will delurk for soup
January 9th, 2007 @ 1:13 am | domestic, food, miscellany | Post a Comment
How is it that I am always out of town when the bloggers get together to implement some new bloggy fun event? I got married smack in the middle of NaBloPoMo and now, during National Delurking Week, I’m about to go out of town for six whole days!
Side note: Does anyone else worry that perhaps National Delurking Week was actually weeks ago and we are all getting the memo late, as it passes down the blog food chain? You know like those chain emails that say today is National Tell Your Friend How Much Her Spam Means To You Or You Will Surely Get Hit By A Bus Day but really that day was OFFICIALLY way long ago and you are at the end of a very long list of spam?
And does that mean you are safe from that whole bus thing after all?
Anyway.
I promise that if you (yes, you, out there!) delurk to say hi in the comments, I will come visit your site and say hi too. It just may not be this week. Or, um, next week. But I’ll come over sometime, I swear! (Actually, I do try to visit all of your sites. I just don’t always comment. But I’m reading!)
And because y’all are an especially demanding bunch, I am going to post my recipe for Better Than The Authentic Stuff Tortilla Soup. I began with a Williams Sonoma Soup recipe but pretty much bastardized it to make it my own. And also? I don’t measure. So you get train of thought cooking instructions! (after the jump)
Tortilla Soup (4 sevings, give or take)
Finely dice about 1/2 yellow onion and saute on medium heat in a little bit of light oil in a soup pot. After a few minutes add in a few cloves of finely chopped garlic and a couple of diced (deseeded) chiles. (If you like hot food add more, for mild food add none or just one. I will use almost any chile they sell at Safeway. Red, green, ancho, whatever. Not too picky here.) Let them all saute for a few minutes.
Meanwhile, set your oven to broil. Place one poblano pepper (halved and seeded) and one bell pepper (I like red or orange, also halved and seeded) face down (skin up) on a baking sheet and throw them in the oven to roast. After about ten minutes they will get charred and bubbly on the top. Take them out and throw them in a Ziploc bag to let them steam a little. After a few minutes take them out and peel off the charred skin. Coarsely chop. (Switch the oven to Bake on 375 or so; you need it later.)
In a blender or food processor throw a can of crushed tomatoes (10 oz approx), a few splashes of chicken (or veggie) stock, the roasted peppers, and the onion/garlic/chile mixture. Blend together for about 12 pulses, to your liking of soup-chunkiness. Pour it all back in your warm pot. Add the rest of a can/jug of chicken stock (32 oz) to the pot and heat that all up on medium. Now you have the base of the soup! Add some cumin, salt, pepper, and whatever else strikes your fancy. I love adding the fresh juice of a lime in here too.
Here is where you can also add in some cooked chicken. I like using rotisserie chicken because the work is all done for you, the flavor is great, and it gets all melty and falls apart in the soup. Perfect. Throw in a couple of handfuls of chicken to your liking. Let it all simmer.
Now you get to make the yummy tortilla chips! Take about 6 corn tortillas and julienne them (that means slice them kinda long and thin). Toss them with a little bit of light oil and salt and pepper. Spread them out on a baking sheet and throw them in the oven to toast. I like to check on them often (they go from done to burnt really quickly) and shuffle them around on the baking sheet with tongs to help them bake evenly. When they seem crispy and are starting to brown, take them out and salt them.
During your breaks, chop up all the accessories for the soup. These include: fresh cilantro, lime wedges, and yummy chunks of avocado. Oh, and some shredded Mexican cheese. Along with the tortilla strips, these go into the soup right when you serve it and not a second sooner!
When everything is ready, I like to put a few ladles of the soup in the bowl and then add a heap of all the toppings in the middle so it looks pretty. No matter what, it’s gonna taste fabulous! You really can’t mess this one up. Ummm, I hope.
*************
Hi! Did I lose you there, somewhere in the middle of the roasting and the julienne-ing? I hope that wasn’t too long and boring. Let me know if you have questions, or just delurk and say hi!
Where oh where did you find that nifty badge? It’s just the sort of thing I’d looove for N.D-L.W! I heart tortilla soup, too - being the Non-Cooker that I am (you should SEE what happened to my cornbread tonight…it looked like the Elephant Man!), we generally go to our favorite little place and get it for lunch with a roll. But I might just try that one, thanks Janet!
PS. There could be a whole new blog dedicated to helping we non-chefs. Suggestions welcome.
written by Maya
January 9th, 2007 @ 4:22 am
I guess since it’s National Delurking Week rather than a week of an international nature, I don’t have to really do anything. Then again, I’ve already delurked so I guess my point is moot!
written by E :)
January 9th, 2007 @ 8:44 am
Hello! I think I’ve actually commented before, but not as often as I lurk. Um, so hi, you rule.
written by Ellen
January 9th, 2007 @ 10:52 am
Not a lurker here (hi, Janet!) but let me just say that I was/am eating soup as I read the title and it was a little eerie. Okay, a lot.
I’m scared to throw this invite on my own site because, well, what if no one lurks? Woe is me.
written by RA
January 9th, 2007 @ 10:55 am
Thanks for posting the recipe! Can’t wait to try it out.
Have a great trip!
written by Audrey
January 9th, 2007 @ 11:00 am
Your mother would be both proud of and uninspired to duplicate this recipe. Where are you going for 6 days? How could I have missed plans for another fun trip!?
written by Alison
January 9th, 2007 @ 11:09 am
HI! Not a lurker, but hi nonetheless. And, I am trying your recipe TODAY. Yippee!
written by elise
January 9th, 2007 @ 11:22 am
Well, I must admit - I am a lurker… I have been reading your blog for a few months now and absolutely love it! (To be honest, I wanted your URL - and that’s how I found you… crazy!) Happy Out-of-Towning!
written by heidikins
January 9th, 2007 @ 12:31 pm
Hiya there!
I found your blog from Maya about a month ago or so, and you are very delightful and I loved reading about your wedding! Also, just to let ya know: I saved my sister from buying the same wedding dress you have. I absolutely love it…on you. Pretty on my sis, too, but I knew it was yours and so I didn’t want to ruin that. She ended up finding one that is totally “her” anyways, so, cool! Thanks for the soup recipe, too!
written by Chiada
January 9th, 2007 @ 12:49 pm
That recipe sounds fabulous!!! I cannot wait to try it!
written by Laurel
January 9th, 2007 @ 1:51 pm
That recipe sounds so awesome. My mom gave me the recipe for something very similar, but she calls it taco soup. Yum!
I, like RA, am afraid of delurking week. What if I have no lurkers?
written by -R-
January 9th, 2007 @ 2:12 pm
Happy de-lurking day! Love your blog and can’t wait to try this recipe!
written by CathyHW
January 9th, 2007 @ 2:39 pm
Hey, I have that recipe book. But I think your recipe is probably better. I’m going to print this out and give it a try. Thanks.
Oh, and I’m not a lurker…but “hello”!
written by Isabel
January 9th, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
Hi… you know I visit everyday… but Hello!
Your soup recipe sounds awesome. Can’t wait to try!
Where are you going? Anywhere fun??
written by Lauren
January 9th, 2007 @ 3:05 pm
Thanks for the recipe…I can’t wait to try it! I love tortilla soup but have not yet found a recipe that I like, so I can’t wait to try this one
written by Debbie
January 9th, 2007 @ 4:30 pm
I think delurking shouldn’t be limited to a single (or belated) week. I don’t know if I’d count as a lurker as this is my first time to your blog, but here I am, out in the open as all readers should be.
Congrats on your wedding!
written by Emily
January 9th, 2007 @ 6:03 pm
I found your site a few months ago and I love reading it! Happy De-Lurking Week!
written by *B*
January 9th, 2007 @ 6:21 pm
Hi! I am not all lurking, as I do comment sometimes, though I do definitely not comment every time. Really enjoy reading your blog.
written by Viviane
January 9th, 2007 @ 6:40 pm
Where are you going?
written by amieable
January 9th, 2007 @ 9:17 pm
I’m not sure if I quite qualify as a lurker as I’ve commented from time to time.
But I love to read your blog–you make me larf. And I loved following you on your wedding planning journey.
written by Lizzy
January 9th, 2007 @ 9:42 pm
Happy De-Lurking week! Have fun!
written by Mk
January 9th, 2007 @ 10:15 pm
Love: That you are my new facebook friend!
Hate: That it is 30 degrees out today.
written by Lindsey
January 10th, 2007 @ 9:10 am
Happy de-lurking week! I thought of you when I used my Dyson last night.
written by Jen
January 10th, 2007 @ 10:09 am
This may be my 344th comment, but I’m all for having an excuse to comment as it is delurking time. Now, I just hope my friends/your fans delurk for their annual comment! Dont be shy
Get excited for AK-Rowdy!
written by alexa
January 10th, 2007 @ 10:28 am
HI!!!!
now will u be my blog-friend too?
written by Durga
January 10th, 2007 @ 11:05 am
OK, so I’m a lurker. Hi.
That’s all I got.
written by Cindy
January 10th, 2007 @ 12:50 pm
I’m not actually de-lurking, because you know I Love Blondes, but thought I’d say hi anyway.
Where are you off to for six days?
written by Zandria
January 10th, 2007 @ 1:10 pm
i’ve never commented before but i’ve been reading for awhile!
happy delurking week!
courtney
written by courtney
January 10th, 2007 @ 3:09 pm
Delurking, but lurk seems like such a seedy word. So I’m demystifying - yes, that feels so much better.
written by C
January 10th, 2007 @ 5:22 pm
I don’t get to comment here as much as I’d like but I always read! Thanks for that recipe… I can’t wait to try it!
written by Kelly
January 11th, 2007 @ 11:35 am
I feel as though I should de-lurk myself (with some gentle nudging from Alexa…) I love your sight- thanks for all the fun posts!
written by Emily
January 11th, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
Yum! That soup sounds delightful! I don’t measure anything either. I can not be restricted to a recipe and exact measurements! I will not conform!
Anyway, I’m not sure if i’ve delurked here before or not, but here I am now…
written by Crystal
January 11th, 2007 @ 7:38 pm
Hope the trip was fun!
I printed the recipe for when I run out of Dream Dinners.
written by Janet
January 12th, 2007 @ 3:42 pm
Great blog! I just happened upon it and I will definitely be back!
written by kj4ever
January 12th, 2007 @ 10:34 pm
That’s kind of sad…I don’t want to think of how far down the blog food chain I am! hehe.
written by Aimee
January 15th, 2007 @ 3:19 am
Hey, just stopped by for the first time too, and now feel obligated to delurk. Even though I technically haven’t actually lurked yet. But let’s not be so technical.
written by angela
January 15th, 2007 @ 9:40 pm
I’m a little late on the de-lurking bandwagon here, but I read your blog regularly and yet don’t think I’ve ever left a comment. So here I am, de-lurking
Love the blog!
written by alana
January 17th, 2007 @ 3:08 pm