Cauliflower Soup and a Review of Heidi Swanson's new cookbook: Super Natural Every Day

Cauliflower Soup with Aged Cheddar and Mustard Croutons:

From Heidi Swanson's Super Natural Cooking Every Day.
6 oz. artisan whole wheat bread torn into 1 in. pieces.
2 tbs unsalted butter.
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil.
11/2 tbs whole grain mustard.
salt.
2 tbs unsalted butter, or olive oil.
2 shallots, chopped.
1 onion,chopped.
1 lg potato,peeled and cut into tiny cubes.
2 cloves garlic,chopped.
31/2 cups vegetable broth or water.
1lg head cauliflower cut into small florets.
2/3 cup grated aged Cheddar.
2 tsp whole grain mustard.
extra virgin olive oil to serve.
Preheat oven to 350.
To make the croutons, put the torn bread in lg bowl. In small saucepan melt butter. Whisk the olive oil, mustard, and salt into butter. Pour over bread and toss well. Then turn on baking sheet . Bake for 10- 15 min. For soup: Heat butter in lg pot. Stir in shallots, onion, and a big pinch of salt. Saute until onions soften. Stir in the potatoes, cover and cook for 4 mins, just long enough for them to soften. Uncover, stir in the garlic, then the broth. Bring to boil. Stir in the cauliflower. Cook, covered for 3-5 minutes, just long enough to become tender. Remove from heat and puree. Stir in half the cheddar and the mustard. Taste and add salt if needed. Serve sprinkled with the remaining cheese, some croutons and a drizzle of olive oil.

I can't tell you how excited I was to be given an early release of Heidi Swanson's new cookbook, Super Natural Every Day, set to be released in April by http://www.tenspeedpress.com/ As a blogger and a Bay area resident I veiw Heidi as.....well lets just say a Goddess. There are very few food blogger's that do not have her site http://www.101cookbooks.com/ on their blog roll.

I admire her unique and creative cooking style, her authentic voice and her commitment to introducing all of us to natural and sustainable foods and how to use them. I give a lot of credit to her for making me conscious of my own environmental footprint when it comes to the foods that I buy and the practices I support.

This cookbook feels more personal than even her first. It is like reading an edible autobiography. She talks about her personal food values, where she shops, her pantry, her equipment as well as her own kitchen. Even with her ever expanding database of recipes on her blog her cookbook is still alluring. I can't wait for number 3 and 4!!!

Set with beautiful photography unique to Heidi, along with the most amazing recipes, her book holds the promise of great food with just a few ingredients. We also get a very personal glimpse of what makes her Heidi. It is everything we could ask for in a second book and more. The dishes are in her classic style with a few more twists. Perfect partnerships with whole natural foods in very creative pairings. These are dishes that we can all enjoy at home every day.
Thanks Heidi!!!! I'll be cooking my way through your newest cookbook one fabulous recipe at a time.

Enjoy!!