Soups: Potato Leek Soup

Subject: Potato Leek Soup
Newsgroups: rec.food.cooking
From: Damsel in dis Dress
Date: Fri, 08 Mar 2002 07:33:37 GMT
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It took some fancy googling, but I was finally able to trace this recipe back to Owl. Whatever happened to Owl, anyway? This is good stuff, Maynard!

Potato Leek Soup

Recipe By: Owl
Categories: crockpot, potatoes, soups/chowders

6 large potatoes -- peeled and diced
2 leeks -- chopped
2 medium onions -- chopped
1 carrot -- diced
1 celery stalk -- sliced
4 chicken boullion cubes
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
5 cups water
1 tablespoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/3 cup butter
13 ounces evaporated milk
chopped chives -- for garnish

Put all ingredients except evaporated milk and chives in crockpot.
Cover and cook on Low 10-12 hrs. (High 3 to 4 hrs)
Stir in evaporated milk during last hour.
Serve topped with chopped chives (and shredded cheese, if desired).

Source: rec.food.cooking
Copyright: 4/11/1998
From: limey (limey at toadstop.net)
Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 12:36:11 -0400
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Damsel in dis Dress wrote:
> In honor of our first snowfall of the season, I'm putting my trusty
> crockpot into service, making a comforting batch of potato leek soup.
> It's especially good with a little cheese added to each bowl.
>
> The recipe calls for two leeks, and they were sold in bundles of three.
> Any thoughts on how I could use the other leek?

(recipe snipped and saved)

You could use the third leek and skip one onion, maybe?
Just a thought.

Dora
From: Damsel in dis Dress
Date: Thu, 17 Oct 2002 20:53:58 GMT
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limey shared the following:
>Damsel in dis Dress wrote:
>> The recipe calls for two leeks, and they were sold in bundles of three.
>> Any thoughts on how I could use the other leek?
>
>You could use the third leek and skip one onion, maybe?
>Just a thought.

That's brilliant! Thank you!

Carol
From: Popo Hamwich of Buckleberry Fern (amoorman at visi.com)
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 12:04:35 -0500
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limey wrote:
>You could use the third leek and skip one onion, maybe?
>Just a thought.

I also noticed that evaporated milk comes in 12 oz. cans, yet the recipe calls for 13 oz. ??????
From: Damsel in dis Dress
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 20:53:49 GMT
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Popo Hamwich of Buckleberry Fern shared the following:
>I also noticed that evaporated milk comes in 12 oz. cans, yet the
>recipe calls for 13 oz. ??????

Hmmm ... this could be one of two things. A typo, or one of those deals where the package size is getting smaller so they can keep the price the same. Either way, I just grab a can and dump it in. I'll pay attention this time, though. Thanks for the heads up!
From: Popo Hamwich of Buckleberry Fern (amoorman at visi.com)
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 21:35:57 -0500
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Damsel in dis Dress wrote:
>Popo Hamwich of Buckleberry Fern shared the following:
>
>>I also noticed that evaporated milk comes in 12 oz. cans, yet the
>>recipe calls for 13 oz. ??????
>
>Hmmm ... this could be one of two things. A typo, or one of those deals
>where the package size is getting smaller so they can keep the price the
>same. Either way, I just grab a can and dump it in.

So would I!

Alan
From: Dimitri (dimitri_c at prodigy.net)
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 21:53:29 GMT
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Damsel in dis Dress wrote:
> The recipe calls for two leeks, and they were sold in bundles of three.
> Any thoughts on how I could use the other leek?

A common problem but for the most part leeks are sold by weight not by the each. So if they are bundled in 3's with a large rubber band or a twist tie, break the damn thing and buy what you want. It's an old Stupidmarket trick. It really is the same with Bananas if you see 2 you like don't feel obligated to buy the whole bunch. The key is are they selling by the "each" or the "pound"

If you do have the other leek and/or green tops - use them to flavor any soup or stock. After cooking just remove the green tough part.

One final hint - leeks can be gritty and sandy. Leaving the root end intact slit the leek down the middle and rinse well.

As a general rule I will substitute leeks wherever I use onions and want a more delicate flavor.
From: Damsel in dis Dress
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 23:30:55 GMT
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Dimitri shared the following:
>A common problem but for the most part leeks are sold by weight not by the
>each. So if they are bundled in 3's with a large rubber band or a twist
>tie, break the damn thing and buy what you want.

At our store, they were being sold for $1.99 for a bundle of three, any bundle of three. But that's a very good point, and one that I'll try to keep in mind when things are sold by the pound.

Damsle
From: BubbaBob (Bubba_Bob at _remove_this_comcast.net)
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 19:12:30 -0600
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Damsel in dis Dress wrote:
> At our store, they were being sold for $1.99 for a bundle of
> three, any bundle of three. But that's a very good point, and
> one that I'll try to keep in mind when things are sold by the
> pound.

Around here they're always sold by the bunch, which almost invariably has three leeks in it.
From: Damsel in dis Dress
Date: Sun, 20 Oct 2002 07:19:24 GMT
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Dimitri shared the following:
>One final hint - leeks can be gritty and sandy. Leaving the root end
>intact slit the leek down the middle and rinse well.

Thanks! I followed your advice. I didn't see any sand, but it's always nice to not have grit in your soup, clam chowder notwithstanding.

We just finished having a couple bowls of the Potato Leek Soup. While chowing down, we discussed changes for next time. The recipe doesn't call for ham, but I always use it. I added 2 cups, chopped, and we both felt that wasn't enough (but it's all we had).

Crash felt that it tasted too oniony, so we're going to start using all three leeks that come in a bundle, instead of two, and we're skipping the onions entirely. Neither of us felt there was any benefit to having a stalk of celery in there, so that went.

Our next batch will have canned chicken broth instead of water and bouillon cubes. We decided that, with the broth, ham, and cheese, there really isn't a need for added salt, so out that went, too.

We're going to increase the amount of both potatoes and carrots next time. The leeks are so dominant when you use three of them.

Crash finally tried the soup with cheese. I always eat it that way, but hadn't had any luck, until tonight, getting him to try it. I just put a slice of American cheese into each bowl when serving. It melts, and you stir it in. It really makes the soup. Someday, I might just make the soup with cheese in it, but not for now.

Anyway, here is the new (and improved) recipe, if anyone would like to try it. Cooked on high, it took 7-8 hours, not 3-4 as indicated by the recipe. This was the first time I'd cooked it on high.

Potato Leek Soup with Ham

Recipe By: Damsel in dis Dress
Categories: crockpot, soups/chowders

3 14-oz. cans chicken broth
8 large potatoes -- peeled and cubed
3 leeks - white & light green part only -- chopped
2 large carrots -- peeled and cubed
3 cups chopped ham
5 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
1/2 teaspoon pepper
12 ounces evaporated milk
shredded American cheese -- if desired
chopped chives -- for garnish

Put all ingredients except milk, cheese, and chives in 4.5 quart crockpot.
Cover and cook on Low 10-12 hours. (High 7-8 hours)
Add milk during last hour.
Serve topped with shredded cheese and chopped chives (optional).

Yield: 4 quarts
From: Jack Schidt (jack.schidt at snet.net)
Date: Sat, 19 Oct 2002 01:24:18 GMT
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Damsel in dis Dress wrote:
> The recipe calls for two leeks, and they were sold in bundles of three.
> Any thoughts on how I could use the other leek?

Yeah, take a leek and saute it and toss it on top when you bowl it. Hey, they say "plate this" and "plate that" so why not "bowl this" or "bowl that"

Jack Pisser