Roasted Root Vegetable and Turkey Soup and Prospect Farm Soup Cook-Off

Roasted Root Vegetable and Turkey Soup - Seriously Soupy

Roasted Root Vegetable and Turkey Soup topped with Sage - Seriously Soupy

People's choice winner. Check out that squash!

This weekend I had the honor to participate in Prospect Farm's Soup Cook-Off - a communal cooking event/fundraiser for a new volunteer-run farm in Windsor Terrace. Once an open plot of land, the area has been transformed into a fully-functional compost deposit station where locals can drop-off their non-cooked waste to be turned into soil. Since there is a high-lead concentration in the soil, organizers are starting slow with the growing process where a small plot of land is used to grow carrots, romaine lettuce, kale, and beets. There are also several squashes that no one has planted but continue to thrive at the farm, including four to six different shapes of squash.

For the cook-off, I entered a roasted root vegetable and turkey soup/stew that I also made for the soup party a few weeks ago. One rule of the event was that all of the soups had to have at least one ingredient that came from a local source. Most of my soups use ingredients that come from my local farmers market, so that part was pretty easy in addition I used organic turkey and fresh herbs. A two-part recipe (some marinating is involved), this is a great soup/stew that is filing and has various flavors (sweet and savory) that is a healthy variation to a standard meat chili. I ended up winning the people's choice (see my squash trophy) that was tied with a cauliflower and chorizo soup with kale chips. I hope to have some of the recipes from the cook-off on here real soon!
 

Growing vegetables at the Prospect Farm

A massive squash at the Prospect Farm

Soup Tasting!

First Place: Barley Soup with Local Greens, Dill, and Feta
Second Place (tie): Jerusalem Artichoke Soup and Blue Cheese and Roasted Cauliflower Soup
People's Choice (tie): Roasted Root Vegetable and Turkey Soup and Cauliflower and Chorizo Soup with Kale Chips

For additional information about Prospect Farm, please visit www.ProspectFarm.org or fan them on facebook by visiting www.Facebook.com/ProspectFarmBK. You can also reach them via email them at ProspectFarmBK@gmail.com.

The Judges - Joe Brancaccio of Brancaccio's Food Shop and Brandon Maya 

Local Soup Lovers: Prospect Farm Harvest Fest

I am really excited to participate in this years Prospect Farm Harvest Festival. If you happen to be around on Saturday, here are the details for this soup-tastic event!

Details provided by Naomi Donabedian of Cantaloupe Alone

Prospect Farm has almost completed its first season. You are invited to our Harvest Fest + Soup Cook-Off to be celebrated on October 30th (raindate October 31st) at the Prospect Farm from 11am to 4pm. Please save the date for this fun day of learning about the Prospect Farm's work, member info, games, music, food, soup cook-off judged for prizes, raffle, and more.

Prospect Farm Harvest Fest + Soup Cook-Off

Saturday October 30th (rain date Oct. 31st)
11am - 4pm
@ Prospect Farm located 1194 Prospect Ave btwn Seeley and Vanderbilt Sts.
F Train to Ft. Hamilton, exit towards Prospect Ave/Greenwood

Event on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=141432882564501&index=1

Enter the Soup Cook-Off: prosectfarmbk@gmail.com
Contestants must make a soup to feed 8-12 and contain one locally sourced ingredient (within 100 miles) to be brought to the Fest and judged on the 30th of October. Soups will be made available for tasting to guests for $5. Prizes for the best 2 pots of soup include a $75 and $25 gift certificate from Grab Specialty Food and more. Judged by Foodie Brandon Maya and Chef Joesph Brancaccio.

Raffle! with prizes from: Brancaccio Food Shop, Crossroads Cafe, The Double Windsor, The Great Green Store, Juice Box Wines, Oak and Iris Cafe, Levy's Unique New York Tours, Namaste Yoga of Kensington, Sycamore Bar & Flowershop,Tally Ho Craft Beer, Third Root Community Health, Thistle Tavern. and more to be announced.

Volunteer for the Event: sign up to donate materials, or your time.