soup and salad, virginian tavern style

What is patriotism but the love of the food one ate as a child? - Lin Yutang

please focus on beautiful Mount Vernon, and not my hideous coat...

After writing yesterday about peanut butter and Christmas and childhood, I started thinking about peanut soup.  I can remember very distinctly one lovely December day 15 years ago (almost exactly to the day) spent at George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate, concluding with a candlelit dinner at the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant. On the menu was Virginia peanut & chestnut soup. We ordered some at the recommendation of the waiter (and out of our curiosity - it runs in the family) and instantly fell in love. 



Peanuts were one of many crops transported from Africa to the American colonies. Many Virginians grew peanuts, including some of our founding fathers, such as Thomas Jefferson (though they referred to peanuts as 'pindars'). To me, peanut soup is reminiscent of cosy, dimly lit taverns. It's as warm and comforting as good company gathered around the table.


Here's my version.


Virginian Peanut Soup
(Makes 2 servings)


1 stalk celery, roughly chopped
1 shallot, quartered
1 tsp olive oil
1 T butter
1 T flour
2 C chicken stock
1/2 C smooth peanut butter
1/2 C milk 
Cayenne pepper, to taste
Tabasco sauce, to taste
Paprika


Saute the celery and shallot in the olive oil and butter until soft. Add flour and stir until smooth and golden. Add chicken stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 5-10 minutes, until slightly reduced. Strain. Return to low heat and whisk in peanut butter and milk. Season cayenne and/or Tabasco, and garnish with paprika.

As a light but satisfying dinner, I served a mug of soup alongside a salmagundi, or chef's salad as it's known today: lettuce, ham, chicken breast, hard-boiled egg, and tomato, dressed with a simple vinaigrette. 


Dijon Vinaigrette
(Makes 2 servings)


1/8 C extra virgin olive oil
1/8 C apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 tsp dijon mustard
1/8 tsp celery seed
Salt and pepper, to taste


There you have it! Simple, quick, delicious.


Oh, and by the way... that peanut butter addiction I mentioned? Yeah, here's my current stash... ^_^

om nom nom nom!!!