We’re back from our 20th wedding anniversary trip to our RV property on the Siletz River on the Central Coast of Oregon. Not too newsworthy unless I mention the fact that I pretty much shattered my left middle finger on the second day there in a boat launch accident. I had surgery on the finger the day after we got back, and am now entrapped in a traction device. I don’t have the sling anymore at least, that was just to hold up my arm until the nerve block wore off. After the recipe so you get to look at a few of “exciting” photos of the trip if you want. 🙂
Yet, I’m feeling for ya’! So I’ll share a yummy soup recipe I made just before we left first. It’s the least I can do. I only got a couple of pics since I was also packing for the week.
p.s. I finally purchased a sous vide immersion circulator! I’ve been experimenting it (with the hubby’s help since I’m down to one hand, but so far so good!) Just had an awesome chuck roast beef stew cooked 26 hours at 165F then seared with pan gravy made from juices in bag. I’ll start posting those those types of recipes when I can. Picture-taking is mighty hard at the present. Typing with one hand is not exactly a picnic either…
Potato, Leek, and Broccoli Soup with Pancetta Bread Crumbs
Adapted from Food and Wine
3 cloves unpeeled garlic
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1 cup sliced leeks, white and light green parts only
1 pound Russet or other potatoes, peeled and chopped small
2 cups broccoli florets, coarsely chopped small
2 1/2 cups homemade chicken stock or low-sodium broth
1/2 cups Half and Half
Wedge of fresh-squeezed lemon juice
Salt or Mrs. Dash and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Handful of fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 cup cubed sourdough bread
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/8 cup finely chopped pancetta
2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh sage
1/2 teaspoon dried and crushed rosemary (or 1 teaspoon fresh)
Wrap garlic cloves in foil and bake at 400F degrees for 35 minutes. Remove and let cool then peel and add to a food processor or blender.
In a soup pot or Dutch oven, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Add the leeks, potatoes and broccoli and cook over medium-high heat for 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until the leeks start to soften. Add the chicken stock and 3 1/2 cups of water, cover and bring to a boil. Simmer over medium heat until all of the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
Working in batches, add soup to the garlic in the food processor or blender, amd puree the soup until very smooth. Return the puree to the pot and stir in the Half and Half and wedge of lemon juice. Season the soup with salt or Mrs. Dash and pepper. Keep warm on low.
Meanwhile, pulse the bread cubes in a food processor until coarse crumbs form. In a skillet, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in the tablespoon of oil. Add the pancetta, sage, rosemary and bread crumbs and cook over moderately high heat, stirring frequently, until the crumbs and pancetta are browned and crisp, about 10 minutes. Drain on paper towels.
Ladle the soup into bowls, garnish with the pancetta crumbs, and enjoy!
Here are some pics from our vacation:
mmmm that soup sounds amazing right now!
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Thank you Michelle!
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You are most welcome!!!
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Oh my KR-first off Belated “Happy Anniversary” to you both! Secondly, how terrible for you to have a throbbing “finger” and trying to enjoy that lovely dinner-Third-love the soup. xoxoxo ccc
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Thanks so much ccc! Fortunately I made the soup before the accident. xoxoxo
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Yes, I recall you telling me that! xoxxo ccc PS did you hear from In-laws yet in Deland???
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Oh right, sorry meant to tell you that. No power but A-OK, whew! Thanks!!! xoxo
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Good-they’ll get the power back soon FPL is working on that I am sure. xoxo ccc
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Oh my Kathryn – ouch! I make a potato/leek soup but what a great idea to add broccoli. Nice finishing touch with the croutons too!
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Thanks Judy! It was ready to expire and we were leaving to go camping so I searched for recipes with what I needed to use up before we left. Voila!
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Oh, your poor finger. Ouch, Kathryn. That must have been some smash. I like the photo where you’re giving the camera a big fat finger Ha ha. Hope you heal quickly. Thanks for the soup recipe. The pancetta bread crumbs are a nice touch. Yum 🙂
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Thank you so much Diana! Yeah, I thought that was a funny photo too, lol!!
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Ouch, ouch and ouch again. I hope you get better soon. What a nice looking soup 🍜!
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Thank you Gerlinde! xo
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Oh Kathryn, that is absolutely horrible! I admire that you didn’t let it ruin things for you. You both look wonderfully happy in your anniversary photo. 🙂 ❤
Being one-handed is a huge challenge (as I know from when I broke my wrist — i was that way for months — plus it was my right hand, and of course, I'm right handed…).
The soup looks delicious, and the photos were great fun. Thanks so much for sharing this post, especially under the difficulties. Love & hugs.
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Thanks so much Teagan! I am thankful it was my left hand since I am right-handed. What’s so darn frustrating about the traction device is I don’t even have use of my other fingers! I can’t grab on to anything unless it’s very small. Love and hugs back. xo
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That’s difficult… I had sit in the floor and hold things with my feet, so I could open them (jars, bottles, cans and such). LOL it was pretty comical.
I know you will, but be sure to really go for it with the physical therapy when you get to that point. After having your hand immobile for any length of time, it will take some effort to get your mobility back. Keep your shoulder very well exercised meanwhile. Mine froze right away. The doctor said it was the body’s reaction to the trauma at the extremity (in your case, the finger), since I had not been immobile for long when it happened.
Sorry… I call myself Doctor Granny when I get this way (as in the Beverly Hillbillies) spewing un-requested advice.
More hugs.
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Hugs to you Dr.Granny! I’m no stranger to PT. I broke the same hand’s pinky three years ago, my leg about 10 years ago, my left wrist in second grade and my right wrist in third. Oh, and probably my pinky toe at least 10 times throughout the years…lol! xoxoxo
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Lots of fun and not too fun stuff (breaking finger) happening, but mostly fun. The crabs look great and so does the soup. Wonderful pictures, as always. Looking forward to more!
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Thank you Karina! I really enjoyed the vacay aside from the obvious part.
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Glad to hear your finger is healing. Tasty looking soup, perfect for the fall. 🙂
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Thank you Ronit, it sure is!
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I need to do something wonderful like this with the leeks I have on hand. Thanks for the idea! 🍓
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You are welcome Gail! xo
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Enjoyed the pictures! So sorry to hear about the finger Kathryn. Will you have to wear the traction device for very long?
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Thank you Terry! I’ll have to wear this for three more weeks…
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That is quite awhile, hopefully it does not restrict you too much! 🙂
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Oh my goodness! How terrible! (And yet you make it all look so wonderful!) Soup looks great too 🙂
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Thanks Sadie! You can’t let a silly broken finger ruin your vacation!
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So much joy here. Kathryn. Love the smiles st the anniversary dinner. The soup sounds amazing!!
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Thank you my dear! Always looking at the positive! xoxo ❤
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Well, firstly happy belated anniversary 🙂 Secondly, Kathryn, you are always in the wars , shame !!!! Hope that finger is doing okay. and last but not least your soup sounds divine, just perfect and a soup I would love. 🙂
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Thank you so much Lynne! The soup was delicious!
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Well shoot. Had to be the middle digit too. Looks like yall had a great time anyway. The soup sounds amazing. I am jealous of the kayak peeps. We havent been able to get out because if the wind. Did catch a catfish and a sand bass last night though. Have a great day😊Take care of that finger.
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Thanks Gina! Well a couple of fish is bettere than no fish! xo
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Happy 20th anniversary and I hope your finger heals fast! Aah dungness crabs…good memory of Oregon. I miss it. Thanks for sharing. Cheers to more great travels and anniversaries😊
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Thank you so much!
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You poor thing. I’m glad your finger is on the mend. I cannot wait to make this soup. I love leeks and potatoes. I don’t love broccoli so this is a good way for me to “sneak” it into my diet. Thank you!
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Thank you Michelle, the flavor of broccoli is hidden well in this soup. And oh, the pancetta breadcrumbs, yumm!!
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Lovely soup. Recover quickly.
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Thank you Conor!
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Goodness gracious! That contraption looks like something from ‘A Clockwork Orange.’ — The soup, on the other hand, looks like it was sent from the heavens. Take care of that finger and keep on cooking!
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Thank you Adam! Only 3 more weeks with this confounded contraption. I rely heavily now on hubby to slice and dice. 🙂
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Oh no! And only on the second day! So sad. Here’s to a fabulous soup, and fast healing!
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Thanks Mimi! It wasn’t too bad since it was only splinted while we were there so still had the use of most of my hand and still got to fish and crab. Now with the device on, I am down to one hand. Only three more weeks!
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Oh, because it was one finger. Well that’s good.
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Sorry to hear you’re injured Kathryn!! I’ve been MIA lately and will be again for two weeks so I’ll have to catch up when I return…in the meantime hope you heal quickly!! (And the soup looks great!) 🙂 🙂
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Thanks Linda, will be looking forward to your return!
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Oh my gosh! You poor thing!!! xoxox take care, love the pictures and the soup!
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Thanks dear! xoxoxo
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You look so cute! xoxo
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xoxo!
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sorry to hear that you are injured – look after yourself.
the soup looks and sounds amazing 🙂
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Thank you Tim, I will certainly try!
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mmm. . . the soup looks delicious. Sorry to hear about your finger. It sounds awful. I hope that it heals quickly.
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Thanks so much Sheryl!
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The soup looks wonderful! Happy Anniversary!! 🎉
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Thanks so much Tonya!!
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You’re welcome! 😊
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Happy belated anniversary Kathryn. Good to know your fingers are healing. And your soup sounds very delicious. Thanks for this share.
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Thank you, I’m healing up more and more every day!
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Get well soon Kathryn.
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Glad to have you back, Kathryn. The soup sounds delicious and I especially like the idea of pancetta croutons. So sorry to learn of your mishap. I don’t know how you managed to take photos and write this post.Hope your recovery is going better than predicted and that soon you’ll be at 100% again. 🙂
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Thank you John! Food prep and photos take twice as long, but it can be done! xo
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Ohwow, KR! That is one scary hand!! Poor you – Good luck and good healing to you. And those crab are amazing…this soup looks incredible, btw!
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You are so sweet Mollie!
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Thank you!!!
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