Corn and potato chowder
Merry almost New Year, everyone! Can you believe we’re truly on the cusp of closing out 2020? The most memorable year in all the wrong ways, which both seemed to drag on but thrust us into a blur of dizziness? I can’t help but hear bewildered echoes of the Talking Heads wondering, “Well...how did I get here?”
Yes, Talking Heads, I do find myself asking, how we arrived at this place. We’ve all been asking this question in too many contexts all throughout the year. And while attempting to grasp at answers is beyond the scope of a simple blog post about corn chowder, on a more linear level, we know all too well how we got here in this journey 2020. We traipsed through raging wildfires, crossed ravaged streets packed in protest, and waded through layer after layer of murk and mire. And now, with vaccines and big changes on the horizon, we may find a window of opportunity to breathe and reflect in spaces of quiet. One thing we have to hand to this year, it certainly has given us lots to reflect upon.
I was going to post this soup recipe by Christmas Eve. This holiday season, I’ve been thinking a lot about traditions, and where the line is between traditions kept out of warming love and loyalty and those that may have morphed somewhat into ritualistic chores. When it comes to the latter, letting go is one gift we most definitely deserve to embrace. Holiday cards, and goal-setting around a specific day, for example--if they’re not serving us and bringing joy in the sheer act of doing, then here’s an opportunity to channel some Marie Kondo, right? Even if just for a season, after which, maybe the sparkle for these things comes back.
Christmas Eve soup, though--that’s one tradition that I would think will never be in question for me. Soup may not be the first dish that comes to mind when it comes to holiday fare, but doesn’t it epitomize the spirit perfectly? I love how it melds so much at once--it can be simple, rich, rustic, elegant, hearty, healing, soothing, satisfying. Always, it’s nourishing and meant to be shared.
Of all the many mindsets, emotions, and emotional states that 2020 has highlighted, lately the ones I’ve been thinking about the most have been acceptance and gratitude. I think I may be edging closer and closer to wholly understanding the Buddhist way in that sense. I’ve been embracing how well they work hand-in-hand. Because, as 2020 has also highlighted, there are broad spans to all feelings, and layers upon layers of gray. Nothing is ever as clear-cut as our brains might like to think sometimes, and this year sure has shone a spotlight on some of the distinctions. Acceptance, so easily confused at times with complacency. Gratitude, for false, forced positivity.
Our feelings--whether they’re of loss, hurt, betrayal, grief, or anything--are valid, and we need to honor them alongside the recognition of the good things we are fortunate enough to hold, and what actions we might take to live meaningfully. When acceptance and gratitude come together, with some honest effort and healthy self-awareness, I think we just might be able to bring ourselves into living out the wisdom of the serenity prayer. At least, that is what I am hopeful of as we head into 2021.
This year, I think for once I might be a little less susceptible to January blues. The familiar sense of loss that comes from transitioning away from the mellow warmth and generosity of the holidays may actually make way for a hopeful lightness and optimism. This year, in place of a tangible, measurable goal, I think I would rather work on cultivating a mindset that balances gratitude and peaceful acceptance more evenly.
In the new year and onward, some things are going to get better, and some things are going to suck. People are still going to surprise us in touching and in disappointing ways. We are always going to have to determine within ourselves when to engage, how, and whether to respond, and where to place our focus. At times I have felt like my community has been steadily whittled down this year, and that’s OK. It’s not gone; it’s my perspective that has shifted. I’m noticing that the seeming attrition is less loss and more clarity on the genuine core of care. This is where I want to place my most intentional, loving focus moving forward.
No matter what’s coming next, our Christmas Eve traditional soup is also very likely to welcome in the New Year, too, with this creamy, cozy, and savory, vegan chowder being this year’s choice. Like most soups, it’s versatile and forgiving. I highly recommend including the vegan sausage and a good punch of nutritional yeast, but you can mix and match addends and vary amounts to your heart’s content. The thing I love best about this--and all--soups is, you can almost never go wrong when it comes to pouring in love, and the nourishing yields seem, like Stone Soup, to create a pay-it-forward kind of plenty that sprinkles a little more magic into the world. Happy New Year!
Load up this plantiful creaminess with your favorite veggies and greens!
Vegan corn and potato chowder
1 Tablespoon olive oil (or use cooking spray)
2 vegan sausage links, halved lengthwise and sliced
1 medium onion, diced
1 medium red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
4 cups vegetable stock or broth2 cups water (or more broth)
Approximately 2 pounds gold or red potatoes, chopped (feel free to leave the skin on)
2 Cups fresh, canned, or frozen corn kernels
A good shake each of garlic powder, smoked paprika, sea salt, and pepper½ Cup nutritional yeast
½ Cup raw cashews (soaked in warm water for 30 minutes if possible)
1 Cup unsweetened almond, soy or other non-dairy milk
2 Cups chopped greens of choice
In a small skillet, cook the sauages over medium heat until browned. Set aside.
In a large soup pot, saute the onion in the olive oil for 3-4 minutes over medium heat, stirring frequently. Add the red bell pepper and cook for 1 more minute.
Now pour in the vegetable broth, smoked paprika, corn, and potatoes. Stir. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 10 minutes until the potatoes are tender.
Pour 2-3 cups of the soup into a blender and add the nutritional yeast, cashews, and plant milk. Blend until very smooth, then add back to the pot and stir. Add the greens and sausages and bring back to a simmer. Adjust seasonings and continue to simmer at least 10 minutes to thicken, and for flavors to deepen.