Apple Potato Soup

apple potato soup

An apple a day keeps the doctor away! Homemade apple and potato soup with fresh thyme.

Recipe

Serves 4. 

2 apples, peeled, cored and diced, plus 1/2 an apple sliced into thin wedges
2 celery stalks, chopped in to 1/4 inch slices
1 small-medium onion, diced
1 leek (minus the tough greens), sliced thinly
5 small potatoes, peeled, and diced
2 1/2 cups milk
2 cups chicken broth
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt and pepper
crème fraîche or sour cream

Instructions

1. In a large saute pan combine leek, onion, apple, celery and olive oil over medium-low heat until tender, probably 15 minutes or so.

2. In a large soup pot combine milk and potatoes. Bring to a slow boil, careful to not scorch the milk and cook for about 20 minutes until the potatoes are tender.

3. While the potatoes are cooking add chicken broth, bay leaf and thyme to the apple mixture and simmer for about 20 minutes.

4. Remove the bay leaf and combine all ingredients in the large soup pot and use a Cuisinart Hand Blender to blend all the ingredients until smooth. You could also blend the soup in batches in your blender or food processor. Our Oster Blender does an awesome job with soups, but clean up is so much quicker with the Cuisinart, so inevitably the Cuisinart Hand Blender has been getting way more action lately.

5. You might need to add a little more chicken broth or milk to achieve desired consistency ours was pretty thick. Add salt and pepper to taste.

5. Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with a dollop of crème fraîche or sour cream, a couple of apple slices and a sprinkling of thyme.

We served ours with baked brie, a whole wheat baguette and a dried cranberry, feta and candied pumpkin seed salad.

 

Apple Thyme Cocktail

apple thyme bourbon martini

Apple season is finally here!!! Another whiskey cocktail I thoroughly enjoyed…and will make again and again

Recipe

Serves 1.

2 oz. bourbon or whiskey
1 1/2 oz. spiced apple cider
1/2 oz. thyme infused simple syrup
1 apple sliced crosswise into 1/4 inch slices, 1 slice cut in to chunks
1 sprig fresh thyme

Instructions

1. Chill martini glass with ice and a little water.

2. Muddle thyme and a couple apple chunks together in a pint glass.

2. Add whiskey, spiced apple cider, thyme simple syrup and ice to the pint glass (if you are using a Boston Shaker) or cocktail shaker and shake until frothy.

3. Dump ice water from and fill to the top with your cocktail, garnish with an apple slice.

apple thyme bourbon martini header

Perfect way to drink a little whisky!

Thyme Infused Simple Syrup

Recipe

1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup water
3 sprigs fresh thyme

Instructions

1. In a small saucepan bring water, sugar and thyme to a simmer. Stir constantly until all sugar is dissolved. If you are using a plain apple cider try adding cinnamon, cloves, and allspice to the simple syrup to add a little fall flavor to your cocktail. Allow to cool before adding to your cocktail.