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Around My French Table, corn chowder, corn soup, creme fraiche, Dorie Greenspan, French Fridays with Dorie
This month, we are kicking off French Fridays with Dorie with corn soup! And let me tell you, when the poll went up and the number one spot dish was corn soup, I was not too thrilled. I was hoping for something that had summer fruits in it because I wanted to relish every last glimmer of hot sun on my shoulders when I took Patella out for a walk in the mornings, and watch my tomatoes grow even larger and sweeter by the passing ray – yes, rays of the sun. And yes, Doyle is doing well thanks! He is becoming red! … Ok, look for a garden update this weekend!
But I became more excited about the corn soup when I reminded myself of how much I love corn chowder, so I was certain this would satisfy that craving. And I do like to strip corn naked, down to the cob… something about it is just so… refreshing? I enjoy watching all the kernels pop off and cover my workspace – the smell is something that you wont find in a candle anywhere. And did you know that the corn was on sale at the grocery store today?? It’s like they knew! Maybe a fellow Dorista works there? … Who knows, but all signs pointed to corn soup!
I gathered the ingredients that I didn’t have, all except for fresh rosemary (out by the time I got there) and shallots (also all gone) and headed over to pick up some creme fraiche. I like sour cream and buttermilk, and dairy products in general but have never needed to use creme fraiche but I always lingered past it, hoping that I would have a great use for it some day… and that day had finally arrived! A new must-have ingredient! Love it!
Since the corn was on sale, I bought 8 ears of corn. Aside from the corn soup, I have another recipe I plan to make in the next day or two that utilizes corn also, and it was on sale… I know I bought way more corn than I needed, but I figured whatever was leftover, I could use to make a corn ceviche. Yep! We will see if that happens though – it might warrant another trip to the store to buy more corn! But it was a good thing I bought so much corn!
With the saucepan full of cobs and milk – what a great use for the cobs, if I do
say so myself, I got to work thinly slicing, peeling and preparing the other ingredients for the soup. Mei sat in her chair, sleepy-eyed but watching my every move. That is, every move when she wasnt busy twisting her torso at a weird angle backwards to reach her basket of spoons, pile of baby bowls or whatever other “toys” or kitchen items I leave out in her arms reach for her enjoyment. She is quite determined to help me in the kitchen, even if it’s not quite the help I needed….
Along the way I made a couple of additions and substitutions. Since I didn’t have any fresh rosemary (we all know how the window planter thing went…), I added some shredded celery leaves for a nice, mild flavor of celery and I added an extra half of a carrot. That is the other half of the carrot I kept myself from munching on so that there would be enough carrot for the soup. Let me just say that all the ingredients that went into the soup today were amazing. The flavor of each was refreshing and I could have eaten everything raw with a tall glass of water – it all just tasted so good!
Once everything was happily simmering away in the pot, I got out the bacon for the garnish. I absolutely heart British bacon, for those that don’t know or agree with me on that little fact. It’s just the way that it is cut, it is superior to American bacon and runs a close second to Canadian bacon (which I only like on eggs Benedict in the first place), there is more “ham” or “meat” and less fat and all around better flavor! I actually crisped a few more strips than Dorie suggests because I love the crispy bacon bits I make for the trout chowder that I make often enough in the winter time and also because I planned to strip another full ear of corn instead of just half – sure that I am going to be eating most of the garnish anyways (it turns out I was right,… I might need more garnish actually…). It was a good thing too! Because right after they were done on the frying pan, I couldn’t resist eating a strip of bacon and then sharing another half of a strip with Patella. She doesn’t get treats like this often, and it makes her happy – a nice little reward for all that waiting to go on an afternoon walk! Instead of draining the bacon on a paper towel, I immediately chopped it up and put all the drippings (there is hardly any with British bacon) in with the naked corn kernels in a bowl and mixed it up good.
Once the corn soup had simmered enough, I set it on the counter (still in the pot of course) and ran my immersion blender through it. I LOVE to use my immersion blender. I don’t know why, but I should find more recipes that allow me to use it, it is just so handy! The blender helped me get the soup to a really fine texture, although I could have made it very, very smooth by straining it – I didn’t feel like waiting that much longer to indulge in a large bowl of corn soup!
Mei was ready for her nap at this point, so we left things where they were and took Patella out for the world’s shortest walk, there was a cat at the end of the drive and really, Patella takes US for a walk after she sees a cat, so we just turned around and went back inside, after playing soccer for a few minutes that is. Over some email and Facebook time, Mei fell asleep. Comfortable in her crib, I warmed up the soup a bit, although it really didn’t need to be warmed hardly at all, and dressed it for photos and eating.
Even though I was absolutely thrilled at having to buy creme fraiche, I have never eaten it in a soup and was a bit tentative about this experience but I can now say that if you aren’t using creme fraiche or substituting in some sour cream on this soup – you are missing out! I fell in LOVE! The bacon added just enough salt to tone down the natural sweetness of the corn (we can only get sweetcorn in England anyways…) and the creme fraiche contributed a touch of tartness and a cool, lingering contrast in temperature that I can’t imagine eating this soup without! The soup without the garnish would have been mediocre at best, but the bacon and creme fraiche elevated it into anything but ordinary! I can’t wait to eat more of this soup! I plan to have it for nearly every meal this week… if it lasts that long.
I ate this soup,… ok, two bowlfuls with a couple slices of the ciabatta bread I baked fresh this morning. Heaven. Maybe tomorrow I will pick up a few fresh jumbo shrimp to put in the soup as Dorie suggested – it sounds just yummy enough to be worth a trip to the store just for a few shrimp!
If you haven’t made this yet, you should! If you would like to make this and any other recipes from Around My French Table with Dorie Greenspan and the other Doristas at French Fridays with Dorie, click here – or come check out what the other Doristas thought of the corn soup!
Genkinaonna said:
I garnished mine a little differently…but yours looks wonderful too! I definitely think the garnish makes the soup, it needs that contrast to really shine.
Alice said:
I think so too, but it is so tasty with the creme fraiche!
Candy said:
I love slicing corn off the cob too! I just told someone the other day that it is one of my favorite things to do in the kitchen. I also love to use my immersion blender, so fun.
If I had had more time last night, I would have included some of the garnishes, but enjoyed it naked (the soup, not me)!
Alice said:
LOL…. it was warm enough here last night that I could have enjoyed the naked soup naked…!! Bahahaha, ok TMI!!! It IS fun isnt it?? I love stripping corn and using my immersion blender, makes me happy…although the noise makes Mei cry… lol
Cher said:
Love the helper 🙂
This was my first time with using creme fraiche and I can see how addictive it is going to be. And the bacon (or pancetta) was the perfect way to off-set the sweetness of the corn. Yum.
Alice said:
It was so delicious. I’m totally hooked! I have some zucchini fritters I plan to make soon and I think I will be using creme fraiche in place of sour cream! Thanks, she is quite adorable… makes cooking an adventure!
Frankly Entertaining said:
I loved learning about British bacon, and I also loved the celery with the Union Jack!
Alice said:
Thanks! 🙂
Tasty Mayhem said:
I hope you get some shrimp – we added scallops and I loved the taste of the seafood, bacon and the corn together.
Alice said:
I will be on my way to the market to get some shrimp…. and avocado – I was inspired!
oneexpatslife said:
Happy to hear that corn is readily available in England, it is sadly a little scarcer on the continent. Your soup looks delicious.
Alice said:
Aww thats too bad, I know if you were to go to a US military base, they would have corn, all of the produce that they sell on the bases near here go through Germany first from the East Coast. But glad you found a few ears to make the soup with! How lucky!
sanyaliving said:
What a gorgeous helper you have!
And yes! Your soup does look amazing!
Alice said:
Thanks! She is a cutie-pie! LOL, it tasted amazing too!
Elin said:
Alice…that picture is priceless…a great cute little helper no doubt. Love that picture and love that corn soup of yours !
Alice said:
Thanks Elin! She gets into things when I’m not looking… LOL!
Eileen said:
You can never have too much bacon! Looks good, and you’ve got yourself an adorable little helper there.
Alice said:
I couldn’t get enough of the bacon and creme fraiche! 🙂 Thanks!
Adriana @ GreatFood360° said:
Your enthusiasm about the soup is contagious, Alice! I wish I had access to some British bacon or at least a thicker cut of pork belly. It could be amazing!
Alice said:
If you know of a butcher, they can cut you slices to your liking… 🙂 I cant think of hardly any place short of a butcher where you can get bacon lardons in the States, so I’m really thrilled to have access to a butcher here and its not any more expensive than buying meat in the store, its actually almost about the same (depending on the cut) and its much more fresh!
stacy :) said:
I loved reading your post – it sounds like making the corn soup was a lot of fun! I don’t know how I would survive without my immersion blender. I know I would have burned many fingers and possibly other body parts trying to pour hot soup into the blender otherwise…
I used Greek yogurt instead of creme fraiche, and it was just lovely with the sweet corn and the bacon garnish.
Confessions of a Culinary Diva said:
Your soup looks amazing! I love that you show your “sous chef” also! What a great way to teach them early on the value of a good meal.
I love creme fraiche – it’s sometimes hard to find in our markets, but worth the extra trips!
Alice said:
Thanks! I hope she turns out to enjoy cooking as much as her mama! 🙂 …yes, creme fraiche is worth the drive!
yummychunklet said:
Your soup looks delicious! And the photo of the baby “helping” is just precious! Thanks for commenting on my blog. I’ve added yours to my Google Reader and look forward to reading your future posts.
Alice said:
Wow! Thanks! That is so touching! I enjoyed reading your blog as well, cant wait to see how you like the upcoming FFwD recipes, I know I’m pretty excited about this months scheduled recipes! 🙂 … I think she knows that she is cute…. lol so I cant be mad when she “helps” !
betsy said:
I didn’t dollop with dairy (creme fraiche or other), but you make it sound worth trying next time. I love your celery caterpillar. What a lovely soup!
Alice said:
Thanks, the celery caterpillar just kind of “appeared” !! But it was so much fun! YES!! try it with creme fraiche or sour cream, and make sure its as cold as you can get it, I just kept the pot of it next to me while I ate my third bowl of corn soup because it melded into the soup if I didn’t eat it fast enough! LOL!!! Im frantically eating hot soup on a hot day just for the creme fraiche!
Liz said:
Oh, your “helper” is just precious!!! And your soup looks perfect!!!
Alice said:
Thanks! I should start dressing her up a bit more for these photos… lol I cant wait to get her a tall chefs hat when she gets older, maybe we could wear matching ones…. 🙂
Elaine said:
I am so hungry now after reading your post. And I wish I had made the creme fraiche. Sounds like I missed out with not putting this on as a garnish. Your celery caterpillar is so cute – have never achieved that when I cut celery! I enjoy seeing lttle Mei in your posts so much. Hope you enjoy your weekend!
Alice said:
LOL I’m addicted to the creme fraiche! The caterpillar just appeared, it had never done that before so I had to take a picture. I hope you enjoy your weekend as well… Mei loves to smile for the camera when she is helping in the kitchen! 😉
kitchenarian said:
Great job on the soup. I need to investigate this Birtish bacon! It sounds wonderful.
Alice said:
The bacon is something I’m going to be missing when I have to move away from here…. 🙂
Errin said:
That looks so insanely good. : D I wonder how it would taste if I made it with a milk substitute? Do you think almond milk would work?
Alice said:
I think it would, other FFwD-ers made it with skim milk, I bet you could mess around with it and see 🙂 I can’t imagine how it wouldn’t work out.
Teresa said:
I didn’t strain it either – why waste any of that goodness? My immersion blender got it smooth enough. Crème fraiche really is a wonder, isn’t it?
Alice said:
yes!!!! me neither, the consistency was good for me !
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