Potato and Leek Soup

I've been gone for quite a while and I'm a bit ashamed to have abandoned my blog (once again) for so long... not really a good start for the new year, huh? Seems like the Daring Kitchen challenges are the only 2 consistent updates that i make each month, with only 1 or 2 extras if i'm feeling generous. Sigh, i'm a bad, baaad blogger :( And it's not even because i don't cook enough, but i just suck at updating! For example, i already have 8 posts with pictures and recipes ready since new years but I just can't seem to get myself to write about them. Hmm, maybe it's time to consider a format change on the blog.... yea, I'll think about it. It's gonna be a new year with a new start; hopefully I can reach my quota of 50 recipes by the end of this year (as opposed to 38 last year and 42 in 2008). We'll see how this goes, shall we?

So back to food: I've had my first encounter cooking with leeks last week! I never really knew what they were or how they should be cooked until my friend, Lauren, introduced them to me. Apparently leeks are quite commonly used in the European household and they are often used as substitutions for onions since they have a much milder onion taste. Leeks can be boiled to flavor stocks, baked into pies, or even eaten raw in salads-- all of which i'm going to try some time in the near future. But for now, here is a recipe for a classic potato leek soup that taste as good as they sound in the many websites and cookbooks that I've read from; hope you enjoy it too!

Potato and Leek Soup

from "Cheap as Chips, Better than Toast" by Miranda Shearer

serves 3 - 4

INGREDIENTS:

• 375 grams leek
• 30 grams butter
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 375 grams potatoes, peeled and diced
• 570 ml stock
• Good splash of milk
• 2 teaspoons of sugar (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Trim off the tops and roots of the leeks and peel away their tough outer layer. Cut the leeks in half and rinse well under cold water. Then chop into little pieces (the soup will be blended so just roughly chop them up!)
2. Gently melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed pan [picture 1].
3. Add the leeks and onion, stir until soft (about 5 minutes). Add the potatoes after a couple of minutes and saute them [picture 2].
4. When they are coated in butter, add the stock, milk and sugar (optional). Let the soup simmer for 20 minutes or until cooked [picture 3].
5. Blend the soup in a food processor or blender after it as cooled a little.
6. Reheat the soup on the stove and serve (if it is too thick, add more milk).

Potato and Leek Soup