Xmas Eve 2010 supper

Herb crusted lamb chops with sweet potato mash, young carrots and braised asparagus

Winter soup ideas

I like to make soups in winters - here are 2 of my favorite recipes:

Thai Carrot, Sweet Potato and Coriander Soup

1. Sweat a finely-diced onion with 2 cloves of garlic. Add in one sweet potato (peeled and sliced), two carrots and cook for a few more minutes. Add about 1 liter of vegetable stock and simmer for 30 minutes. Add a handful of fresh coriander.
2. Process the soup in a blender in batches. Once pureed, add in 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, salt and pepper.

4-Mushroom and Fennel Soup

1. Slice 2 fennel bulbs, cover in a tray with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast at 350F for about 30 minutes.
2. Sweat a small onion and a few cloves of garlic in a large knob of butter. Add in about 1lb of mixed mushrooms - I used button mushrooms, baby bella, porcini and shiitake but you can use anything. Chanterelles and oyster mushrooms are also nice. Cook for about 15 minutes.
3. Add 1 liter of vegetable stock and simmer for another 15 minutes. Add the roasted fennel and then process the soup in a blender in batches.
4. Add to the soup a handful of freshly chopped parsley. Salt and pepper to taste. You can also add in a little heavy cream at this point if you want.
5. Serve with gruyere toasties!