Not Eating Out In New York

 Not Eating Out In New York is a simple concept. Meet Cathy Erway, someone determined to (as the blog suggests) not eat out in New York City. You might think: Who has the time and resources to not eat out, especially in a big city? Well, Cathy has been doing it for years.

Her blog is easy to follow and she’s not afraid to try something new – she even shares her “regrets” when meals don’t turn out as planned.  For those on a budget, she uses a "Cost Calculator" that details how much it costs to make. As an added bonus, she rates her recipes with Brownie points (as a health factor) and Maple leafs (as a Green factor, or how “local, sustainably grown, humanely raised, waste-conscious and overall environmentally friendly” the recipe is). She’s either a great cook or a great photographer because everything looks delicious! It's great to see someone committed to, as Cathy puts it, eating "seasonally, locally, sustainably, cost-efficiently and healthily".

Roasted Red Pepper & Parmesan Soup
(makes about 4-5 servings)

4 large red peppers
3 cups vegetable or chicken stock
1 rind of parmesan
grated parmesan for garnish (optional)
freshly chopped herbs for garnish (optional)
1/2 cup milk or cream (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Place the parmesan rind in a medium-large pot with the stock. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a slow simmer and cover.
Remove stems from peppers and place on a roasting pan so that they are approximately of even height. Broil for 2-3 minutes, or until tops are blackened and crispy. Flip peppers and repeat until blistered and blackened throughout almost all of their skins. Transfer to an airtight plastic bag and seal shut; let sit for 5-10 minutes.
Remove peppers and once cool enough to handle, remove seeds, stems and any white parts. Slip off the skins, using a pairing knife for help as necessary (it’s okay if you miss a few parts). Transfer to a food processor and pulse several times until well blended. Transfer mixture to the simmering stock. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Let cook another 20-30 minutes. Remove parmesan rind and add any optional ingredients to serve.

 Be sure to visit her site for this and many more recipes - http://noteatingoutinny.com/