Creamy Mushroom Soup Adapted From Cooks Illustrated Recipes

QUICK CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, heat butter over medium-high heat; saute mushrooms and onion until tender., Mix flour, salt, pepper and 1 can broth until smooth; stir into mushroom mixture. Stir in remaining can of broth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until thickened, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat; stir in cream. Simmer, uncovered, until flavors are blended, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

FRESH CORN CHOWDER (ADAPTED FROM COOK'S ILLUSTRATED) RECIPE - (4/5)

Steps:

• 1. Stand corn on end. Using chef's knife, cut kernels from 4 ears corn (you should have about 3 cups); transfer to medium bowl and set aside. Following illustrations below, grate kernels from remaining 6 ears on large holes of box grater, then firmly scrape any pulp remaining on cobs with back of knife (you should have 2 generous cups kernels and pulp). Transfer to separate bowl and set aside. 2. Sauté salt pork (or quality thick-cut bacon) in Dutch oven or large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat, turning with tongs and pressing down on pieces to render fat, until cubes are crisp and golden brown, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low, stir in butter and onions, cover pot, and cook until softened, about 12 minutes. If using, add the chopped red bell pepper in the last five minutes of cooking the onion. Remove salt pork and reserve. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in flour and cook, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes. Whisking constantly, gradually add stock. Add potatoes, bay leaf, thyme, milk, grated corn and pulp, and reserved salt pork; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until potatoes are almost tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Add reserved corn kernels and heavy cream and return to simmer; simmer until corn kernels are tender yet still slightly crunchy, about 5 minutes longer. Discard bay leaf and salt pork. Stir in parsley, salt, and pepper to taste and serve immediately.

CREAMY MUSHROOM SOUP

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Saute the shiitake mushrooms, portobello mushrooms, and shallots for about 5 minutes, or until soft. Mix in the flour until smooth. Gradually stir in the chicken broth. Cook, stirring, 5 minutes, or until thick and bubbly.
• Stir in the half-and-half, season with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with cinnamon. Heat through, but do not boil.

CREAM OF MUSHROOM SOUP III

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Cook mushrooms in butter 5 minutes. Sprinkle flour over mushrooms. Pour in broth, a little at a time, stirring constantly. Stir in bouillon cube and sherry. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat and stir in cream. Heat through, without boiling. Serve.

GRILLED STURGEON WITH MUSHROOM SAUTE RECIPE

Steps:

• Clean the grill well before getting it hot, this will help insure the fish will not stick while cooking. Start with a grill brush and remove any burnt on material. After words with an old towel that has been slightly oiled with plain vegetable oil rub the grill down. This is what chef's call "seasoning the grill". Next head the grill on high while you prepare the sturgeon. Remove the skin from the sturgeon and place in a large stainless steel bowl. Add the olive oil, garlic, course black pepper and salt. Mix the seasonings into the fish to coat. Prepare the mushroom saute by heating a large saute pan on high. Add the olive oil and add the sliced mushrooms and shallots just as the oil begins to smoke. Saute the mushrooms and shallots for about 1 minute and add the whole butter followed by the fresh thyme and salt and pepper. Place the sturgeon on the grill and reduce the heat to a medium setting. Close the grill and leave the fish as is for 2 minutes. While the fish is cooking add both the stock and white wine to the mushroom mixture and continue to cook to reduce the liquid. Flip the fish after two minutes of cooking and cook another minute *or until the fish reaches an internal cooking temperature of 145 degrees. Remove the grilled fish and plate, top with the mushroom and shallot mixture and enjoy. This recipe is excellent with roasted potatoes, yams or a rice blend.

CREAMY MUSHROOM SOUP (ADAPTED FROM COOK'S ILLUSTRATED) RECIPE

Steps:

• Melt butter in large, heavy-bottomed Dutch oven over medium-low heat; when foaming subsides, add shallots and saute, stirring frequently, until softened, about 4 minutes. Stir in garlic and nutmeg; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute longer. Increase heat to medium; add sliced mushrooms and stir to coat with butter. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms release liquid, about 7 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover pot, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and mushrooms have released all liquid, about 20 minutes. Add chicken stock, water, and porcini mushrooms; cover and bring to simmer, then reduce heat to low and simmer until mushrooms are fully tender, about 20 minutes longer. Using an immersion blender, blend soup until smooth (or you can use a traditional blender). Stir in Madeira and cream and bring to simmer over low heat. Add lemon juice, season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be cooled to room temperature and refrigerated up to 4 days.) If making ahead, add cream at serving time.