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Today, being St. Patrick's Day, I've seen so many beautiful "green" dishes. It's is purely, by coincidence, that I have this vibrantly green, beautiful (and very tasty) Creamy Asparagus Soup to share with all of you. This recipe is in the April 2010 issue of Cook's Country-- one of my favorite recipe magazines. I took these photos on Monday night, shortly before all my natural lighting was gone. For that reason, you can't really appreciate what a verdant green this soup turned out to be. There are two secret ingredients, that the test kitchen of Cook's Country (same owners as Cook's Illustrated) added that delivered surprisingly great results. What are they? First, let's start with the basics-- fresh asparagus. This bunch is from…
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%20Creamy%20Asparagus%20Soup%20to%20share%20with%20all%20of%20you.%20%20This%20recipe%20is%20in%20the%20April%202010%20issue%20of%20Cook's%20Country--%20one%20of%20my%20favorite%20recipe%20magazines.%20I%20took%20these%20photos%20on%20Monday%20night,%20shortly%20before%20all%20my%20natural%20lighting%20was%20gone.%20%20For%20that%20reason,%20you%20can't%20really%20appreciate%20what%20a%20verdant%20green%20this%20soup%20turned%20out%20to%20be.%20There%20are%20two%20secret%20ingredients,%20that%20the%20test%20kitchen%20of%20Cook's%20Country%20(same%20owners%20as%20Cook's%20Illustrated)%20added%20that%20delivered%20surprisingly%20great%20results.%20What%20are%20they?%20%20First,%20let's%20start%20with%20the%20basics--%20fresh%20asparagus.%20%20This%20bunch%20is%20from%20Mexico,%20but%20today%20I%20see%20that%20locally%20grown%20California%20asparagus%20has%20hit%20the%20markets%20at%20$1.97%20a%20pound.%20I'm%20so%20happy,%20because%20we%20love%20asparagus.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ETIP:%20I%20save%20these%20blue%20bands.%20They%20are%20perfect%20for%20tying%20bouquet%20garni%20(herbs%20for%20seasoning%20soup%20stock%20and%20stews).%20%20Kitchen%20twine%20is%20great,%20but%20these%20hold%20up%20really%20well%20in%20hot%20liquids.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ERight%20here,%20I%20could%20have%20eaten%20all%20of%20these.%20OK.%20I%20ate%20one.%20It%20was%20delicious.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EAdd%20remaining%20butter%20and%20asparagus,%20leeks,%201/2%20tablespoon%20salt,%20and%201/8%20teaspoon%20pepper%20to%20empty%20pot%20and%20cook%20over%20medium-low%20heat,%20stirring%20occasionally,%20until%20vegetables%20are%20softened,%20about%2010%20minutes.The%20secret%20ingredients%20are%20about%20to%20be%20revealed...%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EAdd%20broth%20to%20pot%20and%20bring%20to%20boil%20over%20medium-high%20heat.%20Reduce%20heat%20to%20medium-low%20and%20simmer%20until%20vegetables%20are%20tender,%20about%205%20minutes.%20Stir%20in%20peas%20and%20Parmesan.%20Peas%20and%20Parmesan?%20%20Yes,%20that's%20right.%20Cook's%20Country%20found%20that%20the%20peas%20gave%20a%20vibrant%20green%20color%20to%20the%20soup,%20but%20taste%20testers%20couldn't%20detect%20the%20peas.%20%20The%20Parmesan's%20slightly%20nutty%20flavor%20was%20a%20good%20balance%20to%20the%20asparagus,%20the%20article%20said.%20Now,%20to%20make%20the%20soup%20creamy....%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EPuree%20soup%20in%20blender%20in%202%20batches%20and%20return%20to%20pot.%20However,%20kudos%20to%20you%20if%20you%20have%20an%20immersion%20blender.%20I've%20written%20this%20dozens%20of%20times--%20I%20find%20it%20so%20much%20easier%20to%20puree%20my%20soups%20right%20in%20the%20pot!%20Why%20bother%20pouring%20soups,%20in%20batches,%20into%20a%20blender%20and%20then%20back%20into%20the%20pot?%20%20Whatever%20floats%20your%20boat.%20Last,%20stir%20in%20cream,%20lemon%20juice,%20and%20asparagus%20tips,%20and%20cook%20until%20heated%20through,%20about%202%20minutes.%20Season%20with%20salt%20and%20pepper.%20Serve.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThis%20is%20the%20truth--%20I%20made%20this%20soup%20in%20less%20than%2030%20minutes!%20Of%20course,%20how%20did%20it%20taste,%20you%20wonder?%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EWinner,%20winner,%20winner!%20%20Craig%20and%20I%20both%20loved%20this%20soup%20a%20lot.%20%20The%20first%20thing%20we%20commented%20about%20was%20the%20pretty%20color.%20%20We%20do%20taste%20with%20our%20eyes,%20don't%20we?%20%20The%20balance%20of%20asparagus%20flavor%20was%20perfect.%20%20Craig%20didn't%20taste%20the%20peas%20nor%20the%20Parmesan%20cheese.%20%20These%20surprising%20ingredients%20complemented%20the%20overall%20flavor%20of%20the%20soup.%20%20I%20think%20you%20could%20easily%20substitute%20the%20heavy%20cream%20for%20half%20and%20half,%20or%20even%20milk.%20%20To%20us,%201/4%20cup%20of%20heavy%20cream%20for%20six%20servings%20isn't%20too%20big%20an%20indulgence.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EThis%20soup%20is%20worthy%20of%20company.%20%20It's%20elegant,%20flavorful%20and%20not%20too%20heavy.%20It's%20a%20perfect%20Spring%20Time%20Soup.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3ESpring%20has%20arrived%20in%20my%20hometown!%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3Ethe%20end%20of%20each%20recipe%20post.%20If%20you%20cannot%20view%20it,%20you%20might%20be%20using%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3Ean%20older%20version%20of%20Internet%20Explorer.%20You%20should%20be%20able%20to%20view%20my%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3Erecipe%20cards%20with%20Safari,%20Mozilla,%20Google%20Chrome%20and%20Internet%20Explorer.%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EIf%20you%20still%20can't%20view%20the%20recipe%20card,%20all%20of%20my%20recipes%20are%20stored%20on%3C/p%3E){kind=link}