Vegan MOFO: Soupy Sales Saturday–Peachy-Keen-Arino Chilled Soup

Soupy Sales was an old-school slapstick comedian. I'm sure I first saw him in his later years on shows like What's My Line? or Hollywood Squares. He hosted many a radio or TV show from the 1950s on through the 1980s. One early show was called "Lunch with Soupy" and an evening show called "Soup's On." He was famous for throwing cream pies (or getting one in the face himself). Only the frozen one did any damage. (See Wikipedia for more Soupy info.)

I remember him as a funny guy with a big smile on his face. He passed away in 2009 at the age of 83. I hope he had a great run at life and enjoyed the fun he brought to others.

In researching his name, ironically, I found that it's quite the un-vegan nickname! His older brothers had been nicknamed "Ham-bone" and "Chicken-bone" and he was given the nickname "Soup-bone" which was later shortened to "Soupy."

Well, fear not vegan friends, I will include no bones in my recipes or any Soupy Sales Saturday creations (soups and pies, maybe?). Just maybe a funny-bone or two.

The names of a couple of Soupy's characters are inspiring me with meal ideas. There's "Peaches" his girlfriend (played by him in drag) and Onions Oregano, a stinky-breathed henchmen. Today, I think I'll go with Peaches...

Peachy-Keen-Arino Chilled Soup
(adapted from a Whole Foods recipe)  
6-8 servings

6 large ripe peaches 
2 1/2 cups water 
1/2 cup apple or orange juice 
1/8 cup agave 
2 drops liquid Stevia  
1 lime, zest and juice of 
Salt and pepper to taste 

Optional: Some powdered or freshly grated ginger. 

Mint sprigs or orange peels for garnish.

My own easier directions: Put all ingredients in your Vitamix and blend away. Chill and serve. Or replace 1/2 cup of water with 1/2 cup ice cubes and serve right away. (The Whole Foods instructions have you blanch the peaches and take the skin off. I think there are plenty of nutrients in that skin!)

Smoothie Alternative: For 2 Smoothie Servings: Reduce all ingredients by half (omit salt and pepper) and use only 1 cup water and a few ice cubes for a refreshing Smoothie. 

Paleo/AIP: Omit sweeteners and juice. Maybe throw in a couple dates when blending. If your peach skin is bitter, peel peaches first.

Winter White Chili

Gluten-free

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1 1/2 cups chopped onion
• 2 4-ounce cans chopped green chiles (opt)
• 1-4 cloves garlic
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/8-1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 can each great northern beans, white lima beans
  and navy beans, rinsed
• (or use 2 ¼ cups dried beans, soaked)
• 4 cups reduced-sodium broth
• 1-2 cups diced soy strips
• 1 head of cauliflower, chopped up
• salt, to taste (after beans have cooked)
  
  Add after cooking:
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  

Preparation

1. Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, chiles, oregano, cumin and cayenne. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Stir in beans, cauliflower, soy strips and broth; bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes. Add soy strips and vinegar; cook for 5 minutes more.  Add cider vinegar. Serve.
   
   
2. Pressure Cooker method: Use dried beans. Soak in water the night before, pour off water and rinse before adding to soup. Cook onions in oil in bottom of pressure cooker, add garlic, stir, add herbs and spices. Add other ingredients, cook on high pressure for 10-12 minutes, slow release.
   
   Either method: For a thicker soup base, use an immersion blender in the pot or take some out and blend it.

Soy Chorizo Corn Chowder

My niece posted a conventional Chorizo Corn Chowder recipe on her Facebook page, and I knew this would make a truly great vegan offering since I could use the vegan (and soy-based) Soyrizo product. I was right...this is really good. (Thank you Anne!) I've tweaked her recipe a little for what I had on hand. I've nearly doubled the recipe since you will not be able to stop eating it and it's perfect for one package of the Soyrizo.

1-2 Tbs olive oil (or water for lower fat)
1 red pepper (I didn't use a pepper, but 1/4 tsp chili powder)
1-2 onions chopped
Salt and pepper

2 bags frozen corn (or equal amounts fresh)

6-8 cups veggie stock
1 package Soyrizo (vegan soy chorizo)
3-4 potatoes, cubed

1 cup milk alternative

Optional toppings:
Chopped Cilantro
Vegan margarine
Tortilla Chips
Vegan sour cream

• Saute onion and red pepper (if using) with salt, pepper and olive oil. Add veggie stock, one bag of the corn, Soyrizo and potatoes. Simmer for 20 minutes until potatoes are tender.
• Scoop out about half the potatoes with a slotted spoon. Set aside.
• Use an immersion blender or transfer carefully to a blender and blend to desired chunkiness.
• Add the last bag of corn, the potatoes you took out and the milk. 
• Simmer all until warm, but do not boil.
• Top with desired toppings or set several out for your guests to choose. This would also be great with a nice crusty bread or a corn bread.

Bell Pepper Soup Diane

 

The original recipe for this raw soup if from Kristen Suzanne's Easy Raw Vegan Soups. I used yellow bell peppers for this recipe. The bottom picture is the same recipe with an avocado added. I liked both of them, but of course it was much more smooth and rich with the avocado. I would call this "Yellow Gazpacho."

Tornado Soup

It's called Tornado Soup because I made this on the day a tornado touched down in Santa Rosa, about 10 miles from where I live. And because you whir it up like a tornado in a blender. And it's so fast to make!

Makes 2-3 Servings
1 can diced tomatoes
1 cup water or non-dairy milk of choice
2 tbs powdered veggie stock
1 tsp salt
2 green onion, chopped (One for the recipe, one for garnish)
1 cup spinach
1 tsp powdered ginger
1 Tbs dried basil
1/4 cup peanut butter
Optional:
1/4 cup coconut cream or milk
few drops of hot sauce
1 Tbs soy sauce

Just put all these ingredients in a blender (a Vita-Mix works really well, of course) and blend until smooth. This could easily be a raw recipe using fresh ingredients. I heated mine in the microwave by the cup before I ate it. You can also heat the whole recipe on the stove or whir for 5 minutes in a Vita-Mix to get it hot.

You could also make this in a pot on the stove and use a hand blender to get it creamy.

This is a nice cup of zippy soup to warm you on a cold, tornado-y day!

Green Potato Soup

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day! I don't even measure or use a recipe for this soup anymore. Just throw stuff in–it's bound to turn out great!

(Based on two recipes from the McDougall Cookbooks.)

Green Potato Soup

1 onion
2 tsp oil or water
1 clove garlic, minced
6 cups of water + dry veggie stock or
6 cups veggie stock
5-6 potatoes. cut into cubes
couple big handfuls of spinach

Optional:
a little salt
a little soy sauce
a little vegan margarine when served
wild sorrel for garnish

Saute the onion in water or a little oil. Add the garlic, saute a little longer. Add the water+veggie stock  or veggie stock and potatoes. Bring to a boil. Simmer for about 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Add spinach and cook a few minutes. Use a hand blender to blend the soup in the pot or transfer (carefully) to a blender and whir it up! If you like a few chunks, take some potatoes out before you blend and put back in after you have blended. Also great without the spinach, but not as fun for St. Patrick's Day!

This 'n That Tomato Soup

Some beautiful heirloom tomatoes called out to me at Andy's Produce the other day, and I figured I could create a nice soup in my new VitaMix blender (thank you Santa).

Again, this is all approximate, I just threw things in. You could also do this in a regular blender, I think and then heat it up on the stove.

8 oz soy milk
3 big heirloom tomatoes
1 TBS no-salt veggie broth powder
2 TBS peanut butter
1 onion
1 TBS soy sauce
1/4 tsp cayenne
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/2 tsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp dried garlic powder
1TBS agave nectar
1TBS olive oil (opt.)

Sliced spring onion for garnish

Throw it in, whir it up! Heat or serve cold.

Chapter 7-The Recipes

Chapter 7a Breakfast

Chapter 7b Appetizers

Chapter 7c Entrees

Chapter 7d Salads

Chapter 7e Soups

Chapter 7f Baking

Chapter 7g Sweets

Chapter 7h Misc