soups and stews Archives - East of Eden Cooking

2018/03/102018/03/11

Easy Tortellini Soup

Easy to make, freezer friendly and left overs for lunch worthy, Easy Tortellini Soup is winter comfort in every spoonful.

“In March the soft rains continued, and each storm waited courteously until its predecessor sank beneath the ground. Then warmth flooded the valley and the earth burst into bloom—yellow and blue and gold.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

My cooking goals aren’t as aspirational as my baking. Not surprised, are you? Cooking is more often than not about getting something on the table by 6pm. Healthy, nutritious and with bold, inviting flavor always are part of my choices, but so is easy to prepare and easy to clean up. I’m pretty sure you agree with these matters of daily importance, therefore I offer you Easy Tortellini Soup. READ MORE . . .

2017/11/082018/02/09

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Apples and Coconut Milk

Roast sweet butternut squash with apples for an easy autumn soup.

Lee had his instructions. On the evening of the day of the announcement he was to cook a turkey and bake a cake.
East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

The dreaded holiday dilemma has arrived. May we discuss? It begins with Thanksgiving. The assumption that because we like to cook, we would like to cook more. Clearly, if we cook, we want to cook even more. It rarely occurs to anyone that we would like to be pampered and enjoy Thanksgiving too. Finding a way to change tradition which is heavily reinforced with unstated expectations is a big, big challenge. You will have to speak up, make new plans or heavens forbid, switch up the menu. Otherwise it will be the same old exhausting Thanksgiving.

Cook as much as you want, but just enough so you can enjoy the celebration too! I want to thank picky daughter for teaching me how to enjoy Thanksgiving. Everyone who arrives at her place brings their assigned dishes. Looks like I have stuffing and candied yams this year, fabulous! If she’s busy working all week she picks up her items at the store. No fussy expectations, just good food and company. I couldn’t ask for a better Thanksgiving. READ MORE . . .

2014/12/152016/02/14

Roasted Cauliflower Soup with Hazelnuts and Sage

Late Autumn in the Salinas Valley

“Adam sat looking at the mountains to the east of Salinas, with the notable point of Fremont’s Peak dominating. The air was crystalline as it sometimes is when rain is coming. And then the light rain began to blow on the wind although the sky was not properly covered with cloud.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Lettuces, sweet broccoli, kale and a huge head of cauliflower filled my refrigerator. A gift from
Tanamura and Antle, it was the last of the locally grown Salinas Valley produce until spring. Production has moved to Yuma for the winter. I felt the tug of the cold, wet autumn day. Leaves were blowing off the trees skittering across the lawn, street and roof tops. Finally the rain began. It was a good day to make a huge pot of luxurious cauliflower soup. READ MORE . . .

2013/02/182017/12/26

Potato Leek Soup with Celery

Memories

“You walked west on Main Street until it bent. That’s where Castroville Street crossed Main Street. Castroville Street is now called Market Street, God knows why. Streets used to be named for the place they aimed at. Thus, Castroville Street, if you followed it nine miles, brought you to Castroville, Alisal Street to Alisal, and so forth.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

With a path of north to south Main Street ambles across the length of Salinas. We even have North Main and South Main. Main Street is the compass that dissects Salinas into east and west. It is common to use “southside” or “eastside” or “northside” as nouns in speaking. “Where do you live? I live on the northside.” Rather than, “I live on the north side of town.” As if sides were being taken in a sporting match those who are third and forth generation native born to the city frown on these new descriptors. As the city has grown the north-east side has swelled and the city tilts eastward, away from the coast. Bound by the some of the richest agricultural fields in the valley there is no room for growth on the west or south sides of the city. READ MORE . . .