Doctored, Canned Lobster Bisque #SoupSwappers

So, welcome to the September #SoupSwappers event. Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm started this group and I'm always grateful to have a few more recipes to try. This month, I am hosting a back-to-school event. I told the group: "As we head into the new school year, let's hit the books! Share a soup recipe that was either mentioned in a book or inspired by a book. Be creative. This is a wide, open topic." Here's the list of creations...

• Chicken Soup For The Soul by Sneha's Recipe
• Doctored, Canned Lobster Bisque by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Individual French Onion Soup in Bread Bowls  by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Healthy Butternut Squash & Chicken Soup by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice
• Tuscan White Bean Soup by Karen's Kitchen Stories

This month Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm is hosting our online book group Lit Happens; she selected The Wizard's Butler by Nathan Lowell. You can read my thoughts about the book in my post "Single Serve Chicken." But there was another passage that inspired this post.

"Roger served a lobster bisque—canned but tasty—with a salad of summer greens. The warm soup felt right. He was proud of himself for whisking up the balsamic vinaigrette with only one side trip to a recipe on his phone. 'Lunch, sir'" (pg. 81).

Canned but Tasty

 

I had another reason for picking this soup. Years ago we stopped at a local restaurant on our way to a camping trip. My husband ordered the lobster bisque. Balancing it on his lap, he dunked pieces of bread into the styrofoam container and raved about the soup all the way to our campsite. And every time we've stopped there since, they have never - and I mean NEVER - offered the lobster bisque again. If I hadn't tried it myself, I honestly would have thought that he imagined it.

I knew that I had seen canned lobster bisque at our local Whole Foods Market and was determined to fancy it up with some real lobster and maybe some herbs and spices. But, no, when Jake saw the lobster on the counter, he said, "Oh, are you going to make those Connecticut lobster rolls again?!!? Those are amazing." Hmmm...no, I was going to toss chunks of lobster into this canned soup.

"No!" he strenuously objected. "Please make those Connecticut lobster rolls again." Done.

 

So, my plans of doctoring up canned lobster bisque were dashed. I cooked the bisque according to the directions on the can, except I used 1/2 cup cream instead of 1/3 cup per can. And I added in some Cajun spices and fresh herbs. Not much doctoring involved.

But we thoroughly enjoyed the lobster bisque with our Connecticut Lobster rolls.

And I have to say that buying lobster for two people instead of four is much more affordable. That's one benefit of empty nest cooking!

And that's a wrap for the September #SoupSwappers event. We'll be back next month as Sue of Palatable Pastime hosts us with a Meal-Sized Soup and Stew event. Stay tuned!