Oh My Goodness!!! I went to a cooking class at Thanksgiving Point and I am now in love with cooking classes. She made 5 awesome soups and 3 types of bread. So the next day I made the roasted red pepper soup and it was divine. Both recipes are super easy.
Roasted Red Pepper Soup
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 onions, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
3 cloves garlic minced ( I use the already minced garlic, so did she)
2 tsp thyme
6 cups chicken broth
2 (12 0z) jars roasted red bell peppers, drained (of course you can roast your own)
1 potato, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup dry white wine, opt (can use chicken broth, or white grape juice)
1 Tablespoon sugar
1/2 cup mascarpone cheese ( I used neufchatel cheese)
Salt and fresh ground pepper
Heat 2 Tablespoons in a heavy pot over med-hi heat. Add the onions, carrots, garlic, and thyme. Saute until onions until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the broth, bell peppers, potato, wine and sugar. Bring to a simmer over high heat. Decrease to med-lo. Partially cover and simmer until potatoes are very tender, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Cool soup slightly. Puree the soup in blender or using a hand blender.
You can add the cheese on top or add it to the soup to make it creamy. I added it to the soup.
Focaccia Bread
1 cup warm water
2 tsp yeast
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 cups flour
1 tsp Italian Seasoning
Put water, yeast, sugar, and oil in your mixer and let stand 5 minutes. Next add the rest of the ingredients. Divide the dough in half and place in 2 greased pie plates. Use your fingertips (or end of a wooden spoon to make small indents in the dough. Cover and let rise for 20 minutes.
While dough is rising make topping.
Topping: In a skillet put 1-2 cloves garlic with 1/8 cup olive oil. and 1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning. When hot, remove from heat so you don't burn the garlic Next spread over the dough. Sprinkle 1/4 tsp kosher salt and 1/3 cup of parmesan cheese over the top.
Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until brown.
