Week 3 of our Family Soup Suppers series includes a creamy mushroom soup recipe and the miraculous healing of a blind man. Read the first post for more information about this great series.

For Friday, March 20

(Download printable copy of recipe and reflection questions here.) 

Creamy Roasted Mushroom Soup

1 ½ lb. portobello or baby bella mushrooms, sliced

6 Tbsp. olive oil

2  14-oz. cans beef or vegetable broth

1  14-oz. can chicken or vegetable broth

1 ½ Tbsp.  butter

1 onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

¼ C. plus 2 Tbsp.  Madeira (or Marsala)

3 Tbsp.  all purpose flour

1 C. whipping cream

¾  tsp. fresh thyme, chopped

¾  tsp. fresh rosemary, chopped

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large roasting pan with foil. Add mushrooms and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper; toss to coat. Cover and bake mushrooms 30 minutes. Uncover and continue baking until mushrooms are tender and still moist, about 15 minutes longer. Cool slightly. Puree half of mushrooms with 1 can beef broth in blender until smooth. Set mushroom puree aside.

Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until onion is tender, about 8 minutes. Add Madeira and simmer until almost all of liquid evaporates, about 2 minutes. Add flour; stir 2 minutes. Add remaining beef and chicken broth, cream, thyme and rosemary. Stir in remaining cooked mushroom pieces and mushroom puree. Simmer over medium heat until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly, then cover and refrigerate. Bring to simmer before serving, thinning with additional broth if necessary.)

Sunday Gospel

For March 22 | Full reading John 9:1-41

As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth…He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” – which means Sent -. So he went and washed, and came back able to see.

Reflections for the cook:

Do I put limits on how God can work – in me or others?  Imagine the limits the blind man could have placed on Jesus: I was born like this, NOT on the Sabbath, with mud – really?  It’s so messy!  Where do I need to acknowledge, be open to, embrace, or get out of the way of God’s work and healing?

Discussion for the dinner table:

What would it be like to be blind?  Even though our physical eyes see, how can we sometimes be blind?  How do we, as family, help each other see?  How can Jesus be our light?

Copyright 2020 The Well. Written by Kristi Quinlan

Kristi Quinlan is new to Des Moines, moving to the area for her husband Tom's work. After earning her BA in education from the University of Dallas, Kristi spent several years studying and working as a Catholic missionary. She enjoyed five years as a parish Faith Formation Director in the suburbs of Chicago, until she landed a new "full-time job" at home keeping up with her two sons (3 and 1). Kristi is constantly seeking outlets for creativity whether that's in the kitchen, on canvas, or within the sphere of Catholic ministry.