Review of Soup Ladles

Find the best ladle for the ultimate in soup-scooping

Since I've started Soupy I've used the same two ladles to dish out over 100 bowls of soup. One of them I've had for years (maybe from Target) that has followed me from apartment-to-apartment; the other is a recent purchase from the dollar-store for the Soup Party in October - both functional and cheap but I've noticed one isn't that great when it comes to gathering soup on the bottom of a pot and the other is all scratched up. Looking to expand my Soupy accessories, I've been scouring the web for the perfect rounded spoon and here are some that have made my wish-list.

The Portmeirion Botanic Garden Ladle - A ladle with a little flair

1. Portmeirion Botanic Garden Ladle, $50.40 - Handcrafted by artist Susan Williams-Ellis, this $50-dollar ladle is definitely an investment but one that is said to be oven-safe (up to 340 degrees) and dishwasher-safe (not that I have one of those). I love its deep-handle and wide-mouth for the ultimate experience in soup pouring. 

Stainless Steel Ladle from Crate and Barrel

2. Stainless Steel Ladle, $10.95 - Found on Crate and Barrel.com, I really like this simple with polished and professional-looking finish. Ideal for gravy, stews and of course soup, this 18/8 stainless steel ladle is said to be "lightweight, rust-proof, and scratch-resistant." And for $10.95, it's worth putting this ladle up to the test.

All-Clad's Stainless Steel Ladle

3. All-Clad Stainless Steel Ladle, $24.00  - Another stainless steel model but this one is crafted by All-Clad, the maker of professional-quality kitchenware. Featuring a durable and secure grip, I really like this ladle's long handle that can scoop up six ounce bowls of soups and stews.

The simple Martha Stewart Collection Ladle

4. Martha Stewart Collection Ladle, $9.99 - At first glance, I was really into this ladle for its comfortable grip and long handle, which Macy's states makes it easy to get to the bottom of bowls (major problem when you get to the end of a soup). Also at a good-price point, this ladle is dishwasher-safe and comes with a lifetime warranty.

The fancy Grande Baroque Soup Ladle

5. Grande Baroque Soup Ladle with Hollow Wooden Handle, $129 - Definitely for those 'breaking out the good China days,' this fancy-looking ladle was designed under the Grande Baroque line in 1941 to reflect the lavishness of the 16th century. Featuring a three-dimensional pattern of flowers and leaves, this pricey ladle is also not just a pretty face but a functional one too. The hollow handle is great for scooping up soup and matches with the Grand Baroque collection - if you are into that sort of thing.

Profi Plus" Soup Ladle

6. Americas "Profi Plus" Soup Ladle, $20 - Made by Profi Plus, creator of kitchen products this stainless steel ladle is said to be durable and makes soup pouring easy. I like how the heavy Cromargan design seems stable enough to handle the heartiest meat stew.

What ladle would you recommend?

Seriously Soupy Serena

Soup Review: Sausage-and-Kale Soup by Martha Stewart

                      Martha Stewart's Sausage-and-Kale Soup                         

Seriously Soupy's Sausage-and-Kale Soup

                                                                

After this weeks lentil and apricot soup I had a heaping amount of leftover kale that I still wanted to make good use of. I discovered this sausage-and-kale soup from Martha Stewart's publication Everyday that would not only use the kale, but utilize other ingredients (onions, potatoes, red pepper flakes, olive oil) that I already had on hand. I loved how the recipe used a minimal amount of ingredients, as well as had a quick prep and cooking time that resulted in a hearty, yet spicy soup that was ready in less than an hour! While I was preparing it I thought it was odd that it did not require any salt or pepper (something I would never think twice about not adding), but the soup (and its combination of flavors) worked really well on its own, which didn't require any extra condiments. While enjoying this soup, I discovered (once again) that some simple ideas (making the soup a bit spicy with sausage and kale) can create a different taste combination by simply using ingredients in a new way. This nice kick, along with some simple ingredients can also easily be modified if you don't like sausage by adding another type of meat or made vegetarian by adding seitan, tofu, beans, or pasta, etc. Check out this spicy Martha creation and let me know what you think:

Sausage-and-Kale Soup
Recipe by Martha Stewart from Everyday
Try serving this hearty soup as the main course of a light meal.
Prep: 15 minutes
Total: 50 minutes 

  Soup cooking with broth, potatoes, onions

Ingredients
Serves 4

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red-pepper flakes
• 5 waxy potatoes (1 1/2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch chunks
• 3 cans (14 1/2 ounces each) reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 bunch kale (12 ounces), stemmed and shredded
• 12 ounces smoked chicken sausage, cut into 1/2-inch half moons
  

Directions

1. In a large pot (6 to 8 quarts), heat oil over medium. Add onion and cook until soft, stirring, 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic and red-pepper flakes; cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add potatoes and broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer until potatoes are tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
2. In a blender, puree half the soup. Return to pot; add kale and sausage. Simmer until kale is wilted, 10 to 15 minutes.

P.S. The only thing I modified was to hand blend the ingredients in the pot, as opposed to taking out half of the soup and pureeing it in a blender. I also ended up adding a little bit of water (about 1 cup), since I didn't feel like the consistency was soupy enough, at least for my standards.:)

Have you tried any Martha Stewart soup recipes?

Seriously Soupy Serena