Chestnut Soup

My Aunt Anne started a new tradition several years ago with this fabulous addition to our family holiday dinner. Originally submitted to ThanksgivingRecipe.com.

Step: 1

To Cook Chestnuts: With a sharp knife, slice an ‘X’ across each chestnut. Place chestnuts in a single layer on a jelly roll pan. Pour 1/4 cup water into the pan. Bake in a preheated 450 degrees F (230 degrees C) oven for 10 minutes. When cool enough to handle, shell and peel.

Step: 2

In a large saucepan combine the chicken stock, shelled chestnuts and chopped onions. Place the parsley sprigs, cloves and bay leaf in a spice bag and add to the chicken stock mixture. Simmer over medium-low heat for 45 minutes.

Step: 3

Discard the spice bag and puree the chestnut mixture in a food processor or blender. Add the heavy cream, sugar and salt and pepper to taste. Return mixture to saucepan and gently heat through. To serve to with a dollop of unsweetened whipped cream, a bit of chopped parsley and some cooked chopped chestnuts just before serving. High quality vegetable broth can be substituted for the chicken broth.

Per Serving: 330 calories; protein 4.3g; carbohydrates 56.1g; fat 9.6g; cholesterol 33.8mg; sodium 1299.6mg.

The name of “stew” can refer to 2 time a food and a cooking method. Stewing makes slowly cooking chunks of meat, vegetables or beans in a tastefull water based . It’s same as to braising, but it does have a few notable differences. The meat is chopped into smaller pieces instead of being cooked all of it , and the water based material completely covers the contents in a stew as different to a braise’s halfway full . When meat or vegetables are cooked using this method, the resulting dish is called stew.

Stew has a perception for being a rib-sticking meal that warms you up on a cold , winter day. It’s right that ; a bowl of old menu of beef stew does have warming properties , but stew’s cozy factor goes way beyond preserving you from the chill . It’s all about those tender chunks of meat and vegetables, swimming in a thick, ultra-rich gravy. The way they come together creates the greatest comfort food, no matter the weather.