With the falling snow still a depressing memory haunting me, I craved to make something new, unusual yet comforting. So very cold, I decided I wanted to make a soup. Where to find inspiration?
My generous and totally fabulous friend Michelle (wedding photographer extraordinaire) bought me a copy of Blogaid‘s Recipes for Haiti Cookbook. I found an unusual soup by Food In Jars: Carrot Peanut Butter Soup.
Yes, I should have realized my mistake right away. What a weird combination, right? Yet my spicy noodles have peanut butter and vinegar in them and they are now one of my favourite things to eat of all time. I wanted to be adventurous, so I went for it. No guts, no glory!
Everything was a disaster. My first batch burned! I can not remember the last time I burned a dish but it was just one of those days. I got rid of the pot, got another one out and started again. Chopped up onions, garlic and carrots. It all seemed like a normal soup until I added the peanut butter and the smell told me, “Suzie, what on earth are you thinking?” I wanted to believe in the recipe. I mean, I have made ginger carrot soup and even curry carrot soup and loved them both. Why not peanut butter?
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I blitzed it in my blender and it turned into this muted mush, nothing like the photograph in the cookbook. No bright and happy orange colour. All I could taste was peanut butter and the texture was downright gross. This is the first time I made something that was absolutely disgusting, I will admit it. Damn! Apparently this recipe was inspired by the original edition of The Moosewood Cookbook. Food in Jars writes, “Why they changed the recipe in the revised edition, I’ll never know.”
Well I know!!! Are you kidding me? Ugh!
Normally I try and remain open minded. I know my palette is very unique and may be unusual to others but I can not imaging anyone liking this. My husband loves peanut butter and when I told him what I was making he said, “Why on Earth are you making THAT?!”
I was surprised to find out that some people like the combination of carrots and peanut butter. Christine wrote on my Facebook Page that she loves to dip carrots in peanut butter. Touché. Maybe some people will like this recipe but I suspect that for once I am in the flavour majority in thinking this is not a winning combination for a soup. I wish I could forget that hesitant spoonful I ate. I hate waste and this went right down the drain.
Thankfully the book has submissions by many bloggers so next time I will move on to a different foodie and select a less adventurous recipe.
What did I do for lunch? My spicy noodles once again came to my food rescue.
Well, I’m super curious. It seems really that carrot peanut butter soup sounds like it actually might work. Considering all the crazy things i’ve been making lately that call for peanut butter… Maybe the author left out an ingredient?? I can’t figure out why the colour and texture would be so different from the photo in the book!
Oh and thanks so much for the compliment 🙂 I so love you too!
I felt the same way Michelle, that maybe this was a genius idea and I just had to keep an open mind. You also add cayenne to it which I did but the peanut butter was so overpowering and the texture? Shudder! I have no idea why the colour was so different. Maybe you will like it, who knows. I will try something else and keep my fingers crossed. Sorry it wasn’t a happy review, I do love the book and am hoping to find a real winner in there!
I think I’ll have a cuppa Mocha Custard with Chocolate Truffle Surprise instead, lol…I’ll take your word for it and maybe not try this one. I give you 5 spoons for being a brave and adventurous foodie though!
I applaud your adventurous spirit, Suzie. It’s always great to try things new and wondrous things from time to time.