where the image is meant to titillate and inspire the cook
Crème de Tomates en Croûte is a jaunty soup inspired by Bistro Jeanty, a charming French restaurant in Yountville, CA. Warm spices and smoky chiles elevate my humble tomato soup recipe. Crowned with a golden dome of buttery-flaky puff pastry…this is an elegant, yet easy first course for a dinner party or perhaps even Valentine’s Day?
Hailing from the South of Spain, the refreshing chilled tomato soup called salmorejo is ideal for warm weather entertaining and the perfect soup to kick off a delicious summer.
Traditionally, salmorejo is garnished with chopped hard boiled egg and Serrano ham. Here, as a nod to salmorejo’s close relative, gazpacho, I keep this version meatless by substituting cucumber spirals for the ham. It is often finished with a drizzle of olive oil, however I jazz it up with cool crema and fiery chili oil. A jammy egg sits on top. Purple garlic blossoms make a pretty addition, hinting at the garlic in the soup.
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A Hearty Tomato Soup with Italian Sausage and Spaghetti Squash
flavored with fennel, oregano, red chile flakes, garlic, and a hint of cinnamon
topped with roasted spaghetti squash with olive oil, salt & pepper
garnished with parmesan and basil
The addition of spaghetti squash is mine, but the tomato and sausage soup idea comes from one of my favorite books…and can you believe it – it’s NOT a cookbook?
It is An Affair With A House by world-renowned interior designer Bunny Williams. She talks about being mortified when guests showed up at her (uber-fabulous) home at 11 AM and happened to be starving. She had planned to give a tour of the house and serve coffee since their schedule was tight, but all of a sudden, she had twelve people for lunch and was completely unprepared. But being the ultimate hostess, she made it work, with ease I might add… Bunny advises keeping a few cans of San Marzano tomatoes in the pantry and some Italian Sausages in the freezer. Add a simple salad and a loaf of French bread and you can be a hero too.
I thought you might say, squash? On top of soup? But it is actually a refreshing complement to the soup. Lighter, lower carbs than pasta with a nice roasted flavor and pretty color too. It makes a delightful December luncheon…
Roasted Spaghetti Squash Recipe
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