Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Blog Example - Spicy Zucchini Soup

Spicy Zucchini Soup Recipe

If you are using extra large zucchini, scoop out and discard the seeds first. And if the skin is thick or tough, peel it and discard the peels.

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 jalapeno chile (or more to taste, depending on how spicy you would like the soup to be), seeds, stems and ribs removed and discarded, chopped
  • 3 chopped garlic cloves
  • 2 pounds chopped zucchini (skin on), about 5-6 cups
  • 1 1/2 cups chopped day-old bread
  • 3 cups chicken broth (use vegetable broth for vegetarian option)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed, chopped
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, loosely packed, chopped (optional)
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • Salt
  • Pepper

Method

1 Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and jalapeno chile and sauté for 4-5 minutes until the onions are translucent, but not browned. Add the garlic and zucchini and sauté for another 3-4 minutes, stirring often. Sprinkle with salt.
2 Add the bread, broth, and water, and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat and simmer gently for 20 minutes.
3 Remove from heat. Add the mint and cilantro (if using). Purée in a blender or food processor until smooth, working in batches if necessary. Or use an immersion blender.
4 Return the soup to the pot. Add the lemon juice, and salt, and pepper to taste.
Garnish with lemon wedges and sprigs of mint or cilantro.
Serve hot or chilled. Keeps for a week in the fridge.
Serves 4.


Picture and recipe from http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/spicy_zucchini_soup/.


I would like to try this recipe becuase I have a large garden in my backyard and I grow zuchini.  Zuchini is very easy to grow and one plant can produce up to a dozen zuchinis.  At this time of year when I have a lot of extra zuchini I want to find different and interesting recipes to experiment with.  On a cool fall day a bowl of warm tasty soup is always a treat.  I am looking forward to trying this recipe.

Instructions for Blogging and How You will be Marked

Instructions:
  1. Find your picture on my blog or use one that you have taken; copy and paste it unto your blog.
  2. Find the recipe used on my blog; copy and paste it onto your blog.
  3. Reference your recipe in the form of a sentence.  The source will be cited on my blog.
  4. Write a reflection (one paragraph) about your cooking experience. Answer the following in your reflection.
    • what went well - 1 point
    • what did not go so well - 1 point
    • what you would do differently if you were to make this recipe again - 1 point 
    • Something you have learned in class that is important to the recipe - 1 point
    • Detail to your reflection - 1 point
    • Spelling and grammar - 1 point will be deducted from the total mark for spelling errors and grammar mistakes.


How your mark will be determined:
1) The picture of your finished dish - 1 point
2) The recipe used  - 1 point
3) A reference for the recipe - 1 point
4) Reflection paragraph - 5 points 
TOTAL - 8 POINTS for each blog


If you missed the cooking lab with an excused absence your blog will be omitted for that day. 
If your absence is unexcused you will receive a zero.

Cooking labs will be on Fridays (or the last day of the week). Blogs will be due on the following Monday. 
Late blogs will have a one time deduction of one point (15%); after 2 weeks the blog will not be accepted and you will receive a zero. 
Inappropriate blog titles or comments will result in a zero.