Freshness and Goodness!

Mothers Day Yesterday, a seasonably cool and fresh day, with enough chill to inspire a soup and bread menu.  And my day was meatless, though it wasn't our intent!  Daughter recently was at Panera and had her fav Broccoli Cheese soup and we searched and found a similar recipe online.  I put hubby to work making Italian Herb bread in the bread machine, and the last hour, we all worked to create a mom pleasing meal!  And to top it off, I am including a buttery Lemon Pound Cake, to top with some simple berries, this recipe from my Mom's archives.  She noted, she served in 1980 to her Allspice Group, a church ladies soirre, my mom was always a celeb in the baking department!
I hope you will try these recipes, with my variations, and real time pics.

Panera Style Broccoli Cheese Soup

Servings:4

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon melted butter
1/2 medium chopped onion
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups half-and-half cream
2 cups chicken stock
1/2 lb fresh broccoli
1 cup carrot, julienned
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
8 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese
salt and pepper
Directions:

1
Sauté onion in butter. Set aside.
2
Cook melted butter and flour using a whisk over medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Stir constantly and add the half & half.
3
Add the chicken stock. Simmer for 20 minutes.
4
Add the broccoli, carrots and onions. Cook over low heat 20-25 minutes.
5
Add salt and pepper. Can be puréed in a blender but I don't. Return to heat and add cheese. Stir in nutmeg.

Lemony English Pound Cake Loaf
makes 1 loaf  (my most fav cake as of this post)
1 c softened unsalted sweet butter
1 c sugar
2 eggs
1 1/4 c all purpose flour
1 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1/2 c milk                Lemon Glaze (recipe follows)
1. Cream butter and sugar in large mixer bowl; add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.  Mix flour, baking powder and salt; add alternately with milk to butter mixture.  Pour batter into greased 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan.  Bake until wooden pick inserted in center is withdrawn clean, 45 min. to 1 hour
2. Meanwhile, make Lemon Glaze.
3.  Pour Lemon Glaze over cake immediately after removing from oven; cool in pan

Lemon Glaze  makes about 1/2 c
1/3 c sugar
1/4 c lemon juice
2 t grated lemon peel
Combine ingredients in small saucepan; heat just to boiling.


Here is one more quick recipe, with fresh ingredients in my refrigerator.

Salmon Pizza...modified from a recipe on About.com, I used frozen salmon, thawed and lightly poached, then assembled. Made this last week, and thought you should give it a try!

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 thawed pizza bread dough
• 3 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 7 oz. fresh or frozen salmon, lightly poached or pan fried
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 1-1/2 cups shredded monterrey jack or cojack cheese
• 1/2 tsp. dried dill weed

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place crust on un-greased baking sheet. In small bowl, combine softened cream cheese and sour cream and mix until smooth. Spread over crust. Top with remaining ingredients, arranging evenly over pizza. Bake at 400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and pizza is hot. Serves 4

Okay, I hope to inspire with a tutorial or two on my next go around...stick with me till then!