it has been uncharacteristically cold in southern california. we have had not days, but weeks of rain. there is actual snow visible in the mountains. and the soup cravings continue.

we have another wave of rain coming this weekend and i find few things more comforting than a big bowl of creamy soup. and this creamy mushroom is luscious and packed full of flavor. mushrooms are jammed full of what they call “umami” or savoriness. even though the soup is mostly veggies and a bit of dairy, it will shock you at how “meaty” and satisfying a bowl can be.

creamy mushroom soup

serves: 4

prep time: 15 minutes

inactive time: 1 hour

active time: 45 minutes

total time: 1 hour 45 minutes

ingredients: 2 tbs olive oil. 4 oz cremini mushrooms, chopped. .5 cup dried porcini mushrooms. 3 shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced. 1 leek, white and light green parts thinly sliced. 1 small yukon gold potato, peeled and diced. 1 medium brown onion, diced. 1 garlic clove, minced. 5 sprigs thyme, leaves removed. .25 cup marsala wine. 3 cups water. 1 cup whole milk. 1.5 tsp kosher salt. .5 tsp freshly ground pepper. immersion blender or food processor. your favorite crusty bread for serving.

start by soaking your dried mushrooms in the milk for 1 hour. while your mushrooms are soaking, prep the rest of your vegetables. once your mushrooms have soaked, strain them through a fine mesh strainer. reserve the milk, and roughly chop the soaked porcini mushrooms. in a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat. add in the onions and leeks. season with a third of the salt and pepper and cook until softened and lightly browned, about 5 minutes.

add in cremini and porcini mushrooms, the potato and the thyme.

stir well and allow the cremini mushrooms to begin to sweat. 3-4 minutes. pour in the marsala and stir well. allow the liquid to cook down.

pour in the water and another third of the salt and pepper. bring the liquid to a boil and then reduce it a simmer and allow it to cook for 20 minutes. remove the soup from the heat.

use your immersion blender or food processor to purée the soup till smooth.

add in the shiitake mushrooms and the remaining salt and pepper and bring the soup back to a boil.

pour in the milk and once again bring it to a boil. turn off the heat.

serve with crusty bread and enjoy.

xo, a

creamy mushroom soup

serves: 4

prep time: 15 minutes

inactive time: 1 hour

active time: 45 minutes

total time: 1 hour 45 minutes

ingredients: 2 tbs olive oil. 4 oz cremini mushrooms, chopped. .5 cup dried porcini mushrooms. 3 shiitake mushrooms, thinly sliced. 1 leek, white and light green parts thinly sliced. 1 small yukon gold potato, peeled and diced. 1 medium brown onion, diced. 1 garlic clove, minced. 5 sprigs thyme, leaves removed. .25 cup marsala wine. 3 cups water. 1 cup whole milk. 1.5 tsp kosher salt. .5 tsp freshly ground pepper. immersion blender or food processor. your favorite crusty bread for serving.

start by soaking your dried mushrooms in the milk for 1 hour. while your mushrooms are soaking, prep the rest of your vegetables. once your mushrooms have soaked, strain them through a fine mesh strainer. reserve the milk, and roughly chop the soaked porcini mushrooms. in a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat. add in the onions and leeks. season with a third of the salt and pepper and cook until softened and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. add in cremini and porcini mushrooms, the potato and the thyme. stir well and allow the cremini mushrooms to begin to sweat. 3-4 minutes. pour in the marsala and stir well. allow the liquid to cook down. pour in the water and another third of the salt and pepper. bring the liquid to a boil and then reduce it a simmer and allow it to cook for 20 minutes. remove the soup from the heat. use your immersion blender or food processor to purée the soup till smooth. add in the shiitake mushrooms and the remaining salt and pepper and bring the soup back to a boil. pour in the milk and once again bring it to a boil. turn off the heat. serve with crusty bread and enjoy.

winter is far from my favorite season. but soup season, now that is a different story. i have big giant heart filled eyes when it comes to soup. and nothing says soup like days of rain.

now, consecutive days of rain in orange county are a serious rarity. but in the last few weeks we have had multiple strings of rainy days and it has been glorious. and soup filled.

my childhood rainy days were filled with bowls full of body warming clam chowder. thanks to the combo of ingredients in my kitchen and my glorious soup memories, my adult soup dreams came true with this hearty and delicious salmon and corn chowder.

salmon + corn chowder

serves: 6-8

prep time: 15 minutes

cook time: 45 minutes

total time: 1 hour

ingredients: 1.5 lb salmon, skin removed and cut into chunks. 3 pieces bacon, sliced in .25 inch slices. 2 fresh ears of corn, kernels cut from the cob (or 1 pack of frozen corn, thawed). 1 lb red potatoes (or other waxy potatoes) cut into .5 inch cubes. 1 medium brown onion, diced. 2 carrot stalks, diced. 3 garlic cloves, minced. 5 cup dry white wine. 4 sprigs thyme leaves, stems discarded. .5 tsp ground fennel seeds. 2 tbs flour. 2 cups seafood stock (you could sub chicken or veggie if you can’t get your hands on seafood). 3 cups whole milk. 1 cup whole milk. 1 tbs kosher salt. 1 tsp freshly ground pepper. finely chopped chives for garnish. large heavy pot. slotted spatula.

start by heating your pot to a medium heat and add in your bacon. allow your bacon bits to cook till they are nice and crispy. about 5-7 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes. once your bacon is cooked, use a slotted spoon to remove it from the pan to a paper towel to dry off the excess grease.

season your fish with half the salt and pepper and add the pieces to the hot pot. cook until the fish is just cooked through, about 3-4 minutes a side.

once the fish is cooked (or even a little bit under since it will continue to cook once added back to the soup), remove it from the pot and set it aside in a bowl.

add the onion, celery, potato, corn and garlic to the hot pot. season with half the remaining salt and pepper. cook until the onions are translucent, about 8-10 minutes. stir every couple minutes so they cook evenly. stir in the flour until completely combined into the veggies.

deglaze (scrape up all the brown bits on the bottom of the pan) the pan with the white wine. add in the fennel and thyme.

when all the wine as cooked off, pour in the stock. bring the stock to a boil and then pour in the milk & cream. season with the remaining salt and pepper.

bring the liquid back to a boil and immediately reduce it to a simmer. chop up your bacon bits into smaller crumbles. add all but a tbs of bacon back to the soup. reserve the rest for garnish.

add the salmon and all it’s juices back to the pot. once the liquid simmers once again, turn off the heat.

serve topped with a couple pinches of chives and some bacon crumbles.

xo, a

salmon + corn chowder

serves: 6-8

prep time: 15 minutes

cook time: 45 minutes

total time: 1 hour

ingredients: 1.5 lb salmon, skin removed and cut into chunks. 3 pieces bacon, sliced in .25 inch slices. 2 fresh ears of corn, kernels cut from the cob (or 1 pack of frozen corn, thawed). 1 lb red potatoes (or other waxy potatoes) cut into .5 inch cubes. 1 medium brown onion, diced. 2 carrot stalks, diced. 3 garlic cloves, minced. 5 cup dry white wine. 4 sprigs thyme leaves, stems discarded. .5 tsp ground fennel seeds.  2 tbs flour. 2 cups seafood stock (you could sub chicken or veggie if you can’t get your hands on seafood). 3 cups whole milk. 1 cup whole milk. 1 tbs kosher salt. 1 tsp freshly ground pepper. finely chopped chives for garnish. large heavy pot. slotted spatula.

start by heating your pot to a medium heat and add in your bacon. allow your bacon bits to cook till they are nice and crispy. about 5-7 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes. once your bacon is cooked, use a slotted spoon to remove it from the pan to a paper towel to dry off the excess grease. season your fish with half the salt and pepper and add the pieces to the hot pot. cook until the fish is just cooked through, about 3-4 minutes a side. once the fish is cooked (or even a little bit under since it will continue to cook once added back to the soup), remove it from the pot and set it aside in a bowl. add the onion, celery, potato, corn and garlic to the hot pot. season with half the remaining salt and pepper. cook until the onions are translucent, about 8-10 minutes. stir every couple minutes so they cook evenly. stir in the flour until completely combined into the veggies. deglaze (scrape up all the brown bits on the bottom of the pan) the pan with the white wine. add in the fennel and thyme. when all the wine as cooked off, pour in the stock. bring the stock to a boil and then pour in the milk & cream. season with the remaining salt and pepper. bring the liquid back to a boil and immediately reduce it to a simmer. chop up your bacon bits into smaller crumbles. add all but a tbs of bacon back to the soup. reserve the rest for garnish. add the salmon and all it’s juices back to the pot. once the liquid simmers once again, turn off the heat. serve topped with a couple pinches of chives and some bacon crumbles.