No, not Leonardo di Caprio; the real Leonardo, born in the little Italian village Vinci, the Renaissance Man. Since Internet did not exist, and neither did the blogosphere, he wrote – a lot, and on a multitude of subjects, including food. Had he thought of inventing it, together with a bicycle and a helicopter, he would undoubtedly have been nominated for the Blog-aholic Award, the new award created by the tireless Esmé of The Recipe Hunter (Cook & Enjoy).
As it is, I found myself among a distinguished line-up of great bloggers nominated by Esme herself, and, as if this weren’t enough, nominated for the same award by wonderful Justin of https://buyingseafood.com. I am so totally overwhelmed, I don’t know how to thank both of you for this honor! My way of dealing with emotional overload is to go cook something – so I did! But first, the award:
What is The Blog-aholic Award?
“The Blog-aholic Award” is an award for bloggers addicted to blogging with creative, ingenious and inspiring posts. They mesmerize their followers with their posts, keep them captivated and riveted to their blog. The Blog-aholic Award is also for bloggers who “Share and Inspire Others!” The Recipe Hunter (Cook & Enjoy)
Rules
- Put the above award logo/image on your blog – done
- List the rules – done
- Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog (it can be to the post in which they nominated you or any other post or you can even link to their “About” page) – done
- Mention the creator The Recipe Hunter (Cook & Enjoy) of this award and please provide a link or pingback as I [Esmé of The Recipe Hunter (Cook & Enjoy) ] would love to meet you! – done
- Write a post to show your award – I am doing it, don’t rush me, please!
- Share a link to your best post(s) – that’s a hard one, but here goes https://koolkosherkitchen.wordpress.com/contact/about-, https://koolkosherkitchen.wordpress.com/2016/10/16/meatless-meat-pies/, https://koolkosherkitchen.wordpress.com/2016/09/14/kartofelniki-sweet-potato-zrazy-with-mushrooms/
- Share 3 interesting and different facts about yourself – a) I think of myself as a black cat and enjoy communicating with cats; b) I love not only cats, but all animals, and communicate with them all, but with two exceptions: rats and big black birds; 3) When I cook, I have dramatic, emotional music playing (flamenco guitar, Gypsy, Verdi operas, etc.), but when I work, I usually turn to Chopin, Mozart, or Vivaldi. Music is always on.
- Nominate 5-10 fellow bloggers, or more if you wish – with pleasure! https://gastrogranny.com/ https://homecooksimple.wordpress.com/ https://chukkiskitchen.wordpress.com/ https://rusticedibles.wordpress.com/ https://ajoyofbaking.com/ https://israelisalad.wordpress.com/ https://authorericjohnson.com/ https://miamicuisine.wordpress.com/ https://thepurplealmond.com/ https://chefsandamateurs.wordpress.com/ https://purpleslobinrecovery.wordpress.com/
- Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them and provide the link to the post you created – rather than commenting on each blog, I’ll just say that in my opinion, they are awesome, each and everyone of them in their own way, and it only takes a click, Beautiful People, to find out for yourselves!
Thank the nominator and mention the creator – did that already, and now I can adjourn to the kitchen, thank G-d!
Is this a true Blog-aholic, or what? This is what he wrote about food:
Now does not nature produce enough simple vegetarian food for thee to satisfy thyself? And if thou ar not content with such, canst thou not by the mixture of them make infinite compounds, as Platina describes and other writers on food? (qtd in Freud, Eine Kindheitserinnerung des Leonardo da Vinci, 1910)
Bartolommeo Sacchi, called Il Platina, wrote the first Italian cook book since Apicius, which was also the very first printed cook book (1475) called De honesta voluptate et valetudine (“On honourable pleasure and health”). In Rome, he belonged to a club, the Academy, which was for lovers of classical antiquity. They used Greek names and studied the philosophy and thought of the ancient world. Such pursuits were considered pagan and could bring charges of heresy which eventually landed him in prison (Spencer, The Heretic’s Feast: A History of Vegetarianism, 1995). Platina was not vegetarian, and in his book you find a chapter of meat recipes, but Leonardo, during his years at the Milanese Sforza / Gonzaga court, was impressed by the concept of “healthy mixture.” There is a prevailing belief that Leonardo himself was vegetarian; certainly he abhorred cruelty to animals and sometimes would buy caged birds in order to let them free. Comments about his disgust with man and pity of beasts are found in many of his writings.
Based on these and some more facts (and some very loose conjectures), I have created my own healthy mixture, of sweet potatoes and spinach.
Boil a couple of sweet potatoes. Tip: cut them into halves or quarters, to boil faster and to flavor the water. Once they are done, fish them out of the water, peel and puree in a blender or food processor. Dump the creamy pureed mass back into boiling water.
Shred fresh spinach and add to the pot. Add a handful of grated carrot and bring to boil.
Add pareve soup powder, any dairy free milk (I just happened to have coconut milk, and it actually added an interesting nutty flavor to the soup), and season with salt, pepper, and cinnamon. Throw a handful of fresh chopped dill on top, reduce heat and simmer until your spinach almost disintegrates. Give it a stir once in a while, to prevent it from sticking to the bottom.
It’ll take about 15 – 20 minutes, and you have a soup that Leonardo da Vinci would’ve been delighted to eat and blog about. Don’t forget, he was brought up in Florence, and just as crazy about spinach as every Florentine! My husband calls this soup a bisque, probably because it is so creamy, more than any cream soup. I agree because it is definitely bis cuites (twice cooked) which is what bisque is supposed to be. Served with a spelt roll (for recipe, click here), it’s a healthy and satisfying mixture, and the best part is, nobody will put you in jail for it!
INGREDIENTS
- 2 medium sweet potatoes or 1 very large one
- 2 cups of loosely shredded fresh spinach
- 1 cup grated carrots
- 1/2 cup fresh chopped dill
- 1 tablespoon soup powder
- 1/2 cup non-dairy milk (coconut or almond adds a nice flavor)
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- Salt and pepper to taste
PROCEDURE
- Quarter sweet potatoes, boil in 2 quarts of water until very soft. Remove from water, peel, puree in blender or food processor. Add puree to boiling water.
- Add shredded spinach, add grated carrots, bring to boil.
- Add the rest of ingredients, stir, reduce heat, simmer 15 – 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until spinach almost melts.
- Serve with flatbread or course bread.
Enjoy!
Whoop whoop a double up. Thanks Dolly
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Does all that whooping mean you approve?
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Yes, ‘don’t rush me’ I am multi tasking here, and still busy working through your post, but YES YES YES I approve with all my ❤ funky cat.
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You’re just like Leonardo, multitasking! I appreciate your approval, truly!
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But how can I not approve of such an awesome post! ❤ ❤ ❤
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Ok, I would blush if I could…
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o///o
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You do a great job of combining recipes with interesting stories. I will give this soup a try. Congratulations on your awards. Being recognized by your peers is an honor.
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It certainly is, and thank you very much for your kind words!
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Blog ’em if you got ’em….
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I like that! Thank you very much!
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LOL!! Glad to hear it.
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I feel as if you have Odessa blood in you!
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I’m not sure if that is good or bad LOL!
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In my book, it’s the best! We believe that the concept of humor was born in Odessa.
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Ah, ok LOL that is cool.
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🙂
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Congratulations! Very well deserved. As always I enjoy your stories and recipes.
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Thank you so much!
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Congratulations and thank you for a wonderful recipe 🙂 Great post! x
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Thank you so much, Samantha!
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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Thank you for reblogging.
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You should be rightly proud of this great blog…I’m always learning something. I always felt Leonardo and I were kindred spirits, but not because of any sort of talent I possess. Although he was the master among masters, we share the trait of finishing only about half the projects we start 😉
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LOL I’ve always related more to Michelangelo – temper (“terribilita”), but my husband would definitely be on the same side as Leonardo and you. You do possess a wonderful talent, as your blog demonstrates, as well as a great deal of knowledge. And on that note, just wait and see what I did with poor ahi tuna!
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You happened to have the right milk for soup. I only like coconut milk in soups and easy recipes like these.
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Thank you dear Bal!
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THREE of my favorite things: sweet potatoes, spinach and soup (especially bisque).. I will definitely be trying this one.
Congrats on your award – time consuming to accept, aren’t they? I no longer can spare the time to do so, but it’s always fun to read the answers to the questions from people who accept them.
Another good post, Dolly. Thank you.
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to educate a world!”
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Thank you, Madelyn! I have no time for awards, and I’ve declared my blog “award free” way back in January, but I couldn’t say no to Esme. Also, I thought I might try another idea of dealing with them – wait and see!
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I’m looking forward to it!
xx, mgh
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🙂
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Dolly dear, this is divine!! Congrats on your award!! Very well deserved!! aNd another excellent recipe. We have come to expect nothing less!
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Thank you! Your turn now…
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Soon!!
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Take your time – yesterday is soon enough!
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Hee hee!! Immediately, ma’am!
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🙂
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I love this recipe! In fact, I might make it for Shabbat, assuming it meets the kitchen approval committee. And, this is a well deserved honor. Your cup of creativity runith over. 🥂
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Thank you so much! Yes, it’s a great one for Shabbos; the more it simmers, the better it becomes.
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If I make it I will send you a link.
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Yes, please do!
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This both looks and sounds very delicious, Dolly 🙂
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Thank you so much, dear Irene!
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This bisque is the perfect meal to round out the winter months! YUM.
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Thank you so much – glad you like it!
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congratulations on your blogging successes! 🙂 And this recipe looks so yummy.
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Thank you so much for your kind words!
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Lovely post and recipe! Shabbat Shalom! ☺
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Shavuah Tov!
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Shavuah Tov!
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🙂
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CONGRATS on the AWARD!!!! YOU ARE SOOOO DESERVING!!!
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Thank you so much! 🙂
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😉
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Very good article, it is a very good read. I am going to reblog this one for you Dolly, I hope that this will help get a few more eyes onto your work.
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Thank you very much, Ted, I truly value your opinion.
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yummy yummy!
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Thank you – I am glad you like it!
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😊👈🏾 I will try to do it tomorrow for dinner. I needed a new dish. Thank you for sharing!
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Please let me know how it comes out – enjoy!
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Yes! Definitely! Actually, I am in the supermarket now to buy the ingredients!
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Good luck dear!
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Thank youuu!
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You’re welcome dear!
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😊🙈
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🙂
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And congrats! 🙈
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Thank you very much!
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Not a problem! 🙈
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This soup, I mean, bisque, must be delicious! I make a similar looking soup, only with winter squash, and of course the spinach leaves; I grab every opportunity to sneak in green vegetables onto my husband’s plate!
Leonardo was an amazing person, a true Renaissance man, with a great mind and so many talents. How many of them like him today????
You deserve all the awards you got. I wanted to nominate you but was afraid you would be left with too little time for your delightful creative posts!
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Thank you so much, dear Joelle, you’ve nominated me enough! Thank you for all your compliments!
I do have a pumpkin / spinach soup – I wonder how similar it is to yours. https://koolkosherkitchen.wordpress.com/2016/08/05/pumpkin-spinach-soup/
To be frank, I am obsessed with Michelangelo, rather than Leonardo, although I do, of course, admire Leonardo’s versatility – who can deny his greatness? My husband is more interested in Leonardo – fellow ADHD person!- which makes for lively discussions while walking by the ocean.
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To be honest. It is actually not bad. I am only sad because I didn’t do a lot. I normally do small portion of new food recipes, in case I messed up in the process, but I actually feel upset that I didn’t do a lot! And now, the next one may not as good as the first one. Thank youuu!
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I am so glad you like it! The next one will be better, I promise you!
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😊🙈
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🙂
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Love that opening: “not Leonardo di Caprio; the real Leonardo” 🙂
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Thank you. Just making sure; one never knows… Years ago, I had students who knew those names very well: Michelangelo, Leonardo, Donatello – the valiant turtles.
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🐢🐢🐢🐢
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Right! Who was the fourth one?
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hahaha yes those turtles
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🙂
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Versace. No; just kidding. Raphael. I looked it up.
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Vercase was a good one!
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It’s the Donatello thing….
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Donatella (female) is Gianni Versace’s sister. She inherited that incredible mansion we pass on the way to Ocean Drive.
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Thank you for accepting my nomination – you truly deserve this award and many more!
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Reblogged this on On the Road Cooking and commented:
Looks delish…
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Thank you so much for reblogging!
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Hola Chiquita! What a dramatic moment to enter your list of hallowed followers. I doff my cap and bid thee félicitations on this prestigious award. Twice because you are twice nominated so here are two hats 🎩 🎩 (we say Chapeau in France when we want to congratulate someone). Also, I love this soup and of course I love both Leonardos … the one because I can appreciate his genius and the other because I can be an unashamed cougar on the quiet. Finally I must acknowledge your music – how brilliant the choices for kitchen and working. Oh – must go! Off to explore your nominated blogs (I love this bit … such fun!) xx
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Hola mi amor! Do you have a chapeau to doff? If not, let me lend you some of mine. Oh wait, I’ll need a whole bunch of them to doff for all your awards!
Welcome to my kitchen; it’s an honor and a privilege to have you step in. I am an unashamed cougar myself, but since I don’t do anything on the quiet, I’ll openly acknowledge that I am 12 years older than my husband. Life is beautiful!
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Life is, indeed beautiful … I absolutely LOVE that we are finally embracing the fact that age is a number and it doesn’t matter two figs who is older, younger or the same age so long as love is the central theme. If my candidate of choice wins the Presidency of France we will have a man with a wife 20 years his senior at the helm and that I will certainly doff my hat and yours to!
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I have a few more hats to spare, we can pitch them in the air with both hands! My great-grandmother used to say that a lady should choose an age she is most comfortable with and stay with it for the rest of her life. I chose 18, and that’s what I am. With that, I am turning Armik on and marching to the kitchen. Spring rolls with plant-based beef crumbles coming up!
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I love your Great-Grandmother! I tell people all the time that we ARE an age throughout our years … towit some children are born adults and some of us reach adulthood without shedding childhood. I am 6.
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I think my husband is 4, most of the time. It’s great fun! I prefer to be 18, though, with legal freedom to do crazy stuff if I want to and a teenager’s drive to do it.
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Excellent fun!
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🙂
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I love the history lesson and the recipe. Leonardo’s life fascinates me. The recipe sounds healthy which I like/need. Plus, I have all of the ingredients except for soup powder. I have to look that one up as I have never heard of it. Cheers from Portland, Oregon.
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Dear Lori, soup powders or cubes are sold in any supermarket or Whole Foods store. But it’s only a shortcut, to save time. If you want to go the long way, saute a handful of grated carrots with diced onion and garlic. It is even healthier and will taste the same.
Thank you so much for your kind comment; I am so glad you like it!
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Thank you for informing me about soup powder and the alternative. I am making this soup today. It is perfect for a rainy day especially since this is a “catch up” day for me. I returned home yesterday and am leaving home again soon. So, all of those home chores need attention. Have a wonderful day and week ahead.
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You too, dear, and please let me know how it comes out!
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Certainly!
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🙂
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Congratulations on your award!! It is well-deserved. March has been so blustery here that a nice soup would be just right. And thank you for the Leonardo fact! Who knew he wrote about food? 🙂
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Thank you, dear Anna, for your kind comment! I think Leonardo wrote just about everything in the world LOL 🙂
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Reblogged this on koolkosherkitchen and commented:
Dear Beautiful People, please don’t start congratulating me on these awards, as it happened almost two years ago. I am repeating this warm and nourishing soup because, according to https://foodimentary.com, January is a National Soup Month. Enjoy!
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Woo hoo! Another way to eat two of my favorite foods, foods I’d never thought to combine! Thanks for the recipe.
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My pleasure, Doug; I am so glad you like it! You might have noticed that I am crazy about Florence and everything that originates from Florence. In my humble opinion, it’s always excellent, be it art or art of food.
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I think you make a good case for it!
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Oh, I am just having fun in the kitchen.
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This sounds like a delicious savory soup.
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Thank you so much, dear Linda; I am so glad you like it!
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Hi Dolly! What is soup powder? Dehydrated vegetable broth? And would Leonardo have approved of homemade chicken concentrate as a substitute 😼?
Thank you for the recipe and for once again teaching me the origin of a word from my own language (bisque)! Have a nice day 😻
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LOL Dear Joelle, Leonardo probably wouldn’t have, as he truly was a vegetarian, but I think it should work fine.
Soup powder is dehydrated and flavored vegetable broth, you’re right. It is sold in all kosher stores and many regular supermarkets as well, but of course, you’d have to check the ingredients for your purposes.
Thank you for a lovely comment, dear friend! 😻
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WHOOOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!!! Congrats!
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Thank you, darling, you are so sweet!
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You deserve it. 🙂
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😻
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford.
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Thank you very much for reblogging, dear brother.
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