Vegetable Soup with Quinoa, Beer Bread with Herbs!

I don't know why I'm so indecisive lately, but I'm finding it harder and harder to make up my mind about which soup to make each week. I just want to pick the perfect one, I guess. At any rate, this week I think the perfect soup is Vegetable with Quinoa, Beefy or Vegetarian.

Vegetable soup is one of my favorite things as I have so many ingredients to choose from depending on what looks good at the market. Suffice it to say both versions will be chock full of vitamin rich vegetables of all colors from red cabbage to yellow squash to green peas. A hint of tomato in the broth will add a nice acidity and the quinoa will make each bowl satisfying and full of protein.

I'm loving the idea of an herb-y beer bread little loaves this week. Remember, it may be warm today, but it's going to be soup weather again in a matter of HOURS! Be prepared!

Soup:

1 quart/$8    2 quarts/$15      3 quarts/$21     4 quarts/$28

Bread:

$2.50/loaf

As usual, I accept cash, check, Paypal or Visa/Mastercard/etc. Delivery available as far as inner ring suburbs (Webster, U City, inside 170), and you can always arrange pick up here in South City. I hope to have soup done by Thursday and will need all deliveries/pick ups made by Friday afternoon/evening please! Email me to order (please specify beef or vegetarian): clp772@gmail.com, cattmkitchen@gmail.com.

Thank you!

Black Bean and Sweet Potato/Split Pea with Ham/Madeleines

This week I will bring back the Black Bean and Sweet Potato  stew I made earlier this season. I plan on loading it full of vegetables including carrots, celery, onions, garlic (lots of garlic!), a variety of peppers, a splash of tomatoes, and for a bit of sweetness as a counterpoint to the savory spice, bite-sized chunks of sweet potatoes. I want to keep it vegetarian, so I will add homemade soy chorizo to round out the flavors. This is a hearty and filling bowl that you can eat as is; but if you want, it would be delicious served over your favorite grain like brown rice, quinoa, or couscous.

The second soup this week is Split Pea with Ham and Barley. You'll get the creamy pea soup along with barley and a bit of potato for heartiness. Carrots, celery, onions, plus herbs and spices round out the rich flavor, along with smoky salty ham.

Both of these soups freeze well!

My sweet tooth is a bit out of control so all I can think of is a dessert this week. And mini-madeleines it shall be! Dark chocolate or white chocolate dipped if you so desire, plain if you don't! FYI, madeleines are a buttery French cake-like cookie with a hint of lemon baked in a shell-shaped mold (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeleine_(cake) ).

Soup
1 quart/$8     2 quarts/$15     3 quarts/$22     4 quarts/$28

Cookies
$5/doz (I can mix and match plain and choco dipped!)

Since I'm starting a bit late this week, I have shorter turnaround time. Please get your order to me by 10:00 a.m. on Thursday. Pick up/delivery should be by Friday afternoon and into the weekend. As always, I accept cash, check, credit, and Paypal. Please email your orders to: cattmkitchen@gmail.com or clp772@gmail.com. You can also message me on Facebook!

Italian Wedding and Vegetarian Curried Lentil

Hello and happy January!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season! Who's ready for soup? I know I am!

This week I am finally going to make Italian Wedding Soup. This rich, brothy soup features vitamin-packed spinach, little meatballs made of a combo of spicy sausage and turkey (to keep it a bit leaner), and a small pasta for body and extra goodness. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!

For the vegetarians this week it shall be a spicy, thick Curried Lentil. I will combine a few different varieties of lentils (red, brown, and French!) for fantastic texture and superior flavor, plus add assorted vegetables, and gorgeous Indian spices for a low-fat, vitamin-packed soup that will stick to your ribs and keep you warm and cozy.

I have a lovely Christmas tree-shaped rosemary topiary that's just dying to be plucked and used to top small (approx. 1lb.) ciabatta loaves.

I've had too long of a break; I'm ready to cook! Who wants soup?

The facts:

Soup:

1 quart/$8     2 quarts/$15      3 quarts/$22     4 quarts/$28

Loaves:

$3/each

To order, email me: cattmkitchen@gmail.com or clp772@gmail.com. Delivery/pickup will be towards the end of the week, before the weekend if possible. You can also message me on Facebook or you can text me if you have my number! I'm aiming for Friday/Saturday delivery and pick up!