I’m a soupy.
And, it seems, I’m not alone. According to food historians, the main ingredient of the earliest soups on record, dating to 6,000 BC, was hippopotamus. (To keep that in perspective, Cleopatra lived from 69-30 BC.) Most cultures proudly claim their own particular classic. To scroll through more than forty of them, from Erwtensoep (Netherlands) to Kimchi jigae (Korean) to Pho (Vietnamese) is a unique culinary experience.
This week’s French Fridays with Dorie recipe choice, Asparagus Soup, seems rather ho-hum by comparison. Au contraire. It’s finally Springtime in the Rockies. Delicate, young asparagus stalks stand proudly in our produce bins, ripe for the plucking. I grabbed the 2 1/2 pounds necessary for this delicious soup and got to work. Yes, I was supposed to be in Paris this week, the first of my three-week trip to France. I’m not. More about that later.
Instead, I had time to trim off the woody bottoms of the asparagus stalks, boil the remaining parts for 4 to 5 minutes in a large pot of water and then blanch them. Although Dorie suggests retaining the asparagus water for the liquid, which I did, you could also choose to use vegetable or chicken broth.
You see scrumptious roasted mini-veggies. I see frittata. Bernie Grauer Photo
After cooking leeks, onions, shallots and garlic in olive oil and butter, everything but the asparagus is thrown together and left to simmer for 15 minutes. The asparagus comes to the party for the last 5 minutes.
Working in batches, I pureed the soup in my food processor. To be fair, I blitzed the heck out of it for a smooth but thick result. Salt. Pepper. Done.
My Veggie Frittata to accompany Dorie’s Asparagus Soup
Since I didn’t go to France last Friday, I was included in a special birthday celebration on Saturday. My friend, Charlotte, who is not only an extraordinary musician but also a Weber whiz, sent me home with the leftovers from her roasted mini-vegetables platter. The resulting frittata worked wonderfully with this soup. Thanks, Char.
A perfect lunch on my Aspen porch. Creme fraîche and crispy bacon topped the soup.
About France. Last Thursday afternoon I drove to Denver, checked into an airport hotel, confirmed my flight and booked the early morning 5am shuttle to catch my plane. Later in the evening I decided this was not a good time for me to travel. Better to stay on this side of the Pond than the other for now. Yikes. But I went with my gut feeling, folded my wings and returned to Aspen. A disappointing decision in many ways but the right one.
It’s Birthday Time Bernie Grauer Photo
Ruth’s Carrot Cake, the Birthday Boy’s favorite Bernie Grauer Photo
The Birthday Boy, His Cake, and His Cupcake Bernie Grauer Photo
This is where you belong for now Mary. You made the right decision. You have a wonderful group of friends who enjoy what you enjoy–making food special! The asparagus soup sounds delicious! Cherie and I are having ours roasted tonight. Take care my friend!
Mary, we all make decisions, sometimes at the last minute, for reasons that are not known to us at the time. If it was not the right time, there is a reason. Your soup and frittata look amazing, I can see and taste the freshness in the dishes. I am so happy that your are content in your new (and old) stomping grounds!
Whatever the reason is, sometimes we just have to trust our gut feeling. Your soup looks wonderfully green and springy. Have a great weekend.
Mary, Not sure what happened with France but it sounds like you made the right decision for you for now. Hugs XO Your soup looks wonderful, as does the entire meal! Happy Friday!
Good for you for following your gut. Looks like a fun group of friends! Carrot cake is my favorite. Birthday boy has good taste.
How lovely you and your friends shared your love for each other and your love of cooking to make a memorable evening. How fun! Fantastic pictures
You enjoyed your friend´s birthday, made soup and frittata, and seems like you had a great time. We have gut feelings for a reason, it´s all I can say. Enjoy the long weekend!
Paris will be there when you’re ready! You are so blessed with lovely friends.
Your photos look great!
I’d take this over hippopotamus soup every time 🙂 Looks like a wonderful gathering with friends…and I’d love a slice of that humongous carrot cake! I’m sorry you had to delay your trip…like Susan said, Paris will wait for you. xo
it just occurred to me you might not have gone to Paris just so you could make sure I would cook the Mejadra correctly. But all of us are glad you are here to play in our little paradise.
That soup & frittata looks good enough to eat….
You found me out, Donna,dear. However, you did it perfectly and pulled off the entire evening with aplomb.
That can’t possibly be an easy decision but the important thing is you’re at ease with it. FWIW, it’s rainy and cold in Paris this weekend according to my friends (I know, that’s my lame attempt to make you smile). Can’t get over the vibrant colour of the soup! Must tasted like spring too!
Going with your gut is always the right thing to do. Paris has been there a long time and will continue to be there. It looks like you would have missed an awesome party if you’d gone. And, your soup and frittata look like the perfect lunch on the porch. I do love the versatility of frittata.
I have tons of respect for your decision to cancel your trip. It would have been easy to do was expected but you did what was right for you. Your kind of my hero Mary! Your soup, your frittata, and you friends all look wonderful. And the cake, don’t forget the cake. Yum!
As another member of the “cancel the day of the Paris flight” club, I respect your decision and admire the courage it took to go with your intuition. And as usual, I just adored seeing your celebration with friends and that carrot cake looks amazing….carrot cake is one of my favorites ! So your recalculating of the GPS of life has paid off already with wonderful memories. And yes, your asparagus soup a la Dorie looked just fab as well. Knew I should have added bacon 🙂 Thank you also for the lovely ( as always ) comments last week – both of my sons were very touched, as were Nana and I. All the best ~ Tricia
I’m sorry your trip didn’t work out this time, but you’ve got to go with your instincts. I’m glad that you had good friends to celebrate with, instead. Your frittata and soup look like an absolutely perfect lunch.
Love the birthday photos – what a great cake! Sorry to hear you missed out on your Paris trip, but glad it’s the right decision for you. I wasn’t a big fan of this week’s soup – it needed a little more oomph.
PS…thank you for the lovely note, Mary. Steve would want me to take some of his amazing gifts (curiosity, generosity, kindness…) and continue his mission. I am better for having known him…and, like you said, it’s time to live life to the fullest. xo
Mary, your green asparagus soup and your vegetable frittata look fabulous – the soup has a lovely bright green color and the frittata looks just like my kind of food – glad to see that you had a chance to celebrate with your friends with a lot of great food and seem to be feeling better.
All the best and enjoy your long weekend.
Looks like you might have had as much fun as Paris. Good friends are better than the fanciest-schmancy-ist location in the world! Our asparagus season is past, I’m a bit jealous that you’re just starting 🙂
Oh my goodness! Such beautiful food and beautiful friends. It would make it easy to stay. I can’t get over the lovely array. Happy that you had such a wonderful evening (and terrific leftovers!)
I enjoyed this recipe. Made home made corn muffins to go with. I think your frittata looks amazing too.
Life has its own road map, doesn’t it? Sometimes, running with it is all we can do.
Good friends, good soup – life is good 🙂
Hugs
your frittata has me drooling! it must have been a great side to your soup! 🙂 soup on, soupy! 🙂 i hope you make it to France though soon!
You have been moving around a lot lately. I think it is a good sign that you felt like staying put, you may have been a little on the run? Absolutely love the platter of veggies and I just made my first frittata of the season… your soup looks much more appetizing than mine.
Thank you again for putting up my post. It was really cold and wet in the mountains but it was relaxing.
Everything looks wonderful!
I really respect you for having the strength to trust your instincts. It isn’t always easy. You have such a wonderful group of friends. The birthday dinner and soup and frittata lunch both look excellent.