Category: Veggies

Cheddar Cheesy Broccoli Soup

*cheddar cheesy broccoli soup

Cheddar Cheesy Broccoli Soup

1 head broccoli, medium dice, florets and stalks separated

1 onion, medium dice

1c cooked brown rice *optional

1t chipotle powder

1/2t smoked salt or pink salt

1/4t fresh black pepper

1T raw agave or maple syrup

1T coconut or olive oil

4c water

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Raw Cheddar Cheesy Sauce

1/2c raw cashews

1/4c water

½ red bell pepper

1t chipotle powder

2T nutritional yeast

1T coconut oil or olive oil

1T mellow miso paste

1t brown rice vinegar

1t ume vinegar or lemon juice

Salt and black pepper to taste

In a blender or food processor, place all of the ingredients and blend until smooth.  This can be stored as a dip, a spread or as a cream base for soups!

Bring 6 cups of water to a boil (if you should need more water)

Soup Base:

In a large soup pot, add the oil and sauté the onions with the broccoli stalks until golden and soft. Add the salt, black and red pepper, sweetener and rice if using, sautéing for another 4-5 minutes. Add 4 cups of water and bring to a boil. Add the broccoli florets, reduce heat and continue to simmer until the broccoli has softened and turned bright green.  Turn the heat off. With an immersion blender or in batches in a blender, partially puree the broccoli soup; I like to see some broccoli. Add in desired amount of cheddar cheese cream- 1/4c or more and blend well. Serve immediately with more nutritional yeast.

*Caution: blending hot liquids can be extremely dangerous. Fill the blender only half way and proceed in batches if necessary.

 

Carciofi alla Romana (Roman Style Artichokes)

*artichokes alla romana

I ate these everyday in Rome. Usually, they are stuffed with the parsley pesto- I however, prefer the raw fresh taste of the garlic and greenness of the parsley so I choose to put it on prior to serving. If stuffing them, simply smash the pesto into the leaves of the artichokes and carefully place them in the cooking pot so as not to tip them over while cooking. If there is extra water when finished cooking, simply cook them uncovered for 5 minutes to let some of the water evaporate out- the cooking liquid, oil is SO delicious you wouldn’t want to waste any of it.

Carciofi alla Romana (Roman Style Artichokes)

3T fresh parsley

2-4 cloves fresh garlic

1/2T pink salt or more to taste

Black pepper to taste

1/4-1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

4 artichokes, halved and trimmed of coarse leaves, choke removed, (when trimeed, set aside immersed in lemon water or else they will brown)

1 lemon, cut into wedges, more if desired

In a large pot, place the artichokes, tightly together. Add in a couple of cloves of fresh garlic, the juice of ½ a lemon, squeezing the wedges and leaving them in the cooking water. Add in about 1/4c of the olive oil. Salt and pepper the artichokes and pour about 2-3 cups of water over them. Bring them to a boil over medium hight heat, once boiling, reduce the heat, cover and simmer on low for 45-60 minutes or until tender.

On a clean cutting surface, mince the parsley, garlic, salt and pepper until it makes a dry pesto. In a small bowl, combine the parsley mixture with about 1T of olive oil. Set this aside for when the chokes are done.

When serving, remove the chokes to a platter, serving with the cooking liquid if not to watery, add more fresh lemon and olive oil, salt and pepper. Smear the parsley garlic pesto all ova all of them. Serve at room temperature. Serve with crusty bread or eat them all on their own! BUONNISSIMI.