Chicken, Sweet Potato and Kale Soup

We have had a cool summer in comparison to previous summers.  The last week we had very cool days and nights.  It really started to feel like fall.  Fall is one of my favorite seasons, the air is clean, clear and crisp.  Of course along with fall comes my love of soups.  I was trying to figure out what to do with the chicken I had and kept thinking, soup would be really good.

I found this recipe on the Paleo Plan website.  Please note at the bottom of the recipe for my changes the next time I make this soup.  I also tweaked the recipe as I was making it due to my food allergies and one ingredient I did not have in stock.

Chicken, Sweet Potato and Kale Soup (Paleo)
2 tablespoon coconut oil
1 yellow onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced (I used 3 to add more flavor)
1 medium carrot, chopped
1 teaspoon fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon fresh oregano (I used 1 teaspoon)
1 teaspoon of sea salt and more to taste
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper (I cannot use this due to my food allergies)
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into pieces. (I used boneless chicken breasts)
4 cups chicken broth
6 cups water
1 bay leaf (I cannot use this due to my food allergies)
2 ounces jalapenos, canned and diced (I did not have these so I used 1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper)
1 large sweet potato
1 bunch of kale, chopped
1 bunch green onions, sliced (whites and greens)
juice of 1 lemon (as much as I would like to add this, again I am allergic)
Heat large pot over medium-high heat.  When hot, add oil, onion, garlic, thyme, and oregano, and saute until onion is softened and slightly translucent, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Sprinkle chicken with 1/4 teaspoon of the sea salt and 1/4 teaspoon of the black pepper.  Add chicken to the pot and continue to cook for another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Reduce heat to medium, add broth, water, bay leaf, jalapenos, sweet potato, kale and green onions and simmer for about 20 minutes.  Just before serving, season with salt and pepper and lemon juice.

***NOTE:  One thing I would change about this recipe to impart more flavor would be to switch around the amount of water and broth.  So next time I would add 6 cups broth and 4 cups water.

Spicy Sweet Potato Soup with Smoked Salmon

I found this recipe in the Yukon - North of Ordinary magazine that I subscribe to, it was in the winter 2011 issue.  I love this magazine as it is always filled with wonderful articles and great recipes (even though this is the first one I have ever actually made).

I have to tell you something funny that happened in the kitchen as I was preparing to make this recipe.  As you read through this recipe you will see that it calls for chipotle peppers in adobe sauce.  I keep the peppers in stock in my kitchen because so many recipes actually call for it.  So I pulled a can from my pantry, I noticed that the top of the can had a little sauce or yuck from what is inside the can.  My first thought was "well maybe in the store one of the cans leaked and ended up on this can".  I knew better than that...so I thought the seal on this can isn't that good and the sauce leaked out so I decided that it was a good idea to push on the seal on the top of the can to test, yes I said test, the strength of the can by applying pressure to the seal.  Well you guessed it, the seal was not sealed, or I have the strength of a super body builder, and as I pushed on the can the contents, which of course is under pressure decided to let loose if you will all over myself and my husband who happened to be standing close.  I had chipotle pepper sauce all over me, thankfully I wear an apron in the kitchen so the majority of the sauce was on it.  I think the part that un-nerves me is that some of that sauce went into my mouth.  Now I realize at this point that the can is no good.  The can went into the garbage.  Thankfully I had another can available for this dish.

Here is the recipe:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
2 cups chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery (I did not actually use celery in my recipe because I am allergic)
1 cup chopped carrot
1 clove of garlic, minced
2 pounds peeled, chopped sweet potato
1/2 of a chipotle pepper in adobe sauce
6 cups chicken broth (I use homemade broth)
2 ounces of smoked salmon

Garnish:
Sour Cream
Roasted peppers, chopped

Melt oil and butter in a 3 quart saucepan over medium heat.  Add onion, celery, carrot and garlic; reduce heat to medium low and saute until onion is translucent.  Add the sweet potato,  Stir well so that every piece is coated in oil and butter, and then add the broth and the chipotle pepper.  Bring to a boil, then simmer for 25-30 minutes or until sweet potato is completely soft.  Blend soup in a food processor, immersion blender or press through a strainer.  I used my vitamix blender.  Return soup to the pot and add salt to taste.  Keep warm.  Dice the salmon into 1/2 inch pieces.  When you're ready to serve, pour soup into bowls and pile a small mound of smoked salmon in the center of each bowl.  Add sour cream and peppers.