Food Friday!

It's winter here in Canada, so that means freezing temperatures and lots of snow.
This Food Friday recipe is sure to warm the spirits. I simply love mushrooms, so
nothing better for a cold day than this hearty Shiitake Soup.

Ingredients:

- 5 cups of chopped shiitake mushrooms
- 5 cups of mushroom broth (or any desired broth)
- 1 cup whole unsalted raw walnuts
- 3 bayleaves
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 1/2 tsp sea salt
- pinch of black pepper

Directions:

- chop walnuts
- pre-soak chopped nuts in boiling water for at least 30 minutes
- chop mushrooms, set aside

- strain walnuts
- pan fry chopped garlic and walnuts in olive oil, stopping before garlic turns brown
- add 4 cups of chopped mushrooms, fry until soft

- pour 5 cups of broth into a pot, adding the fried mixture plus bay leaves, salt and black pepper
- simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally

- while soup is simmering, pan fry the remaining mushrooms until brown then set aside

- after soup has simmered, remove the bay leaves
- using a stick blender, blend the soup until smooth or desired consistency
- stir in the fried mushrooms that were set aside
- serve while still hot

- makes approximately 8 servings