Soup

This time of year, well, truthfully, any time of year, I love soup. I love to make a pot of it and eat it all week. There is something very comforting and nourishing about a bowl of soup.

Did you know you don't need a recipe for soup? There is a basic formula for homemade soup. So, what this means is you don't need a recipe. Just learn the formula and you can make soup!

THE FORMULA:
Step 1 -
Choose your fat: butter, olive oil, bacon fat, ghee, etc.
Choose your aromatics: onion, leeks, carrots, celery, peppers, garlic, shallots, fennel.
Saute aromatics and hard veggies and season with a little salt.

Step 2 -
Choose your proteins: chicken, beef, turkey, beans, sausage, ham, etc.
Brown proteins, if using.

Step 3 -
Choose your liquid base: chicken stock, beef stock, vegetable stock, tomatoes,
Add the cooking liquid and any herbs you want (...

Christmas Appetizers

TARTE SOLEIL

1 (1.25-pound) box frozen puff pastry (2 sheets), thawed but still cold
2 ounces fresh goat cheese (about 1/4 cup packed), at room temperature
3 tablespoons basil pesto
1 large egg yolk
flour, for dusting

Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat the oven to 350 degrees.
Place the goat cheese and 3 tablespoons pesto in a small bowl and stir until smooth.
Whisk together egg yolk and 1 teaspoon water in a small bowl until combined.
Lightly flour a sheet of parchment paper.
Unfold 1 puff pastry sheet on the parchment.
Using a lightly-floured rolling pin, roll it out to a square that’s slightly over 12-inches wide.
Place a 12-inch round plate or bowl on top of the puff pastry and cut around it to create a 12-inch round.
Discard the scraps and refrigerate the round.
Repeat with the remaining puff pastry sheet.
Slide 1 puff past...

Sheet Pan Dinners From Around the World

We love a sheet pan dinner! Here are some new ones to try with flavors from around the world.

GREECE
Serves 6
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
6 chicken thighs, bone-in, skin-on
1 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, chopped into 1-inch pieces
1/2 large red onion, sliced into thin wedges
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes
1/2 cup kalamata olives, pitted
1/4 cup Feta cheese
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, thyme, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
Place the chicken thighs in a bowl and pour 2/3 of...

Thanksgiving Sides - Love 'Em or Hate 'Em?

There are two vegetables that people have very strong feelings about at their Thanksgiving tables – sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts. My family loves Brussels sprouts so that's not a problem for us. However, sweet potatoes are a different story. Some of us like our traditional dish of candied sweet potatoes. Some hate them. Maybe your family feels the same.

There are different ways to cook these two vegetables that might make you feel differently about them. We will explore some of these new recipes today.

SWEET POTATOES

Scalloped Sweet Potatoes
Serves 8

3 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
4 tablespoons butter
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 medium shallot , finely diced
1 teaspoon sea salt
black pepper
2-3 sprigs fresh thyme
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
1 cup Parmesan cheese, sh...