Monday, December 10, 2012

Chanukah Blog Party - Sweet Potato Leek Soup





Chanukah, and winter in general, is a time for soul-soothing, heart-warming comfort foods.

I love to whip up a batch of sweet potato leek soup for Shabbos Chanukah to be enjoyed with all the other delicacies reserved for this special Shabbos. (I still remember my grandmother preparing stuffed goose. I wonder if anyone does that anymore - or if it's even available.). 

This savory soup is surprisingly easy to prepare and even die-hard sweet potato abstainers are  pleasantly surprised. Garnish with homemade whole wheat dreidel croutons for a bit of fun.


SWEET POTATO LEEK SOUP

2 T oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 leeks, white and light green parts, well cleaned and chopped

2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 T salt
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (I use substantially less, and have omitted for delicate stomachs)
32 oz broth
1/4 c parsley, optional


Heat oil and add onion garlic and leeks.
Let onions sweat for 5 minutes. Add sweet potatoes, salt and cayenne pepper. 

Mix and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in broth and parsley. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer half an hour. Puree.



Please don't forget to send in your Pirsum Project menorah photos throughout the week as well and tell me how/if you'd like to be credited. (Search "Pirsum Project" on this blog to see some lovely photos from previous years - like here, and here, and here...)





Ready for more?

Welcome to our first ever Chanukah Blog Party, hosted by Leah of Cook Kosher and Miriam of Overtime Cook. It's traditional on Chanukah to eat fried treats, most notably doughnuts and latkes, and we've got a fabulous array of Chanukah themed recipes, treats and crafts from Jewish bloggers all over the world! Scroll down for links to all of the delicious treats. 





To help get everyone into party mode, we have a bunch of fabulous new cookbooks to giveaway! Leave a comment on this post for your chance to win one of:

2 copies of Susie Fishbein's new Kosher By Design Cooking Coach (sponsored by Artscroll)
2 copies of Leah Schapira's  Fresh and Easy Kosher Cooking (sponsored by Artscroll) 
2 copies of Esther Deutch's CHIC Made Simple (sponsored by the author)

Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM on Sunday, December 16th. Limit one entry per person per blog, so visit the other blogs for extra chances to win! 
Prizes can only be shipped within the US. Entries must be accompanied by a valid email address in order to qualify.

How to enter: Leave a comment on this post telling me your favorite family Chanukah tradition.

This is the second of many fabulous Holiday Blog Parties. If you would like to be added to the mailing list to participate in future parties, please email holidayblogparties@gmail.com


Stop by the other blogs and check out these Chanukah Themed Recipes:


Latkes:

Jamie from Joy of Kosher made Zucchini Latkes with Tzatziki
Susan from The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen made Squash and Potato Latkes
Samantha from The Little Ferraro Kitchen made Ruby Red Beet Latkes with Cumin
Nechamah from TIforOA Food Ideas made Healthy Oatmeal Latkes
Liz from The Lemon Bowl made Traditional Potato Latkes
Melanie from From Fast Food to Fresh Food made (I Can't Believe They're Crispy!) Baked Latkes
Laura from Mother Would Know made Three Variations of Sweet and Savory Latkes
Sarah from Crispy Bits and Burnt Ends made Kimchee Latkes
Shulie from Food Wanderings made Baked Panko Sweet Potato Leek Latkes

Donuts and Desserts:

Miriam from Overtime Cook made Shortcut Cannoli with Chocolate Mousse Filling
Leah from Cook Kosher made 5 Minute Donuts
Estee from The Kosher Scoop made Tropical Fruit Fritters
Melinda from Kitchen-Tested made Sweet Steamed Buns
Amy from What Jew Wanna Eat made Homemade Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Gelt
Avidan from Baking It Up As I Go Along made Orange Olive Oil Cake
Tali from More Quiche Please made Glazed Chocolate Donut Holes
Amital from Organized Jewish Home made Mom's Sour Cream Sugar Cookies
Princess Lea from The Frumanista made Túrógombóc
Stephanie and Jessica from The Kosher Foodies made Beignets
Gigi from Gigi's Kitchen made Bunuelos: Mini Powdered Cheese Donuts 
Esther from Esther O Designs made Edible Menorahs
Patti from No Bacon Here made Hanukkah Oreo Balls
Shoshana from Couldn't Be Parve made Churros con Chocolate
Shaindy from My Happily Hectic Life made Inside Out Apple Crisp
Eve from Gluten Free Nosh made Gluten-Free Hanukkah Sugar Cookies
Amy from Baking and Mistaking made Mini Cream-Filled French Beignets
Sarah from Food, Words, Photos made Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
Victoria from Itsy Bitsy Balebusta made Pure Vanilla Donuts
Vicky and Ruth from May I Have That Recipe made Dulce de Leche and Eggnog cream filled mini sufganiot
Dena from Oh You Cook made Poached Pears in Pomegranate Sauce
Michele from Kosher Treif Cooking made Tiramisu Cheessecake
Sharon from FashionIsha made Sparkly Chanukah Cookies
Yosef from This American Bite made Garlic, Zaatar and Olive Oil Popcorn

Appetizers, Soups, Sauces, Drinks and other Hanukkah Food:


Laura from Pragmatic Attic made Caramel Spice Applesauce
Jessie from Bread and Butter made Honey Spiced Hanukkah Martini
G6 from Guess Who's Coming 2 Dinner made Sweet Potato Leek Soup
Claire from I Love Soup made Sweet Potato, Coconut & Lemongrass Soup
Jennifer from Juanita's Cocina made Kugel
Liz from Kosher Like Me made Ready, Stuff Roll!
Shelley from The Kosher Home made Hanukkah Crafts and Printables



23 comments:

Liz @ The Lemon Bowl said...

For whatever reason, I never make sweet potato soup. What a delish idea!

CrispyBitsnBurntEnds said...

I have never made a sweet potato soup either but I am thinking that needs to change very soon. Loving the flavor combinations!

shelley said...

Our fav tradition is decorating our home! Especially the mantle!

So glad you joined the blog party – can’t wait to see how you used the printables to decorate your home!

http://thekosherhome.com/chanukah-sameach/

Shelley from The Kosher home!

Barry and Rena said...

family chanukah parties!

YW said...

My favorite is family get togethers.

Chumy said...

Singing after candle lighting

dena @ohyoucook said...

I'm glad you chose this soup for the blog hop ... sweet potato soup is always delicious!
My favorite tradition is seeing family.

This American Bite said...

Sounds like it would be very sweet. An interesting approach!

Michele said...

My 6 year old loves soup ... maybe this is a great way to sneak some veggies into her diet : )

♡♥♬ Carolsue ♡♥♬ said...

Our tradition is to cook like crazy -- cook, bake, etc. -- then get together as a family and enjoy everythng together!
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net

Fashion-isha said...

It's so nice to find all of these blogs! I love your recipe, I'm trying vegan so this totally works! Happy Chanukah!
xo
Sharon

gigi said...

I always love a nice warm soup in the winter time. this looks like a really fantastic recipe! thanks for sharing it. can't wait to cook this one up. gigi. food and beauty blogger @ www.gigikkitchen.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

I love soup, and I love sweet potato. i totally have to try this recipe!

Thanks for joining!

My family tradition that I love is having everyone together for a party!

Tali Simon @ More Quiche, Please said...

Those croutons are terrific. Love!

daughtersintheparsha said...

the croutons are what I find adds that special chanuka spin !

Laura said...

Family party.

Shaindy @ Happily Hectic said...

We don't really have any traditions... I can't wait to try this soup! Looks so good and easy to make!

Amital @ OrganizedJewishHome said...

This sounds yummy. I love soup when it's cold out.

I just love spending time with my family.

Devora said...

My favourite chanukah tradition is sitting with the family, lighting the chanukiyah, and spending time together.

cman said...

Sounds great, I love leeks!

Anonymous said...

Hi,

Have you ever made a low-sodium version of this recipe?

Any thoughts on how this could be done?

Thanks!

J

Anonymous said...

Looks amazing. Not just a good soup for Hanukkah, but for the entire year.

G6 said...

Congratulations shelley!
You've won a copy of Leah Schapira's
"Fresh and Easy"!
Please send me your mailing info as soon as possible and enjoy :)