Soup de Jour of the Day

Sometimes there is an assortment of leftovers, that, when put together, make a nice soup. Today was one such day. I started by cooking some dried navy beans in the pressure cooker with meaty pork bones, left over from making sausage a few weeks ago. In the big pot, I put in some leftover French onion soup from Thursday's dinner, half a leftover rotisserie chicken meat (cubed) from the supermarket and a box of frozen spinach. When the beans and pork were done, I added the beans and chopped up the pork and added it. Then, I had half a big Tupperware bowl of salad, that my son inadvertently placed in the back entranceway where it froze, into the soup. This was simply a bagged iceberg salad with red onion, green pepper, tomatoes, celery and mushrooms added. I seasoned it with some crushed red pepper and garlic and simmered for an hour. Topped with some grated Romano - quite tasty.

Soup.jpg

Looks and sounds wonderful, Howie. Often times a combination of leftovers make a cumulative better dish.

Great tablecloth as well.

Soup du Jour, Howie. Jour is masculine so you can't have "de la" as it qualifies feminine words. The French don't say "de le" (which would be the masculine form of "de la") as it is awkward. Therefore, they contract "de le" into "du". Hence, 'soup du jour'. I'm sorry that I'm such a prick.

The soup looks fantastic, though.

rwj

Soup du Jour, Howie. Jour is masculine so you can't have "de la" as it qualifies feminine words. The French don't say "de le" (which would be the masculine form of "de la") as it is awkward. Therefore, they contract "de le" into "du". Hence, 'soup du jour'. I'm sorry that I'm such a prick.

The soup looks fantastic, though.

rwj

Thanks, robert. I actually took 2 years of French in high school, but don't remember a thing. I'll get it right next time.

Soup du Jour, Howie. Jour is masculine so you can't have "de la" as it qualifies feminine words. The French don't say "de le" (which would be the masculine form of "de la") as it is awkward. Therefore, they contract "de le" into "du". Hence, 'soup du jour'. I'm sorry that I'm such a prick.

The soup looks fantastic, though.

rwj

The forum kitchen means never having to say your sorry. (about being a food geek.)

Piling on the pedant points:

"du Jour" means "of the Day", so "Soup du Jour of the Day" belongs in the Department of Redundancy Department, along with "ATM Machine" (ATM means "Automated Teller Machine", so "ATM Machine" is "Automated Teller Machine Machine").

-Paul W.

Piling on the pedant points:

"du Jour" means "of the Day", so "Soup du Jour of the Day" belongs in the Department of Redundancy Department, along with "ATM Machine" (ATM means "Automated Teller Machine", so "ATM Machine" is "Automated Teller Machine Machine").

-Paul W.

That is just my poor attempt at humor. I usually get a chuckle from wait staff when I ask for it that way. Sometimes I get a puzzled look.

I've actually seen "Soup du Jour of the Day" on restaurant menus. Along with "roast beef, served with au jus".

-Paul W.

Sounds wonderful Howie. I've never considered cooking lettuce (always eat it raw as a salad vegetable) - thanks for the idea.

Celia

I've actually seen "Soup du Jour of the Day" on restaurant menus. Along with "roast beef, served with au jus". .

In Florida once, a member of Betsy's quartet asked what the "soup of the day" was, was solemnly told it was "du jour" soup.

Sounds wonderful Howie! And my kind of soup...I love the use of the leftovers...and is that grated parm on top....mmmmm...YUM! I'll be right over for a bowl!

Sounds wonderful Howie. I've never considered cooking lettuce (always eat it raw as a salad vegetable) - thanks for the idea.

Celia

The Beans & Greens Soup I make frequently uses "greens in season" that could be escarole, dandelions, romaine, swiss chard, kale, etc. I just didn't want to waste the iceberg lettuce in this instance, so I figured, Why Not?

That soup does look absolutely dee-LISH!

-Paul W.

Sounds wonderful Howie. I've never considered cooking lettuce (always eat it raw as a salad vegetable) - thanks for the idea.

Celia

Grilled romaine is one of my favorites.

rwj

Howie that beans and greens soup and various variations are a regular member of the rotation in our kitchen. I use fresh kale or chard a lot. And I tend to use dried rather than canned beans just to cut down on the salt.

Piling on the pedant points:

"du Jour" means "of the Day", so "Soup du Jour of the Day" belongs in the Department of Redundancy Department, along with "ATM Machine" (ATM means "Automated Teller Machine", so "ATM Machine" is "Automated Teller Machine Machine").

-Paul W.

I just didn't want to be that much of a prick.

rwj

The Beans & Greens Soup I make frequently uses "greens in season" that could be escarole, dandelions, romaine, swiss chard, kale, etc. I just didn't want to waste the iceberg lettuce in this instance, so I figured, Why Not?

Howie, your greens and beans soup is a regular here at the Henrick Mansion since my first try at it. Of course I always make about 6 times more than the wife can eat, and after 4-5 reheatings I take the rest of it to work. I guess no one there had ever seen kale and beans used together, because I got lots of comments. some even about the (by then) small green bits amongst the soup. Yum stuff!

...And I tend to use dried rather than canned beans just to cut down on the salt.

I've only been using dried beans ever since I bought a new pressure cooker a while ago. I prefer them to canned also.

...And I tend to use dried rather than canned beans just to cut down on the salt.

I've only been using dried beans ever since I bought a new pressure cooker a while ago. I prefer them to canned also.

I agree with using dried beans over canned. If. I have the sense to plan, I soak beans the night before and it doesn't really take long for them to cook next day. I usually use great northern white beans and Kale, but if I get caught short, I have been known to use canned beans. Of course with canned one has to pour off the liquid and rinse the beans. So, if I have to do that, I always use a low sodium or a no sodium home made chicken stock. I like using kale or collards in this soup as it seems to me that those greens hold up better for leftovers. Confession time though. I inherited my sisters pressure cooker a couple years ago, and have been a little leery about using it. My Mother canned with a big canning pressure cooker and had it blow it's top once scalding her quite badly, and I am still scared of them.

Confession time though. I inherited my sisters pressure cooker a couple years ago, and have been a little leery about using it. My Mother canned with a big canning pressure cooker and had it blow it's top once scalding her quite badly, and I am still scared of them.

I've only used my pressure cooker a couple of times for canning things but I'm told if you have an old one you should get rid of it. I do not know what is considered old. The new ones have apparently reduced the risk of blowing up and scalding to negligible. I'll defer to anyone with real experience but that's what I've heard. Mine will only go to 15 atm pressure I believe.

The one I bought about 6 months ago is stainless steel. I had two old ones that I inherited made of aluminum. If you remove the gasket and the pressure weight, the old ones make great popcorn poppers - nice even heat and the locking lid make for vigorous shaking. I believe all pressure cookers operate at 15 psi. Here is a great link: http://missvickie.com/index.html and from the same website, how to cook beans in a pressure cooker: http://missvickie.com/howto/beans/howtobeantypes.html

Of course I always make about 6 times more than the wife can eat, and after 4-5 reheatings I take the rest of it to work.

OK, why is it when I make soup (and others, it seems), the soup expands exponentially. By the time I'm finished, I can feed most of Jeff City. Then my wife hits me in the head with a spoon. Maybe I should use a recipe, but that would take away the surprise. The leftovers do get better with age, though.

Jim

Welcome, Jim! That is one kick-ass avatar!

rwj

I just didn't want to be that much of a prick.

rwj

Touche. Guilty as charged.

-Paul W.