|  COMMENT: While visiting Japan, I worked with a Japanese chef who taught me 
              a simple truth about cooking. If food looks good, it will certainly 
              taste good. This recipe incorporates that very basic principle. 
              The vivid green spinach and the bright orange sweet potato give 
              the soup visual appeal, and the flavor is out of this world.
 INGREDIENTS: 
              4 cups spinach leaves2 cups sweet potatoes, diced ¼-inch1 cup julienned smoked sausage½ cup margarine1 cup chopped onions ½ cup chopped celery¼ cup chopped red bell pepper¼ cup diced garlic1 cup flour3 quarts defatted chicken stock1 quart heavy whipping cream½ cup sliced chives½ cup chopped parsleysalt and cracked black pepper to taste dash of hot sauce METHOD:Wash spinach leaves to remove any sand or grit and finely chop into 
              ¼-inch squares. In a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven, melt margarine 
              over medium-high heat. Add smoked sausage, onions, celery, bell 
              peppers and garlic. Sauté 3 to 5 minutes, stirring constantly. 
              Sprinkle in flour and, using a wire whisk, stir vegetable mixture 
              to form a blonde roux. Add chicken stock, one ladle at a time, whisking 
              constantly until soup consistency is achieved. Add sweet potatoes. 
              Bring to a rolling boil, reduce to simmer and cook approximately 
              20 minutes. Add spinach and cook approximately 10 additional minutes. 
              Additional stock may be added to retain proper consistency. Add 
              heavy whipping cream, chives and parsley. Season to taste using 
              salt, pepper and hot sauce. Once potatoes are tender, serve in individual 
              soup bowls and garnish with finely chopped spinach.
 |