Warm, Wintery Mushroom Soup -

Ingredients you will need:

2 Quarts chicken stock or mushroom stock - Directions on how to make mushroom stock listed below. 2 cups of fresh mushrooms slice2-3 large carrots - small dice2-3 stalks celery - small dice1 med-large onion - small dice1 fresh thyme sprig1-2 bay leaves - depending on size two if they are really small, or one large one1 tablespoon minced garlic salt & pepper to

Wipe mushrooms with a clean towel to remove all dirt and then slice the mushrooms. You will need to peel and slice on a bias or use a small dice 1/4" x 1/4" for the carrots, celery, onion, thyme sprig and 1-2 bay leaves. The small dice will look better if you decide not to puree your soup. You will then add all ingredients to 2 quarts of chicken stock and cook on medium heat until done/tender.

**If you would like to make a mushroom stock, use a 1 gallon of water and cook 6 cups of mushrooms with 1 Tbsp. of minced garlic, 1 sprig of fresh thyme, 2 bay leaves and cook until reduced by half.

Then you will add the sliced vegetables/ingredients after you have made the stock. And you will cook them on medium heat until they are done/tender which will be approx. 30 minutes.

Remove the thyme and bay leaf before you puree or serve your soup, it was added just for the flavor component it adds during cooking - it will not taste well. Then adjust seasonings salt and pepper to taste. I personally like to puree the soup and run through a strainer; however it taste well both ways.

http://chefshelleypogue.com/

Chef Shelley Pogue, a Cum Laude, Le Cordon Blue graduate and research and development chef for Vertical Sales and Marketing, San Ramon, CA.

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