Thursday, June 10, 2010

idiot proof

This soup really is. And oh my God it’s tasty:

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Born of some low-quality pears that were simultaneously hard in some places and growing huge brown spots in others, I give you…

Idiot Proof Chilled Pear Bisque

3 pears
2 stalks of celery, leafy tops included
1/4 cup yogurt
water as needed

Chop pears. Put in blender. Chop celery. Microwave for two minutes until shrunken and soft. Add to blender. Add yogurt to blender. Add enough water to get your blender going and puree, adding water as needed to achieve the consistency of your liking.

Done.

I thought about adding herbs/spices/other things but then I tasted this and was like “No. Don’t fix what ain’t broken.” It is subliiiiiiiiiime. Cool, refreshing, sweet, complex.

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Not so idiot proof: I was totally intrigued by this recipe for homemade Clif bars. I made a number of “tweaks” to the recipe that were… um… kind of to its detriment, as it turns out.

- Whole wheat flour instead of brown rice flour
- regular rolled oats instead of quick oats
- maple syrup instead of brown rice syrup
- omitted brown sugar
- omitted forgot vanilla

Everything looked okay as I prepared it:

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The smell of this almond-butter maple-syrup mixture was way too delicious to even describe.

Combined the dry (I used dried cherries for my fruit and almonds for my nuts)

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Laid out in the pan it looked nice….

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But then it came time to slice and… not so much. Boo. I absolutely blame myself and not the recipe. I will say that in spite of being a mess the “bars” (let’s call them single servings of granola, as that’s basically what I ended up making) tasted delicious.

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I had a bar a serving of granola on top of the last (*sob*) of the farmer’s market Greek yogurt for lunch.

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It really makes great granola- alternately soft, chewy, crumbly, sweet, nutty, and filling.

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And this yogurt, for reals, just LOOK at that consistency. The people at this farm in Leesburg are just absolute alchemists with nonfat milk.

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That yogurt is so rich and awesome that I actually couldn’t finish that whole bowl container so afternoon snack here I come.

And lunch was rounded out with idiot proof soup and some fresh green beans that I ate raw because they were just SO DELICIOUS.

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I get a ridiculous amount of enjoyment counting all the food groups I include in a given meal, and this has it all! Fruit and veg from the soup, veg from the green beans, and protein; healthy fat; grains; and fruit from the granola-yogurt bowl. Go. Me.

15 comments:

Tamara Marnell said...

I want to try that Clif bar recipe, but I would make all the same substitutions you did! Not because I take issue with the original recipe, but I don't have brown rice syrup, quick oats or rice flour. I'd have to make a special trip to the grocery store to buy them, which defeats the purpose of saving money by making them at home! Maybe an egg would would help keep it together.

MelindaRD said...

That bisque looks great. I will admit that a first glance I had no idea what that was, but once I kept reading it made sense. It almost looked like a pea soup. Great recipe just in time for summer, although fall time it would be great too.

Anonymous said...

That bisque looks good! Pears that have been pulverized taste delicious. :)That's too bad that the Clif bars didn't turn out but at least they still tasted great!

Katie @ Health for the Whole Self said...

For the soup, did you peel the pears or keep the skin on?

Anonymous said...

Hahaha, I love getting in tons of food groups at meals by having lots of random dishes too :) the soup truly does sound idiot-proof and yummy, but sadly, I don't think my blender could handle it!

Megan D said...

I need more idiot-proof recipes! =P
And your granola looks yummy :)

Mary @ Bites and Bliss said...

You're not alone. I've made a few granola recipes that just crumble when trying the handle. But you have to right idea- failed granola bars make great granola! :)

Anonymous said...

oooh those bars/granola chunks look like my next baking experiment except I don't really have those ingredients at all haha! Guess I'll just have to go shopping =)
have a great day!

Anne @ Food Loving Polar Bear said...

Your granola looks delicious. I'm not a baker kind of girl, but I would love to try making my own granola sometime :)

Anne @ Food Loving Polar Bear said...

Your granola looks delicious. I'm not a baker kind of girl, but I would love to try making my own granola sometime :)

Nutritious is Delicious said...

Homemade Clif Bars? Love that idea!

Despite not typically liking cold soups and not being celery's biggest fat, that soup is intriguing me! Looks good.

Jess said...

That clif bar recipe sounds FANTASTIC!

Delicious eats!
<3 jess
xoxo

Shaheen said...

I don't think i've ever had pear in a soup, sorry bisque. I am intrigued.

Kelsey Ann said...

what does it mean when i see the post title and go "oh good.. i can make this" haha lol

<3 xoxo

Alycia @ Fit n Fresh said...

hahaha idiot proof pear bisque? Sounds perfect for me! And I need to try those Clif bars/granolas! I love me some Clif, that's for sure (: