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Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Thai-Style Pumpkin Soup

Hey pups! Zim here - kitchen expert! I just love all things kitchen - prep work, cooking, clean up ... and the cool appliances. Mom and I got a new little mixer a couple years ago and I just love it.

Pretty cool, don't you think? Anyroo.... I was thinking about kitchen stuff because our pal Cosmos' Mom is going to have some jaw surgery soon and I was trying to think up a good soup recipe for her. I was a little stumped, because most of the soups I help Mom make are pretty chunky - and Cosi needs one that his mom doesn't have to chew. I asked Stormy if she knew of any good chew-free soups, because number one, she knows everything and number two, she spends a lot of time in the kitchen, too. She said she had the perfect soup in mind, then told me a wonderful story from back when she, Dad, Mom and great-brother Booter first moved into this house...

Mom and Dad were having some nice people over for dinner for the very first time in the new house. All the walls here are white, because Mom loves a clean, crisp look and let's face it, that was pre-Dave, so it's not like she would have chosen the right color(s) anyway! Mom decided to make Thai-Style Pumpkin Soup for one of the courses. In her nice, new, clean, white-walled kitchen. Part of the recipe says to combine a mix of pumpkin, chicken broth and mango nectar with some peanut butter. It also mentions putting it in a blender or food processor. Mom doesn't HAVE a blender, so she grabbed the Cuisinart (that's our food processor's name). To make a long, VERY amusing story short, about one minute before the door bell rang, Mom understood the capacity of the Cuisinart. And let's just say "pumpkin, chicken broth and mango nectar with some peanut butter" doesn't fit. Stormy said it was REALLY cool - stuff flying everywhere, and really nice pumpkin-colored walls. Mom's friend complimented her on the interesting paint technique on the kitchen walls and thought it was an added special touch that Mom's outfit matched the decor. Ha roo roo roo!! Wowzers, I wish I'd been there to help clean up!

Anyroo, the soup is really yummy - Mom's made it since - so I thought I'd share the recipe with you!

Thai-Style Pumpkin Soup
(I think this came from 'Cooking Light')

2 (16-ounce) cans fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin
1 (12-ounce) can mango nectar
1/4 cup reduced-fat chunky peanut butter
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1-1/2 tablespoons minced green onions
1 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon grated orange rind
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 garlic clove, crushed
Chopped fresh cilantro (optional) (I recommend using it - it really adds a fresh
taste!)


Directions:

Combine first 3 ingredients in a large Dutch oven, and bring to a boil.
Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes.
Combine 1 cup pumpkin mixture and peanut butter in a blender or food processor; process until smooth.
(There's a note in the margin of Mom's recipe sheet that reads "Don't use Cuisinart! Use hand
held blender
!" Hmm... interesting!)

Return mixture to pan.
Stir in vinegar and next 5 ingredients (vinegar through garlic); cook 3 minutes
or until thoroughly heated.
Ladle into soup bowls.
Sprinkle with cilantro, if desired.
This makes about six 1-cup servings. Unless you decorate the kitchen with it. Ha roo roo roo!

Well, that's it. Cosmos. Amber said she hopes your mom will give it a whirl, so to speak. (Ha roo roo roo!) It's really tasty, yet chew-free! Except for maybe the cilantro. Maybe she'd let you and Juneau eat it instead!

Play bows and bon appétit! Or is that "bone" appétit? Ha roo roo roo! I've gotta go tell Amber that one!

Zim

18 comments:

  1. "Give it a whirl!".....I like that one! Amber is on good form there! Hey Zim, our family has a very similar story to the Pumpking Soup Decorate The Walls, Floor and Ceiling Story.

    My Jeannie had made some Lobster soup (we are not very grand really, it was a very special occasion!).....my Dad took the filled bowls very carefully from the kitchen to the dining table (like you, very plain decor, white walls etc)......

    At last it was time for him to take his filled bowl to the table.....whereupon he tripped!

    He lost his footing, there was pink lobster soup, everywhere, in his hair, on his shirt, trousers, even months later Jeannie still found splashes and drips, even when she had cleaned everywhere! How she laughed!!!!!! (;0()

    Thank you for sharing the yummy licisous recipe with us, and also your very funny story.

    ooooh we have some questions for Ask Stormy though?

    What is a Dutch Oven? Is it what we call a casserole dish?
    What is Cilantro? (Jeannie thinks it is what we call here, Coriander??)

    As they say we are two Nations with the same language but totally separate words and meanings!!!!!!

    love and licks, and apologies for the long comment! Marvin xxxxx
    PS Did the colour of the Pumpkin soup suit your Mum?

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  2. What a funny story! Soup looks good, too.

    My mom has a recipe that your friend may be able to use. It is very easy. (She is into "very easy".) It doesn't have a name, but we call it "PIZZA SOUP". Hope you like it.


    1 can Cream of Chicken soup
    1 can Tomato Rice soup

    Add 3 1/2 cups milk
    1/2 cup chopped onion
    1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
    1/4 teaspoon dry mustard

    Let come to boil.

    Lots of Koobuss Kisses,
    Koobie

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  3. MMmmmm... yummy. We will have to get our mom to try it. I loved the story about the Cuisinart. We have a food processor too, but it's name is KitchenAid. We have one of those hand held mixers like yours, but with only 5 speeds. My mom doesn't like it because she thinks it's slow, even on 5. Maybe she should get the 9 speed one.

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  5. I love when food flies around the kitchen! Mama then calls the furry clean-up crew. I think soup that contains pumpkin, chicken, and peanut butter would have to be the most delicious soup ever created. I would dip a bagel in it too.
    -Magnum

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  6. Wowwie Zimmie, that sure sounds delicious. Our food processor's name is Cuisinart, too! Maybe they're cousins! I super duper hope that Mom really screws up if she tries to make that soup...our kitchen walls are white, and that would be too much fun to help clean up.

    Licks,
    Marls

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  7. Anonymous1:48 PM

    Zimmie! You are so cute! Wow, that soup sounds yummy! I must see if mom will make it this weekend. My blender that I have is called an Oster! I LOVE when mom gets it out because she is gonna make something yummy!
    Hugs,
    Sitka

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  8. Mom will have to try this because it looks like a really easy recipe to cut in half. Dad doesn't eat ANYTHING especially not soup, so she has to make recipes smaller for just her. (and us, of course)

    thanks for this!!

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  9. Such a funny pup! That soup sure looks yummy, maybe we can woo the lady into making us some. We loved the story, too bad there wasn't any photos of the lovely walls, harooooo!
    Face Licks, M&M

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  10. Oh Zim that story was TOO funny! Anyone who's had a kitchen blunder (or should I say blender?!) can relate to that one...or so Mom says. There's a cooking show on TV where the lady's kitchen gets redecorated to match her outfit every episode. She must have heard about your Mom!
    ECHO

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  11. That was a way funny story Zim!!! That would have been fun to watch and help clean up after too!!!

    Lots of Licks, Ruby

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  12. Your mom's recipie sounds yummy! We will have to try it.

    Our mom makes a mess with that blender thing that you put in the pot (that cooking guy calls it a boat motor?). Very messy.

    Husky Hugs, MayaMarie

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  13. Oh Zim, you are so funny! I can only imagine the soup all over the walls! That made me laugh really hard!!

    Soup sounds yummy, and I really like pumpkin!

    Holly

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  14. Dad says our mom has been there and done that too. A friend was at her old apartment and sprayed salad dressing got all over her dining room wall - and the oil just would not come out of the paint!

    Ahh, we love kitchen messes

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  15. Oh that sounds like very yummy soup. My hooman had tom yum soup last week, she said it was spicy

    ~ Girl girl

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  16. We liked the story about the first time you mom made the soup! We can imagine the wall covered with the mix!!
    Thanks for sharing the recipe!
    Have a nice day
    Lorenza

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  17. Our Mom has made this soup before! She's a soup fanatic. She eats it for breakfast! Even in the summer!

    Cilantro is KEY!!

    Sherman, Penny & Lola

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  18. Marvin: Ha roo, that lobster soup story is GREAT! Wish I'd have been there!

    Koobie: Thanks for the recipe!!! We're going to try it!

    Steve & Kat: Mom and I can even go through cookie dough with the 9-speed. People cookies ... not the good kind!

    Magnum: Events such as this one are why I spend a lot of time in the kitchen!
    Oooh, you should ask Dave about the PUMPKIN BAGELS he stole off the top of the magic cold box a few years ago....

    Marley: You and I have SO much in common - it wouldn't surprise me one BIT if our Cuisinarts are cousins! How COOL!

    Sitka: I hope you try it! And if there's left-over pumpkin, maybe you and Tia could have some!

    Joe Stains: It's REALLY worth trying!

    Macie & Malechai: Sadly, no pictures. It was "pre-digital" days. :( Wow, how I wish I could have helped clean up!

    Echo: "Kitchen blunder/blender"! Ha roo roo roo! Good one!
    Oh, I know that show! I love watching that lady. She always makes a cocktail, too!

    Ruby: Wouldn't it have been fun to be there!?!?

    Maya Marie: I hope you get to try it! Yeah, mom's stick blender can make a mess, too - fortunately for ME! Ha roo roo roo!

    Holly: I can't believe they had that kind of fun before I got here!!!

    Guinness & Shiloh: Kitchen messes are the BEST messes!

    Girl Girl: That sounds YUMMY!

    Lorenza: Stormy said it was REALLY funny when it happened! :)

    Sherman, Penny and lovely Lola: Isn't it great!?!? Mom and Dad love it!

    Play bows all!
    Zim

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