We are not to the bottom of the barrel quite yet but we are definitely down to everything from soup to nuts. It looks like we are in for a stretch of rain. I am going away for the weekend and need to deliver a package of art inventory to our local décor story and catch the noon ferry to Victoria. I still need to post and pack. So I have a choice between an image of a water-logged log or this awesome spicy eggplant soup served with heavy spelt bread and almond hazelnut butter. I thought you would prefer the soup.
Spicy Eggplant Soup
5-7 cups organic vegetable stock
2 carrots, diced
1 small onion diced
2 small locally grown organic eggplants or one normal size cubed
2 tablespoons grated gingerroot (I used homemade blackberry ginger chutney because I had no gingerroot)
1 clove of garlic (can use two… we are just light on garlic)
1 cup chopped fresh tomatoes just pick from the garden (or organic canned if out of season)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro (up to 1/2 cup if you like cilantro)
1 teaspoon cumin
pepper and kosher sea salt
In large pot saute carrots onion, eggplant, ginger and garlic over medium heat in a few tablespoons of vegetable stock adding more stock if needed until onions are done. Stir in remaining stock, tomatoes, cumin and pepper; cover and bring to boil, then lower heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes or until it is done. Add cilantro and sea salt to taste. Let sit while preparing heavy toasted spelt bread smeared with almond hazelnut butter.
This recipe has been adapted from p. 122 of Cooking Vegetarian: Healthy,Delicious and Easy Vegetarian Cuisine by Vesanto Melina, R.D. and Joseph Forest (published 1996 MacMullan Canada). The original recipe has two potatoes diced in as well and offers the option of saute with 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil instead of vegetabel stock.
It has been the most fabulous week here on Creative Potager. I thank you for your comments, for sharing this creativity site with others and even for taking the time to drop by and lurk in the corners. I shall be back with a new post again on Monday. Best of the weekend to you!
Sprout Question: When is your next day off from your regular creative practice?
p.s. I also chose the related links special for us as well so you might want to take a look.
© 2010 Terrill Welch, All rights reserved.
Liberal usage granted with written permission. See “About” for details.
Purchase photography at http://www.redbubble.com/people/terrillwelch
Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.
From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada
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Creative Potager 
Terrill – This recipe (and mouthwatering photograph) is just what the doctor ordered. We’ve got rain in our neck of the woods, too. And this receipe is a perfect accompaniment — thank you!
Sprout Question: When is your next day off from your regular creative practice?
On Monday we’ll be up in Wisconsin doing another half-century (50 mile) bicycle ride. If I’m not mistaken, I believe it’s rain or shine. For that, I’m hoping for shine.
Have yourself a terrific weekend!
You too Laurie and enjoy the soup!
Terrill,
Looks like a delushious soup! The weather here has returned to Summer, so I will put the soup recipe on hold until a bit later.
I don’t have days off from my regular creative practice. Each day , each moment is an opportunity to be creative.
Have a great weekend!
I am Love, Jeff
You to Jeff and if it is still summer like… good idea to save the soup recipe for a winter day:)
Oh boy, this is a very bad thing I am doing by looking at this before dinner! Lucille is a fanatic for eggplant parmigiana, and thinks my 80 year-old father makes the best she’s ever eaten. But this is a delectable (and healthy) confection that must be taken down. Jeff is right though – the summer will not go away without a fight.
Ah, creative practice. Well Terrill, you know how it is when you are managing a blogsite. You don’t have any opportunities for a shut-down! Ha!
Well Sam, it is kind of hard on the views when I take a “shut-down” but I do it anyway because it is good for my practice in the long run. Glad you stopped in while I was away:)
I have been so enjoying eggplant this year. Maybe we should collect all our favourite eggplant recipes and post them in the comments? I suppose that might be a bit much:)
Yum, yum, yum! Thank you for the recipe. The wind has been blowing fiercely around here, too. Terrill, guess what? I am taking some photos for a first gallery showing. Can you believe it? It’s been very challenging and exciting learning how to do this. The reception is next Friday night. The theme was “domestic violence” of all things. Lots of local folks put in artwork and photography and such. Day off you ask? Soon. I have been posting six days out of seven…but may have exceeded that limit!
Congratulations Kathy on your first gallery showing! Nice going and a tough theme to work with. This is a field of work I was in for over 10 years. I would love to hear more about the show. Lots of fun to you in planning some time off:)
Fall is in the air here and soup increasingly on my mind. Just minutes ago, I came upon someone doing all kinds of different things with Eggplant. I’ve shared a link to your blog with her over at FB.
I rarely eat Eggplant but maybe “the Universe” is suggesting I get out of my same old, same old rut (thinking of doing the Sat nite whole wheat pizza with thin ham and lima beans – my oldest son’s gourmet creation – his idea, I do the cooking).
Still ginger and garlic and cumin – hmmm – some of my favorites and so, you do have me intrigued. I am glad I visited for I am feeling the steamy warmth of some soup – not savored since spring came, thanks to visiting your world here today.
Deborah I am so glad you dropped in to Creative Potager. I never used to eat eggplant and then I tried it and fell in love but failed at my first few attempts to cook it and have it taste like anything special. So for years I have only eaten eggplant that others have prepared. Now I am on to whole new level of confidence with Mr. Eggplant. We have built a respectful rapport and it is delicious!
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