Escarole & Bean Soup and a Memory

This dinner could not have been easier.
Take chicken broth out of the freezer and thaw.
Dice onions, carrots, and celery.
Saute vegetables in a hot pan with olive oil until soft.
Add thawed Chicken Broth with an equal amount of water to the pan.
Heat to boiling.
Add rinsed and sliced escarole.
Add Parmesan rind. Thank you Ralph!
Bring to boil.
Reduce to simmer for 30 minutes, or until escarole is cooked.
Add drained can of beans and season soup with salt and pepper.
Remove Parmesan Rind and serve!

I just have to share a memory that popped up in my head. Tonight 14 years ago was the last time that our entire family gathered around my parent's dining room table. My Mom's wake was 14 years ago tonight and after the wake one of my parent's friends, I am pretty sure it was Mrs. Gilbert, sent over an amazing spread of food from Lorenzo's in West Haven. I remember sitting there in the dining room thinking that my Mom would have been happy that we were all together.

A Simple Soup

Chicken Broth, Sausage, Escarole, Beans. That's it. Flavors were a perfect blend of heat and comfort.

White Bean and Escarole Soup with Spicy Polenta

Another recipe from Compania. White Bean and Escarole Soup with Spicy Polenta. This was very good. Only issue was the beans. I followed the recipe and the beans just not seem to cook enough. I soaked them overnight but just a little too firm. I guess I am a canned bean person. Next time I make this I will use canned beans.

Ah, but the Polenta. I do not think I have met a Polenta recipe that I have not liked. Spicy! A perfect match for this soup.

Both of the recipes were from Bon Appetit. Click here to view the recipes. It is Monday I am too tired to type them. Sorry!

A Most Amazing Soup

Escarole, Chorizo, Chicken and Cannellini Bean Soup. When I finished making this soup I smiled. It looked good and it tasted even better then it looked. I love making meals like this.
I sauteed chopped onion, carrot and celery in a pan with olive oil. When the vegetables were soft I added the washed and chopped escarole. I let the escarole wilt a bit and then added chicken broth, chorizo and chicken (the chicken was from the broth I made in September and had in the freezer). Next I added the rinsed beans and seasoned the pan with salt, pepper and thyme. I let it all simmer and then I squeezed 1/2 a lemon into the pan. It was light and had a fresh taste to it. Perfect for a very cold November night.

Escarole and Bean Soup

Is the any better way to end a day than with a bowl of soup?

I just love this soup. It screams for Italian bread. The broth was so good. Not my usual broth this time. Over the weekend I inventoried what I had in the freezer and cabinets. The only ingredient I had to buy was the escarole. I sauteed chopped onion, celery and carrots. There was some bean stock in the freezer and some Knorr Chicken Stock in the cabinet. I added the stock to the sauteed vegetables. I brought the stock to a boil and added the chicken stock. The broth was good. I did not season it other then adding thyme and crushed red pepper. I added a head of chopped escarole, let that simmer until the escarole was tender. Next I added some cooked chicken meat, had that in the freezer too, and a can of drained and rinsed Cannelini beans. Bon Appetit!

Escarole and Bean Soup

Another comfort food. I even used dried beans this time. I soaked them over night and cooked them until tender. I added a rind of Parmesan cheese that my brother-in-law gave me (Score!) and added the chopped escarole. After the escarole was tender I seasoned the soup with salt, pepper and crushed red pepper. Oh and don't forget the Italian bread!

Escarole and Bean Soup

I had a bit of baking to do this past weekend so I needed a soup recipe that was fast.

I sauteed chopped onions. Added the washed and chopped escarole. Homemade chicken broth, beans and seasonings - salt, pepper, crushed red pepper. Done!



What did we have for dinner a year ago...
Crazy Crust Pizza! 







What did we have for dinner 2 years ago...
Skillet Gnocchi and Chard and Chicken

Escarole and Bean Soup

About a week ago I mentioned I picked up that Prosciutto end and froze some of it. Well I used some in this soup. I sauteed onion and carrots. Added escarole. After escarole was wilted added chopped up prosciutto. Then I added Chicken broth and cannellini beans. Seasoned with salt, pepper and crushed red pepper. Tonight it was pouring rain out so this soup hit the spot. Had some No Knead Bread for dunking.