Well, we made it to the weekend once again!  That alone is reason to celebrate.  I hope your first week back to work in 2011 was as busy and productive as mine.  🙂

I hope that amidst the work though, you found time to cook at least a couple satisfying meals and squeeze in some time for laughter & unwinding with friends.  I, fortunately, was able to do both!   First, I whipped up a batch of homemade Chicken Wild Rice Soup.  Do you remember that trip to the North Shore of Lake Superior that Ryan and I made last August?  During that relaxing weekend away, we whipped up Buffalo Drummies and Roasted Tomato & Olive Oil Linguine.  And on our way out of Two Harbors, MN, we stopped at Buddy’s to pick up some Minnesota favorites!

 

Within seconds of walking in…I knew exactly what I was looking for:  Hand Parched Wild Rice.  With Fall & Winter approaching, what better time to buy “fresh” (if you want to call it that) wild rice and attempt homemade Chicken Wild Rice Soup for the first time.

Rice in hand, all I needed now was a recipe!  Luckily Buddy had a recommendation (go figure!).  Buddy recommended a recipe by Beatrice Ojakangas…he assured me that she was “Good!”  He claims that even Oprah had her on the show.  LOL.  I don’t know if that is actually the case…I didn’t take time to look her up…I just trusted.  And good thing Idid….this soup is good! 

CREAMY WILD RICE SOUP

Recipe Courtesy of:  Beatrice Ojakangas

Serves 6

• 1/2 Cup raw wild rice
• 1 1/2 Cup water
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1/2 lb mushrooms, sliced (I used baby bellas)
• 3 Tbsp butter
• 1/4 Cup chicken broth
• 1 Cup Cream
• 2 Tbsp sherry
• My addition: 1 rotisserie chicken, cubed
• My addition: 1/2 cup finely shredded carrot

Wash wild rice in 3 changes of hot water; add to water in saucepan, heat to boiling, cover and lower heat; simmer 35-45 minutes.  Saute onions, carrots, and mushrooms in butter until onion is translucent, 3-5 minutes.  Add flour and stir, cooking for 5 minutes.  Stir in chicken broth and bring to a boil; stir until smooth and flour is thoroughly cooked.  Add wild rice, chicken, cream, and sherry, stirring until heated through.  I let my soup simmer uncovered for 30-45 minutes or until the desired consistency.

Serve with freshly baked bread and enjoy!  Hearty. Comforting.  Classic.

In addition to enjoying a few servings of wild rice soup this week, I also managed to squeeze in a few hours with friends on Thursday night.  Typically a Girls’ Night involves my close group of girlfriends…cooking together, laughing together, and lounging together.  This time however, our group expanded (friends bringing more friends) and we scattered around my kitchen island to indulge in the latest sampling of Tastefully Simple products.  I’ve said it before and I will say it again…I am not a huge fan of home sales parties…there is something about inviting friends over to potentially “buy” goods that just doesn’t sit well with me.  That said, there are some products that are just too good not to share!  (And besides, any reason to have a group of girls gathered in my kitchen is a good reason to me!  How great it was to meet new faces!) 

Another disclaimer – I am the biggest advocate for “homemade” foods…but I also understand that there is a definite time and place for some “semi-homemade” favorites!  You might remember the 30th birthday party/Luau that I threw for Ryan…Roasted Red Pepper Shrimp Skewers and Pomegranate Chipotle Pineapple Bacon Bites, anyone?!  The favorites this time around remain the Fiesta Dip, Spin Art Dip, Cinnamon Muffin Melts, Beer Bread, and Merlot Sauce to name a few!  And to top it all off, Tastefully Simple now has a CREAMY WILD RICE SOUP!  Again, I am usually pretty skeptical of packaged soup, but this one tasted like Panera’s!  (Not kidding)  If you need soup in a flash, I highly suggest this one!  (Add some rotisserie chicken and call it done!)  My “book party” is open through Monday…so shoot me an email if there is something you are needing to order from TS.  (robinkattre@hotmail.com)

Enjoy your weekend.  Indulge…and recharge!  Monday will be here in no time.  🙂

Indulge.  In Life. In Love.  In Food.