Sweet Love and Ginger

Soup/Stew

Light Vegetable Chowder

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A light and healthy recipe for vegetable chowder that warms from the inside out while still being low in calories.

Light Vegetable Chowder

Chili, rainy days have come on strong in the north east.

This is the season when most people grumble and groan about cold weather, mud puddles, raking leaves and seasonal colds that float around. I, on the other hand revel in this season. The smell of fresh rain, the way my hair curls more than usual, there is plenty of reason to cuddle under blankets, drink hot tea and eat soup. Really I love this season.

I also really love soup, though Chuck isn’t quite as big a fan; he prefers something that he can sink his teeth into. I could eat soup all year round if allowed. Minestrone or Chicken and Dumplings are definitely my favorites. A Couple weekends ago while he was off hunting I made myself a big batch of vegetable chowder, enough to last me the weekend and then some. It was one of my better ideas since it was healthy, filling warm, and easy to reheat.

I pureed some cauliflower to thicken the soup and reduce the amount of cream and flour. Then I added all my favorite vegetables and spices. I made some homemade bread (recipe coming soon hopefully) to slurp up every last bit. It was the perfect dish for a chilly weekend.

Light Vegetable Chowder

 

Light Vegetable Chowder
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 6 Servings
Ingredients
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
  • 3 cloves of garlic
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 6 cups low sodium vegetable broth, divided
  • 3 cups of cauliflower florets
  • 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
  • 2 stalks celery, chopped fine
  • 1 tablespoon flower
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 Sprig of thyme
  • 1 russet potato, peeled & chopped
  • 1 cup broccoli florets
Instructions
  1. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large thick bottomed sauce pan over medium high heat. Stir in half of the onion and 2 cloves of garlic. Cook for one minute and stir in 2 cups of vegetable broth and 2 cups of cauliflower florets. Cover and cook for another 8 to 10 minutes or until the cauliflower is for tender. Transfer the contents of the pot to a blender and puree until smooth. Set aside.
  2. In the same pan add the rest of the butter and onion and saute for 1 to 2 minutes or until the onion is soft and fragrant. Stir in the garlic, carrots, and celery. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes stirring occasionally.
  3. Add the flour and cook, while whisking until browned, about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the chicken broth, milk, bay leaf, thyme, potato, cauliflower, and broccoli. Cook for 2 minutes while stirring. Add the pureed cauliflower to the pan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for another 5 to 10 minutes or until the potatoes are fork tender.
  4. Adjust seasonings and serve.
Clean Corn Chowder

Clean Corn Chowder

Irish Vegetable Soup

Irish Vegetable Soup

Tuscan Bean Soup

Tuscan Bean Soup

 

Chuck’s Venison Chili

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Chuck's Venison Chili

September ushers in a whole new season of food in our house; a season that I always get excited about. Warm beverages, comfy layers, fall colors, are always awesome, but for me, in fall it’s the food; squash, soups, tomato sauces, roasts, stews, corn and peppers abound. I get excited thinking about the smell of simmering sauces and the anticipation of a slow cooked meal coming to fruition without passing out from heat stroke like one does in the summer months.

Even Chuck gets excited about some of his favorite dishes this time of year, Squash Soup with Smoked Cheddar, Lamb & Leek Shepard’s Pie, Chicken Pot Pie, and Spaghetti and Meatballs. Now, there is one dish that I don’t even attempt to make any more this time of year, because Chuck and his father have perfected it, and that is chili. There’s no need for me to get involved with this time-honored tradition of father-son culinary expertise. They have it down.

Chucks Venison Chili

Chili is one of those often contested American dishes, If this were Texas they would denounce this recipe for its beans, but in the Northeast, this is how we do it, and how we like it; filling and hearty with meat, beans, and lots of thick flavorful sauce. We top it with sour cream, cheddar cheese, chives, olives, parsley or whatever else our hearts desire, but usually with a side of cornbread. I’ve also been known to eat leftovers cold and straight from the pan with crackers, because hey why not?

Now Chuck will make it with any number of meat types, but the favorite in our house uses venison. If you prefer it does work with just about any other type of ground meat, however. If you are looking for more info on how we prepare our venison grinds, check out this post.

Chucks Venison Chili

Chuck’s Venison Chili

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 lb ground venison
  • ½ a medium onion (chopped)
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 jalapeño pepper (diced)
  • 2 tablespoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 15 ounce can red kidney beans, drained & rinsed
  • 1 15 ounce can black or pinto beans
  • 1/2 cup corn (fresh or frozen)
  • 1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
  • 1 14.5 ounce can tomato sauce
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  1. Heat oil over medium high heat in a large thick bottomed sauce pan or Dutch oven. Add venison, and onion, and cook until the venison is browned, breaking it up into crumbles.
  2. Add garlic, jalapeno, and spices stirring well to combine. Cook for an additional minute.
  3. Stir in the beans, corn, and tomatoes until well blended.
  4. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for 8 to 10 minutes.
  5. Remove from heat and serve.

Get this recipe and more in my Venison eCookbook

Similar Recipes:

Venison with Morel Sauce

Venison with Morel Sauce

Sauted Ramps

Sauteed Ramps

Venison Burgers

Venison Burgers

30 Minute Beef Stew

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This winter has been cold, like my face burns in the morning when I go to start my car, and my car doesn’t want to start because it’s so cold kind of cold. For this reason I am convinced that I have perfected all of my favorite soups this year. What is better in bitter cold negative temperatures than soup?
30 Minute Beef Stew

Stew might be the only acceptable answer to that question. I’ve gotten pretty good on the stew front as well if I do say so myself.

This recipe is a perfect example. It’s a basic beef stew, nothing fancy going on over here, except it can be done in 30 minutes. Yes I know slow simmering beef stew is the classic way to make it. I know we miss the wafting stew smell in the air after hours and hours of slow simmering, but truth be told I just don’t have all that time.
I have a job! I’m a dog mom! I have family that wants to see me and things to do. That’s just how it is. I don’t have all the time in the world to be standing by the stove, even though it’s probably the warmest spot to be right now, I just can’t do it. Thus this delicious compromise was born. It has all the wonderful flavor of the slow simmered version without all that time.

 

30 Minute Beef Stew

Random note: I also like to add frozen green beans at the end sometimes, because a meal is not complete without some green in it, and again I don’t always have the time to make a salad.

30 Minute Beef Stew
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 4 Servings
Ingredients
  • 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 lbs top sirloin steaks cut into ½ inch pieces
  • 1/3 cup all purpose flour
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 yellow onion, peeled & diced
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 2 celery ribs, diced
  • 1 cup baby carrots, halved
  • 2-3 large white potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 3 cups of beef broth
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
Instructions
  1. In a large thick bottomed skillet heat the oil over medium high heat.
  2. Toss the meat in flour, salt and pepper and then add to the oil. Stir and cook for about a minute while the meat browns.
  3. Add the onions and cook for another 2-3 minutes or until the onions begin to brown.
  4. Add the garlic, celery, carrots. Cook for another 2 minutes before adding the potato, broth, thyme, and bay leaf.
  5. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cook, uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
  6. Remove the bay leaf, and adjust seasonings. Serves warm.

 

Classic Venison Stew

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Hunting season is/has been in full swing around these parts.
That basically means that I don’t see hide nor hair from Chuck, my father, my
brother, and many of the other men in my life. I like this time of year because
I get a lot done, I get to have girly dates, and it means that venison is/will
be in the house soon.

I know a number of people have varying feeling on hunting,
its ramifications, and ethics, but I love it. I grew up with it as an
integral part of my life, and couldn’t imagine my life without it. No it is not
necessary for my personal survival, but it holds a place in my heart from the tradition
and the ties to my Native American ancestors. Another bonus is that I really
love most meats. I have eaten elk, pheasant, turkey, deer, rabbit, squirrel, a
plethora of fish and I’m sure a few other animals that I or someone close to me
has killed, and it doesn’t bother me one bit. We are careful with the food that
we catch, and are sure to use as much of it as possible, even saving some of
the furs.

I hope that this honesty doesn’t turn any of you off, but it’s
a part of me, my heritage and is no different from any of the other things I share
on this blog.

This recipe is a basic stew recipe that showcases the
natural flavor of the venison. I know that many people think that the meat can
be gamey, so for those people I suggest adding a little more thyme and just a
teaspoon or two of Worcestershire sauce, while the vegetables are sautéing. In
my experience these little tweaks really change the flavor, and help with the
gaminess. Please let me know if you have any other suggestions, I’d love to
hear them!

Classic Venison Stew

2 tbsp butter

2 large leeks, diced

2 large carrots, peeled and chopped

2 large parsnips, peeled and chopped

3 large celery stalks, chopped

2 tbsp flour

1 tsp thyme

1 tsp pepper

2 cups potatoes peeled and chopped

1 lb venison, cut into 1-2 inch pieces

3 cups low sodium beef or vegetable broth

In a large thick bottomed sauce pan melt butter and sauté
leeks, carrots, parsnip, and celery for 2-3 minutes, or until they begin to
soften. Stir in flour, thyme, pepper and cook for an additional minute before adding
venison meat, potatoes, and broth. Stir well to combine then bring to a boil,
before reducing to a simmer. Cover and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Adjust
seasonings and serve warm. (Serves 4-6)




How do you feel about hunting? I’m interested to know.