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Christmas Soup

Christmas Soup

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Yield: 4

Alton Brown

Sausage, potatoes, and kale make a hearty soup for a cold winter night.
Without fail, I make this Christmas Soup for the holidays every year. In other words, it’s a tradition.
ACTIVE TIME: 30 minutes, TOTAL TIME: 1 hour 30 minutes

  • 1lb kielbasa, sliced ¼-inch thick, on the bias
  • vegetable oil, as needed
  • 8cloves garlic, minced
  • 1lb dried red kidney beans, soaked for at least 4 hours or overnight
  • 2quarts chicken broth
  • 1lb red potatoes, cut into ½-inch cubes
  • 6oz fresh kale, washed, rinsed, and torn into 1-inch pieces
  • ¼cup red wine vinegar
  • ½tsp freshly ground black pepper

Special equipment

  • 5-to 7-quart Dutch oven

Brown the kielbasa in a Dutch oven and set over medium-low heat until it has rendered most of its fat, about 15 minutes. Remove the kielbasa from the pot and set aside. If you do not have at least 2 tsp of fat, add enough vegetable oil to make 2 tsp.

Cook the garlic in the fat for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent the garlic from burning. Add the beans and chicken broth and cook, covered, for 45 minutes. After 45 minutes, stir in the potatoes, cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Toss the kale into the pot, cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes, or just until it is tender, but not mushy.

Sprinkle with the vinegar and pepper and stir to combine. Return the kielbasa to the pot and cook just until heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Serve hot.

Red Beans and Rice Soup

Red Beans and Rice Soup

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Yield: 4 (makes 5 to 6 cups)

adapted from WaPo

It features red beans and rice, of course, but also vegetables, broth and smoked turkey kielbasa. In other words, it’s a complete meal in one pot, plus it’s a great thing to cook when you want to eat well for a few meals without doing extra work.
Note: Divided in half so it only make servings for 4. Also increased the kielbasa to a whole package. Using andouille sausage would be a great change.
Prep: 20 Cook: 45 to 75

  • 1TBS olive oil
  • 14oz smoked turkey kielbasa or andouille sausage, diced
  • 1medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 2cup celery, diced
  • 1cup red bell pepper, diced
  • 2cloves garlic, minced or finely grated
  • 1tsp packed dark brown sugar
  • 1tsp fresh thyme leaves
  • 1bay leaf
  • ½tsp salt
  • 1TBS apple cider vinegar
  • 4cups chicken broth, plus more as needed
  • 215-oz cans canned red beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1cup uncooked basmati or jasmine rice
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • chopped scallions, for garnish
  • crusty boule, for serving

In a large soup pot, heat the oil over medium heat until shimmering.

Add the kielbasa and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.

Add the onion, celery, bell pepper, garlic, brown sugar, thyme, bay leaf and ½ tsp salt and cook, stirring constantly, until softened and aromatic, 3 to 4 minutes.

Add the vinegar and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot, then add the broth, beans and rice.

Cook, uncovered, at a gentle simmer until the rice is cooked through, 30 to 45 minutes, adding more broth if the soup seems too thick.

Season with salt and pepper to taste and discard the bay leaves.

Serve hot, garnished with scallions and a some nice bread.

Storage: Refrigerate for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

Pasta Primavera

Pasta Primavera

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Serves 6 to 8
Adapted from Crème de Colorado Cookbook

1994: This is a labor intensive dish, peeling and seeding tomatoes is a chore, but well worth the effort. I should probably title this Pasta Semi-Primavera since I really like the addition of both chicken and kielbasa. The original didn’t include any meat.

  • 4medium zucchini, sliced (3-4 cups)
  • 2cups small broccoli florets
  • 8-16oz pasta
  • ⅓cup pine nuts
  • ¼cup olive oil
  • 1TBS minced garlic
  • 4large tomatoes, skinned and chopped (about 4 cups)
  • 1cup snow pea pods, cut in half diagonally
  • ¼tsp salt
  • ¼tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 4TBS butter
  • ½cup heavy cream
  • 1cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • ¼cup minced fresh basil (or 1 tsp dried)
  • 1lb chicken, smoked sausage, kielbasa or combination. (Optional)

If using the optional chicken or sausage, cook and set aside.

Bring a gallon of water to a boil in 6-8 quart pot. When boiling add 1 TBS salt and stir.

While the water is heating, prepare a large bowl of ice water. Mix a couple of tsp of salt into the ice water.

Make a small X with a paring knife across the base of the tomatoes. Blanch the tomatoes in the boiling water for 1 minute. Remove and put in the ice water. This should cause the tomato skin toloosen and split at the X. Peal the skin starting at the X. Half the peeled tomatoes at their horizon and remove seeds with a spoon or your fingers. Chop the tomatoes. Set aside.

Blanch the zucchini for 1 minute in the boiling water. Remove from boiling water and plunge into the ice water

Blanch the broccoli for 3-4 minutes in the boiling water until crisp. Remove from boiling water and plunge into the ice water with the zucchini.

Remove the broccoli and zucchini from the ice water to another bowl. Discard the ice water.

Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook to al dente. Slightly under cooked is best.

While the pasta is cooking, spread the pine nuts of a cookie sheet and toast for 2-3 minutes under a broiler or in a toaster oven. Stir and toast for a few more minutes until golden. DON’T BURN the nuts.

Save a cup of the pasta water and then drain the pasta and transfer to the bowl used for the ice water. Add a little oil and stir to coat to prevent sticking.

In the pasta pot, heat the olive oil, add the garlic, tomatoes, zucchini, broccoli, snow pea pods, salt and pepper. Sauté for 2-3 minutes.

Add the pasta, meat, butter, cream, Parmesan, pine nuts and basil. Cook until heated through.

Toss/stir gently. Taste, adjust seasonings and serve.

Note: This dish does not freeze well

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Potato Kielbasa Skillet

Potato Kielbasa Skillet

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Yield: 4 Servings
Adapted from http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/potato-kielbasa-skillet

This is a great simple, tasty meal for a weeknight.

  • 1lb red potatoes, cubed
  • water to cover
  • ¾lb kielbasa, cut into 1/4-inch slices
  • ½cup chopped onion
  • 1TBS olive oil
  • 2TBS brown sugar
  • 2TBS cider vinegar
  • 1TBS Dijon mustard
  • ½tsp dried thyme
  • ¼tsp pepper
  • 4cups fresh baby spinach
  • 5bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
  • Special Equipment: 5-6 qt covered pan.

Cover potatoes with water in a medium sauce pan. Bring to a boil and cook until just tender.

In the covered pan, sauté kielbasa and onion in oil until onion is tender. Add potatoes; sauté 3-5 minutes longer or until kielbasa and potatoes are lightly browned.

Combine the brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, thyme and pepper; stir into skillet. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. Add spinach and bacon; cover, cook until spinach is wilted. Stir as necessary to wilt and combine spinach.

Taste and adjust seasoning and serve.