Wednesday, January 5, 2011

A Couple of Leeks


Here's another quick and easy recipe for these colder winter days, Potato Leek Soup. Cut the root ends off of a couple of leeks and peel off the outer layer of dark green leaves. Slice the leeks and saute them in a tablespoon of olive oil and a pat of butter. When the leeks are tender, sprinkle in a teaspoon of thyme, some chopped bay leaves, some red hot pepper flakes, and salt and pepper.


While the leeks are cooking cut up about 2 pounds of potatoes into one inch pieces. I used some fingerling type light skinned potatoes, which came in my CSA box, but red or gold ones would be good too. When the leeks are tender, add eight cups of water to the mixture and then the potatoes, bring to boil and turn down the heat to simmer for about 30 minutes or longer. Serve as is or puree the soup mixture. If you puree the mixture, make sure you don't get burned with the hot liquid. We ate the soup as is. The leeks were very sweet, and Gary and I both liked the soup. Give it a try you might like it too.


I've finally emptied my shelves of all greenware. There isn't one piece drying either. There is the black clay that's all bisqued, I am cogitating on the glaze firing - cone 4, subject to bloating clay.

I need to get more clay and then - if I say it I have to do it - then I have to do some test tiles. Ugh. I really like making new things. Lets see now, I'll roll out a slab of clay, cut it into 5 inch strips, then in 2.5 inch pieces, take a textured block of wood fold the clay over two sides and I'll have a test tile. OK, I'm on it now. I'll whip those out and then I can make something new. This blog is going to keep me in line.


I've been working on some mixed media and tile projects; making shadow boxes, mounting tile wall hangings, assembling mixed media pieces, and then I have some pendants I need to prepare. I assembled three tile wall hangings today, they need to dry overnight and then I put the hangers on the back tomorrow. Oh then there is that home decorating project I need to work on a bit so I can show you the before and after. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

7 comments:

  1. Linda-
    I love your recipes! and they look great in your pottery :)

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  2. I have never eaten leeks and that looks like a recipe I would like. Sure looks good.
    Thanks.

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  3. This sounds yummy like all of your recipes. It's cold in Atlanta this week, I'll give it a try. Thanks

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  4. Hi Kathy, thanks, if the recipes are quick and easy I have more time for clay, te he, a method to my madness.

    Hi Patti, thanks, I figured potatoes must be pretty good since they were perported to have save Ireland from starvation and the leeks add that twang to the soup.

    Hi Lori, thanks, I'm really liking these soups. I dragged out my crock pot and am thinking of other things to cook in it now.

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  5. You are a woman on fire. Love your passion for life. You write about cooking with the same easy conversational tone that you do with your pottery. This is a wonderful example. A seamless whole.

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  6. oooh that soup sounds good! i like leeks but have only cooked with them a couple of times. i think they will be put on my grocery list this week.

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  7. Hi Teresa, thanks, yeah fire, cooking the soups and pots, ha that's a good one, thanks ever so much.

    Hi Michele, thanks, I was surprised by this soup, I always thought of leeks as very oniony tasting, but they weren't; they were really sweet tasting, perhaps that's because they were fresh and organic and ones in the past I got weren't as fresh, I don't know, but give them a try, they've got a real nice flavor.

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I love suggestions, questions, critiques, thanks for your comment