Creamy rich cheesy potato soup topped with smoky cheddar cheese and crisp breadcrumbs. Delicate chunks of tender diced potatoes and spicy cayenne make this a hearty soup to keep you full and warm during the winter chill.
Prep Time 15 mins Cook Time 25 mins
Ingredients (Serves 4)
2 lbs. Russet Potatoes
1 C Heavy Cream
1 1/2 C Chicken or Vegetable Stock
1 T Butter
1/4 C Onions, Minced
1 C Smoked White Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
1/2 C Smoked Gouda Cheese, Shredded
1 T Chives, chopped
1 tsp Liquid Smoke
1 tsp Salt, plus additional to taste
1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
1/8 tsp Cayenne Powder
1/8 tsp White Pepper
Garnish:
1/2 C Plain Croutons or Breadcrumbs
1 T Butter
8 Chive Sprigs
1 Cup Smoked White Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
Optional: Adding 1 T Sugar to soup during cooking will compliment the smoky flavor and round out the spiciness of the cayenne.
Quick, easy, healthy and no fuss egg white frittata. Seared leeks, sautéed vegetables and fresh rosemary leave the dish bursting with savory goodness. You’ll forget its only 115 calories*.
Chef Tip: Not skimping on the fat? Calories don’t scare you? Use whole eggs and whole milk for a richer, creamier frittata.
These mini tacos are small enough for the tiniest fingers but tasty enough to keep biggest of appetites satisfied. Tender, juicy steak pairs perfectly with the Sweet Soy Glaze and Spicy Sauce.
While the weather outside is still frightful, cozying up with a bowl of chicken noodle soup can help you bare through the cabin fever blues. But don’t let grounded planes and cancelled plans keep your taste buds from traveling to exotic destinations. Transform that favored American-style comfort broth into an international inspired soup dish.
1. Off to Thailand
One of my favorite lunchtime spots is the franchise Noodles and Company. The theme of the restaurant focuses on noodle dishes from parts of Asia, America and the Mediterranean. New to the menu is the Thai Hot Pot. This twist on chicken noodle soup comprises rice noodles and shredded chicken swimming in a coconut curry broth. Give your homemade chicken noodle soup a Thai flair by adding red curry paste, a light pour of coconut milk, and a shot of fish sauce.
There is no better vacation than a relaxing beach retreat. And what better place to visit than the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. In attendance for a luxurious destination wedding, I spent a few days combing San Juan for the authentic borinquen eats.
Standing tall in front of the KaDeWe, Berlin’s high fashion shopping mall, Stiltwalkers amaze passers-by
The expressive nature of Berliners create a Cirque du Soleil-esque atmosphere about the city. Sidewalks are transformed into stages rendering a new thrill at the turn of every corner. The dynamic imagery permeates into local establishments and the enchantment continues.
Once a city divided, Berlin has torn down walls of separation to build a city united. On display at Fassbender & Rausch Chocolaterie, chocolate sculptures exhibit pride for a nation overcome with replicas of the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag Building and several statues of the iconic Berlin Bear. Made of 100% chocolate, chocolatiers spend weeks masterfully creating the model versions of the landmarks. Unfortunately, one would have to resist their urge to Willy Wonka their way throughout these works of art as they are strictly “look but don’t touch” showpieces. No worries–chocolate addicts can still satisfy their cravings with the chocolaterie’s plethora of cocoa creations. Step up to the chocolate counter for a bite of handmade slabs of gourmet styled chocolate. From chili to cappuccino to cornflakes, the unique choco-combinations are adventurous and endless.
Watch Chef-Chocolatier George Helwig construct this decadent chocolate showpiece
Not a chocolate fan so much? Sink your teeth into a common German treat called “Marzipankartoffel” or Marzipan Potatoes. C’mon, you didn’t think I would leave the city without delighting in another potato treat, did you? Well, it just so happens that these quirky little bite-sized goodies are made to give the illusion of a white potato but are made completely of the sweet almond paste, marzipan. Rolled up in round spheres and lightly dusted in cocoa powder, you’ll definitely think your eyes are playing tricks on you.
Summing up Berlin’s taste for confectionary artistry, French artist, Laurence Jenkell wraps up our culinary tour through Germany’s capital city with a sweet twist on food for-display-only. Exhibited at Galerie Mensing, just steps beyond Fassbender & Rausch, this eye candy can be appreciated by confectionary connoisseurs around the world. Using plexiglass to form incredible but inedible larger-than-life bonbon sculptures, Jenkell certainly manages to whip up a delightful visual treat. Check out the artist’s works here.
Where hotel rooms require room keys for power, toilets have water-saving flushing options and smart cars and bicycles abound, Berlin packs it in when it comes to going green. But there is one highly esteemed vegetable that our friends in Berlin enjoy sans verde–White Asparagus.
Spargel (A German Favorite)
Opera Italiana is found serving up Italian fare in Berlin’s Charlottenburg area. There, I partook in yet another dish of white asparagus. This perennial favorite will definitely keep you coming back. Dining menus all over had some feature of the vegetable shoot , including a creamy white asparagus soup that I consumed–simply divine!
Carpaccio (thin slices of raw beef) topped with parmesan and arugula served alongside Parmesan-Crusted Asparagus.
pera Italiana is found serving up Italian fare in Berlin’s Charlottenburg area. There, I partook in yet another dish of white asparagus. This perennial favorite will definitely keep you coming back. Dining menus all over had some feature of the vegetable shoot , including a creamy white asparagus soup that I consumed–simply divine!
The lack of color in this form of the long stalky vegetable is due to a lack of sun during its growing season. No chlorophyll, no green. While most Americans may rarely see this bleach-blond version of asparagus in their local produce aisle, German farmer’s markets have their shelves fully stocked during the spring season.
While Maria von Trapp of the Sound of Music may have touted schnitzel with a side of noodles as her favorite thing, it is a warm potato salad that best compliments the crispy breaded German meat dish called “Wiener Schnitzel”. That’s Wiener pronounced with a V like Viener. Our first culinary stop is in the vibrant city of Berlin. Willkommen!
Wiener Schnitzel (breaded veal)
Dining outside on a warm spring day, one could expect lovely sounds of music as astoundingly talented street preformers speckle the downtown cobblestone streets of this city. Serenaded by the mellow tones of the saxophone, I enjoyed this common German combination of meat and potatoes at the fine dining restaurant, Aigner. This schnitzel, while similar in technique to a typical southern country fried steak, differs by letting the the veal shine with minimal seasoning in the breading and complimented with a sweet cranberry jelly. Add a squeeze of lemon and the flavor stage is set. The potato-cucumber salad served “lukewarm” was a creamy bowl of paradise, fully flavored and the epitome of comfort food.
The Bear is a symbol of Berlin. Statues identical to this one are found throughout the city.
Potatoes on the Side 