Gourmet Mushroom Soup

Ingredients -

1/4 cup Butter
1-1/2 pounds Fresh Mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup minced Shallots
1/2 cup Dry Sherry
2 cups Beef Stock
3 cups Half-and-Half
5 cups Cold Water
2 Bay Leaves
1/2 teaspoon White Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Coarse Salt
1/2 cup Cornstarch mixed with 1/2 cup Cold Water
chopped Fresh Parsley
Garlic Seasoned Croutons

Preparation:

1. Add butter to stockpot. Melt over medium heat.

2. Add sliced mushrooms and minced shallots. Sauté until mushrooms have softened.

3. Stir in sherry. Reduce liquid by half.

4. Stir in beef stock, half-and-half, cold water, bay leaves, white pepper and salt.

5. Simmer 15 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Simmer 30 minutes.

6. Stir in cornstarch mixture. Simmer 2 minutes.

7. Serve in individual soup bowls.

8. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and seasoned croutons.

Soup Making Tip

Cremini Mushrooms

Packing more flavor and a denser texture than plain white button mushrooms, the extra cost is justified in choosing Cremini for most soups.

Soup Making Tip

Morels

Smaller morels are preferred for cooking. Morels are often available in dried form and reconstitute beautifully. They are almost black in color and found in supermarkets in the spring.