Zucchini Bisque

It has been a nice Labor Day weekend.  We celebrated Lukes 29th birthday Saturday night, and our Grandson Elon celebrated his 5th birthday.   If you could have heard the phone conversation we had with him, it would have just melted your heart.  He wondered if we were coming for his birthday.  We told him we couldn't be there, because it was so far away for us, but that he could come to us in several weeks, and we would have a party with him then.  He said "How will I get there if it is so far".   I said, his Daddy and Mommy will drive him on a long drive and then he will be here, and his cousins will come too, and we will have a wonderful time"   He liked that, and wanted to have a cowboy birthday party; and so of course... we will.

We had a wonderful breakfast at my Mother in Law's house yesterday morning, and had some old friends over to visit and have barbecued chicken and a veggie feast with us last night.   It was a very nice
day through and through.

We were able to find a nice little chicken coop on Craig's list for half of what we would have paid for the material to build it, and so Steve, Luke and Eddie went and got that this week end.  They had to take it apart to get it over the fence of the man that we bought it from, and onto the flatbed trailer and then home.  The guys will put it back together when time allows... at least we have it... "thank you Lord".

Today is quiet and peaceful.  I haven't had one of those kinds of days in a little while.  It is overcast and cool, and it feels lovely out.  I worked in the garden this morning, and am having a peaceful   afternoon.

I have one more zucchini recipe to add to the collection.  It is a real yummy one as well... otherwise, of course, I wouldn't  post it.   I am still  up to my ears in Zucchini, and have had a fun time treating the abundance with experimentation in stretching the budget, and making use of that abundance when we have it.   My Mom fixed this soup for us when we were visiting her in June.  I loved it.  I had seen another recipe very similar to hers which added potatoes, and tried that one as well.  I loved it also.  I will add the potatoes to this recipe, and feel free to put them in or leave them out.  They don't change the flavor of the soup too much, but they do add a little more substance to the soup if you want to serve it as a main dish rather than a starting dish.

Zucchini Bisque

Ingredients

I medium onion chopped

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1/2 cup butter or olive oil

2 1/2 cups zucchini shredded (I chunked it and used more)

2- 3 medium potatoes peeled and cubed

2 1/2 cups chicken broth

1/2 teaspoon basil 

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (if you think nutmeg seems odd, add it anyway, you will be delightfully surprised at the subtle flavor it adds).

1 cup light cream

Instructions

Saute onion, garlic, zucchini lightly in butter or oil.  Add remaining ingredients except cream and simmer about 20 to 30 minutes or until all the vegetables are tender.   Remove from heat.  spoon soup into a blender  and blend thoroughly;  I have been doubling this recipe, and when I blend it, I do it a portion at a time and then pour it into another pan from the blender until all is blended.  If you have a hand held blender, you can use that directly  in the soup pan, with no need to use another pan... I don't have one, so I just blend in blender.  You may add the cream or even a little sour cream at this time.  It is very good even without the cream.  Serve with croutons and french bread.

Thanks Mom