Sweet Potato, Black Eyed Peas Soup

We got the first snow of the season! The roads were clogged, it took 3 hrs to travel 10-15 miles which normally takes about 45 minutes during rush hour. Unlike our brethren up north we don't deal with snow that well bringing pretty much everything to a stand still around here. DD was disappointed that her school was not closed, if they had she would have used the time to do some important activity like playing on her DS or the Computer :( Kids!!!

It would be appropriate to say that winter heralds the start of the soup season. Soup the comfort food that brings a warm glow to the insides. Tasted this wonderful hearty soup on Thanksgiving at our friend's house. Thanksgiving and winter also brings sweet potatoes into sharp foucs. There is mounds of them piled high in the grocery store but not many dishes that I know of where they can be readily used. Boiled is how we most often eat them. The Sweet Potatoes are left chunky but soft and with the addition of the black eyed peas to give some texture, a perfect one pot meal.

Recipe Source: Land O' Lakes

Serves 4 as a Main Course
Ingredients
1. 3 Medium Orange Sweet Potatoes skin removed and cubed
2. 1 1/2 Medium sized Ripe tomatoes
3. 1 Cup Black Eyed Peas
4. 1/2 Onion Chopped
5. 5 Garlic cloves chopped
6. 1 tbsp tomato ketchup (or tomato paste)
7. 1 tsp pepper powder
8. 1 tsp red chili powder
9. a handful chopped corriander leaves
10. 2 1/2 Cups Chicken Broth (any broth would work)
11. 2 tsp butter or ghee
12. Salt to taste

Method
1. In a heavy bottomed pan, heat the ghee and saute the garlic and onion till soft.
2. add the cubed potatoes and saute for a few minutes
3. add the tomatoes and black eyed peas and saute for a minute
4. add the pepper powder, chili powder and tomato sauce
5. add the broth and bring it to a boil, adjust salt
6. Reduce the heat to medium and let simmer till the potatoes are cooked. It should retain its shape and not fall apart
7. Just before turning off the heat add the chopped coriander leaves


Tastes fantastic with a side of garlic bread.

Novel Reading:
Critical - Robin Cook
More my kind of book, medical mystery