The Yang to the Yin that is Costco Hell

A friend described Costco recently as a "whirling vortex of bloody fucking hell." This is certainly true as far as I'm concerned, but I brave the hell on a regular basis for some great finds. Namely for their Gourmet Mushroom Blend, speck, and organic field greens...best prices in town. These finds are truly the Yang to the Yin of that Costco hell!

I recently made a Porcini Mushroom Soup using the Gourmet Mushroom Blend and it was fantastic. I threw in 1/2 bag of Pappardelle's Pasta Supreme Orzo (saffron, fire-roasted red pepper, and porcini mushroom). Oh, if only I could get Pappardelle's at Costco! I paired it up with a loaf of whole-wheat no-knead bread and a salad. Here's the recipe from www.101cookbooks.com.

Porcini Mushroom Soup (from 101cookbooks.com)

2 ounces of dried porcini mushrooms
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 shallots, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1 1/2 pounds small new potatoes, cut into 1/3-inch pieces
3 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
4 cups water
1 1/2 - 2 teaspoons salt

Extra toppings (optional) freshly grated Parmesan, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, fresh chives or fresh thyme.

Soak the porcini mushrooms in 2 cups of hot water for about 15 minutes, or until they are soft. Set aside.

Heat a splash of the olive oil in a large thick-bottomed pot, saute the shallots for a couple of minutes, then stir in the rosemary and potatoes. Add the remaining olive oil and cook for about 3 minutes. Stir in the garlic, the porcini along with the soaking liquid, the 4 cups of water, and salt. Bring to a simmer and cook for ten minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Taste. If the broth is too intense, you may want to add more water a bit at a time. And take care to get the salt right as well, it's important in a simple soup like this.

Serve as is or topped with any number of the ingredients I listed up above.

Serves 4-6.