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What's Your Favorite Cold Soup ?
I love soup. It's one of my favorite things to cook and to eat. But in the Summertime, when it's 95° out, the last thing you want to do is sit down to a bowl of steaming hot soup. This is the time of year when I like a refreshing Cold Soup. The most famous Cold Soup is Gazpacho. Here's its entry in Larousse Gastronomique:
Gazpacho A Spanish soup, originally a labourer's dish, made with bread and vegetables, including cucumber, tomato, onion and red (bell) pepper. Seasoned with olive oil and garlic and sharpened with vinegar, the soup is served ice cold.
Most modern cooks dispense with the bread and just put the vegetable ingredients in a blender. There are a million variations on Gazpacho; many different Spanish regional styles and a host of more modern inventions. In Turkey they do a Cold Cucumber Soup that is just
Tzatziki, chilled and thinned to soup consistency with water. Another classic Cold Soup is Vichyssoise. Again from
Larousse:
Vichyssoise A leek and potato soup thickened with fresh cream and served cold, garnished with chopped chives. Vichyssoise was created in the United States by Louis Diat, a French chef who named the soup after his local town. As a child, he had eaten the soup for breakfast when he lived in a village near Vichy in France. The name vichyssoise is also given to any cold soup based on potatoes and another vegetable, such as courgettes (zucchini).
The leek and potato soup that Chef Diat based his invention on is a French classic. At its most basic it is just leeks and potatoes, 50/50 by weight, chopped, sweated in butter and then boiled in water or stock until the potatoes are tender. When the soup is served country-style, with the potatoes still in pieces, it is called
Soupe á la Bonne Femme. When it is puréed it is called
Potage Parmentier after
Antoine-Augustin Parmentier who made the potato popular with a skeptical French public in the 18th century. Although the
Escoffier Cookbook puts Vichyssoise in a class with the country-style original,
751—LEEK AND POTATO SOUP, CALLED A LA BONNE FEMME OR VICHYSSOISE OR CREME GAULOISE, this is probably a mistake by the American editors. I have never seen it served as other than a purée. From the
Cookbook:
658—PUREE OF POTATOES, CALLED PARMENTIER
Finely mince the white of two medium leeks, and fry them without browning in one oz. of butter. Add three medium-sized peeled and quartered potatoes, one pint of white consommé (2), and cook quickly. The moment the potatoes seem soft to the touch crush them and rub them through a sieve.
Finish the pureé with some boiled milk or thin cream, heat until the boil is reached, and add butter when serving.
Garnish with two tablespoons of small croutons fried in butter and some chervil pluches.
This soup may be prepared as a velouté or a cream.
My Pokey-Leekey differs slightly from the classic. I usually throw in 4 or 5 cloves of garlic and some sliced onion. I don't finish with boiled milk and I use a stick blender instead of a sieve. While most recipes for Vichyssoise call for the addition of heavy cream before chilling, I chill the soup first and add cream just before serving. Sometimes I throw in a couple of peeled, seeded and chopped poblano chiles towards the end of the cooking process to make a
Potage Parmentier á la Mexicaine. I have never tried chilling this version for a Green Vichyssoise. Maybe I'll do that sometime this week.
I'll close with my All-Time Favorite Cold Soup: Cold Avocado Soup. I don't remember where this recipe came from. It looks like something I might have gotten from Sunset magazine. It is quick, easy and delicious. There is no cooking involved, you do it all in the blender. The ingredients are: chicken stock, avocados, garlic, lemon juice, cilantro, serrano chile, cream and salt and pepper. All ingredients should be cold, all quantities más o menos. Here's the procedure: Step 1: Rough chop some garlic, I used 4 cloves, put it in the blender. Add a small handful of chopped cilantro and some chopped serrano chile. I always cut mine open and scrape out the seeds before chopping. I suppose you could just cut the chile crosswise and throw it in seeds and all, up to you. I cut mine pretty fine.That's a monster serrano incidentally, I only used about 3/4 of it. Squeeze in the juice of half a lemon.
Step 2: Put the lid on the blender and pulse it three or four times. Remove the lid, stick your nose in and sniff. Yum. Step 3: Cut the avocado in large chunks and put them in the blender. Add some chicken stock and pulse the blender a few more times. Adjust the consistency by adding chicken stock as needed and start blending. When it's all blended smooth, add some heavy cream and blend it in. Check for S&P and you're done. Pour it into bowls, garnish with chopped cilantro and chow down.
OK, there's my offering for this week, Cold Soups including the recipe for my absolute favorite. How 'bout it CUA foodies,
What's Your Favorite Cold Soup ?
Latest Updates on Kossack Regional Meet-Up News Can Be Found Below the Orange Group Hug.
Let's Build Communities!
Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events.
We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in.
If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
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THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Saturday, June 21st
Seattle & Puget Sound Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Pyramid Alehouse, Brewery & Restaurant
1201 First Avenue South • Seattle
ORGANIZER: Send John Crapper a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. John Crapper
2. John Crapper's SO
3. T-BoneApollo
4. dougiemac
5. Regina in a Sears Kit House
6. Regina's SO
7. doingbusinessas
8. Eagle Keeper
9. Piren
10. SilverWillow
11. Sarge in Seattle
12. LarisaW
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Maybees:
Assof
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Latest diary: Seattle Kossacks Dare to Dream 6/21/14
Sunday, June 22nd
March for Democracy Arrival Rally
Call for a national Constitutional Convention for the sole purpose of proposing an amendment to end big money's corruption of our democracy.
If you can't be there in person please sign this petition.
TIME: 2:00 PM ↞ NOTE TIME CHANGE!!
LOCATION: California State Capitol
1315 10th St • Sacramento
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to connect with other Kossacks there.
RSVPs:
1. Shockwave
2. navajo
3. Meteor Blades
4. Glen The Plumber
5. remembrance
6. TLO™
7.
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Maybees:
dharmasyd (needs a caretaker, please kosmail her)
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Latest diary: Something big is brewing in California
Tuesday, June 24th
NYC Kossacks Roll Out the Red Carpet for Dave in Northridge
TIME: 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Donburiya
137 East 47th Street (Lex & 3rd) • New York
(Not wheelchair accessible, entrance is 2 steps down)
ORGANIZER: Send sidnora a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. sidnora
2. Dave in Northridge
3. Avilyn
4. plf515
5. followyourbliss
6. MBNYC
7. cohenzee
8. joanbrooker
9. waterstreet2013
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Maybees:
Laura Clawson
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Latest diary: NYC Meetup 6/24: Come Meet Dave in Northridge
Sunday, June 29th
Koscadia Kossacks Meet-up at Catnip Manor with Ojibwa!
TIME: 1:00 PM
LOCATION: Home of the Reed sisters
Address given by kosmail • Portland
ORGANIZER: Send Sara R a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Ojibwa
2. Sara R
3. winglion
4. llbear
5. watercarrier4diogenes
6. Oregon Gal
7. loggersbrat
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Koscadia Meet Up, Sunday, June 29
Friday, July 4th
Mexican Kossacks Connect with San Miguel Democrats Abroad 10th Anniversary
Tickets (including both entry and buffet) are available at 200 pesos (about $16) each at La Conexion (Calle Aldama #3 office only); Solutions (Calle Mesones #57 office only) and at the door. Entire event covered against rainout.
Buffet will include hamburgers, “new and improved” veggie burgers, hot dogs, coleslaw, potato salad and carrot cake. The cash bar will feature various beers, wines, soft drinks and bottled water. Sponsored by San Miguel Democrats Abroad.
TIME: Noon - 3:00 PM
LOCATION: La Hacienda de San Miguel
On the street between Salida Celaya and the Libramiento • San Miguel de Allende
ORGANIZER: Send roberb7 a kosmail to make arrangements to connect with other Kossacks.
RSVPs:
1. roberb7
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Democrats Abroad - San Miguel de Allende, Mexico Chapter
Wednesday, July 16th
Annual Cheers & Jeers Dinner to Kick-Off NN14, Kossacks Only
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Vicente's Cuban Cuisine
1250 Library St • Detroit
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to RSVP.
RSVPs:
1. Common Sense Mainer
2. Bill in Portland Maine
3. smileycreek
4. paradise50
5. side pocket
6. Mrs. side pocket
7. norm
8. maggiejean
9. Shockwave
10. a gilas girl
11. susans
12. Sara R
13. belinda ridgewood
14. sidnora
15. Mr. sidnora
16. thankgodforairamerica
17. brillig
18. mik
19. K1
20. loggersbrat
21. Dave in Northridge
22. 714day
23. NormAl1792
24. texasmom
25. texasdad
26. a gilas girl
27. peregrine kate
28. provokingmeaning
29. justiceputnam
30. tmservo433
31. Mark E Andersen
32. Son of Mark E Andersen
33. winkk
34. theRoaringGirl
35. shermanesq
36. Doggie269
37. shanikka
38. jakedog42
39. ramara
40. skohayes
41. DebtorsPrison
42. gmats
43. Adam Blomeke
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Daily Kos Staff:
1. Markos Moulitsas
2. Susan Gardner
3. Will Rockafellow
4. Meteor Blades
5. Joan McCarter
6. Faith Gardner
7. Laura Clawson
8. Chris Bowers
9. navajo
10. Jen Hayden
11. Elisa Batista
12. Denise Oliver-Velez
44. LuLu
45. Chicklette
46. PerfectStormer
47. 4Freedom
48. DemSign
49. vicki
50. Cedwyn
51. jotter
52. aha aha
53. Dennis Shreefer
54. ohmydem
55. Brainwrap
56. Mrs. Brainwrap
57. Eclectablog aka Chris Savage
58. Anne Savage
59. BlueBarnStormer
60. sandiegodem
61. Pam Miles
62. TexMex
63. linkage
64. 2thanks
65. bunnygirl60
66. binkaroni
67. zenbassoon
68. nomandates
69. thepegster
70. Ooooh
71. figbash
72. TrueBlueMajority
Maybees: N in Seattle, Turbonerd, winifred3
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Latest diary: Connect! Unite! Act! ATTN: DC, Tucson & Seattle Meet-up Info! +Q: Roll Call, Are You Attending NN14?
Friday, July 18th
Daily Kos Detroit VA Hospital Service Project
Sara R delivers 65 quilts, hand knit scarves and hats, books, 65 teddy bears, hand made greeting cards, and phone cards from the DK Quilt Guild, WAYWO, the Readers & Book Lovers, IGTNT and individual Kossacks to the nursing home at the Detroit VA Hospital. This is a wonderful project that many people can be involved with even if they don't attend the convention. If you care about veterans in a nursing home this is your project. Please volunteer to help.
DELIVERY TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Volunteer Office of the Detroit VA Hospital
4646 John R St. • Detroit
ORGANIZER: Send Sara R a Kosmail to participate in making the gifts and/or deliver them.
RSVPs to help deliver gifts:
1. Sara R
2. NormAl1792
3. Winifred
4. linkage (videographer)
5.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: DK Quilt Guild: What Inspires You?
Plenary Session Tables during the rest of the Convention
ORGANIZER: Send navajo a kosmail to have a seat reserved for you in the main ballroom of the convention center for the big events. These table will be there so we can all find each other as a group. The seating is not assigned. You can float from table to table. I'm only counting to see how many tables I need to reserve.
Cheers & Jeers Table:
1. Common Sense Mainer
2. Bill in Portland Maine
3. brillig
4. mik
5. K1
6. vicki
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Motor City Kossacks:
1. peregrine kate
2. provokingmeaning
3. 4Freedom
4. Brainwrap
5. Mrs. Brainwrap
6. Eclectablog aka Chris Savage
7. 2thanks
8. Sydneyluv
9. DoReMI
10. Mideedah
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SFKossacks Table:
1. navajo
2. Meteor Blades
3. smileycreek
4. paradise50
5. side pocket
6. Mrs. side pocket
7. Tim Delaney
8. maggiejean
9. Jeff in CA
10. Mrs. Jeff in CA
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SFKossacks Table II:
1. a gilas girl
2. justiceputnam
3. Dragon5616
4. DebtorsPrison
5. tmservo433
6. shanikka
7. aha aha
8. jotter
9. norm
10. figbash
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Los Angeles Table:
1. Shockwave
2. susans
3. Dave in Northridge
4. gmats
5. 714day
6. jakedog42
7.
8.
9.
10.
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New York Table:
1. sidnora
2. Mr. sidnora
3. belinda ridgewood
4. thankgodforairamerica
5. Denise Oliver-Velez
6. hayden
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Seattle & Portland Table:
1. Lefty Coaster
2. Sara R
3. loggersbrat
4. N in Seattle
5. Cedwyn
6. linkage
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Texas/Oklahoma/New Mexico Table:
1. texasmom
2. texasdad
3. TexMex
4. nomandates
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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Maybees:
kjoftherock, angry marmot, boran2, Turbonerd, northerntier, northerntier's SO,
Sunday, July 20th
Kansas Missouri Kossacks Meet-up with Lyon County Democrats & Governor Candidate Paul Davis
Paul Davis (D-KS) who is running against Sam Brownback will be present. Potluck Dinner format and short meeting for Kossacks/Democrats afterwards. There will also be several other candidates and a full meeting of the county party.
POTLUCK!
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Emporia Senior Center
603 E 12th Ave • Emporia, Kansas
ORGANIZER: Send tmservo433 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. tmservo433
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Tim Huelskamp Asserts Benghazi is a Bipartisan Conspiracy.. And the Man who Could Beat him this year
Saturday, July 26th
Meet the Candidates in Hutchinson, Kansas!
• Jean Shodorf (Candidate for Secretary of State)
• Brian E Davis (Candidate for State House of Representatives)
• Jim Sherow (Candidate for 1st District US House of Representatives)
• Jill Docking (Candidate, Lt. Governor)
• Various County Party Leadership
TIME: 11:00-3:00 PM
LOCATION: Pyle Park
100 E. Ave. B • Hutchinson
BBQ, watermelon and other food provided. Bring a lawn chair.
ORGANIZER: Send tmservo433 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. tmservo433
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Major Kansas Events: Your Chance to Change a State
Sunday, July 27th
Phoenix Kossacks Roll Out the Red Carpet for navajo
Event will be potluck, so please sign up here with food, beverages or booze
TIME: 4:00 PM
LOCATION: Mother Mag's Rooftop Terrace
(address given privately to RSVPs) • Downtown Phoenix
ORGANIZER: Send Mother Mags a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. Mother Mags
2. navajo
3. Azazello
4. Mrs. Azazello
5. arizonablue
6. Mr. arizonablue
7. Kane in CA
8. puzzled
9. Late Again
10. Mr. Late Again
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Maybees:
rasbobbo
DaNang65
drnatrl
dewey of the desert
Mr. dewey of the desert
PSzymeczek
Skippah
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Latest diary: Arizona meet-up: Summer potluck with Navajo!
Saturday, August 9th
Kansas Missouri Kossacks Picnic - Local Candidate Speaks
Meet at the Hays city park to enjoy a free hamburger/hotdog/watermelon feed. Jim Sherow along with other local candidates will be speaking.
TIME: NOON
LOCATION: Municipal Park
1st and Main • Hays, Kansas
ORGANIZER: Send tmservo433 a kosmail to attend.
RSVPs:
1. tmservo433
2. Skohays
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Major Kansas Events: Your Chance to Change a State
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.