Sunday, February 14, 2010

Dim Sum Sunday - Hot Steamy Soup

It's only appropriate that it's snowing today. It makes me appreciate today's task all the more.
Although it's not so much fun for my Lucky Garden Gnome or....

...Handsome Jake. The soup I chose to make would happily satisfy both the garden gnome and the dog, a hearty Beef Barley soup with chunky vegetables from Cook's Illustrated Best Recipes. The soup itself is very straightforward but I highly urge you to make your own beef stock. Some cooks enjoy the work intensive process of making bread. That's the way I feel about making stocks and soups. I love steaming up the kitchen with deep meaty smells as I brown six pounds of beef shanks and oxtails needed to get that rich beef flavor. The bonus is that you'll have your meat to add to your soup. I don't mind the straining or de-fatting the results. It's that flavor I'm chasing. No store bought broth can touch it.

Beef Barley Soup with Mushrooms

2 T vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped medium
2 medium carrots, chopped medium
12 oz mushrooms
1/2 t dried thyme
1/2 c drained canned diced tomatoes
2 quarts rich beef stock plus 2 cups meat shredded into bite sized pieces
1/2 c pearl barley
1/4 c minced fresh parsley
salt and ground black pepper

Heat half the oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add the onion and carrots and sauté until softened.Add remaining oil and mushrooms. Sauté until mushroom soften and the liquid they throw off evaporates, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the thyme, tomatoes, stock, meat, and the barley. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer until the vegetables and barley are tender, about 45 minutes. Stir in the parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Serve hot and steamy.
With a loaf of hearty bread and some sharp cheddar cheese, let it snow all night. You have your hot bowl to keep you warm and happy.

20 comments:

Making Space said...

Yum! Poor Jake! Gorgeous shrooms! Soup looks fantastic!

I'm up with chicken soup.

Big Shamu said...

And what an inventive soup it is. UP with Cilantro!!

LaDivaCucina said...

Wow, Sham, this looks fabulous and the photos look excellent! (As my husband is playing with our new camera just now!! yay!)

LOVE your garden gnome and Jake!

I came by to tell you I'll have to make my soup and post tomorrow. Forgot we are going to an engagement party so I'll be late! I could have made it today but I think the soup won't be as good reheated tomorrow.

I love the little oil bubble detail and the mushrooms on the soup. You've out done yourself!

C U then, stay warm!

Big Shamu said...

LaDiva, that's cool. Looking forward to Hubby's new camera offerings.

moi said...

Yeah, buddy! What a delicious looking soup! I love those little mushrooms floating so jauntily on top like that.

I'm SUCH an idiot. I did my post early this AM and then ran out of the house having forgotten to hit publish. D'oh! I'm up now, though, with tortellini tomato soup. Brrrrrrr, it's cold outside!

Buzz Kill said...

I wish I had time to make soup let alone my own stock. Someday I'll showoff just like you. Love the mushrooms in the soup and great pics.

The garden gnome is kind of creepy. It's like he's taking Bambi in for dinner - if you know what I mean. Nice job.

Jenny said...

these pictures are great, I love the first two because we rarely get to see the non-food side to your photographic talents. I love soup and I can actually do this in my kitchen. you know, the one without the working stove. :-)

Big Shamu said...

Moi, I chalk it up to frozen brain cells.

Buzz, don't you be messing with my Lucky Garden Gnome. He's da man. Venison is good.

Thanks Boxer. How could I not take that picture of Jakey? He's so cute. The Lucky Garden Gnome stands guard watching my back door. Better than a Gargoyle.

Dani said...

Oh, he is such a handsome snow puppa! They must have been in doggie bliss with all those great smells coming from the kitchen today.

I've never made my own stock before, but it's something I'd like to try.

I'm up with my little bit of everything soup.

Big Shamu said...

I'm trying to imagine Ollie in the snow. I bet he'd love it. Just as much as sitting in the kitchen with Jake and Sarah watching me cook with eagle eyes for any droppage.

Sharon Rudd said...

Inspired by Shamu's photography, and the owner of a digital camera at long last, I've started a little blog to play along with DSS. I think I'm finally ready to go "public" with this merry band of bloggers.

http://eggplanttogo.blogspot.com/2010/02/clean-out-refrigerator-soup.html

MS, great minds think alike. Off to check out everyone else's posts.

Eggy

Big Shamu said...

EGGY!!! Way to go. Welcome. Off to find you.

Aunty Belle said...

yum!

Once again I missed a DS Sunday--an it ain't on account of the dawg eatin' mah homework either.

Granny is back in hospital--so I ain't cookin. Uncle scurries out to find decent take outs.

But yore beef barely is callin' mah name! We eats a fair amount of barley--sometimes a pilaf in place of rice. I likes barely.

Stay warm Shamy!

Sharon Rudd said...

Shamu, because you were so kind as to be the very first commenter on my new little blog, I posted a little something in your honor. Hint: It involves bacon. Thanks too to Dani & MS for checking out my baby bloggy kitchen:

http://eggplanttogo.blogspot.com/

Hope everyone is warm and safe. We’re in the midst of record snowfalls that are already up to 6+ inches since last night and predicted to go to 11. To 11! Makes me think of Spinal Tap, although that was much more fun than this crazy weather.

LaDivaCucina said...

Hey kids, I'm finally up! Come on over for a gander!

Eggy, I stopped by your blog quickly earlier and am mighty impressed. I'll be back again to have a closer look shortly. YUM!

Sharon Rudd said...

Diva, your offering looks spectacular! But about that pool . . . :)

Eggy

Big Shamu said...

Eggy, I tried leaving a comment but the comment box won't pop up.

LaDivaCucina said...

Yeah same here.

Sharon Rudd said...

I think I got the comment thingie to work now. Thanks for your patience with this newbie blogger.

Eggy

Sophie said...

The broth sounds hearty and flavorful. Winter has been lingering around these parts for too long, this soup would be so satisfying for lunch!