say “elegant” and “corn” in the same post?) I was lucky enough to be in Carol’s kitchen and she and I made it together for the very first time.

Do yourself a huge favor: RUN – do not walk – to your nearest corn stand and scoop up a trunkful of cobs and make this soup. Today. Best summer dish I have had in years!

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Carol Hicks and her Raw Corn Chilled Soup

– posted by Donna

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Carribean Vacation in a Bowl: Coconut Curried Shrimp and Mango Stew

February 9, 2011 in Entrees, Gluten Free

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These days I constantly feel like I am in a scene from Doctor Zhivago in the Siberian wasteland – trudging the frozen trek from my house to my car. From my car to my office. From the grocery store to my house. Wind howling around me. Snow drifts shifting. Polar bears stalking me.

Ok, I exaggerate.

But truly, I am sick of winter!!! Aren’t you? I am daydreaming back to a family after-Christmas trip we took where the Carribean waters were warm, the sun was shining and all was well in the world. Now THAT is how winter should be.

So, to cheer myself up, I decided I could at least have the Carribean in a bowl.

I used curry powder in the broth, but added just a touch of allspice for that Carribean flavor. Delicious. The aroma that fills your house while you’re simmering this stew made me want to put a fruit hat on my head and dance the conga. I swear I heard marimba music in the background!

Shrimp and mango go well together in a salad – so why not a stew? And, yes, I know mangoes are not at their most frugal this time of year, but we only used one here. And they are one ingredient that just screams “Par-tay” to me, so they are a sure bet for beating winter-itis. Hey! They’re uber-healthy too!

Make this and I promise it will banish the winter blues. At least for one meal.

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Make Our Carrot Beet Soup Recipe for National Soup Swap Day: January 22, 2011

January 19, 2011 in Appetizers, Entrees, Healthy Fare, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Entrees

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Beet and Carrot Soup with Queso Fresco and Cilantro Garnish

My name is Donna and I am a soup-aholic.

I absolutely LOVE soup. Especially this time of year where I live in the snowy Rocky Mountains. What’s better on a snowy evening than a bowl of steamy spicy soup with some crusty bread dippers or toasted tortillas? I can’t think of one single thing!

So imagine how thrilled I was to learn of National Soup Swap Day coming up on January 22, 2011. What a great concept – sort of a Cookie Exchange Party, only healthy and comfort food-y. Real simple. You just invite some friends who like to cook to bring soup to your house in labeled quart-sized containers and then you exchange them just like you would at a cookie party. If you invite, say, a total of 8 friends, you have them all bring 8 quarts and each person takes home 8 different quarts of soup. This is the best idea since, well, cookie exchange parties.

Make our uber-healthy and colorful Carrot Beet Soup (above) or some of our other favorite fab frugal cold-weather soups (below).

DSC_7141Gluten Free Gumbo

DSC_6673Oprah’s Famous Vegan Celery Root Soup

DSC_2976African Peanut Soup

DSC_4023Weeknight Chicken Posole

Cheers to all you ‘Soupies’ out there!

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Warm up a Cold Winter's Night with Weeknight Chicken Posole Recipe

January 11, 2010 in Appetizers, Entrees

What could be better on a chilly winter’s night than a bowl of smoky, earthy posole?

Posole is a spicy corn stew and an ancient food that originated in southern Mexico – it has withstood the test of time because it is so easy and flavorful. The native peoples considered corn to be a sacred plant and so posole was a popular and revered dish. I used poblano chiles in this, which are very mild. If you want heat, roast a few jalepenos, too!

This is an incredibly easy version – from grocery bag to table in 45 minutes!

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Health and Prosperity New Year's Soup: Curried Potato, Apple and Kale Soup Recipe

December 31, 2009 in Appetizers, Gluten Free, Healthy Fare, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Entrees

Curried POtato, Apple and Kale Soup

Curried Potato, Apple and Kale Soup

Happy New year from Fab Frugal Food!

There are many foods that traditions say usher in a year of prosperity and health. This flavorful soup recipe features one of my favorite New Year’s foods – kale. (Green represents prosperity as in Big Bucks!) This soup has layers of flavor and has that smooth, comfort-food feel.  A bonus: It is easy and healthy, too. Kale is one of the healthiest foods there is per calorie – the saying should not be “an apple a day,” but “a bunch of kale a day” keeps the doctor away. BOTH fabulous and frugal to boot!

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A New Holiday Culinary Tradition: Chestnuts Roasting in a Yultide Soup

December 21, 2009 in Appetizers, Vegetarian Entrees

Roasted Chestnut Soup with Festive Garnish

Roasted Chestnut Soup with Festive Garnish

I remember walking among the bustling crowds at Times Square a few years ago at Christmas time. There were the usual hot dog and bagel street vendors, but also carts full of roasted chestnuts for sale. It was so fun to get a paper cup full to munch on as we walked along. Chestnuts have a delicate roasted flavor when fresh and warm.

When I saw a recipe for Roasted Chestnut Soup in this month’s Fine Cooking magazine, I knew I had to make some version of this. It turned out so yummy – Our newest holiday culinary tradition begins!

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