Cold Banana Soup With Cinnamon Croutons Recipes

CHILLED RED PEPPER SOUP WITH BASIL AND CROUTONS

Steps:

• Char peppers over gas flame or in broiler until blackened on all sides. Wrap in paper bag and let stand 10 minutes. Peel and seed. Cut into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté until brown on edges, about 6 minutes. Add bell peppers and 3 cups stock. Simmer until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer peppers and onion to processor; puree. With machine running, add stock from saucepan and blend until smooth. Mix in dried red pepper. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and chill until cold. (Can be made 1 day ahead.)
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Add bread; stir until brown. Whisk cold soup to blend; thin with more stock if necessary. Spoon into bowls. Top with bread and basil.

COLD CAULIFLOWER SOUP WITH BACON AND CROUTONS

Steps:

• For the croutons: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Arrange the bread cubes in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with the olive oil. Sprinkle the thyme on top and season with the salt and pepper if using. Toss until coated. Bake until golden and crisp, 10 to 12 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• For the bacon: On another baking sheet, arrange the bacon in a single layer. Bake until browned and crisp, 15 to 17 minutes. Drain on paper towels. When cool enough to handle, chop into 1/2-inch pieces and set aside.
• For the soup: In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the celery, shallots, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until aromatic, about 30 seconds. Stir in the chicken broth, thyme and cauliflower. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and cook until the vegetables are tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
• In batches, puree the soup in a food processor until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Cool the soup to room temperature, then refrigerate until ready to serve, at least 2 hours.
• Ladle the chilled soup into bowls and garnish with the croutons and bacon.
• Cook's Note: The soup can also be blended using an immersion blender.

CREAM OF PUMPKIN SOUP WITH CINNAMON CROUTONS

Steps:

• Heat butter in large saucepan or dutch oven; add onion; saute until tender but not brown, about 10 minutes.
• Add 1 can chicken broth; bring to boiling; cover; lower heat; simmer 15 minutes.
• Ladle liquid and onion into container of electric blender; cover.
• Blend until mixture is smooth, about 1 minute.
• Return to saucepan.
• Add remaining chicken broth, pumpkin, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and pepper.
• Stir until smooth.
• Bring to boiling; cover.
• Lower heat; simmer 10 minutes, stirring often.
• Stir in milk and cream; heat just to boiling, but do not boil.
• Taste for seasonings.
• Garnish with cinnamon croutons.
• CINNAMON CROUTONS: Blend 3 Tbls.
• softened butter or margarine with 1 Tbls.
• brown sugar and 1/4 Tsp.
• ground cinnamon in small bowl.
• Spread on the 4 slices of bread.
• Place in single layer on cookie sheet.
• Bake in preheated 400 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes or until toast is crisp and topping is bubbly.
• Cut into small triangles or squares.

BANANA BISQUE WITH CINNAMON CROUTONS

Steps:

• Melt butter and mix with cinnamon.
• Toss with croutons and melt in toaster oven.
• Puree all other ingredients and pour into chilled bowls or mugs.
• Garnish with croutons.
• Serve immediately.

MOSTLY CHERRY FRUIT SOUP WITH SHORTBREAD 'CROUTONS'

Steps:

• To make the soup, bring a small pot of water to a boil. Add the peach and boil for 1 minute. Place immediately in a bowl of cold water to refresh, and slip off the skin. Halve and pit the peach and cut it into 1/2-inch pieces. Set aside.
• Place the wine, water, sugar and lemon juice in a large saucepan over medium heat. Tie the lemon zest, bay leaf, thyme and cinnamon stick together with a string and add to the pan. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat so the liquid simmers and add the peach, plums and cherries. Simmer until the fruit is tender, about 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the spices.
• Place 1 cup of the soup in a food processor or blender and process until smooth. Stir the mixture back into the soup. Refrigerate until cold.
• To make the croutons, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift the flour, sugar, cornstarch and salt together into a medium-size bowl. Rub in the butter. Add the almond extract and use your hands to gently work the mixture until it comes together to form a dough. Butter an 8-inch baking pan. Place the dough in the pan, lightly flour fingertips and press dough into the pan in an even layer. Bake until the dough is very lightly browned, about 15 to 20 minutes. While the shortbread is still warm, cut it into 1-inch squares. Let cool.
• To serve, ladle the soup among 4 bowls. Just before serving, garnish each bowl with shortbread croutons.