11/25/09

The Stinking Rose



You can just about imagine my reaction when I learned that Kim Alexis’ diet regimen included garlic. It was, "Who?" "What?"

Well, I heard it from a friend of a friend, of a friend's cousin, twice removed...so it must be true. Apparently, the 80s supermodel is a big advocate of the Italian perfume, and routinely consumes copious amounts of garlic.

If I had only known that garlic was the crucial component in Alexis’ perfect face and body, I would’ve grown my own stinking garden 30 years ago.

Of course, I’m only kidding. It's a well-known fact that, I too, could’ve been a thupermodel...if I had longer legs, flawless features, and the appetite of a fruit bat.

But no. Instead, I opted to be a work in progress.
But I will never denounce garlic! And this creamy, garlicky soup with just a gentle kick from the cayenne pepper is one way I procure my intake of the pungent lily.
I urge you to make it, soon.




Roasted-Garlic and Gorgonzola Bisque
Serves 6.

2 tablespoons olive oil
30 whole cloves garlic, about 3 bulbs
¾ cup dry sherry
¼ cup brandy
4 Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced
1 quart chicken stock
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup heavy whipping cream
6 ounces Gorgonzola
Salt & Freshly ground black pepper

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the whole garlic cloves to the pan, decrease the heat to low, and cook until cloves are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.

Carefully add the sherry and brandy, increase the heat to high, and reduce the liquid by half, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the diced potatoes and chicken stock. Cook until the potatoes are tender.

Purée with a handheld blender, or in batches in a blender or food processor. Return soup to the pan, and add the cayenne pepper and heavy cream. Cook over low heat until the cream almost comes to a boil. Whisk 4 ounces of the cheese into the soup. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Serve the soup, topped with the remaining Gorgonzola. The one pictured below was my serving, which I topped with hot sauce. I like heat.
Adapted from Caprial's Bistro-Style Cuisine.



I sometimes serve this soup with plain crostini, or bread sticks, using a basic pizza dough for the latter. I used kitchen scissors to snip Vs at one end of the breadsticks to create the "wheat sheaf."



But hey, this time of year, the Bread Leaves would also be a nice touch.


I'd like to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!
May your turkey be plump and your waistline plumper, if only for one day.
It is Thanksgiving, after all.

34 comments:

  1. Marvelous! That bisque is mouthwatering! I am addicted to garlic and could not live without it!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  2. Soleil..If I don't make those breadsticks soon I will weep..!And the presentation..simple enough for a "Divine" offering:)as in ancient times.. yet beautiful enough for the cover of any magazine..


    Si beau!

    Happy Thanksgiving..I wish you "Divine Happiness" as you have shared "Divine Inspiration" w/ us!

    I still love my little steamers:) The heart cappus remember?

    Jacques will love this bisque his middle cheese name is Gorgonzola:)

    Soleil..you are a Thumpermodel..you just did a typo:)xx

    Plus I have seen u.. you could be a SM.

    I used to love Caprial's show!!

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  3. Happy Thanksgiving! The wheat bread sticks are gorgeous.

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  4. Garlic and Gorgonzola? Two of my favorite food groups! Thanks for the diet tip. We may be lonely but we'll be thin :) Maybe that's why the diet works!

    Gorgeous bread sticks! What a beautiful shot. I may have to try them with some Ain5 dough tomorrow.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  5. Thuper post, Sol! You could have been a model but with all that garlic, you might never have a close up :)

    Happy Thanksgiving, my friend. Hope it's stupendous!

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  6. Happy Thanksgiving Sol!

    Love your beautiful breadsticks and anything with garlic...but would have to forgo the cream for the moment. And oh yes Gorgonzola....my favourite cheese for pasta or a soup....am dreaming of such delights! Los fotos bonitos como siempre.
    Abrazos,
    Sharon.

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  7. O my o my!!! what beautiful breadsticks and Like Monique , if I didn't make them soon I'll cry!! Honestly my knees are feeling rather weak now...oh you are so very creative!!

    the garlic soup looks good too and what a lovely finishing touch with the hot sauce!

    O did i say you're so funny too !! :)))

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  8. Anonymous27/11/09

    The food sounds wonderful and the photography is exquisite.

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  9. Rosa, I even converted DH to love garlic. He led such a sheltered life before he met me.

    Monique, your words never fail to give me the warm and fuzzies. And I'd change my name to Thumpermodel, if I didn't love 'Soleil' so much.


    Hi Maggie! I think your boy would like these.


    Hah! Susan and Carol, I feel the same way. We, garlic lovers may stink, but you gotta admit, we have a heck of a support group!


    Sharon, garlic also aids in weight loss. But, it is possible I might've made that up to get you to try it.

    Zurin, you're making me blush. But I'll try to get over it :)

    Chocolate Shavings, your name is eliciting a craving. Garlic and chocolate (not together) are two my weaknesses.

    Anon, you're very kind.

    Thank you all very, very kindly; have a wonderful weekend!

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  10. Marysol--

    This soup sounds so divine! And your photos, as always, are astounding. The picture of the hot sauce "leaf" in the soup is just incredible.

    Jane

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  11. Happy Thanksgiving Marysol! Your pictures look amazing and so does the recipe. Your message brought a smile to my face. Have a great weekend!

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  12. I thought I smelled somethin' cookin' over here ... aw yes, 2 of my favorites ... roasted garlic & Gorgonzola! This rich soup has got to be the best, dear Marysol, and even though I made a VAT of Turkey Soup today, is one that I will be making soon ... off to get Gorgonzola tomorrow. The wheat sheaf is so clever, so you ... Do hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful ... I am most thankful to know you :)

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  13. Anonymous28/11/09

    Wow, your presentation is sooo gorgeous!! I love love garlic, so I will definitely have to try this recipe, and save those breadsticks for a fancy dinner. Definitely meant to impress!

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  14. Your soup and breads are works of art! Love those white cups too..
    Don't mock me, but I allergic to garlic..really..makes me very sick..like Carol and shell fish. So when we come, I'll eat her shrimp and she can have my soup..but pile on the bread sticks!
    Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.
    I just scraped myself off the floor..popped a few B12..let's see if they work!

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  15. I don't think Kim Alexis got that body from this soup! My body, maybe. But not hers! Beautiful photography and recipe, Sol.

    Did I ever tell you the story (true) about my friends who had a cottage in the Hamptons and one day he looked out the window at the cottage next door which was rented at the time to a couple of lovely young women with small children. Bill looked out one day and saw gorgeous ladies topless sunbathing! Was happy as a pig in mud. Well, turned out that the cottage was rented to Rachel Hunter and some friends. Cool beans, huh!

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  16. Hot sauce has never been so pretty before. You always amaze me with your photos and styling.

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  17. Jane, the soup was superlative, and good too [G]

    Alexa, it is so wonderful to have you back!


    Joey, Thumper loves turkey. So I took the cark asses (that's how the boy pronounces it) and made turkey soup for him. He then proceeded to hug and thank me for the meal. It made my little heart quiver, it did.

    And dear friend, I'm also grateful for our friendship. And so glad your wonderful family came together to make your Thanksgiving a joyous one.

    IvoryPomegranate, thank you kindly!

    Kathleen, I was not aware of your allergies. So, in the words of the soup nazi, "no soup for you!"
    In any case, I know your Thanksgiving feast was exactly that—garlic or no garlic.
    I hope you'll start to feel better soon my friend.

    Hi Annie! Your friend's eyeful encounter is probably every man's dream. And I'm willing to bet Bill skipped everywhere (rather than walked), the rest of his stay at the Hamptons.

    Jessica, I know the hot sauce is overkill, but I'm immuned to the heat.

    Thank you all for spending a little time with me!

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  18. wow, your crostini are beautiful!

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  19. Beautiful presentation! The red sauce decoration really makes the soup come alive.

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  20. Thank you both, Minisuperbias and Marisa!

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  21. You truly are a kitchen goddess... nonchalantly snipping ends of breadsticks :) I love the idea of garlic soup (garlic anything, really) but the breadsticks, oh my, that was inspired.

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  22. Happy Thanksgiving too Marysol!! Oh my goodness what I can I say but everything again is "Wow"!! And i love garlic no matter how stinky it is hahaha

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  23. as garlic and vitamin-rich foods and natural antibiotics to me he has an excellent flavor and we like turkey, we are frequently consumed even better is the swine flu.

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  24. Gorgeous M! Your creativity astounds me, and I'm so thankful you share.

    We all win! ((hugs))

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  25. I love, love, love garlic. In Asian cooking, we use garlic in almost everything stir-fried hehe

    I love your soup using 30 cloves garlic! The flavours must be really deep and earthy. And the autumn leaf print is just so pretty =)

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  26. Dee! I'm normally away from computers on weekends, but a tiny, inner voice, told me you'd be coming around. I've missed you.

    Dhang, I'd have to agree. The amount of garlic I consume should deliver me from every thristy vampire in Hollywood. Unless, of course, that vampire happens to be Gary Oldman. Oh, how I long to be his happy meal.


    Mari! I've never won anything! I'm so happy! Big Hugs


    NC, garlic in Asian cooking is one of many reasons I go nuts for Asian cuisine.


    Thank you guys very much for coming by. Have a wonderful weekend!

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  27. I am speechless! Those breadsticks are gorgeous!

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  28. Just a little hello Marysol to wish you a great weekend! :-)

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  29. I love garlic! In fact, when I was back a student back home, I used to have garlic weekends:) I would stay home just to consume huge amounts of it and everybody hated me:) Your soup looks and sounds like something I would love to make! Viva garlic:) Nice pictures, by the way. Your have an eye for styling, that's for sure, amiga.

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  30. Great post and beautiful photos... mmmm garlic!

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  31. Hi Chriesi, always good to see you!

    Malar, thank you very kindly!

    Alexa, I had a good, albeit busy, week. I started preparing for the holidays, and I'm practically at the finish line. For once, I'm not late for something. Thank you sweets!

    Fari, my smelly friend, I'd never thought to have a "garlic weekend." I'll have to remember that, next time relatives come to visit. Hah!

    LPR, glad to meet another garlic lover. Welcome!


    Thank you, grazie mille, merci! And best holiday wishes to all!

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  32. Let's just put it this way, at some point in my aspiring modelling career (join the club, dahhhhling! ;-D) I was known as the black Javier Bardem. Remember 'Jamon Jamon'? I was Mr Bardem eating raw garlic. Yes. Enough said.

    Great recipe.

    Greetings from London.

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  33. Querido Cubano, there's no question Javier Bardem is certainly easy on the eyes.

    But, let's face it, he's just an actor. And I'm willing to bet he lacks the ability to express himself with the same elegant eloquence you possess, without a script.

    Forgive the hissss Mr. Bardem.

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