Some days just call for a creamy soup. And yesterday was one of those days. We were being totally drenched by yet another “atmospheric river”, so a dish that was both delicious and comforting was definitely called for. The soup also had to be free of any ingredients that offered even the slightest bit of fiber. (A test is in the offing for one of us that requires a restrictive diet. If you are over 60, you probably know what test I am not going to specify out of a desire to exhibit a bit of decorum.) Anyway, this soup recipe that I found on the spendwithpennies.com site fit the bill to a tee. And because luck was with me, I happened to have all the ingredients.
Now I know what you are thinking. This is hardly a soup for someone who is professing to be only eating a healthy, low carbohydrate diet. But desperate times call for desperate measures. And you’ve got to know, that for me not to start a soup with a mirepoix (a mixture of sautéed chopped vegetables) goes against every sacred soup making technique I hold dear. But for the greater good, I had to make this one-time concession. And boy am I glad I did. This was truly a yummy and exceedingly easy soup to fix. And a soup that I’m positive everyone in your family would absolutely devour. I mean really, who doesn’t love mac and cheese? And that’s really all this is. Mac and cheese in a soup bowl.
Well, that’s it for today. The sun is shining here on Camano Island and our yard is calling to me. It’s been so darn wet lately that pruning and plantings that should have been done a month ago, remain unaccomplished. Of course, some of the problem is enervation. But I think sloth has a lot to do with it too. So, I have demanded my body to get up and get going outside. Wish me luck. Oh, and do make this soup. It’s fabulous!
Peace and love to all.
*For a bit of interesting information on “atmospheric rivers”, see below.
4 c. chicken broth
1¼ c. elbow macaroni
2 T. unsalted butter
2 T. unbleached all-purpose flour
½ tsp. dry mustard
1 c. milk (I use whole milk)
½ tsp. granulated garlic
½ tsp. granulated onion
¼ tsp. kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
4 oz. cream cheese
1½ c. grated sharp cheddar cheese, plus more for a garnish
¾ c. grated Swiss cheese or additional cheddar cheese
paprika
In a medium pot, bring the chicken broth to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook until al dente. Remove the al dente pasta from the pot and run it under cold water to prevent the pasta from continuing to cook. Set aside. Keep the broth.
Melt the butter in a separate saucepan and whisk in the flour and dry mustard. Cook for 1 minute.
Slowly whisk in the milk a little at a time until smooth. Then whisk in the granulated garlic, granulated onion, salt, and pepper. Cook over medium heat while whisking until thick and bubbly. Let boil for about 1 minute.
Reduce the heat to medium-low and whisk in the cream cheese until all the cream cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
Whisk the chicken broth into the cream cheese mixture. Cook until just starting to boil. Then remove from heat and stir in the cheddar and Swiss cheeses. Whisk until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning. Stir in the al dente pasta and serve immediately.
Looks lovely when garnished with a bit more grated cheese and just a sprinkle of paprika.
*According to NOAA, “Atmospheric rivers are relatively long, narrow regions in the atmosphere – like rivers in the sky – that transport most of the water vapor outside of the tropics. These columns of vapor move with the weather, carrying an amount of water vapor roughly equivalent to the average flow of water at the mouth of the Mississippi River. When the atmospheric rivers make landfall, they often release this water vapor in the form of rain or snow.
Although atmospheric rivers come in many shapes and sizes, those that contain the largest amounts of water vapor and the strongest winds can create extreme rainfall and floods, often by stalling over watersheds vulnerable to flooding. These events can disrupt travel, induce mudslides and cause catastrophic damage to life and property. A well-known example is the “Pineapple Express,” a strong atmospheric river that is capable of bringing moisture from the tropics near Hawaii over to the U.S. West Coast.”