Garam Masala Split Pea Soup

Growing-up I remember my mom would always make split pea soup with the leftover holiday ham. She wasn’t much of a cook but she had a knack for the crock pot and I have vivid memories of a questionable pot of mush simmering away in the kitchen. As a kid, the words “split pea” didn’t exactly appeal to me and yet the inviting smell always made me curious. I had tepid interest at the time but the adult me now recognizes the value of a house that smells good. I’ve been known to “burp” the oven just for feedback on smells. I want the house to smell good! It puts the home in homey.

There is an expression that we “eat with our eyes” (not sure that’s the case for kids and pea soup) but the nose most definitely has it’s place in the culinary world. Grown-up me has made a grown-up version of split pea soup by adding an Indian flair with a drizzle of garam masala brown butter. Kids might still turn their noses up but the adults in the room might be grateful for a fresh riff on an old favorite. This Garam Masala Split Pea Soup recipe is great for warming cold seniors and their caregivers. An adventurous child might enjoy it too but honestly, why is everything about the kids? They want to leave the house without a jacket when there’s snow on the ground. I mean seriously, what do they know? Make a pot of this soup to help survive the frigid months of winter. After a certain age, one can recognize the value of feeling warm and cozy, especially when served up as a bowl of delicious!

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp oil
• 1 chopped onion
• 4 chopped garlic cloves
• 1/2 tsp crushed red chili pepper
• 5 cups chicken or vegetable stock or broth
• 1 1/2 cups of split green peas
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp garam masala
• chopped chives for garnishing

Directions:

1. In a large pot, saute the onion in the oil for a few minutes until the onions soften.
2. Next, add the garlic and the crushed red pepper and stir until it becomes fragrant.
3. Then stir in the stock/broth and the split green peas.
4. Simmer covered for about 45 minutes or until the peas are soft and cooked through.
5. While the soup is simmering, melt the butter allowing it to foam and begin to brown.
6. When the butter has turned golden in color, stir in the garam masala and saute for 30ish more seconds letting the spices become fragrant. Then remove from heat.
7. When the soup has finished simmering, remove it from heat and stir in the coconut milk and and salt.
8. Carefully pulse or puree the soup using an emersion blender (or stand-up blender)to desired consistancy.
9. Serve it in bowls with a garnish of chopped chives and a drizzle of brown garam masala butter.

Stay warm friends!

Oct/Nov 2020: Soft Sandwich Bread Recipe

You know that expression, “too little, too late"? That’s how I’m feeling about this Soft Sandwich Bread Recipe…

Over the five years I was the caregiver to my father, all he wanted to eat was peanut butter and jelly. As a chef, you can imagine that was frustrating for me. I would make him these beautiful and nutritious meals and he would scoff at them, preferring his childhood favorite. The baker in me set out to add wholesomeness with homemade artisan bread, but even that fell short to his liking. The crust was too tough, or the crumb too dry… Each and every attempt to share love through a home cooked meal felt like failure and I eventually gave-up. I should have known that preparing senior meals was going to be harder than expected. I was out for creativity. He wanted soft, store bought bread slathered in traditional grape jelly with your standard hydrogenated peanut butter. It was his favorite. Who am I to argue with a man in his 80’s suffering from dementia? PS- You don’t argue with a person afflicted with dementia or Alzheimer’s. As a caregiver, you quickly learn to pick your battles, and fighting over food was not going to be one of mine.

There is another expression though. “It’s better late than never” and I guess you could say, Soft Sandwich Bread has arrived! It comes a year and a half to late for my dad but hopefully it’s right on time for you and your loved ones. As much as I love a crunchy-chewy crust, seniors with sensitive teeth might not share the love. So, in honor of my dad’s favorite meal, I’ve figured out this Soft Sandwich Bread Recipe.

This bread recipe produces a soft crumb and crust which makes it perfect for sandwiches.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 1/4 cup warm water (seperated)
• 1 tbsp melted butter
• 1 tbsp molasses
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp active dry yeast

Directions

Day 1:

1. In a large bowl mix the flour and the salt.
2. In a large measuring glass (or bowl), combine 1 cup of the warm water, melted butter, molasses, honey, and brown sugar and stir to combine. Add the rest of the water until you have 1 and 1/4 cup of the liquid mixture.
3. Add the yeast and let "bloom" for 10ish minutes.
4. Give the liquid mixture a stir and then pour into into the flour bowl.
5. Combine, incorporating the wet and dry ingredients until a sticky dough ball forms. It doesn't need to be perfect but you want most the dry ingredients integrated so there's no flour left sitting in the bowl.
6. Cover and let rest for 6-10 hours, and the dough has become pillowy and doubled in size.

Day 2

1. Uncover the dough and with a wet hand, gently scoop around the edges, lifting from the sides and folding the dough onto itself. This will release the dough from the edges.
2. On a lightly floured surface, plop your dough out and gently stretch it out on the counter.
3. Using the criss cross technique (watch my video here), gently shape your dough being careful not to degas the air bubbles.
4. Place the shaped dough on a piece of parchment paper and place into a bowl or pie pan to rest for an hour, covered.
5. Put a dutch oven with the lid in the oven and preheat to 450 degrees F.
6. When the oven is ready and the dough has rested, remove the cover and score the top of the dough.
7. Carefully remove the dutch oven and transfer the parchment paper with the dough into the dutch oven, cover with the lid and return it to the oven and bake for 30 minutes.
8. After 30 minutes, remove the lid and bake for another 15 minutes at 415 degrees F.
9. Then remove the dutch oven and carefully transfer the bread to a wire rack and let cool.

The best Soft Sandwich Bread Recipe ever!

I hope you love this sandwich bread recipe as much as I do. Report back you thoughts. I know kids and seniors alike both love soft bread so give it a try and let me know what you think. Sending love and lots of good sandwiches!